Zelda (band)

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Zelda
Origin Japan
Genre(s) J-Rock
Years active 1979 – 1996
Label(s) Nippon Phonogram
Sony Music Entertainment
cutting edge
Members
Sachiho Kojima (bass)
Sayoko Takahashi (vocals)
Ako Ozawa (drums)
Fukie Ishihara (guitar 1983-90)
Naomi Motomura (guitar 1991-96)
Former members
Yōko Suzuki (guitar)
Kuniko Nozawa (drums)

Zelda (ゼルダ) was a Japanese rock band active in the 1980s and 1990s. They played a pioneering role as one of Japan's first all-girl bands. They were also the longest running all-girl band and are listed as such in the Guinness Book of Records.

Led by Sachiho Kojima (小嶋さちほ), the band covered an impressive range of musical genres, from new wave, punk, pop, and funk to black music. Zelda played a seminal role for later bands with their forays into roots music and experimental sounds.

The name of the band is based on that of Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of American author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Contents

[edit] History

  • 1979: Band formed by Sachiho Kojima.
  • 1980: Sayoko Takahashi (高橋佐代子) joins as vocalist at age 15.
  • 1982: The band have their major debut on 25 August with the simultaneous release of their first album Zelda and the single Mirage Lover through Nippon Phonogram (later Mercury Music Entertainment, now absorbed by Universal Music KK). The band lineup at the time is: Kojima, Takahashi, Yōko Suzuki (鈴木洋子, guitar) and Kuniko Nozawa (野沢久仁子, drums).
  • 1983: Fukie Ishihara (石原富紀江) takes over as guitarist. Ako Ozawa (小沢亜子) becomes the band's drummer.
  • 1984: Kojima and Takahashi form Maneki-neko Kagekidan (招き猫歌劇団) as a separate musical unit, releasing the album Dai-ichi Kakyoku-shū (第一歌曲集) in September.
  • 1985: Zelda moves to CBS Sony (Sony Music Entertainment).
  • 1986: Zelda appears in the movie The New Dawn of Billy the Kid (ビリー・ザ・キッドの新しい夜明け).
  • 1990: Ishihara leaves the band. Zelda takes a one-year break, during which time they move to the cutting edge label (avex).
  • 1991: Naomi Motomura (本村直美) joins as guitarist.
  • 1996: Zelda disbands.

[edit] Members

  • Sachiho Kojima, born 26 December 1958, bass and band leader. Later married to Bo Gumbo's vocalist Donto (deceased).
  • Sayoko Takahashi, born 10 October 1964, vocals.
  • Yōko Suzuki, guitar (prior to 1983).
  • Fukie Ishihara, born 23 December 1960, guitar (1983-90).
  • Naomi Motomura, guitar (1991-96).
  • Kuniko Nozawa, nickname "Maru", drums (prior to 1983).
  • Ako Ozawa, born 16 February 1963, drums (1983-96).

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

From Nippon Phonogram

  • Mirage Lover (ミラージュ・ラヴァー) (25 August 1982)

From CBS Sony

  • Ōgon no toki (黄金の時間) (21 May 1986) 12" single
  • Electric Sweetie (1 April 1987)

From Cutting edge (under sales arrangement with Toshiba EMI)

  • MY LITTLE CRYING (1 October 1992)
  • LOVE LIVE LIFE (21 April 1993)
  • Tsumetaku shinaide (冷たくしないで) (21 October 1993)
  • Anata dake ga subete ja nai (あなただけがすべてじゃない) (8 November 1995)
  • Kanashikute (かなしくて) (27 March 1996)
  • Kinmokusei (金木犀) (9 October 1996)

[edit] Albums

From Nippon Phonogram

  • ZELDA (25 August 1982)
  • CARNAVAL (5 November 1983)

From CBS Sony

  • Sora-iro Bōshi no Hi (空色帽子の日) (21 October 1985)
  • C-ROCK WORK (1 April 1987)
  • Dancing Days (22 June 1988) Live Album + Ōgon no Toki
  • SHOUT SISTER SHOUT (21 October 1988)
  • D.R.O.P. (21 September 1989)

From Cutting edge

  • LOVE LIVE LIFE (21 October 1992)
  • FULLMOON PUJAH (21 October 1993)
  • Niji-iro no Awa (虹色のあわ) (2 May 1996)

[edit] Videos

  • Dancing Days (1988 CBS Sony)
  • LOVE LIVE LIFE (10 September 1992, featuring Nissin Power Station live footage)
  • FULLMOON PUJAH (1993)
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