Biography
In 1989, Makoto Gomi and his junior high school classmate Akira (bass) met Seizi Kimura through a "member recruitment" ad in a music magazine. At the time, the three members had very different musical tastes, but they all felt a hunch that this could lead to great music, and so the band began. However, due to changes in the lineup due to college enrollment and other reasons, the bassist changed several times after Akira left the band. Yanagita joined on drums, and friend Yukifumi Toya joined on bass, and the band performed as a four-piece.
From around 1992, the band continued to perform, including participating in compilations on the indie label "UNDER FLOWER RECORDS," and in 1994 released their official full-length album, "Swing, Slide, Sandpit," on the same label. However, it was not well-received at the time of its release, and was discontinued after only 1,000 copies were pressed. After that, the band steadily performed live, mainly in Shimokitazawa. Yukifumi Toya (bass) left the band for work.
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Initially, they were not particularly active, but in 1995, a year after their indie debut, their album "Swing, Slide, Sandpit" caught the ear of hide, then a member of X-JAPAN. Impressed by their musical style, he encouraged them to establish the label "LEMONed" at MCA Victor to bring Zeppet Store's music to the world. Around the same time, Yuichi Nakamura joined the band as the new bassist. Hide immediately invited them to record overseas, and with hide's support, they completed their second album, "716." With a sound reminiscent of a Western band, this album was released only in the US (import versions were distributed in Japan) without being released in Japan, and they embarked on a US tour.
In 1996, they made their major label debut with MCA Victor (now Universal Music). This major label debut also led to them releasing songs with Japanese lyrics.
After their major debut, the band released three singles, but just before the release of their first album, "Cue" (1997), guitarist Makoto Gomi left the band, citing "not wanting to commercialize music". Gomi later confessed that recording "716" in the United States had taken a toll on him mentally. They continued to perform at events hosted by hide, steadily gaining popularity.
In the spring of 1998, Yanagita's old friend Kenji Akabane joined as guitarist, and the band restarted as a four-piece. However, hide suddenly passed away on May 2, 1998. Following his death, Zeppet Store actively appeared on memorial programs broadcast on various television stations.
After hide's death, Kimura took over the second Friday slot of Nippon Broadcasting System's "All Night Nippon R", which had previously been hosted by hide. This was the realization of the staff's belief that hide would also want Kimura to take on the role, as he had praised Kimura's talk at a drinking party while he was still alive. Kimura's first words were a matter-of-fact "hide has gone to heaven".
After later being moved to a second session on Mondays, Kimura's All Night was broadcast for two years. His second major label album, "CLUTCH", released in 1999, debuted at number 8 on the Oricon charts. He also sang theme songs for dramas and appeared on prime-time music shows such as "HEY!HEY!HEY!" and "Music Station". He also appeared at the "RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL" held that same year.
They continued to release albums such as "GOOSEFLESH" (2000) and "DINO" (2001). Their sound, which was heavily influenced by UK guitar rock at the time of their debut, evolved into a heavier sound with each successive release, and their lyrics increasingly contained a harsh, "real" tone.
In 2002, Seizi Kimura resumes his activities with his old solo project Hurdy Gurdy and releases a full-length album called "Sleep Tight Fellows". Guitarist Kenji Akabane and bassist Yuichi Nakamura release the full-length "Play Mode" with the band PUSH featuring vocalist Tomokazu Ohashi (ex-HAIR CUTS) and drummer Kazuo Ozaki (ex-Guty Bombs, ex-Milk Crown). Drummer Eiki Yanagita resumes his activities as a DJ under the moniker DRYASDUST.
By the same year, Zeppet Store is dropped by Unlimited Records and joins Virgin Music months later.
In 2003, they released the album "SLICK". Using the tagline "Return to the Roots," it was their first album to feature a mix of English and Japanese lyrics. The band received little promotion by the label at this point and decide to leave Virgin that same year and join the indie label PRHYTHM.
Then, in 2004, after releasing the all-English album "BLACK BERRY BED," they announced their disbandment on their official website. Their final performance was at LIQUIDROOM Ebisu on August 14, 2005, but they quickly reunited for one night only at "RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 05" on August 19 of the same year.
After the band's disbandment, vocalist and guitarist Seizi Kimura formed a new band, HOODIS. The bass player was former Walrus member Kaoru Miura, the drummer was former Supercar member Kimihiro Tazawa, and the guitarist was his close friend Makoto Gomi.
In 2007, the 1994 indie album "SWING, SLIDE, SANDPIT" was reissued as a two-disc set, featuring remastered material and a bonus disc containing unreleased material. Also, at the "Under Flower 15th Anniversary Event" held on June 2, 2007, the band reunited for a one-night-only live concert with the original lineup of Kimura Seizi (vocals, guitar), Gomi Makoto (guitar), Toya Yukifumi (bass), and Yanagida Hideki (drums).
In 2007, drummer Eiki Yanagita (YANA) formed a new band, GHEEE, with Motoaki Fukunuma (vocals, guitar) of Mellowhead/PLAGUES, Tomohiro Kondo (vocals, guitar) formerly of PEALOUT, and Hisayo (bass) of Tokyo Pinsa Rocks. He also played drums in six other bands, including AKUH, NACANO, Vez, Microphone and Fish, and Electric Butter.
In 2007, bassist Yuichi Nakamura restarted his band, LUCY'S DRIVE, as a solo unit.
Kimura continues his career as Hurdy Gurdy, creates another project called Pale Green, where he composes music for videogames such as Sweet Pool and DRAMAtical Murder, and starts releasing music under his own name.
In March 2011, following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the band announced that they would reunite with the original members and record and distribute a new song to donate proceeds. In August, the new song "SMILE" was released digitally, and a CD was sold exclusively at live venues. For the CD release of "SMILE," original guitarist Gomi rejoined, making the band a five-piece. Their first live performance as a five-piece was on May 2, 2012, at "hide FILM ALIVE!! ~hide Memorial Day 2012~."
On December 13, 2012, to coincide with their mentor hide's birthday, they released their first original album in eight years, "SHAPE 5." Gomi and Akabane were in charge of sound production.
2014, the band's 25th anniversary, saw them continue their active careers, releasing the album "SPICE" followed by "REVERB" two years later.
In 2019, to commemorate their 30th anniversary, fans launched the band-approved "Nanaichiroku Project" through crowdfunding, with July 16th recognized by the Japan Anniversary Association as "ZEPPET STORE Day," in honor of the band's album "716."
In 2024, the band releases "35" to conmemorate its 35th anniversary. One year later, drummer Eiki Yanagita exits the band following a battle with focal dysphonia. He continues to be a DJ.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.