ARB (Alexander's Ragtime Band) is a Japanese rock band formed in spring, 19… Read Full Bio ↴ARB (Alexander's Ragtime Band) is a Japanese rock band formed in spring, 1977.

Members:
- 石橋凌 (Ryo Ishibashi) - Vocal - (1956.7.20 - Fukuoka Perfecture, Japan)
- 内藤幸也 (Koya Naito) - Guitar - (1961.11.26 - Tokyo, Japan)
- EBI - Bass - (1965.10.2 - Hiroshima Perfecture, Japan)
- KEITH - Drums - (1952.2.6 - Akita Perfecture, Japan)

First members were 石橋凌 (Ishibashi Ryo) - Vocal, 田中一郎 (Tanaka Ichiro) - Guitar, KEITH - Drums, エンマ (Emma) - Keyboard, 宮城伸一郎 (Miyagi Shinichiro) - Bass. They debuted 1978. with single 「野良犬」.
In 1979, went out new single in April 25 「ワイルド・ローティーン・ガール」 (Wild teen Girl), and soon after on May 25, ARB's 1st album 「A.R.B」. On October, Emma and Miyagi Shinichiro left band at the same time to become independent of the agency Shinko Music.
1979.12.20, as three member band they released single 「魂こがして」.
In 1980, 野中良浩 (Yoshihiro Nonaka) is joining band as the Bass. On May 21, same year, band released 2nd album 「BAD NEWS」. Already next year the band went with 2 full Albums, in March 21 - 3rd album 「BOYS & GIRLS」, and in November 21 - 4th album 「指を鳴らせ!/Snap Your Fingers」.
On 21 June 1982, came out 5th album 「W」 and release of album followed LIVE tour "LIVE! CRAZY! LOVE TOUR" when they toured cities Yokohama, Urawa, Mishima, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, Tokyo, Sapporo.
ARB did many LIVE performances in 1983, and on April 21 they released 6th album 「トラブル中毒」(trouble poisoning). The same year in September, guitarist Tanaka quits the band. He was quickly replaced with guitarist 斉藤光浩 (Mitsuhiro Saito) from BOW WOW. In 1984, Yoshihiro quits the band. As the short replacement for Bass, Jean-Jacques Burnel from The Stranglers, joined the band when he visited Japan.
In May 1984, 岡部滋 (Okabe Shigeru) joins as the Bass, on Septembre went out 7th album 「YELLOW BLOOD」 and they did album follow up tour 'YELLOW BLOOD TOUR''. Next year om October, ARB released 8th album 「砂丘1945年」.
In June 1986, after the concert in Hyogo Gymnasium, guitarist Saito leaves the band. After one month came replacement from solo guitarist 白浜久 (Shirahama Hisashi) who joined ARB. In November 21, 9th album is released 「ONE and ONLY DREAMs」.
On 21 June 1987, quickly came out ARB's 10th album 「ROCK OVER JAPAN」, and after album release In October, Shigeru withdraws from the band, and as support Bass in December joins 浅田孟 (Asada Takeshi) previous member of Sheena & the Rokkets.
On 21 June 1988, ARB released 11th album 「PAPERS BED」. They did big tour around Japan in July, named "SWEAT, HEART&BRAIN TOUR". Soon, next year, 1989.11.8, came 12th album 「SYMPATHY」. In 1990, the band did long tour "LOVE THE LIVE '90 TOUR", where they announced hiatus, and soon after in October they released Best Album 「BALLADS AND WORK SONGS」. On December 28, ARB released Best live album 「RED BOX / ARB LIVE(1980-1990)」.
1991.1.21 came out VIDEO "THE LONGEST TOUR" release of their LIVE tour from 1990, and in June 「BLACK X'mas-ARB SECRET SINGLES」 release.
On 1993.11.21. went release「DAYS OF A.R.B. Vol.3 (1986-1990)」.
ARB came back to celebrate anniversary in 1997.7.24 at Nippon Budokan "LOFT 20th ANNIVERSARY ROCK OF AGES" (only as original members Ryo Ishibashi · KEITH).

ARB announced their comeback in January 1998, with 2 new members: EBI -Bass- and 内藤幸也 (Koya Naito) -Guitar- along with original members Ishibashi and KEITH, what stayed as current line-up.
In February 21, they are officially back with release Resurrection first bullet maxi single 「TOKYO OUTSIDER」, which follows release of 13th Album 「REAL LIFE」 on March 21, and a tour "REAL LIFE TOUR '98".
In August 1999, ARB went with 14th album 「EL DORADO」 and promo-album tour. KEITH released 1st Solo Album 「親孝行」 in November, 2000. On the same year ARB made compilation album 「武道館LIVE～1999.1.24Days of ARB～」.
2001 on June 13, came out band's 15th album 「HARD-BOILED CITY」 with the following tour.
For their 25th anniversary ARB did tour starting in October 2003, "ARB 25th Anniversary LIVE CIRCUIT IN TOHOKU", and 16th album 「KAZA-BANA」 was released on 17 December.
On 2004, ARB released new Best of Album, 「LOCUS 1998-2004 ARB LIVE BEST」.
In February 2005, new Single 「荒鷲のうた」 went out. Soon each member became more occupied with their solo projects and other bands.
After 2006, ARB went inactive.

Official website: http://www.arb-tamashii.com/
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ウィスキー & ウォッカ
ARB Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

リ・リ・リ・リ......
リ・リ・リ・リ......ベルが鳴る

24時間マーケットじゃ眠れない連中が
News を話しにやって来る News を聞きにやって来る

ダスティン・ホフマンみたいな英会話の先生は
ウィスキーを飲みながらウィスキーを自慢してる

デッカイ赤毛の野郎がウォッカを片手に入ってくると
話はしばらくとぎれちまった話はしばらくしらけちまった

ウィスキー & ウォッカ × 4
そのうち二人は口ゲンカささいな事でつかみ合う
最後にゃドンパチ始った大あわて大あわて

リ・リ・リ・リ......
リ・リ・リ・リ......

レジの男はチャイニーズで昔からの友達さ
いつも静かなあいつもいつもと顔色変えていた

救急車にパトカー消防車までかけつけた
誰かが警報ベルを誰かがとうとう鳴らしたんだ

ウィスキー & ウォッカ × 4
ますます騒ぎは広まって国中あげてのにらみ合い
アメリカ・ソ連に中国が火を吹いた火を吹いた

ウィスキー & ウォッカ × 4
そのうち二人は口ゲンカささいな事でつかみ合う
最後にゃドンパチ始った大あわて大あわて

ウィスキー & ウォッカ ×∞

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "ウィスキー & ウォッカ" by ARB describe the chaotic and rowdy atmosphere of a 24-hour market where people come to hang out and pass the time. The bell rings repeatedly, signaling the arrival of customers who cannot sleep and come to listen to and share news. The song mentions a foreign-language teacher who, just like Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie Tootsie, brags about drinking whiskey while teaching, and a red-haired guy who creates a buzz while holding a bottle of vodka. However, when the two drinkers get into a petty argument, their verbal battle quickly turns physical, causing a commotion in the market. The chaos continues to escalate, and even emergency vehicles come to the scene as tensions mount between countries, resulting in a heated confrontation.

The song is a commentary on society's tendency to seek refuge in vices such as alcohol and the consequences that come with such behavior. The lyrics highlight the dangers of indulging in unhealthy habits that can lead to violence, as seen in the argument that turned physical. Furthermore, the mention of international tensions adds another layer of complexity to the song, suggesting that even trivial disputes can have drastic and far-reaching consequences.

Line by Line Meaning

リ・リ・リ・リ......
The sound effect of a bell ringing

リ・リ・リ・リ......ベルが鳴る
The sound of a bell ringing

24時間マーケットじゃ眠れない連中が
People who can't sleep come to the 24-hour market

News を話しにやって来る News を聞きにやって来る
They come to talk about news and listen to news

ダスティン・ホフマンみたいな英会話の先生は
An English conversation teacher who looks like Dustin Hoffman

ウィスキーを飲みながらウィスキーを自慢してる
Boasting about whiskey while drinking whiskey

デッカイ赤毛の野郎がウォッカを片手に入ってくると
When a tall red-haired guy enters with a vodka in hand

話はしばらくとぎれちまった話はしばらくしらけちまった
The conversation was interrupted and became awkward for a while

ウィスキー & ウォッカ × 4
Whiskey & vodka times four

そのうち二人は口ゲンカささいな事でつかみ合う
Eventually, two people quarrel and grab each other over trivial matters

最後にゃドンパチ始った大あわて大あわて
Finally, it turned into a brawl and everyone was in a great panic