Musicians - Tomoyasu Hotei

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	Musicians - Tomoyasu Hotei

Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋寅泰 Hotei Tomoyasu, born on February 1, 1962 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture) is a Japanese musician, guitarist and actor. He has a Korean father and a half-Russian and half-Japanese mother.

Biography

At 190cm, Tomayasu Hotei is one of the most intimidating people in the Japanese music world. This image has also been put to good use when casting him as the villain in movies and TV commercials, most notably as the sinister man in black chasing Masatoshi Nagase in the Boss coffee ads. Over a long musical career as a guitarist with one of Japan's legendary rock bands, guest artist and solo performer, he has developed a worldwide reputation as Japan's premier axeman and has sold over 25 million albums. Possessing strong skills as both a guitarist and songwriter, he has played in various configurations and styles, but has always been at heart a rocker.

Hotei first stated playing the guitar in junior high school. In high school, his band "Blue Film" finished runners up in a school contest to "Death Penalty", a band led by Kyosuke Himuro. Hotei was expelled shortly before graduation. The reason was that, when warned about his long hair he replied "Jesus had long hair!" Shortly after, he went to Tokyo where one day he received a phone call from Himuro. The two had never really known each other but hit it off and went on to hold auditions for a new band, which in 1981 became the six-member BOØWY. The band became major stars in Japan, in 1985 played the Marquee in London, and in 1986 had their first million seller, "Beat Emotion".

When the band broke up in 1988, Hotei established himself as a solo star, as did BOØWY singer Kyosuke Himuro. Hotei also made two albums with Koji Kikkawa as Complex, both of which went to number one in the national charts. Hotei frequently records overseas, and has collaborated with many foreign musicians, including playing on the Stranglers Hugh Cornwell's '93 solo album, on stage with David Bowie at Nippon Budokan in '96, and at the closing ceremony of '98 Olympics with Michael Kamen.

He later recorded "Guitar Concerto" with Kamen. He has also worked with Andy Mackay of Roxy Music, guitarist Chris Spedding and Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones. Hotei also sometimes plays in Europe, and performances include a number of major festival dates. His regular drummer in recent years, Zachary Alford, has previously played with Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie. His album of 1998 "Supersonic Generation", recorded in part with Apollo 440 and Ofra Haza, was released in 14 European countries.

In addition to releasing many best-selling solo albums, Hotei composed & performed the score for Hiroyuki Nakano's Samurai Fiction, as well as starring in the film. Tomoyasu Hotei's songs have also appeared on the soundtrack to 1998's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and the song "Battle Without Honor or Humanity" was used in the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill, and has quickly become an anthemic staple of consumer music. Hotei also has a cut on the album Merry Axemas, along with Jeff Beck, Joe Berry and Steve Vai. Tomoyasu Hotei's wife, Miki Imai is also a popular singer and actress.

Discography

Singles

"Deja-vu" (December 12, 1990)
"BEAT EMOTION" (June 29, 1991)
"YOU" (December 4, 1991)
"LONELY WILD" (July 22, 1992)
"Saraba Seshun no Hikari" (さらば青春の光, July 28, 1993)
"Surrender" (サレンダー, March 30, 1994)
"Bara to Ame" (薔薇と雨,December 14, 1994)
"POISON" (January 25, 1995)
"Thrill" (スリル, October 18, 1995
"Last Scene" (ラストシーン, January 24, 1996)
"Inochi wa Moyashitsukusu tame no Mono" (命は燃やしつくすためのもの, May 24, 1996)
"CIRCUS" (October 23, 1996)
"CHANGE YOURSELF!" (August 1, 1997)
"THANK YOU & GOOD BYE" (January 28, 1998)
"Bambina" (バンビーナ, April 16, 1999)
"Nobody Is Perfect" (May 12, 1999)
"VAMPIRE" (August 30, 2000)
"LOVE JUNKIE" (October 25, 2000
"BORN TO BE FREE" (January 1, 2001)
"RUSSIAN ROULETTE" (February 6, 2002)
"DESTINY ROSE" (October 17, 2002)
"NOCTURNE No.9" (August 27, 2003)
"Another Battle" (アナザー・バトル, June 30, 2004)
"IDENTITY" (2005February 23)
"LIBERTY WINGS" (April 27, 2005)
"BATTLE FUNKTASTIC" (January 25, 2006)

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