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Number Girl |
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Mukai Shutoku
Tabuchi Hisako
Nakao Kentarou
Inazawa Ahito |
Guitar/Vocal
Guitar
Bass
Drum |
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Profile |
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Number Girl is the Name Among Names in Japanese indie rock. The band stormed their way to the top of the scene in seven short years (only four of which were spent in Tokyo), then disappeared just as quickly as they arrived.
While the contributions of the other members are not to be discredited, the man behind the band was clearly Mukai Shutoku, whose intensity drives the band with both his raspy, half screamed lyrics and his shredding guitar. He was backed up on the drums by Inazawa Ahito, perhaps one of the best drummers in modern rock, period. Inazawa's drumming is a furious whirl of sticks, noise, and hair, and was fittingly described by the name of Number Girl's 2000 tour, "Inazawa Chainsaw". Tabuchi Hisako on Guitar and Nakao Kentarou on bass are not to be overlooked, playing off each other perfectly, with much of the attraction coming in how well they clash, as opposed to how well they fit together.
Number Girl was formed by Mukai in August of 1995 when he decided to create a band to play at a rock event in his hometown Fukuoka. Mukai, who was recording solo work as "Number Five" at the time, invited a guitarist and bassist from a band called "Cowgirl" to join. The names were merged, hence the name "Number Girl." Things didn't work out with the members of Cowgirl, so Mukai started looking for new members for his band. He called Nakao, an acquaintance from the live house "Vivre Hall" and asked him to play bass for the band. Nakao invited Tabuchi, who he had seen playing in the girl band "Cosmic Cherry" at a battle of the bands. Finally, Mukai invited Inazawa, a friend from the music scene, and the final form of Number Girl was born.
Throughout the course of 1996 and 1997 they quickly rose to the top of Fukuoka indie scene, hosting their own monthly event called "Chelsea Q" in which they performed with bands such as Panic Smile. After self-releasing a few cassetes and appearing on a couple of compilations, their first album School Girl Bye Bye was released on Automatic Kiss Records.
In February of 1998 they traveled to Tokyo to play their first show with the members of Rumtag at the Shimokitazawa Shelter. Inazawa had a high fever and performed the entire show while hooked up to an IV. Shows in Tokyo became more frequent throughout the year, and eventually in September they decided to move to Tokyo. From that point forth, they centered their activities in Shimokitazawa, playing such events such as Viva Young.
March of 1999 was a big month for Number Girl, marking both the beginning of their first Tokyo based concert series and their first trip to America. The first event of their "Fan Club" concert series (which would go as far as Fan Club 9) was held at Shimokitazawa Club QUE. In addition, they flew over to America to play at SXSW 1999 and record their single Destruction Baby with Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann.
In May of 1999, they released Toumei Shoujo, their first major label single on EMI, followed shortly by their first major label album School Girl Distortional Addict. The first recording session was held at a studio in Tokyo, but the sound was too clean and pretty for Mukai, who relocated the recording to hometown Fukuoka. The Fukuoka recording session was completed in four days, and became the final version of School Girl Distortional Addict.
After the release of School Girl Distortional Addict, they performed their first headlining tour (the "Distortional Discharger" tour) in four locations throughout Japan. Their Fukuoka concert featured a furious performance by Inazawa, Tabuchi climbing on the PA, and Nakao diving into the audience, and is widely regarded by the fans as one of the best Number Girl concerts ever. The end of 1999 also featured a co-tour with bloodthirsty butchers and an appearance at eastern youth's "Kyokutou Saizensen 25" event (where they were heckled by eastern youth fans) and another headlining tour.
It's safe to say that 2000 was the year that vaulted Number Girl into the spotlight. In early 2000, they once again made the trip to America to play at the SXSW 2000 festival, record their second major release SAPPUKEI with Dave Fridmann, and go on a 6 city American tour with Lolita No. 18 and Polysics. Sappukei was released in July, followed by a 18 date Japan tour to promote the album. In August they played Summer Sonic and the Rock in Japan Festival, their first two festival appearances.
While Number Girl didn't release an album in 2001, it was marked by a number of side projects that would later lay the framework for the member's work after Number Girl. Mukai joined the members of 54-71 as "ZAZEN BOYS", (although the members of 54-71 are not part of the current ZAZEN BOYS). Tabuchi joined Hatsuiku Status (featuring Shiina Ringo and Yoshimura of DMBQ) for a 4 date tour. Finally, all the members of Number Girl besides Mukai joined Vola F.C. (with Inazawa on Vocals, Tabuchi on Guitar, and Nakao on Drums) for live performances and the release of a limited edition cassette.
In 2002, Number Girl released their last album, NUM-HEAVYMETALLIC and performed in a 33 date tour, their largest yet, in support of the album. However, on September 20th, 2002, Number Girl shocked fans by announcing on their official site that Nakao was leaving the band and Number Girl would be no more. Number Girl's last live was played on November 30th at Sapporo's PENNY LANE 24.
After the band broke up the members each went their seperate ways. Mukai and Inazawa founded ZAZEN BOYS, Tabuchi joined the bloodthirsty butchers and created her own band toddle, and Nakao joined Spiral Chord and started a new band Sloth Love Chunks.
- Graham (published 2005.12.20, updated 2005.12.21) |
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Links |
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Artist homepage
Toshiba EMI
Samples |
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Discography list |
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| Albums |
| KOGA60 |
School Girl Bye Bye |
| TOCT24157 |
School Girl Distortional Addict |
| TOCT24283 |
Shibuya Rock Transformed Joutai |
| TOCT24390 |
Sappukei |
| TOCT24764 |
Num-Heavymetallic |
| TOCT24920 |
Sapporo Omoide In My Head Joutai |
| TOCT25647 |
Omoide In My Head 1 "Best&B-Sides" |
| TOCT25704 |
Omoide In My Head 2: Kiroku Series 1 |
| TOCT25708 |
Omoide In My Head: 2: Kiroku Series 2 |
| TOCT25878 |
Omoide In My Head 4: Chin ng & Rare Tracks |
Singles |
| ATMK-09211 |
Drunken Hearted |
| TOCT22009 |
Toumei Shoujo |
| TOCT22021 |
Destruction Baby |
| Unknown |
Instant Radical |
| Unknown |
Pixie Du |
| TOCT22073 |
Urban Guitar Sayonara |
| TOCT22125 |
Teppuu Surudoku Natte |
| TOCT22203 |
Num-Ami-Dabutz |
| CR0019 |
I Don't Know |
Demos |
| Unknown |
Atari Shock |
| Unknown |
Omoide In My Head |
| Unknown |
Fukuoka Vivre Hall |
Compilations |
| Unknown |
Young Person's Guide to the 3-D Tours |
| Unknown |
Headache Sounds Sampler Volume 1 |
| Unknown |
Supernova Volume 1 |
| SAKASHO16 |
Kyokutou Saizensen |
| TOCT24589 |
Kemonogare Orera no Saru to |
DVDs |
| TOVF1368 |
Sawagiyakana Ensou |
| TOBF5198 |
Number Girl |
| TOBF5406 |
Omoide In My Head 3: Kiroku Eizou |
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Omoide In My Head 4: Chin ng & Rare Tracks (Album)
Released: 2005.12.14 (TOCT25878)
Label: Toshiba EMI
Tracklist
Disc 1
1. Trampoline Girl
2. Young
3. Oo Candy
4. Space Girl ~Kasoku Souchi~
5. Girlfriend Girlfriend Girlfriend
6. Girl In My Blood
7. Sentimental Kajou (4-track Recording ver.)
8. California '73 (4-track Recording ver.)
9. Omoide In My Head (4-track Recording ver.)
10. Do You Wanna Dance? (Rehearsal Take)
11. Super Young (Rehearsal Take)
12. Samurai
13. Way?
14. Knit (Previously Unreleased)
15. Cutie Mad (Previously Unreleased)
16. Pixie Du
17. Toumei Shoujo (Tokyo Recording ver.)
18. Watashi ha Umi wo Dakishimete itai
19. Instant Radical
Disc 2
1 Mahhiru Girl (Tabuchi Hisako Ver.)
2 Trampoline Girl (Demo ver.)
3 Urban Guitar Sayonara (Demo ver.)
4 Tourima Ride On On (Us Recording ver.)(Previously Unreleased)
5 Inazawa Chainsaw (Us Recording ver.)
6 Tokyo Freeze
7 Zegen Vs Undercover (Pv Ver.)
8 Tourima Ride On On (Tokyo Recording ver.)(Previously Unreleased)
9 Kuromegachi na Shoujo (Previously Unreleased)
10 Substitute (Live At Tokyo-Hibiya Yagai Ongakudou)
11 Zazenbeats Kemonostyle
12 Ku~ki (Live At Osaka-bayside Jenny)
13 Makkuro Kekke no Umi (Live At Tokyo･shelter)
14 Motown (Previously Unreleased)
15 Num-ami-dabutz (Raf mix Ver.)
16 Tombo The Electric Bloodred (Raf mix Ver.)
17 Gira Gira Hikaru (Previously Unreleased)
18 U-rei~rei Harakami Remix |
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Omoide In My Head 3: Kiroku Eizou (DVD)
Released: 2005.09.28 (TOBF5406)
Label: Toshiba EMI
Tracklist
1. Rsr2000 Memory Of One Fine Day 2000-11
2. Shin/Mayonaka no Oukoku 2001-08-31
3. Rsr2001 Rising Sun Rock Festival 2001-10-20
4. Sticky Bug 2002-04
5. Sss 2002-04-14 O.a.
6. Shin/Mayonaka no Oukoku 2002-07-30
7. Viewsic Special 2001-01-28
8. Fuji Rock Festival2001 2001-08-23 |
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Omoide In My Head 2: Kiroku Series 1 (Album)
Released: 2005.06.22 (TOCT25704)
Label: Toshiba EMI
Tracklist
Disc 1
1.OMOIDE IN MY HEAD
2.TRAMPOLINE GIRL
3.Sentimental Kajou
4.mini grammer
5.Mizuiro Kakumei
6.SUPER YOUNG
7.September Girlfriend
8.I wanna be your boyfriend
9.Way?
10.Hadashi no Kisetsu
11.SAMURAI
12.Toumei Shoujo
13.Ware Kiritsu Ikkojin
14.IGGY POP FAN CLUB
Disc 2
1.OMOIDE IN MY HEAD
2.Ooatari no Kisetsu
3.Toumei Shoujo
4.SAMURAI
5.Hadashi no Kisetsu
6.Sakura no Dance
7.mini grammer
8.Nichijou ni Ikiru Shoujo
9.IGGY POP FAN CLUB
10.SO SAD ABOUT US
11.IGGY POP FAN CLUB
12.Sakura no Dance
13.Sentimental Kajou
14.SAMURAI
15.Hadashi no Kisetsu
16.YOUNG GIRL 17 SEXUALLY KNOWING
17.Mizuiro Kakumei
18.DESTRUCTION BABY
19.OMOIDE IN MY HEAD
Disc 3
1.BRUTAL NUMBER GIRL
2.BRUTAL MAN
3.ZEGEN VS UNDERCOVER
4.OMOIDE IN MY HEAD
5.IGGY POP FAN CLUB
6.Tenkousei
7.TATTOO Ari
8.ABSTRACT TRUTH
9.SENTIMENTAL GIRL'S VIOLENT JOKE
10.Mahhiruma Girl
11.SASU-YOU
12.YARUSE NAKIO no BEAT
13.Mizuiro Kakumei
14.Teppu Surudoku Natte
15.DESTRUCTION BABY
16.U-REI
17.TRAMPOLINE GIRL
18.Touch
19.Hakara Kurui
Disc 4
1.Nichijou ni Ikiru Shoujo
2.OMOIDE IN MY HEAD
3.TATTOO ari
4.PIXIE DU
5.Hadashi no Kisetsu
6.DRUNK AFTERNOON
7.BRUTAL NUMBER GIRL
8.Teppuu Surudoku Natte
9.SAPPUKEI
10.DESTRUCTION BABY
11.YOUNG GIRL 17 SEXUALLY KNOWING
12.ZEGEN VS UNDERCOVER
13.Toumei Shoujo
14.ZAZENBEATS KEMONOSTYLE
15.EIGHT BEATER
16.Haikara Kurui
17.Sakura no Dance
18.Poolside
Disc 5
1. Number Girl in USA 99 (Bonus DVD) |
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Omoide In My Head: 2: Kiroku Series 2 (Album)
Released: 2005.06.22 (TOCT25708)
Label: Toshiba EMI
Tracklist
Disc 1
1.NUM-AMI-DABUTZ
2.ABSTRACT TRUTH
3.Tombo the electric bloodred
4.Teppuu Surudoku Natte
5.ZEGEN VS UNDERCOVER
6.Seiteki Shoujo
7.CIBICCO San
8.SAMURAI
9.delayed brain
10.MANGA SICK
11.FIGHT FIGHT
12.DESTRUCTION BABY
13.FU・SI・GI
14.I don't know
15.OMOIDE IN MY HEAD
16.Nichijou ni Ikiru Shoujo
17.BRUTAL NUMBER GIRL
Disc 2
1.BRUTAL NUMBER GIRL
2.Teppuu Surudoku Natte
3.SAMURAI
4.Tombo the electric bloodred
5.INUZINI
6.CIBICCO San
7.NUM-AMI-DABUTZ
8.delayed brain
9.DESTRUCTION BABY
10.FIGHT FIGHT
11.MANGA SICK
12.Kuruttekou
13.Seiteki Shoujo
14.BRUTAL MAN
15.IGGY POP FAN CLUB
Disc 3
1.BRUTAL NUMBER GIRL
2.OMOIDE IN MY HEAD
3.NUM-AMI-DABUTZ
4.Tombo the electric bloodred
5.delayed brain
6.FIGHT FIGHT
7.Sakura no Dance
8.URBAN GUITAR SAYONARA
9.ABSTRACT TRUTH
10.Seiteki Shoujo
11.MACHIGAI
Disc 4
1.NUM-HEABYMETALLIC
2.DESTRUCTION BABY
3.CIBICCO San
4.ZEGEN VS UNDERCOVER
5.Kuromegachi na Shoujo
6.I don't know
7.INUZINI
8.Teppu Surudoku Natte
9.YOUNG GIRL17 SEXUALLY KNOWING
10.IGGY POP FAN CLUB
Disc 5
1.Number Girl RIJ Fest 2002 (Bonus DVD) |
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Omoide In My Head 1 "Best&B-Sides" (Album)
Released: 2005.03.02 (TOCT25647)
Label: Toshiba EMI
Tracklist
Disc 1
1. Iggy Pop Fan Club
2. Drunken Heated
3. Toumei Shoujo
4. Touch
5. Eight Beater
6. Samurai
7. Hadashi no Kisetsu
8. Omoide In My Head
9. Destruction Baby
10. Urban Guitar Sayonara (Single Mix)
11. Zegen Vs. Undercover
12. Sasu-You
13. Tatoo Ari
14. I Don't Know
15. Teppu Surudoku Natte
16. Num-Heavymetallic
17. Cibicco San
18. Num-Ami-Dabuts
Disc 2
1. Super Young
2. New Girl (Mono Dead)
3. Haikara Kurui
4. Wave of Muti Lation
5. Teenage Casualties
6. Cramp Discharger
7. Drunk Afternoon
8. Sentimental Girl's Violent Joke
9. Mahiruma Girl
10. Tuesday Girl
11. Inazawa Chainsaw
12. Chuugaku Ichinensei
13. Thirteen
14. Fight Fight
15. Machigai
16. Mukai Night |
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Number Girl (DVD)
Released: 2003.03.26 (TOBF5198)
Label: Toshiba EMI
Tracklist
Disc 1
1. NUMBER GIRL wo Eizoushuu de Omoidasu
Disc 2
1. Toumei Shoujou
2. Touch
3. DESTRUCTION BABY
4. Nichijou ni Ikiru Shoujo
5. URBAN GUITAR SAYONARA
6. ZEGEN VS UNDERCOVER
7. Teppuu Surudoku Natte
8. NUM-AMI-DABUTZ
9. CIBICCO San
10. I don't know （LIVE）
11. Hakara Kurui （LIVE）
12. Toumei Shoujo （LIVE）
13. TATTOO Ari （LIVE）
14. ZEGEN VS UNDERCOVER （LIVE）
15. Teppuu Surudoku Natte （LIVE）
16. URBAN GUITER SAYONARA （LIVE）
17. NUM-AMI-DABUTZ （LIVE）
18. delayed brain （LIVE）
19. Seiteki Shoujo （LIVE）
20. CIBICCO San （LIVE）
21. Sentimental Kajou （LIVE）
22. U-REI （LIVE）
23. MANGA SICK （LIVE）
24. Sentimental Girl's Violent Joke （LIVE）
25. DESTRUCTION BABY （LIVE）
26. Young Girl17 SEXUALLY KNOWING （LIVE）
27. TRAMPOLINE GIRL （LIVE）
28. Nichijou ni Ikiru Shoujo （LIVE）
29. OMOIDE IN MY HEAD （LIVE）
30. Trampoline Girl （LIVE） |
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Sapporo Omoide In My Head Joutai (Album)
Released: 2003.01.29 (TOCT24920)
Label: Toshiba EMI
Tracklist
Disk 1
1. I Don't Know
2. Teppu Surudoku Natte
3. Zegen Vs Undercover
4. Tatoo Ari
5. Toumei Shoujo
6. Haikara Kurui
7. Urban Guitar Sayonara
8. Num-Ami-Dabutz
9. Delayed Brain
10. Seiteki Shoujo
11. Cibicco San
Disk 2
1. Sappukei
2. U-Rei
3. Manga Sick
4. Sentimental Girl's Violent Joke
5. Destruction Baby
6. Young Girl 17 Sexually Knowing
7. Trampoline Girl
8. Nichijou ni Ikiru Shoujo
9. Omoide In My Head
10. Iggy Pop Fanclub |
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Num-Heavymetallic (Album)
Released: 2002.04.26 (TOCT24764)
Label: Toshiba EMI
Tracklist
1. Num-Heavymetallic
2. Inuzini
3. Num-Ami-Dabutz
4. Tombo The Electric Bloodred
5. Delayed Brain
6. Cibico San
7. Manga Sick
8. Fu*Si*Gi
9. Seiteki Shoujo
10. Frustration In My Blood
11. Kuromegachi na Shoujo |
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