was a Japanese punk rock band active from 1985 to 1995. They have been compared to such bands as the

Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...

, The Clash and the

Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...

.The Blue Hearts
Tri-M, Inc. Accessed February 7, 2008. In 2003, HMV Japan ranked them at number 19 on their list of 100 most important Japanese pop acts. In September 2007, '' Rolling Stone Japan'' rated their self-titled debut album number 3 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".

Career

Its members were Hiroto Kōmoto (vocalist), Masatoshi Mashima (guitarist),

Junnosuke Kawaguchi is a Japanese musician, best known as bassist of The Blue Hearts.

(bassist) and Tetsuya Kajiwara (drummer). Mikio Shirai was not an official member of the band, but often toured with them as their keyboardist. Formed in 1985, the group made its major debut in May 1987, and released its first album, the self-titled '' The Blue Hearts'', and followed that up with seven more albums. Though they started on an independent label, each album sold more copies than the previous one, with their last recording selling in the millions. In 1990, The Blue Hearts had a self-titled EP released in the United States, which they supported with a US tour. In addition to having popular albums, they also had many popular singles. Two of the most well-known are " Train-Train" and " Linda Linda", which can be found on many karaoke machines. A cover version of "Linda Linda" was used in the 2004 dramas '' Socrates in Love'' and ''Gachi Baka'', as well as the 2005 film ''

Linda Linda Linda is a 2005 Japanese film directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita. It stars Bae Doona, Aki Maeda, Yu Kashii, and Shiori Sekine (of the band Base Ball Bear) as teenagers who form a band to cover songs by the Japanese punk rock band the Blue Hearts; the ...

'', the plot of which centers on a high school girls' band practicing The Blue Hearts' songs for the finale concert of their school's culture festival. The song also appears in the 2005

Nintendo DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...

video game '' Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan,''. Other songs, including "Train-Train", "Owaranai Uta" and "Hito ni Yasashiku", have been featured in the Konami arcade games '' Drummania'' and '' Guitar Freaks''. The 2015 anime series '' The Rolling Girls'' features covers of several Blue Hearts songs sung by the cast, including covers of "Hito ni Yasashiku" and "Tsuki no Bakugekiki" in the opening and ending sequences. They were seen as controversial in Japan, where antics such as using the taboo Japanese word for crazy, and spitting on television cameras got them banned from TV for a year.

Post-breakup

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After The Blue Hearts broke up in 1995, Kōmoto, Mashima and Shirai formed a new group, The High-Lows. In addition to retaining the hardcore fans of The Blue Hearts, The High-Lows were also able to attract new fans and lasted another ten years. When The High-Lows broke up in 2005, Kōmoto and Mashima again formed a new band in 2006, this time calling themselves The Cro-Magnons. Kawaguchi became a record producer and occasionally plays support for several bands, in 2009 he became the deputy director of propaganda for the Happiness Realization Party. Kajiwara formed The 3Peace in 1997, then The Big Hip in 2005 with Shirai, and his solo project Thunderbeat in 2008. After the breakup of The Blue Hearts, both Kōmoto and Mashima chose not to sing any of the band's songs, with few exceptions. Kōmoto has sung "Boku no Migite" while performing live with other artists, and Mashima has occasionally performed " Aozora".

Members

* Hiroto Kōmoto – vocals,

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica inclu ...

* Masatoshi Mashima – guitar, backing vocals *

Junnosuke Kawaguchi is a Japanese musician, best known as bassist of The Blue Hearts.

–

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

, backing vocals * Tetsuya Kajiwara –

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

* Mikio Shirai –

keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

(support member) ;Former members * – bass * – drums * – bass

Discography

Singles

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...

" (A free

flexi-disc The flexi disc (also known as a phonosheet, Sonosheet or Soundsheet, a trademark) is a phonograph record made of a thin, flexible vinyl sheet with a molded-in spiral stylus groove, and is designed to be playable on a normal phonograph turntable. ...

given away at a live performance on December 24, 1985.) *"

Hito ni Yasashiku was the first single by the Japanese band The Blue Hearts. It was first released on an independent label on February 25, 1987, before the band signed with a record company. Lyrics and music were written by Hiroto Kōmoto, the band's lead vocalis ...

" (February 25, 1987) *" Linda Linda" (May 1, 1987) *" Kiss Shite Hoshii" (November 21, 1987) *" Blue Hearts Theme" (July 1, 1988) *" Chernobyl" (July 1, 1988) *" Train-Train" (November 23, 1988) *" Love Letter" (February 21, 1989) *" Aozora" (June 21, 1989) *" Jōnetsu no Bara" (July 25, 1990) *"

Kubitsuri-dai Kara was the tenth single by the Japanese rock band The Blue Hearts and reached #13 on the Oricon charts in 1991. Details "Kubitsuri-dai Kara" was released as part of The Blue Hearts' fourth album, ''Bust Waste Hip'', which had been released during t ...

" (April 10, 1991) *"

Ano Ko ni Touch was the eleventh single by the Japanese band The Blue Hearts and reached #24 on the Oricon charts in 1991. Details "Ano Ko ni Touch" was released as part of The Blue Hearts' fifth album, ''High Kicks'', which was released shortly after the singl ...

" (November 28, 1991) *"

Too Much Pain was the twelfth single by the Japanese band The Blue Hearts and reached #29 on the Oricon charts in 1992. Details ''Too Much Pain'' was released as part of The Blue Hearts' fifth album, ''High Kicks'', which had been released on December 21, 199 ...

" (March 10, 1992) *" Yume" (October 25, 1992) *" Tabibito" (February 25, 1993) *"

1000 no Violin is a song by The Blue Hearts, released as the band's fifteenth single. It reached #47 on the Oricon charts in 1993. It was part of the band's sixth album, '' Stick Out''. The music and lyrics were written by Masatoshi Mashima is a guitarist who ...

" (May 25, 1993) *" Party" (August 25, 1993) *" Yūgure" (October 25, 1993)

Studio albums

*'' The Blue Hearts'' (May 21, 1987) *'' Young and Pretty'' (November 21, 1987) *'' Train-Train'' (November 23, 1988) *'' Bust Waste Hip'' (September 10, 1990) *''

High Kicks is the fifth studio album released by the Japanese band The Blue Hearts. It was the first album by the band to reach #1 on the Oricon charts. Tracks #"Minagoroshi no Melody" (皆殺しのメロディ ''Massacre Melody'') #"Monkey" (M・O・N・K ...

'' (December 21, 1991) *''

Stick Out was the sixth studio album released by Japanese rock band The Blue Hearts. It was also the second consecutive album by the band to reach #1 on the Oricon charts. Track listing #"Sutegoma" (すてごま ''Sacrifice'') #"Yume" (夢 ''Dreams'') # ...

'' (February 10, 1993) *''

Dug Out was the seventh studio album released by the Japanese rock band The Blue Hearts and the eighth album released overall. Tracks #"Tegami" (手紙 ''Letter'') #"Midori no Happa" (緑のハッパ ''Green Leaf'') #"Torch Song" (トーチソング ' ...

'' (July 10, 1993) *'' Pan'' (July 10, 1995)

Live albums

*'' Live All Sold Out'' (July 1, 1996, various locations) *'' Yaon Live on '94 6.18/19'' (November 25, 1997)

Compilation albums

*'' Blast Off!'' (August 6, 1991, US onlyNippop , The Blue Hearts , Profile
Nippop. Accessed February 6, 2008.) *''

Meet the Blue Hearts Meet the Blue Hearts was the first compilation album released by the Japanese band The Blue Hearts. It includes many of their hits from their time with the Meldac Records label and live records from their tour of America.East West Side Story ''East West Side Story'' was the second compilation album released by the Japanese band The Blue Hearts. It includes many of their hits from their time with the East West Japan label.

'' (September 25, 1995) *'' Super Best'' (October 16, 1995) *'' The Blue Hearts Box'' (January 1, 1999) *''

Singles 1990-1993 Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

'' (November 25, 1999) *''All Time Singles ~Super Premium Best~'' (February 24, 2010) *''All Time Memorials ~Super Selected Songs~'' (February 4, 2015)

Videos

*'' The Blue Hearts'' (March 21, 1987) VHS *''

The Blue Hearts Live! ~1987.7.4 Hibiya Yagai Ongakudō~ ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

'' (September 1, 1987) VHS *''

Tour '88 Pretty Pineapple Special ''Tour '88 Pretty Pineapple Special'' was a video album produced by the Japanese band The Blue Hearts as a documentary of their first concert at Nippon Budokan just two months after their major debut. The date of the concert was February 12, 1988 ...

'' (June 21, 1988) VHS *''

Blue Hearts no Video - Video Clip 1987-1989 Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when obse ...

'' (ブルーハーツのビデオ) (January 1, 1990) VHS *'' Meet the Blue Hearts U.S.A. Tour 1990'' (1990) VHS *''

High Kick Tour Video Pamphlet High may refer to: Science and technology * Height * High (atmospheric), a high-pressure area * High (computability), a quality of a Turing degree, in computability theory * High (tectonics), in geology an area where relative tectonic uplift to ...

'' (1991) VHS *'' Zen-Nippon East Waste Tour '91'' (全日本EAST WASTE TOUR '91) (September 10, 1991) VHS/DVD *'' Endless Dreams ~The Blue Hearts Meet the Mutoid~ (July 10, 1993) VHS *''

Blue Hearts no Video 2 - Video Clip 1990-1993 Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when obse ...

'' (ブルーハーツのビデオ2) (November 10, 1993) VHS/DVD *''

The Blue Hearts no Dekoboko Chindōchū was a compilation video album released by the Japanese band The Blue Hearts. The video was a documentary to the band's final tour of Japan in 1994 and includes recordings from 15 of the 30 venues. Chapter listing # Opening # "Tegami" # "Party" # ...

'' (ザ・ブルーハーツの凸凹珍道中) (July 10, 1995) VHS/DVD *'' Blue Hearts ga Kikoenai - History of the Blue Hearts'' (ブルーハーツが聴こえない History of the Blue Hearts) (February 7, 1996) VHS/DVD *''

Blue Hearts no Video + Maboroshi no Video Fukkokuban Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when obse ...

'' (ブルーハーツのビデオ＋幻のビデオ復刻版) (May 26, 2004) DVD *'' The Blue Hearts Live!'' (May 26, 2004) DVD (Incl. "The Blue Hearts Live!" + "Tour '88 Pretty Pineapple Special")

Others

*''

Just a Beat Show is an omnibus album of a live show in Shibuya's Yaneura on March 3, 1986, in Japan. It was released in May of the same year. The performers were Lä-Ppisch, The London Times, The Blue Hearts and The Jumps. Background The CD was originally releas ...

'' (omnibus album with other groups, May 1986) *'' The Blue Hearts King of Mix'' (remix album by various groups, May 25, 1994) *'' The Blue Hearts Tribute'' (tribute album, April 25, 2002) *''

The Blue Hearts 2002 Tribute ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (tribute album, August 28, 2002) *''

The Blue Hearts Super Tribute ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (tribute album, April 2, 2003) *''

The Blue Hearts Tribute 2005 Edition ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

'' (tribute album, July 20, 2005) *'' The Blue Hearts "25th Anniversary" Tribute'' (tribute album, February 24, 2010) *''

30th Anniversary The Blue Hearts Re-mix 'Re-spect 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...

'' (tribute album, January 27, 2016)

References

External links

30th Anniversary website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Hearts, The Japanese punk rock groups Musical groups from Shibuya Musical groups established in 1985 Musical groups disestablished in 1995 Musical quartets 1985 establishments in Japan