Japan were a British pop/rock group, formed in 1974 in Lewisham, southeast London. The band achieved success in the late 1970s/early 1980s, when they were often associated with the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement (though the band themselves have downplayed any such connection.
The band debuted on record with 1978's Adolescent Sex and subsequently Obscure Alternatives, which both sold well in Japan (where the band's name alone led to them gaining a devoted cult following) and the Netherlands where the single "Adolescent Sex" was a Top 30 hit, they also gained some popularity in Canada. However in their native Britain those albums were largely ignored. Though influenced by artists such as The New York Dolls, Roxy Music and David Bowie, both albums were widely dismissed by the British music press as being distinctly outmoded at a time when punk and New Wave bands were in ascendence. However, tracks such as "Suburban Berlin", "State Line" and "...Rhodesia" suggested a creative depth and sense of melody to the band's output which would hint at their future direction. They were managed by Simon Napier-Bell who also managed The Yardbirds, Marc Bolan, London and Wham!.
Band members
* David Sylvian (original name David Batt) - vocals, guitar, keyboards
* Mick Karn (original name Anthony Michaelides) - bass guitar, saxophone, oboe
* Rob Dean - guitar
* Steve Jansen (Sylvian's brother, Steve Batt) - drums and percussion
* Richard Barbieri - keyboards
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