Japan
British art rock band Japan was formed in 1974 in Lewisham, South London, England with original members David Sylvian (vocals, guitar), Mick Karn (bass guitar, saxophone), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Rob Dean (guitar), and Steve Jansen (percussion). Dean left the band in 1981, before the recording of Japan's final album, Tin Drum.
Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and Motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978's Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives Read Full BioBritish art rock band Japan was formed in 1974 in Lewisham, South London, England with original members David Sylvian (vocals, guitar), Mick Karn (bass guitar, saxophone), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Rob Dean (guitar), and Steve Jansen (percussion). Dean left the band in 1981, before the recording of Japan's final album, Tin Drum.
Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and Motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978's Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives, which both sold well in the nation of Japan, though nowhere else.
Their third album, 1979's Quiet Life, heralded a change in musical style from the earlier largely guitar based music to a more electronic sound, with more emphasis on Barbieri's synthesisers, Sylvian's svelte baritone style of singing, Karn's distinctive fretless bass sound, and Steve Jansen's odd-timbred percussion work.
Their following two albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Tin Drum (1981) continued to expand their audience as the band refined its new sound and unintentionally became part of the early 1980s New Romantic movement. But Tin Drum would end up being their final album, as personality conflicts drove the band apart. Nevertheless, the album's unconventional single "Ghosts" reached #5 on the UK pop charts, followed by a re-release of "I Second That Emotion" that reached #9.
The band officially split up after a farewell tour in late 1982. The tour was posthumously released as an LP, "Oil on Canvas", in mid-1983.
Most of the original members of the band went on to work on other projects.
Mick Karn and Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy formed the one-album project called Dali's Car and released the album The Waking Hour in 1984. He has released other solo works over the years.
Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri released an album in 1987 under the moniker The Dolphin Brothers which garnered a little interest.
By far the most successful is David Sylvian, who has recorded several albums with noted performers. An attempted reunion in 1991 with the Rain Tree Crow project was short lived, producing only one album.
All members have collaborated on the other's solo work; notably the trio JKB (aka Jansen, Barbieri and Karn) have released several records. Jansen has continued to tour with his brother David Sylvian.
Karn died of cancer January 4, 2011.
Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and Motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978's Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives Read Full BioBritish art rock band Japan was formed in 1974 in Lewisham, South London, England with original members David Sylvian (vocals, guitar), Mick Karn (bass guitar, saxophone), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Rob Dean (guitar), and Steve Jansen (percussion). Dean left the band in 1981, before the recording of Japan's final album, Tin Drum.
Japan began playing glam rock, influenced by David Bowie, The New York Dolls and Motown. Japan debuted on record with 1978's Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives, which both sold well in the nation of Japan, though nowhere else.
Their third album, 1979's Quiet Life, heralded a change in musical style from the earlier largely guitar based music to a more electronic sound, with more emphasis on Barbieri's synthesisers, Sylvian's svelte baritone style of singing, Karn's distinctive fretless bass sound, and Steve Jansen's odd-timbred percussion work.
Their following two albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Tin Drum (1981) continued to expand their audience as the band refined its new sound and unintentionally became part of the early 1980s New Romantic movement. But Tin Drum would end up being their final album, as personality conflicts drove the band apart. Nevertheless, the album's unconventional single "Ghosts" reached #5 on the UK pop charts, followed by a re-release of "I Second That Emotion" that reached #9.
The band officially split up after a farewell tour in late 1982. The tour was posthumously released as an LP, "Oil on Canvas", in mid-1983.
Most of the original members of the band went on to work on other projects.
Mick Karn and Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy formed the one-album project called Dali's Car and released the album The Waking Hour in 1984. He has released other solo works over the years.
Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri released an album in 1987 under the moniker The Dolphin Brothers which garnered a little interest.
By far the most successful is David Sylvian, who has recorded several albums with noted performers. An attempted reunion in 1991 with the Rain Tree Crow project was short lived, producing only one album.
All members have collaborated on the other's solo work; notably the trio JKB (aka Jansen, Barbieri and Karn) have released several records. Jansen has continued to tour with his brother David Sylvian.
Karn died of cancer January 4, 2011.
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Quiet Life
Japan Lyrics
Boys, now the times are changing
The going could get rough
Boys, would that ever cross your mind?
Boys, are you contemplating moving out somewhere?
Boys, will you ever find the time?
Here we are stranded
Somehow it seems the same
Beware, here comes the quiet life again
Boys, now the country's only miles away from here
Boys, do you recognize the signs?
Boys, when these driving hands push against the tracks
Boys, it's too late to wonder why
Here we are stranded
Somehow it seems the same
Beware, here comes the quiet life again
Now as you turn to leave
Never looking back
Will you think of me?
If you ever, could it ever stop?
Oh, oh, ooh , the quiet life
Here we are stranded
Somehow it seems the same
Beware, here comes the quiet life again
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID SYLVIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Peter Shoobridge
Japan were the real deal. They had everything - the songs, the sounds, the arrangements, the musicianship, and style that launched dozens of imitators.
Sadly, the imitators had more success than Japan, but that’s probably because these songs made a few more listening demands than Duran or Spandau. There is jazz here, there is prog, there is funk and ambient electronica, there is dance, there is Roxy, Bowie, Eno, and Fripp, all in a beautifully wrapped aural presentation box that still sounds gorgeous and fresh some forty years on. Truly unique.
Everything from Quiet Life to Tin Drum is worth your time - the earlier glam recordings are almost from a different band (almost, but not entirely unconnected).
But don’t miss out on what the band members did after Japan folded. There are numerous collaborations. There is the Japan-that-was-not in Rain Tree Crow. There’s David Sylvian’s solo career, which scales some extraordinary musical heights. There’s Mick Karn’s rubbery fretless bass playing - solo and with others, including with Bauhaus’ Pete Murphy for the short-lived Dali’s Car. There are the Jansen/Barbieri albums.
If you’re just discovering Japan or you’ve not followed the later music made by its members, you have a beautiful and stimulating journey ahead, should you choose to explore.
I hope it’s clear that I love this band as much today as I did when I discovered them in 1980. They’re worth your time and attention. The coolest and most musically gifted band no one ever talks about.
Peter Shoobridge
Japan were the real deal. They had everything - the songs, the sounds, the arrangements, the musicianship, and style that launched dozens of imitators.
Sadly, the imitators had more success than Japan, but that’s probably because these songs made a few more listening demands than Duran or Spandau. There is jazz here, there is prog, there is funk and ambient electronica, there is dance, there is Roxy, Bowie, Eno, and Fripp, all in a beautifully wrapped aural presentation box that still sounds gorgeous and fresh some forty years on. Truly unique.
Everything from Quiet Life to Tin Drum is worth your time - the earlier glam recordings are almost from a different band (almost, but not entirely unconnected).
But don’t miss out on what the band members did after Japan folded. There are numerous collaborations. There is the Japan-that-was-not in Rain Tree Crow. There’s David Sylvian’s solo career, which scales some extraordinary musical heights. There’s Mick Karn’s rubbery fretless bass playing - solo and with others, including with Bauhaus’ Pete Murphy for the short-lived Dali’s Car. There are the Jansen/Barbieri albums.
If you’re just discovering Japan or you’ve not followed the later music made by its members, you have a beautiful and stimulating journey ahead, should you choose to explore.
I hope it’s clear that I love this band as much today as I did when I discovered them in 1980. They’re worth your time and attention. The coolest and most musically gifted band no one ever talks about.
Qamar Ramzan
We were spoilt for choice in the 80's but Japan were really good.
My Managers wife, who happened to be japanese, gave me and my friend some tickets to see them at Hammersmith Odeon. I think they had just released Ghosts! Great night and amazing crowd!
BrainwashAlpha
wow thanks
Fernando Fidalgo
Thanks for sharing Peter, and I will most definitely listen to their catalogue
Richard Ellis
Right on brother. Great piece about the coolest band of the time. I like the Mick Karn's "rubbery bass' description. Perfect. Split up too soon but I think they'd been together for about ten years by then. Anyway, top piece mate.
Big Blungus
Thanks for giving all the info
Rodney West
Japan's music was the perfect place where the glam tradition of David Bowie and Roxy Music met the post-punk bleakness of the early '80s.
Dale Kinder
@Karen Barker they wasn't and David Sylvian would hate to hear you say that.
Serena N
More than that, even. But get your drift. Think it is more sophisticated than any of the aforemention. And, I am a huge fan of all these..
weak signal
And Sylvian worked with Ryo Sakamoto too,