Masayuki Nakano (prog., bass)
Michiyuki Kawashima (vocal, guitar)
1997年ヨーロッパでブレイクした中野雅之、川島道行からなるロックユニット。エレクトロニックとロックの要素を取り入れながら新しい未知の音楽を創造し続ける日本屈指のクリエイターである。ヨーロッパの音楽誌「Melody Maker」は--ケミカル・ブラザーズ、プロディジー以来の衝撃！--と報じ、数々のヨーロッパ大型ロックフェスティバル、海外ツアーを敢行し多くのメディアに大絶賛される。FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL07 White Stageのヘッドライナーを務め、、6thアルバム「EXPOSED」をリリース。前回のJAPAN TOUR08では各公演SOLD OUT。同年公開されたハリウッド映画「THE DARK KNIGHT」（バッドマン続編）に楽曲が2曲起用され「EXPOSED」が全米配信リリースされる。SUMMER SONIC 09では最大ステージ、マリン・スタジアムでのアクトを披露しオーディエンスに衝撃を残した。
Electronic/Rock unit BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, formed by bassist/programmer Masayuki Nakano and guitarist/vocalist Michiyuki Kawashima first broke in Europe in 1997. They absorbed both electronic and rock elements to create a completely new and unknown sound, which at the same time has contributed to boost their profile as one of the most distinguished music producers in Japan.
Their first release of 12” single was made in Europe in 1997, which triggered rave reviews from definitive European music magazines such as Melody Maker, who compared their debut impact to those of the Chemical Brothers’ and Prodigy’s. In the following year of 1998, the band traveled across Europe performing at 6 major rock festivals and accompanying a European tour of the legendary Electronica unit, Underworld, to perform with. Then, right after their triumphant return to Japan, the band dropped the first album “OUTLOUD”, which was later released in Europe and the USA as well.
The band subsequently embarked on a tour with Moby for his 3-months national tour. Shortly afterwards, they began receiving – and still keep receiving – requests for remix work from various artists such as Garbage, Josh Wink, and to many to name; which proved that their sound could be acclaimed and accepted internationally.
Their success was followed by releases of the albums “UMBRA” (2001) and “PHOTON” (2002). It was also around this time when the band started performances at various festivals including the Japan’s largest “Fuji Rock Festival”. With their absolute originality coming out of the blend of philosophical lyrics and untamed physical rave experience, and the roughness of Rock’n’roll and meticulousness of electronic program, their performance always generated overwhelming energy that could also create a spiritual atmosphere.
This exquisite blend of things – the things which are seemingly opposite each other – is definitely a part of reasons why Boom Boom Satellites keeps receiving appraisal from various kinds of creators. Oliver Stone and Luc Besson, who had chosen the band’s track to use in the film 'Yamakashi', were indeed one of them.
The band was privileged with another opportunity to coordinate a soundtrack album to the fully animated film “APPLESEED” in 2004 (original story by Masamune Shiro). With the artists such as Paul Oakenfold, Basement Jaxx, and Ryuichi Sakamoto on board, Boom Boom Satellites contributed four new songs including the movie’s main theme, “Dive For You”, to the soundtrack.
In 2005, their 4th album “FULL OF ELEVATING PLEASURES” was released in Japan, and the release was realized in the USA in the year next as well. They performed at M3 music convention (Miami Music Multimedia) to further promote the album, and the reaction from the audience and media to the performance was extraordinary.
In 2006, they released the album, “ON”. Two songs from the album – “KICK IT OUT” and “PILL” - were featured in the TV commercials aired nationwide to further raise the artist’s profile. Indeed, it resulted in their stage performance at festivals, such as Rock In Japan Festival and Summer Sonic 06. Their stage attracted huge crowds of people – it was indeed more than the venue’s capacity – and the entrance of audience was barred halfway of the performance for the safety reasons, which even more brought a lot of excitement to the fans.
In 2007, their latest album “EXPOSED” was released in much anticipation. The lead track “Easy Action” was again featured in the new animation film series, “Vexille” (directed by Fumihiko Sori), and was included in the soundtrack which also compiled the tracks of the artists like Asian Dub Foundation, Underworld, and The Prodigy. 12” vinyl of this track is going to be released in Europe, and the album itself will also be scheduled for release in Australia in 2008.
The latest album has been produced through the long-standing rebellion of the band to the world that tends to appreciate music genre-by-genre; namely, Rock or Dance. However, they have a clear answer in this album – Rock AND Dance, both can exist at the same time and place. Within this 42-minute size album, their struggle for music continues to resonate, and the album has become the unveiling of a new chapter in the history of Boom Boom Satellites once again
WHAT THE PRESS SAYS ABOUT BBS:
“Like The Prodigy fighting underworld with bloody big sticks” (NME) Tokyo’s Boom Boom Satellites offer a brutal clash of high-tech hooks, renegade rhythm and distortion-drenched guitar. The brainchild of Masayuki Nakano and Michiyuki Kawashima, Boom Boom Satellites have proven themselves one of Japan’s most exciting crossover acts, touring the US with such artists as Underworld, Fatboy Slim and Moby, performing at festivals worldwide (including Glastonbury(1998) and LEEDS(2004)), and headlining the White Stage at Japan’s vast Fuji Rock Festival in 2007.
Their bombastic three-piece live show is not to be missed. The duo’s 2006 release ‘On’ was voted the best album of the year in Japanease magazine. This year they released a DVD of their Japan tour (BOOM BOOM SATELLITES JAPAN TOUR 2006 at STUDIO COAST), and the single ‘Easy Action’ appeared alongside M.I.A., Basement Jaxx and Carl Craig on the soundtrack to the mammoth anime movie Vexille, which will be released soon in the UK.
They have released their sixth studio Japan-only album, ‘Exposed’, and was released on November 21 only in Japan. We are building a US fan base here for them to release "Exposed" in the US and possible touring. Please contribute your support.
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