Ellegarden
Ellegarden is a Japanese rock band formed in December 1998 in Chiba, Japan. Ellegarden consists of drummer Hirotaka Takahashi, vocalist/guitarist Takeshi Hosomi, guitarist Shinichi Ubukata, and bassist Yuichi Takada. In 2008, Ellegarden announced an indefinite hiatus, which lasted almost 10 years. In May 2018, Ellegarden announced a reunion with their first national tour since the hiatus.
Background
The English lyrics of the band's songs, which are mostly written by Hosomi, are usually grammatically sound and well pronounced. In the Summer 2006 issue of the American Japanese rock magazine Purple Sky, Hosomi accredited this to the time he spent working as a computer engineer in Oakland, California and later in Japan, where he had English-speaking co-workers.History
Ellegarden generated a tight, punchy but muscular sound reminiscent of North American bands such as Blink-182, Sum 41 and Good Charlotte, while also displaying the influence of Hosomi's favorites, Weezer. In the fall of 2001, Ellegarden signed with the Japanese Dynamord label, and released their first EP, Bare Foot, with a full-length album, Don't Trust Anyone But Us, following in the spring of 2002. The album was a hit, and Ellegarden followed with a new LP every year. In 2004, they took part in the Synchronized Rockers tribute album to The Pillows. 2006's Eleven Fire Crackers became the band's first North American release when it was issued by Nettwerk in the summer of 2007. Accustomed to playing major shows in Japan, where they've shared stages with the Foo Fighters and Sum 41, Ellegarden made their American live debut in 2006 with a seven-city tour as part of Japan Nite, which included a stop at the South by Southwest Music Conference.In 2006, Ellegarden performed in numerous Japanese Summer Music Festivals, such as Fuji Rock, Summer Sonic, Nano Mugen Festival and Rising Sun Rock Festival. Their final tour of the year featured the American band Allister, who they became acquainted with during SXSW 2006. In addition, they supported Foo Fighters in their concert at Osaka Castle Hall.
On May 2, 2008, it was announced that the band would be going on hiatus when the following message was posted on the band's official website:
"Ellegarden has been in the process of creating a new album since last year, however, during the band’s activities, there arose a difference in opinion regarding the motivation for creating a new album. We no longer feel we are able to create an album that we would be satisfied with, and after much discussion we arrived at the conclusion to end the creation of the album and suspend the band’s activities indefinitely. All previously decided shows up until early September 2008 will still be performed.
We want to thank everyone who has supported Ellegarden from the bottom of our hearts. In order to once again create new music as Ellegarden, each of us wants to work on our own personal growth and development. Thank you for everything." – Ellegarden leader, Shinichi Ubukata
Following the recording hiatus announcement, the band has continued to perform live and announced a greatest hits album entitled Ellegarden Best . The album consists of 21 songs and was released on July 2, 2008. After appearances at several high-profile festivals, the band performed four one-man shows in early September to give its fans a send-off before the hiatus; two performances at Zepp Osaka followed by two performances at Shinkiba Studio Coast in Tokyo.
In 2018, Ellegarden announced their first tour in 10 years, ending their hiatus. The tour, titled "THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN", kicked off in August 2018 at Shinkiba Studio Coast, the same venue as their send-off concert. In 2020, the group had announced scheduled performances at several music festivals in Japan, but most of them had been cancelled or postponed due to effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Band members
- Takeshi Hosomi – vocalist, rhythm guitarist
- * Hosomi is the main songwriter. He writes almost all the lyrics and music.
- * He announced in October 2008 that he was active as a solo artist on his official blog, and that he formed The Hiatus.
- Shin’ichi Ubukata – lead guitarist, backing vocals
- * Ubukata is the leader of the band.
- * He formed a new band, Nothing's Carved in Stone in 2009.
- Yuichi Takada – bassist, backing vocals
- * Takada is part of the band Meaning.
- * He is also a member of the band the End, with former BiS member Nakayama "UK" Yukiko.
- Hirotaka Takahashi – drummer, backing vocals
- * Takahashi is the godparent of the band.
- * He formed Scars Borough after the group's hiatus.
Equipment
- Takeshi Hosomi
- *Gibson Les Paul Std./ Gibson Historic Collection 1956 Les Paul Gold Top
- *Diezel Herbert/ Marshall JCM-800
- Shinichi Ubukata
- *Gibson ES-355 /Gibson Shinichi Ubukata ES-355.
- *VHT. Pittbull Hundred CLX/ Marshall JMP 2203
- Yuichi Takada
- *Fender Precision Bass/ Ampeg SVT-810 E
- Hirotaka Takahashi
- *Ludwig Classic Maple Drum Set/ SD Gretsch G4160
- *Paiste 2002 Series/ Stick Pearl Standard Hickory 190 STH
Discography
| Year | Album Details | Oricon charts | Sales |
| 2002 | Don't Trust Anyone But Us
| 94 | — |
| 2003 | Bring Your Board!! | 75 | — |
| 2004 | Pepperoni Quattro | 17 | — |
| 2005 | Riot on the Grill | 3 | 227,000 |
| 2006 | Eleven Fire Crackers | 1 | 341,000 |
| Year | Album Details | Oricon charts | Sales |
| 2004 | Synchronized Rockers
| — | — |
| 2007 | Figureheads Compilation | — | — |
| 2008 | Ellegarden Best | 2 | 277,886 |
| Year | Album Details | Oricon charts |
| 2001 | Ellegarden
| 240 |
| 2002 | My Own Destruction | 206 |
| Year | Title | Oricon charts |
| 2001 | "Bare Foot"
| — |
| 2002 | "Yubiwa" | — |
| 2003 | "Jitterbug" | 75 |
| 2004 | "Missing" | 16 |
| 2005 | "Space Sonic" | 5 |
| 2006 | "Salamander" | 3 |
| Year | Title | Oricon charts |
| 2003 | My Own Destruction Tour Bootleg VHS
| — |
| 2004 | Bring Your Board!! Tour Bootleg II DVD | — |
| 2004 | E.V.Junkie Lives 2004 - King of Punk Adventure | — |
| 2005 | Bad for Education'' Tour Bootleg III DVD | 17 |
| 2006 | Doggy Bags | 3 |
| 2007 | Eleven Fire Crackers Tour 06-07 - After Party | 1 |
Tours
Dates shown are announcement dates- First tour – 20 stop tour through Japan
- My Own Destruction Tour – 30 stops in Japan to promote album of same name
- Bring Your Board!! Tour – 25 stops in Japan with one extra live performance
- Jitterbug Live Tour
- Pepperoni Quattro Tour – toured 19 cities in Japan
- Bad for Education Tour 2004 – 15 cities
- Riot on the Grill Tour – 39 stops
- Space Sonic Tour 2005-2006 – 36 stops
- Japan Nite Tour 2006 – first US tour with appearance at SXSW followed by 7 cities
- Ellegarden Tour 2006-2007 – 54 stops, first half featuring Allister
- Supporting Act for Foo Fighters – Osaka Castle Hall
- Ellegarden Tour 2007 – 31 stops in Japan
- First Korean Show at Melon AX
- THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN TOUR 2018 – 3 stops in Japan to promote return, guest act ONE OK ROCK
- NANA-IRO ELECTRIC TOUR 2019 – 3 stop reunion tour with fellow bands Asian Kung-Fu Generation and Straightener