Color (stylized as COLOR) was a Japanese

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

band formed in 1985 by

Dynamite Tommy , better known by his stage name Dynamite Tommy, is a Japanese musician, record producer and businessman. He first rose to prominence as vocalist of the punk rock band Color in the late-1980s and early-1990s, but now predominantly works behind ...

, who founded the

Free-Will is a Japanese independent record label founded in 1986 by Color vocalist Hiroshi "Dynamite Tommy" Tomioka, with branches predominantly in Japan and the United States, as well as previously in Europe. It also continues to co-manage many of its ...

record label a year later.''Free-Will and Groove Productions Press Release''
Retrieved Sep 12 2007 They are considered to be important to the formation of

visual kei is a movement among Japanese musicians that is characterized by the use of varying levels of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics, similar to Western glam rock. Some ...

. Their debut album ''Gekitotsu'' was named one of the top albums from 1989–1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazine ''Band Yarouze''.

History

Color released their debut album ''Gekitotsu'', in January 1988. After releasing their second album ''Fools! Get Lucky!!'', they signed to

Crown Records Crown Records was a budget albums record label founded as a subsidiary of Modern Records in 1957. It has been the name of several different record labels, listed below. Discography Mono Stereo Other Crown Records * United Kingdom ** Crown Reco ...

and released their only major studio album a couple months later, ''Ask the Angels''.Amazon.com information on ''Ask the Angels''
Retrieved Sep 12 2007 It is said that the label made the band rewrite the album's lyrics, which were originally in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

, in

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

to be more accessible by the mainstream. It seemed to have worked, as ''Ask the Angels'' reached number 16 on the

Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in ...

chart and their popularity increased. However, in January 1990 at a concert on the album's tour, in their hometown of Osaka, a fan was accidentally stomped to death.Color bio
Retrieved June 4, 2011 The band decided to lay low and avoid media, they ended up losing their contract with Crown. During this hiatus, Tommy formed Sister's No Future with Ken-chan (

Kamaitachi is a Japanese yōkai often told about in the Kōshin'etsu region and can also refer to the strange events that this creature causes. They appear riding on dust devils and they cut people using the nails on both their hands that are like sick ...

),Taiji, Kenzi, and Dynamite Tommy’s new band “Killing Red Addiction” to play in L.A.
Retrieved June 4, 2011 while Marry started Goatcore with You Adachi (

Dead End Dead End or dead end may refer to: * Dead end (street), a street connected only at one end with other streets, called by many other official names, including ''cul-de-sac''. Film and television * ''The Dead End'' (1914 film), directed by Davi ...

). Color returned with a concert in August, and in July 1991 released the single "The Exhibition". They held a coupling tour with

Genkaku Allergy Genkaku Allergy (幻覚アレルギ－) was a Japanese visual kei rock band started by ex-Kamaitachi members Sceana and Kazzy, in 1992. Its sound mixes elements from hardcore punk, heavy metal, noise and industrial music. They signed with Vict ...

in March 1993. In 1994 they released their last album, ''Galaxy'', which has an electronic dance sound instead of their usual punk. In 1995 Color held what would be their last concert, after which the band disappeared without any announcement. The music magazine ''J-Rock'' published an article in 1997, labeling Color disbanded due to inactivity. On June 14, 2002, bassist Marry died in a car accident. On the one-year anniversary of his death, the remaining members organized and performed at the first "Marry Memorial" concert. It has been held every year since then; Color reunited for the 2008 concert.

Members

* Hiroshi "Dynamite Tommy" Tomioka –

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

(1985–1997, 2003, 2008), guitar (1985), bass (1990) * Tatsuya Niimi –

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

(1986–1997, 2003, 2008), drums (1990) * Cindy –

(1986–1997, 2003, 2008), vocals (1990) * Naotaka "Marry" Nakano – bass (1988–1997)†, guitar (1990) * Toshi – drums (1988–1997, 2003, 2008), guitar (1990)

Former members

* Iku – vocals (1985) * Bell – bass (1985) * Hide – drums (1985) * Ikuo – bass (1986) * Hideki – drums (1986) * Takahashi – drums (1986–1988) * Remmy – bass (1987–1988), support bass on June 14, 2008 * Den – support bass on June 14, 2003 (former roadie, By-Sexual, Zigzo)

Discography

Singles

* "Molt Grain" (March 23, 1987) * "Sandbag Baby I" (November 23, 1988) * "Sandbag Baby II" (November 26, 1988) * "Broken Tavern" (June 6, 1989) Oricon Singles Chart Peak Position: No. 65 * "Back Tonight 5th Moon" (February 21, 1990) No. 27 * "Some Become Stranger" (August 21, 1990) No. 31 * "The Exhibition" (July 21, 1991)

Studio albums

* * ''Fools! Get Lucky!!'' (March 8, 1989) * ''Ask the Angels'' (December 5, 1989) Oricon Albums Chart Peak Position: No. 16 * ''Cherry's World'' (July 31, 1992) * ''Galaxy'' (October 1994)

Other albums

* ''Extremism: Best of Color'' (March 16, 1991, compilation album) No. 43 * ''Color Live! Shock Treatment and Rebirth'' (August 21, 1991, live album) No. 98 * ''Remind'' (December 25, 1992, self-cover album) * ''The Best'' (December 16, 1996, compilation album) *

Videos

* ''Shock Treatment'' (October 7, 1989) * ''Overwhelming Superiority'' (May 21, 1990) * * ''Land of Revolution'' (May 21, 1991) * ''The Exhibition'' (July 17, 1991, freely distributed at Kawasaki Club live)

References

{{Authority control Visual kei musical groups Japanese punk rock groups Musical groups from Osaka Musical groups established in 1985 Musical groups disestablished in 1995 Musical groups reestablished in 2003 Musical groups reestablished in 2008 1985 establishments in Japan English-language musical groups from Japan