Uverworld

Uverworld (stylized as UVERworld) is a Japanese rock band consisting of five members and originating from Kusatsu, Shiga. Having released seven studio albums and over twenty singles, most of them being successful, they have become one of the most popular rock bands in Japan. They have sold two million records worldwide.

History

2000–2005: Beginnings and debut

Official Uverworld logo

The five-member band known as Uverworld first formed in 2003, and were known as Sound Goku Road, (more popularly known as "Sangoku Road" in the independent music scene). The band originally consisted of seven members, and released Prime'03, a demo CD which ended up selling 3,000 copies. Unfortunately, two of the band members, the saxophonist Seika, and Ryohei the second-man vocalist left. After Seika's departure Ace∞Trigger renamed himself Takuya∞ and the band renamed itself to Uverworld.

According to an interview with the band there was another vocalist who left the band, however this vocalist hasn't yet been identified. It seems that this vocalist may have left the band quite some time before Seika did, as Seika is the only one of the two credited on the demo CD and pictured with very early live photos of the band pre-Uverworld.

The year 2005 was the year that the band signed with the label Gr8! Records, which is under Sony Music Records. The band made their debut with the single "D-tecnolife", which was the second opening theme for the anime Bleach.^[1] The single made its debut in the Oricon charts at the fourth spot with 31,569 copies together with Mr. Children's twenty-seventh single, "Yonjigen Four Dimensions" (四次元 Four Dimensions) on the top spot.^[2] The single then later dropped to seventh place in the second week with 16,306 copies sold.^[3] The third week in the Oricon charts saw the single dropped 2 places to the ninth spot with 13,761 copies.^[4] The single lasted five weeks in the Top 30 weekly singles ranking.^[5][6] The single's sales and Chaku-Uta Full (着うたフル) downloads were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.^[7][8]

Three months later, Uverworld's second single, "Chance!" was used as the commercial and opening theme for second PSP game of Bleach: Heat the Soul series.^[9] The band's second single first entered the Oricon charts on the fifth spot with 14,150 copies.^[10] The single later dropped to the 23rd spot selling 6,360 copies on the second week.^[11] The single's ranking remained the same, however the amount of copies sold on the third week was lesser than the previous week with 5,495 copies.^[12] The single only managed to stay on the Top 30 weekly singles ranking for three weeks.

2006–2008: Timeless, BUGRIGHT and PROGLUTION

On January 25, 2006, the band's third single "Just Melody" ended up at number-seventeen on the Oricon charts. Three weeks later Uverworld's first album Timeless was released, breaking the Top 10 at number-five and selling 60,000 copies. Seika made a brief return during this album, playing saxophone for track 5, Yasashisa no Shizuku (優しさの雫). After a three month break, Uverworld released "Colors of the Heart" as the third opening theme for Blood+, an anime series based on the animated movie, Blood: The Last Vampire. The single debuted at number-three and was the highest position any of Uverworld's singles had reached up to that time.

Their fifth single, entitled "Shamrock", was released on August 2, 2006, and was used as the ending theme for the drama Dance Drill, a show about a group of girls who aspire to become cheerleaders. Uverworld's sixth Single was released on November 15, 2006, entitled "Kimi no Suki na Uta", the song was used as the theme song for the TBS TV show Koi Suru Hanikami! or Honey Coming! from the broadcast of October until December. It reached number two on the Oricon charts, which was the second highest place for an Uverworld single so far until it fell off of the charts three and a half weeks later. It sold around 70,000 copies according to the Oricon sales charts.

On February 21, 2007, Uverworld released their second album titled Bugright. It featured the singles Uverworld had released after Timeless. "Nagare, Kūkyo, This Word" (～流れ・空虚・This Word～) was included in the tribute soundtrack titled as The Songs for Death Note The Movie: The Last Name Tribute for Death Note.^[13] On March 6, 2007, the band was also part of an event called 'We Love Music Vol.2' held in the Shibuya-AX where Uverworld performed against Sid.^[14]

The band's third album, titled Proglution, was released on January 16, 2008 and contain full eighteen tracks. The album also contain their singles "Ukiyo Crossing" (浮世Crossing), "Endscape" and "Shaka Beach: Laka Laka La" (シャカビーチ~Laka Laka La~). The album was released in a CD-only version and a limited edition that includes an extra DVD. Proglution sold over 150,000 copies. June 11, 2008 saw the release of the single "Gekidō/Just Break the Limit!". "Gekidō" was used as the fourth opening theme of the anime series D.Gray-man while the song "Just Break the Limit!" was used as a support song for Pocari Sweat's CM. Two more singles were released in 2008, "Koishikute" (恋いしくて) and "Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi" (儚くも永久のカナシ). "Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi" was used as the opening for the second season of the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 anime.^[15] The single became the band's first number-one single on Oricon^[16] with approximately 181,784 copies sold. The single has since gone on to become the highest selling single from the band.

2009: AwakEVE

On February 18, 2009 the band released their fourth album titled Awakeve. The album sold over 115,000 copies on its first week and ranked number-two on the Oricon album chart. A DVD of their live performance in Nippon Budokan was released on April 29, 2009. The band's thirteenth single was released on August 5, 2009 titled as "Go-On." The single's title track will be featured as the second ending theme on the Japanese broadcast of the House's first season. The band performed at 2009's Inazuma Rock Fes. held in Shiga Prefecture.^[17] They are also releasing their fourth DVD of the Awakeve Tour 09 on September 30, 2009.

The band's fourteenth single was released on October 28, 2009 entitled "Kanashimi wa Kitto" (哀しみはきっと) for the Tokyo Broadcasting System drama Shōkōjo Seira, based on the children's novel, A Little Princess written by Frances Hodgson Burnett.^[18] The song's lyrics was written by Takuya and was co-composed by both the lyricist and Satoru Hiraide while the arrangement was done by the band and Hiraide.^[19] On October 9, 2009, an English official website was announced and it went online at 12pm Japan Standard Time.^[20]

A best of album titled Neo Sound Best was announced on November 9, 2009 and released on December 9, 2009.^[21] They were also scheduled to perform at the Ontama Carnival 2010 together with Funky Monkey Babys and Flumpool.^[21]

2010-2012: LAST and LIFE 6 SENSE

Their fifteenth single "GOLD" was released on March 31, 2010, making it their first release of the year. The music video for "Gold" was made into 3-D, making it the first 3-D music video in Japan. It was premiered on April 17, 2010. Additionally, their fifth album Last was released two weeks later on April 14, 2010.

Their sixteenth single "Qualia" (クオリア) was released on September 15, 2010, and contains the ending theme song for the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 movie and the title song for the PSP game Last Ranker.^[22] Their seventeenth single "NO.1" was released on November 24, 2010. NO.1 was featured as their starting song for their concert LAST TOUR FINAL at TOKYO DOME which was in November 27, 2010.

Their eighteenth single "MONDO PIECE" was to be released on March 23, 2011. However, due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the release date has been pushed to April 6. It was also revealed earlier last year concert at TOKYO DOME as the last song. Their nineteenth single "CORE PRIDE" was selected to be the 1st opening theme the anime Ao no Exorcist.

The band released their sixth album LIFE 6 SENSE on June 1, 2011. The album's title was leaked out in bands page on Japanese Wikipedia and also the following month after, The band released their 6th DVD which is "LAST TOUR FINAL at TOKYO DOME 2010/11/27".

On December 14, 2011, the band released their twentieth single (second A-side single) entitled "BABY BORN & GO/KINJITO".

Blu-ray versions of UVERworld 2008 Premium LIVE at 日本武道館 and LAST TOUR FINAL at TOKYO DOME were released on December 17, 2011.

On March 28, 2012, UVERworld has released their 21st single which is entitled to be 7th Trigger and 6 days after they have released another Live DVD & Blu-ray UVERworld 2011 Premium LIVE on Xmas at Nippon Budokan which was at April 4, 2012.

2012-present: THE ONE

On August 8, 2012, The band has released their 22nd single THE OVER which is also the ending theme of Kuro no Onna Kyoushi (黒の女教師) and Three months after until 28 November 2012, The band has finally released their 7th album which is to be entitled "THE ONE".

After the release of 7th album, UVERworld released a re-cut single from their Latest album entitled REVERSI and it was also the movie theme song for Ao No Exorcist -The Movie-.

On December 1, 2012, The band had their live concert at Saitama Super Arena (さいたまスーパーアリーナ) which marks as their Arena Tour 2012 Super Live Stage. It was also aired at January 1, 2013 on MUSIC ON! TV.

On August 14, 2013, the band will release their 24th Single Fight For Liberty / Wizard CLUB. This will be their first single for 2013. Fight For Liberty will be used as the opening theme song for the anime Space Battleship Yamato 2199 while Wizard CLUB will be used as the ending theme song for the TV series Kaikin! Bakuro Night.

On November 6, 2013, UVERworld release their 10th Video KING'S PARADE Zepp DiverCity (2013.02.08) on DVD and Blu-ray after their long period of THE ONE Tour 2012-2013. UVERworld have finally decided to have a full LIVE HOUSE Footage from Zepp DiverCity as their main concept instead of Arenas, Stadiums or Halls.

Members

• Shimizu Takuya (stylized as TAKUYA∞) is the vocalist for the group as well as in charge of writing the band's music, rapping and programming. He was born on December 21, 1979 in Osaka while he later moved to Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture.
• Nobuto is in charge of the bass guitar. He was born on February 14, 1980.
• Katsuya, who is in charge of rhythm guitar, is the band's leader. He was born on February 22, 1981.
• Shintarō, the second youngest member of the group was born on November 5, 1983 in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture. He is in charge of the drums and percussion.
• Akira is in charge of lead guitar and programming for the band. He was born on March 8, 1984.

All the members except Takuya and Shintarō were born and lived in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture. ^[23]

• Takuya - lead vocals, programming, rapping
• Katsuya - rhythm guitar
• Akira - lead guitar, programming
• Nobuto - bass
• Shintarō - drums, percussion

Discography

Singles

Studio Albums

Compilation

Video

Awards

In 2005, the band received the New Artist of the Year award in the Japan Gold Disc Awards held by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.^[25]

References

External links

• Official site
• Official English page
• Official Powerplay site
• Oricon profile
• Musicnet.co.jp
• UVERworld discography at MusicBrainz