Beat Crusaders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Beat Crusaders, also known as BECR, are a Japanese rock/punk-pop/indie-pop band that are best known for their Engrish lyrics. Nearly all of their songs are sung in English, despite their inability to fully speak the language. It should also be noted that during all promotional appearances, their faces are masked by drawings resembling themselves as printed by a dot-matrix printer.
Band members include Toru Hidaka (vocals, guitar), Masahiko Kubota (bass), Taro Kato (guitar), Mashiita [real name: Hirofumi Yamashita] (drums), and Keitaimo [real name: Keita Tanabe] (keyboard)
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[edit] History
Heavily taken from http://www.typhoon-ent.com.au/band_profile.php?id=2
Beat Crusaders was instigated in late '97 by Hidaka primarily as an experimental U.S. Lo-Fi Indie Pop unit. The gathering of the rest of the crew culminated as a result of continual experimental gigs performed around the Shimokitazawa (Tokyo) area. Their creative use of analogue, synthesizers and the old Casitone, incorporated with influences of such bands as Weezer and Rentals, and at times the dynamism of Snuffesque rock , had transformed them into a powerfully melodic guitar band. By late '98, Beat Crusaders had already started creating vibes that they were a crazy and fun live act not to be missed. The momentum carried on with a single "E.C.D.T." released in June of the following year which entered independent charts of CD retail shops all across Japan. A month later their first mini-album, "HOWLING SYMPHONY OF..." was released; this entered the charts again with various music magazines giving the big thumbs up. Reflecting their chart action and praise from magazines, numerous live offers followed from notable bands in the Japanese alternative/independent scene, from guitar pop and new wave of new wave, to pop punk and ska bands. The continuted to be busy, with their second single "Firestarter" released in early 2000 and the full-length "All You Can Eat", not to mention involvement in four compilations, their own 'covers' EP and even a split with Australian pop punksters, Captain Hedgehog.
In August 2003, three of the four original members of Beat Crusaders left the band leaving behind only Hidaka Tooru. Four new members were recruited later whom now comprises Beat Crusaders. The three members that left went on to form the band ANITA CHILI PEPPERS.
Later on down the road, their song "Hit In The USA" was used for the opening of the anime Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, which helped them out of the indie scene and into the major leagues of Japanese music stardom. They have released several more albums including a cover album of American and British songs entitled "Musicrusaders" and have most recently lended their song "TONIGHT TONIGHT TONIGHT" as the opening of the anime Bleach. In 2006, the band's music made its first American appearance as the opening theme song, "Hey x 2 Look x 2" (Aka "Hey Hey Look Look") to the Nicktoons animated series, Kappa Mikey.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
[edit] Lastrum Records
- NEVER POP ENOUGH E.P. (1999)
- FIRESTARTER (2000)
- HANDSOME ACADAMY (2000)
- CAPA-CITY (2002)
[edit] Captain Haus Recordings
- GIRL FRIDAY (2003)
- SENSATION (2004)
[edit] DefStar Records
- HIT IN THE USA (2004) (for BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad)
- FEEL (2005)
- LOVE POTION #9 (2005)
- DAY AFTER DAY/SOLITARE (2006)
- TONIGHT TONIGHT TONIGHT (2006) (the fourth opening for the Bleach anime)
[edit] Albums
[edit] LastRum Records
- 1st HOWLING SYMPHONY OF... (1999)
- 2nd ALL YOU CAN EAT (2000)
- Split mini-album w/ Captain Hedge Hog WXY (2001)
- 3rd FORESIGHTS (2001)
- 4th SEXCITE! (2002)
- Split mini-album w/ Skaymate's OZZY!! (2002)
- Best of BEST CRUSADERS (2003)
[edit] DefStar Records
- Mini-album A PopCALYPSE NOW (2004)
- 5th P.O.P ~POP ON ARRIVAL~ (2005)
- Hidaka Tooru Compilation album COMPI CRUSADERS '68-'77 vol. 37 (2005)
- Cover album MUSICRUSADERS (2005)
- Split mini-album with Your Song is Good BOOOOTSY (2006)
- Split mini-album with Tropical Gorilla CELL NO.9 (2006)
[edit] Current members
- Toru Hidaka (Toru Hidaka) - Guitar and vocals
- Masahiko Kubota (Masahiko Kubota) - Bass
- Taro Kato (Taro Kato) - Guitar
- Mashita (Hirofumi Yamashita) - Drums
- Keitaimo (Keita Tanabe) - Keyboard
[edit] Former members
- umu (Yashikimitsutaka Umu) - Bass and vocals
- araki (Takayuki Araki) - Drums and vocals
- thai (Hiroyuki Tai) - Keyboard, guitar, and vocals
