Uchōten (有頂天 ecstasy) is a Japanese

experimental An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a ...

new wave/ post punk band, active in the 1980s and early 1990s. They formed in

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C ...

and disbanded in

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the Phi ...

, after releasing eight studio albums and two live albums. In 2015, after over two decades apart, Uchoten surprisingly reunited.

History

Uchoten formed in

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...

, Japan from the ruins of a band called Densenbyou. Densenbyou's last concert was 6 April 1982 and Uchoten's first concert the same day. They are led by vocalist Keralino Sandorovich, called Kera. Uchoten released their first album and singles on Kera's own

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

, Nagomu. In 1985, they released ''Kokoro no tabi'' on a bigger indie label,

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. It is a cover of a popular Japanese song from

1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: ...

, performed by

Tulip Tulips (''Tulipa'') are a genus of spring-blooming perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes (having bulbs as storage organs). The flowers are usually large, showy and brightly coloured, generally red, pink, yellow, or white (usually in warm ...

. In those days, Uchoten,

The Willard The Willard (stylized as THE WILLARD) is a Japanese punk band that started in 1982 and continues to play to this day. The Willard were known for their "popish" songs fused with punk, but has since changed their sound over the years, from punk ...

and Laughin' Nose were called the ''Indies Big Three''. In September

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal en ...

they released their major debut album, ''Peace''. ''Peace'' has a theme of ending and death, and some worried that Uchoten were going to break up. But they lasted five more years, although with several member changes. Uchoten initially played their last concert 15 September

, a recording of which was later released on CD, ''Search For 1/3 Fin'', until reuniting in 2015 after 24 years apart. Throughout their career, Uchoten did a number of covers, of artists including

King Crimson King Crimson are a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. The band draws inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial, electronic, experime ...

Gilbert O'Sullivan Raymond Edward "Gilbert" O'Sullivan (born 1 December 1946) is an Irish singer-songwriter who achieved his most significant success during the early 1970s with hits including "Alone Again (Naturally)", " Clair", and "Get Down". O'Sullivan's so ...

Lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia altho ...

P-Model P-Model (also typeset as P-MODEL and P. Model) was a Japanese electronic rock band started in 1979 by members of the defunct progressive rock band Mandrake. The band has experienced many lineup revisions over the years but frontman Susumu Hiras ...

and

Takuro Yoshida is a Japanese male singer-songwriter. He was born on April 5, 1946 in Okuchi, Kagoshima and raised in Hiroshima. He made his debut with the single "Imeji no Uta / Mark II" on June 1, 1970. His 1972 recording of "Tabi no Yado" sold over one m ...

Lineups

#April 1982 - September 1982 #*Kera - Vocals #*Toshi - Guitar #*Tabo - Guitar #*Chachamaru - Bass #*Mika - Bass #*Eriko - Keyboard #*Zin - Percussion #*Minosuke - Drums #September 1982 - May 1984 #*Kera - Vocals #*Toshi - Guitar #*Tabo - Guitar #*Chachamaru - Bass #*Eriko - Keyboard #*Zin - Drums #July 1984 - May 1985 #*Kera - Vocals #*Toshi - Guitar #*Tabo - Guitar #*Kubobryu - Bass #*Eriko - Keyboards #*Zin - Drums #June 1985 - February 1986 #*Kera - Vocals #*Huckai - Guitar #*Cou - Guitar #*Kubobryu - Bass #*Charity - Keyboard #*Zin - Drums #February 1986 - February 1988 #*Kera - Vocals #*Huckai - Guitar #*Cou - Guitar #*Kubobryu - Bass #*Myue - Keyboard #*Zin - Drums #March 1988 - May 1989 #*Kera - Vocals #*Huckai - Guitar #*Cou - Guitar #*Kubobryu - Bass #*Shiu - Keyboard #*Zin - Drums #May 1989 - September 1991 #*Kera - Vocals #*Cou - Guitar #*Kubobryu - Bass #*Shiu - Keyboard #*Zin - Drums

Discography

*''Dohyou ouji'' (1983) *''Because'' (1986) *''Peace'' (1986) *''Aissle'' (1987) *''Search For 1/3 Boil'' (1988) Live album *''Gan'' (1988) *''Search For 1/3 Stop! Hand In Hand'' (1989) *''Colorful Merry ga futta machi'' (1990) *''Dekkachi'' (1990) *''Search For 1/3 Fin'' (1991) Live album *''1984-1987 Vegetable'' (1992) Best-of *''Lost and Found'' (2015) *''Kafka's Rock/Nietzsche's Pop'' (2016)

External links

Japanese fansite
{{Authority control Uchoten Musical groups from Tokyo Musical groups established in 1982 Musical groups disestablished in 1991 1982 establishments in Japan 1991 disestablishments in Japan