Ezo (band)

Ezo (イーズィーオー, Iiziiō) was a Japanese heavy metal band originally formed as Flatbacker in the spring of 1982 in Sapporo, Japan^[3] out of the remnants of two high school bands, Power-Station and Scrap. Ezo has been named a "seminal influence by such artists as Steve McDonald of Redd Kross and Michael Steele of The Bangles."^[4]

History

Ezo consisted of Masaki Yamada (vocals), Taro Takahashi (bass), Shoyo Iida (guitar) and Hiro Homma (drums).^[5] They released one demo cassette (Minagoroshi) in 1984 and two albums (1985's Senzo and 1986's Esa) in Japan as Flatbacker in the mid-1980s before coming to the U.S.^[3] Rumor has it that Gene Simmons of Kiss, who produced their self-titled U.S. debut album,^[4] was behind the band's name change to Ezo, inspired by Ezo, an ancient name for Hokkaidō.^[3] They released two albums for Geffen Records, 1987's E-Z-O and 1989's Fire Fire, before being dropped from the label and internal differences led to the band's demise.^[3]

Vocalist Masaki Yamada joined fellow Japanese metalheads Loudness in 1992 and drummer Hiro Homma joined Loudness in 1994.^[3] In 2000, the original Loudness lineup reunited and Masaki and Hiro left the band.^[3] Hiro Homma is currently the drummer for the Japanese metal band Anthem and vocalist Masaki Yamada is now the bass player for the New York-based band FiRESiGN.

A single guitar riff from E-Z-O song "House of 1,000 Pleasures" served as the signature sound of syndicated radio network Z Rock.

Discography

• Minagoroshi (1984) (as 'Flatbacker')
• Accident (1985) (as 'Flatbacker')
• Esa (1986) (as 'Flatbacker')
• EZO (1987) U.S. No. 150^[6]
• Fire Fire (1989)

References

1. ↑ http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/groupe-groupe-EZO-l-en.html
2. ↑ Klosterman 2001, pg. 28
3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nippop's Ezo Profile Retrieved Sep 21 2007
4. 1 2 Yang Jeff, Dina Can, Terry Hong, (1997) Eastern Standard Time pg 264 New York: Mariner Books ISBN 0-395-76341-X
5. ↑ Allmusic Ezo Profile Retrieved on Sep 21 2007
6. ↑ Charts, Allmusic