Wands (band)

Wands (ワンズ) (stylized as WANDS) is a Japanese rock band formed in 1991 and was active until 2000 in the B-Gram Records label.[1] In 2019, the band was reunited with the new vocalist, Daishi Uehara with the two former members Shibasaki and Kimura under D-Go recording label.[2] In the span of 29 years, the band has three lead vocalists, and changing instrumental members during five period times.

Wands
Origin Japan
GenresRock, pop rock, power pop, alternative rock, hard rock
Years active1991–2000, 2019-
LabelsToshiba-EMI (1991–1993)
B-Gram Records (1993–2000)
Giza Studio (2019-)
Associated actsMakoto Miyoshi
Izumi Sakai
Azuki Nana
Miho Komatsu
Aika Ohno
Keiko Utoku
Websitewands-official.jp
MembersHiroshi Shibasaki (guitar, 1991-1997, 2019-)
Shinya Kimura (keyboard, 1992-2000, 2019-)
Daishi Uehara (vocal, 2019-)
Past membersShow Wesugi (vocal, 1991-1997)
Kousuke Oshima (keyboard, 1991-1992)
Jiro Waku (vocal, 1997-2000)
Issei Sugimoto (guitar, 1997-2000)

Members

Wesugi period
  • Show Wesugi (上杉 昇, Uesugi Shō, born 24 May 1972) (1991-1996)- vocalist,lyricist,composer,arranger
  • Kosuke Oshima (大島 こうすけ, Ōshima Kōsuke, Real and former stage name: Kosuke Ohsima (大島 康祐, Ōshima Kōsuke), born 4 September 1970)(1991-1992)-keyboardist,composer,arranger
  • Hiroshi Shibasaki (柴崎 浩, Shibasaki Hiroshi, born 13 December 1969)(1991-1996)-guitarist,composer,arranger
  • Shinya Kimura (木村 真也, Kimura Shinya, born 28 July 1969) (1992-1996)-keyboardist, lyricist,composer,arranger

Jiro period
  • Jiro Matsumoto (松元 治郎, Matsumoto Jirō, Former stage name: Jiro Waku (和久 二郎, Waku Jirō), born 11 December 1970)(1997-2000)-vocalist,lyricist,arranger
  • Issei "Suginho" Ambo (安保 "Suginho" 一生, Anbo Sugīnyo Issei, Real name: Issei Anbo (安保 一生, Anbo Issei), Former stage name: Issei Sugimoto (杉元 一生, Sugimoto Issei), born 8 May 1972)(1997-2000)-guitarist,lyricist,composer,arranger
  • Shinya Kimura (木村 真也, Kimura Shinya, born 28 July 1969)(1992-2000)-keyboardist, lyricist,composer,arranger

Daishi period
  • Daishi Uehara (上原大史, Uehara Daishi)(2019-)- vocalist, lyricist
  • Hiroshi Shibasaki (柴崎 浩, Shibasaki Hiroshi, born 13 December 1969)(1991-1996, 2019-)-guitarist, composer, arranger
  • Shinya Kimura (木村 真也, Kimura Shinya, born 28 July 1969) (1992-2000, 2019-)-keyboardist, lyricist, composer, arranger

Career

1991–1996: Commercial success with Show Wesugi

The band founded in 1991 by main vocalist Show Wesugi, guitarist Hiroshi Shibasaki, and keyboardist Kousuke Oshima. Wesugi was a fan of Axl Rose and Oshima was a guest member of Japanese rock band Loudness.[3] The band was named after wands of tarot.[3] They made a debut with single "Sabishisa wa Aki no Iro" (literally "Loneliness is autumn color"). Their 1992 single "Motto Tsuyoku Dakishimeta Nara" (literally "If I Embrace You More Strongly") reached the number-one position and was charted for 44 weeks on the Japanese Oricon charts.[4]

However, Oshima withdrew from the band and Shinya Kimura joined the band in 1992. Collaborating with Miho Nakayama, in October 1992, they released "Sekaijū no Dare yori Kitto" (lit. "Certainly more than everybody in the world"), which became one of standard "J-pop" songs.[3] In 1992, they took part in Japanese famous year-end show called Kōhaku Uta Gassen by the song.[3] Along with their songs, Wesugi wrote Deen's debut song "Konomama Kimidake wo Ubaisaritai" (lit. "Now, I want to make off with only you"), which was released in March 1993 and sold over a million copies. In April 1993, their album Toki no Tobira (lit. "Temporal Door") and single "Ai wo Kataru yori Kuchizuke wo Kawaso" (lit. "Let's kiss more than talking love") debuted at the number-one positions at the same time on the Oricon charts, making them the second artist to achieve this following Seiko Matsuda.[5] "Ai wo Kataru yori Kuchizuke wo Kawaso" spent in number-one spot for four consecutive weeks.[3] Toki no Tobira was charted for 33 weeks on the Oricon album charts.[6] They sold over 4.11 million singles and 3.18 million albums in a year, winning the "artist of the year" award at the 8th Japan Gold Disc Award.[7]

Their 1994 single "Sekai ga Owaru made wa..." (lit. "Until the End of the World...") reached number-one on Oricon charts[8] and was certified as a million-selling single by Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[9] It was the ending theme of anime series Slam Dunk. However, Wesugi loved grunge and wanted to turn into alternative rock.[3] "Sekai ga Owaru made wa..." became his last song written by his former style because he felt that many musicians around him were doing the same thing.[10] The tune of their next single "Secret Night (It's My Treat)" was more shifted into power pop, creating controversies.[3] However, their 1995 studio album Piece of My Soul also debuted at the number-one position on the Oricon album charts, with the first week sales of over 542,000 copies.[11]

Wesugi's image continued to be changed with song "Same Side".[12] His new style was said to be "painterly" and their new album was nearing completion.[10] According to Wesugi, their new album was influenced by punk and blues.[10] After they released single "Worst Crime (About a rock star who was a swindler)" in February 1996, however, Wesugi and Shibasaki withdrew from the band, which was said to have been its actual disbandment.[3] Their withdrawals were officially announced in 1997.[13]

Wesugi continued his music career and took part in the sixth anniversary of hide's death as the last singer in 2004.[14] Shibasaki formed rock band Abingdon Boys School with Takanori Nishikawa in 2005. Oshima also associated with Nishikawa on the 2006 album Under Cover.[15]

1997–2000: Third period with Jiro Waku

Shinya Kimura re-formed the group with vocalist Jiro Waku and guitarist Issei Sugimoto. Jiro Waku, whose real name is Jiro Matsumoto, was the first leader of twelve skateboarding boys (predecessor of SMAP) in Johnny & Associates.[16] Their debut song "Sabitsuita Machine Gun de Ima o Uchinukō", written by Miho Komatsu, was adopted as the end credits theme for Dragon Ball GT. Their next single "Brand New Love" was written by Izumi Sakai. Sakai also wrote their song "Ashita moshi Kimi ga kowaretemo" (lit. "Even if you shatter tomorrow"), which was used as the ending theme for Season 0 of Yu-Gi-Oh!, produced by Toei Animation. Their next single "Kyo, Nanika no Hazumi de Ikiteiru" (lit. "Today, I live by some chance") was written by Nana Azuki, a future member of Garnet Crow and by Makoto Miyoshi, a future member of Rumania Montevideo. However, their first studio album Awake, released on 27 October 1999, was charted for only three weeks, peaking at number 18 on the Oricon charts.[17] The band from the third period has disbanded in 2000 through the announcement from the official website.

2019-present: Fourth and Fifth Wands period with Daishi Uehara

On 13 November 2019, was announced the fifth period of Wands with the new vocalist, Daishi Uehara along with the former members Shibasaki and Kimura. On 17 November 2019, the band made stage appearance for first time in 18 years in the free live event Onto in the venue Dojima River Forum.[18][19] In January 2020 is scheduled to release new original song Makka na Lip under Giza Studio recording label. The song will serve as an opening theme to the anime television series Detective Conan.[20][21]

On 16 February 2020, was announced release schedule of new single Daki Yose, Takamaru, Kimi no Taion to Tomoni in May, written by Shibasaki and Uehara. The announcement happened after Special Live event. The single will be promoted as a theme song to the Japanese televisions series Silent Voice. It's their first television drama theme song for the first time in 28 years.[22]

Discography
Main article: Wands (band) discography

Studio albums

References
  1. ビーイング系アーティスト (in Japanese). uta-net. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  2. "WANDS、新ボーカルを迎え第5期始動へ！" (in Japanese). the tv.
  3. "高品質J-POPムーブメントを駆け抜けたWANDS" (in Japanese). Barks News. 12 January 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  4. "Motto Tsuyoku Dakishimeta Nara" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  5. "KinKi Kidsがギネス更新！＆同時首位に！" (in Japanese). Oricon. 28 December 2004. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  6. "Toki no Tobira" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  7. "Gold Disc Hall of Fame 8th" (in Japanese). Japan Gold Disc Award. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  8. 世界が終るまでは… (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  9. "List of million sellers in 1994" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  10. "Wands" (in Japanese). J-rock magazine. Archived from the original on 4 January 1997. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  11. "Oricon Weekly Album Charts for the second week of May 1995" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  12. "上杉昇15周年アルバム SPOILS 特集" (in Japanese). meVIEWsa radio. 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  13. "Wands" (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  14. "Show Wesugi biography" (in Japanese). Barks. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  15. "UNDER:COVER 通常盤" (in Japanese). Neowing. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  16. "Jiro Waku profile" (in Japanese). Jiro Waku Official Website. Archived from the original on 4 April 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  17. "Awake" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  18. "２０年ぶり復活のＷＡＮＤＳが再始動" (in Japanese). sanspo.
  19. "新ボーカルを迎えた「第５期ＷＡＮＤＳ」大阪で２０年ぶりの再始動パフォーマンス" (in Japanese). Hochi News.
  20. "第5期WANDS始動！初ライブ生配信＆年明けにニューシングル" (in Japanese). Natlaie Music.
  21. "WANDS、始動「続きをやってみたくなった」" (in Japanese). barks.
  22. "WANDS、27年ぶりにドラマ主題歌を担当「シングル第二弾です」" (in Japanese). barks.
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