The Pillows

Founded on September 16th, 1989 The Pillows are a relatively unpopular (or indie depending on how you look at it) J-Rock group. Either way, they are severely underappreciated. They have a somewhat retro punk sound which is not entirely unlike Penpals (of Berserk fame). They are responsible for most the music for the Gainax anime OAV FLCL (aka Furi Kuri), but most notably the end theme Ride on Shooting Star which played during the stop action animation of an real Vespa scooter. The FLCL OST is titled Addict.

Their recent music has been very guitar heavy, but not in a bad way. The music for Addict is very catchy without being pop-like. It's generally high-energy, but with rough edges. Few songs exceed 3½ minutes, but in general they don't seem too short.

Lineup

Vocals & Guitar

山中さわお Sawao Yamanaka

Guitar

真鍋吉明 Yoshiaki Manabe

Drums

佐藤しんいちろう Shinihirou Satou

上田ケンジ KENJI Ueda played bass and was a founding member of the band, but left in 1992. Currently, the band has no bassist.

Official Web Site

http://www.pillows.gr.jp/

Discography

• 1990
  • パントマイム (PANTOMIME) (May 21st)
  • 90's My LIFE (October 25th)
• 1991
  • 雨にうたえば (Ame ni Utaeba) (May 21st)
  • MOON GOLD (June 21st)
• 1992
  • 彼女はシスター (Kanojo wa SISTER) (April 14th)
  • WHITE INCARNATION (May 21st)
• 1994
  • KOOL SPICE (July 2nd)
  • DAYDREAM WONDER (August 24th)
• 1995
  • LIVING FIELD (March 24th)
  • ガールフレンド (GIRLFRIEND) (March 24th)
• 1996
  • Tiny Boat (January 24th)
  • ストレンジカメレオン (STRANGE CHAMELEON) (June 21st)
  • Swanky Street (August 21st])
  • TRIP DANCER (November 21st])
• 1997
  • Please Mr. Lostman (January 22nd)
  • Kanojo wa Kyou (March 5th)
  • ONE LIFE (June 28th)
  • HYBRID RAINBOW (November 21st)
• 1998
  • Another Morning (January 21st)
  • video: Hello, Welcome to Bubbletown's Happy Zoo (instant show) (January 21st)
  • LITTLE BUSTERS (February 21st)
  • NO SELF CONTROL (September 2nd)
  • インスタントミュージック (INSTANT MUSIC) (November 27th)
• 1999
  • RUNNERS HIGH (January 22nd)
  • video: WE HAVE A THEME SONG (February 26th)
  • CARNIVAL (July 28th)
  • RUSH (October 27th)
  • HAPPY BIVOUAC (December 2nd)
• 2000
  • Ride on shooting star (April 26th)
  • I think I can (November 22nd)
• 2001
  • Fool on the planet (February 7th)
  • LIFE IS DELICIOUS (August 8th)
  • video: Busters on the planet (August 29th)
  • Smile (October 31st)
• 2002
  • my room is delicious vol.1 (January 23)
  • 白い夏と緑の自転車 赤い髪と黒いギター (Shiroi Natsu to Midori no Jitensha Akai Kami to Kuroi Guitar) (August 1st)

• http://www.pillows.gr.jp/
• http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~cem96160/the_pillows/pillows_top.htm
• http://www1.harenet.ne.jp/~sadaoka/pillows.htm
• http://www.aoiharu.com/profile/ueda.html