Tokyo Yankees

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tokyo Yankees


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Origin = Tokyo Japan
Genre = Heavy metal, Speed metal, Hardcore punk
Years_active = 1988 - Present
Label = EXTASY RECORDS, TriadZ, Nippon Columbia
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Current_members = Umemura Nori Ami U.D.A.
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Tokyo Yankees (東京YANKEES) is a Japanese metal band that formed in 1988, signed to X-Japan's Yoshiki's Extasy Records label (now defunct), and distributed by Sony Music. Originally a Speed metal band, the band has gone through changes in musical style (now leaning more towards punk rock) but the line-up continues to stay the same. Vocalist Soichiro Umemura recently passed away after almost twenty years fronting the band.

Members

* Nori - Guitar (ex-GUERRILLA) 1988-Present
* Yoshimura - Bass/Vocals (ex-Rommel) 2000-Present
* U.D.A. - Drums (ex-Rommel, Dementia)

Former Members

* UMEMURA - Vocals (Deceased) 1988-2007
* TOHDA - Guitar
* AMI-荒山正広 - Bass 1988-1996
* HIYORI - Vocals (of YOUTHQUAKE)

History

Tokyo Yankees formed in 1988 and began playing shows in the local club scene the following year. Umemura and Nori were previously in the heavy-metal band GUERRILLA. "Rockin 'F", a Japanese heavy metal publication, issued their first single, Joker, with an issue of their magazine in 1990. That same year their song "Rat Race" was issued on a heavy-metal omnibus album titled THE END OF THE CENTURY ROCKERS EMERGENCY EXPRESS! The band eventually signed with Extasy Records, who released their debut album, "Do The Dirty", in 1991. That year they participated in Extasy's Records "Extasy Summit '91 at Nippon Budokan" to a crowd of 14,000.

The band released another record, "Overdoing", in on Extasy in 1992, before the label closed it's doors. The bands popularity declined without Extasy's support, and following releases were issued on TriadZ Records (1993's "Ghost Rider") and Nippon Columbia Records (1994's "Vacate Your Useless Brain"), after which the band went on hiatus.

Reunited

After Tokyo Yankees Ami went on to form CHARISMA, who released three albums between 1997 and 2000.

A Tokyo Yankees compilation LP was issued in 1996, but the band remained inactive. In 2000 Ume, Nori, and U.D.A. reformed Tokyo Yankees with Yoshimura on bass and released "Pre-Emptive Strike" on 413TRACKS. In 2004 Tokyo Yankee's issued "777", their first-ever EP release. It features covers of influential bands (The Damned, Black Sabbath, Venom, and Anthrax) and well as re-recordings of two classic Yankees tracks; "Dirty Dog" and "Devil."

Tokyo Yankees were featured on Extasy's 15-year retrospective, entitled History of Extasy, in 2000. Vocalist Umemura commented on Extasy's success; "I may have not sold a million records, but I've never lost a fight!"

After reuniting the band performed regularly around the Tokyo area with many well known heavy acts such as Youthquake, Ladies Room, Jolly Pickles, .

Recent Activity

Vocalist Soichiro "Ume" Umemura died on December 11, 2007. Surprisingly the band has continued to perform, with Yoshi and Nori taking over vocal duties. One of the bands first shows following Ume's death was the hide Summit in April 2008, where they performed with Extasy Records alumni X Japan and Luna Sea.

In May 2008 the band was featured on 413TRACKS' Motorhead tribute album with a recording of "Ace of Spades" and a live rendition of "Overkill". July saw the release a history DVD chronicling Tokyo Yankees career, and celebrating their 20th anniversary titled "Tokyo Yankees: 20 and Alive", which Yankee's supported with a small tour.

Nori, Yoshi, and U.D.A continue to perform as Tokyo Yankee's and gig at least once a month in greater Tokyo area.

Since 2003 Nori has been active in his side-band, From Hell. They have released two EP's and play one show a month.

Discography

ingles

* Joker - October 28th, 1990

Albums

* Do the Dirty - May 20, 1991 (EXC-006)
* Overdoing - October 20, 1992 (EXC-009)
* Ghostrider - October 5, 1993
* Vacate Your Useless Brain - September 21, 1994
* The Best of Tokyo Yankees '93-'95 - June 21, 1996
* Pre Emptive Strike - October 14, 2003
* 777 - October 9, 2004

Videos

* Extasy Summit '91 at Nippon Budokan - 1992
* 20 and Alive [We Are The Yankees Of The Underworld And We're Undead!] - August 27, 2008

the band was also briefly featured on the vhs of extasy summit '92, but it is long out of print

Other

* THE END OF THE CENTURY ROCKERS EMERGENCY EXPRESS! (on "Rat Race") - October 21st, 1990
* Lightning&Thunder (on "Light My Fire" and "Japanese Motherfucker") - October 01, 1998
* History of Extasy (on "Japanese Motherfucker") - June 21st, 2000
* Tribute To MASAMI -white disc- (on Dead Rock)
* 413TRACKS' Motorhead Tribute (on "Ace of Spades" and "Overkill") - May 14, 2008

External links

* [http://livemedia.co.jp/~yankees/ Tokyo Yankees official site]