Fade (band)
Fade is a 5-piece Japanese alternative rock band formed in 1991. To-date, Fade has released 5 mini-albums, 2 full-length studio albums, and 2 singles. Fade is currently signed with record label Edoya Rocks.[1]
History
Formation
The band was founded by drummer and songwriter Rui Watanabe and guitarist Kansei Miyaji, both of whom attended the same Japanese secondary school in New York City, New York.[2] In 1994 bassist Noriyuki Hashimoto joined the group and in 1998 a second guitarist, Shingo Terasawa, (alias 5°, pronounced Godo) came on board. In 1999 the band relocated to Tokyo, Japan and in 2001, Jon Underdown, who at the time was an exchange student hailing from Seattle, Washington, joined the band solidifying the lineup. The following year, 2002, the group officially decided on the band name “Fade”.[3] Rui and Jon were born and raised in North America (New York and Washington respectively) while Kansei and Noriyuki spent extensive time in New York (USA). Godo is the sole member to be born and raised in Japan.[3]
Influences and Musical Style
Fade's sound is heavily influenced by American hard rock bands, 1980's rock in particular, and they often refer to themselves as the "California Roll of Rock" as well as "Blue eyed Samurai x Black eyed Cowboys".[4] Incorporating multicultural duality with twin guitars, Fade strives to bridge the gap between the 'east' and the 'west' through their music.
fade
The band's self-titled debut mini-album, fade, was released nationwide in Japan in 2003. It ranked 3rd on Japan Countdown, a weekly countdown chart of album sales nationwide in Japan.
A Moment of Truth
Following their debut mini-album, while working with Markku Lappaleinen (ex. Hoobastank), Erik Gregory (programming for Linkin Park’s 1st remix album Reanimation), and Jason C. Miller (gODHEAD) in 2005, Fade released their second mini-album entitled A Moment of Truth. “Beautiful”, the albums 3rd track, was featured in the 2006 Shunji Iwai film, Rainbow Song.[5]
Under the Sun
A Moment of Truth was shortly followed by the release of Under the Sun, the bands 3rd mini-album, a few months later.
To Find A Better Tomorrow
The band's 4th mini-album release, To Find A Better Tomorrow, in which they worked with Ted Jensen, was released in 2008 ranking 9th on the Western Music chart of USEN Japan.[6] The album's 6th track, “Slitting Regret”, features additional vocals from Toyo of Japanese industrial metal band Newbreed.
Age of Innocence
2009 marked Fade's 5th release and first full-length studio album, Age of Innocence.[7] It included numerous songs that were featured on numerous marketing campaigns including ABC-Mart,[8] and popular video games series' Drum Mania and Guitar Freaks.[9]
Kings of Dawn
Fade's 6th release,Kings of Dawn, arrived in 2011, which featured Koie Kenta, of Japanese industrial metal band Crossfaith, on the intro track “Born Ready”. This was also the first album featuring Jon singing in Japanese in addition to being the first album which the band hired producer, Hajime Okano (L'Arc en Ciel). An ITunes version of Kings of Dawn was released which included a cover of Bon Jovi's, Livin' on a Prayer(1986). In addition, a European edition of Kings of Dawn was also released in December 2011 through Gan-shin Records.[10]
One Reason and コズミカリズム (Cosmicalism)
Concurrently, the singles "One Reason" and “コズミカリズム”(Cosmicalism) were also released in April 2011. The song “One Reason” by Deadman Wonder Band (DWB) featuring Fade, was the opening theme song to popular Japanese anime Deadman Wonderland. A limited-edition of “One Reason” was also released in 2011 which included a bonus DVD of the anime movie Deadman Wonderland. The song "One Reason" ranked 4th in Independent-Label music chart.[11]
天 (Ten)
天 (Ten), the bands 7th album was released in July 2012. The band once again collaborated with producer Hajime Okano, and featured Toyo from Newbreed on the albums 2nd track, "Chase for Daylight", Jon once described the concept of TEN as “ROCK with pop sensibility” and commented “I think we went to the poppyest we’ve ever been on one side, and we went to the heaviest we’ve ever been, too”.[12] A limited-edition of TEN was also released which included a bonus DVD featuring selected live concert footage and music videos.
Fade is currently working on their 8th studio album release.
Discography
Extended Play
- fade (2003)
- A Moment of Truth (2005)
- Under the Sun (2005)
- To Find A Better Tomorrow (2008)
- Kings of Dawn (2011)
Studio Albums
- Age of Innocence (2009)
- 天 Ten (2012)
Singles
- Black Hearts And Dollar Signs
- One Reason (2011)
- コズミカリズム Cosmicalism (2011)
- Cross Road (2013)
Band Members
- Current Line-up
- Noriyuki Hashimoto - bass, backing vocals
- Kansei Miyaji - guitar
- 5°(Godo)/Shingo Terasawa - guitar
- Jon Underdown - lead vocals
- Rui Watanabe - drums, backing vocals
References
- ↑ "ITunes-Music-天 - Ten by fade". iTunes Store. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑ Frieman, Richie. "fade". Pens Eye View: Music & Lifestyle. Penseyeview.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gin. "fade | JaME U.S.A.". JaME - Artists. JaME-WORLD.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑ "Japanese Rock Group "fade" Launches their US Invasion by Debuting on Pandora Internet Radio". Music news in New YORK ,New Jersey, Connecticut,New York, United States of America. Free Press Release. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑ "fade - rock band - jrock". JpopAsia - groups. Jpopasia.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑ "fade | Hard Rock". Reviews, Music, News | Sputnikmusic. Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑ fade. "Interview by Kathia Krüss". Anime Pro - Music Interview. AnimePro.de. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑
- ↑ "【ギタドラV7】Reality Lost / fade". 【ギタドラV7】. Niwango, Inc. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑ "GANSHIN | fade". Gan-shin - Artists. Gan-shin.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ↑
- ↑ Underdown, Jonathan. "Interview by Melissa Castor". The Diva Review - Listen and Hear (Music). The Diva Review.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.