Yamanaka Sawao

Yamanaka Sawao Promoting Taikutsu na Otoko (2010)

Yamanaka Sawao (山中さわお), is a Japanese rock singer, guitarist, songwriter and composer. He is well known as the lead singer and guitarist of the band the pillows. He also writes and composes all the songs by the pillows.

Profile

• Name: Yamanaka Sawao (山中さわお)
• Birthdate: December 7, 1968 (1968-12-07)
• Birthplace: Hokkaido, Japan
• Bands:
  • the Coinlocker Babies (1987 - 1989)
  • the pillows (1989 - Present)
  • THE PREDATORS (2005 - Present)

Information

Yamanaka Sawao grew up listening to punk rock. In 1988 he began singing and playing guitar for the group the Coinlocker Babies in Hokkaido with Manabe Yoshiaki, Ueda Kenji and Sato Shinichiro and recorded a demo tape called "Pantomime".

In 1989 he renamed the group the pillows and after re-recording some of the music from their earlier demo they signed with Pony Canyon and came out with their first major release MOON GOLD in 1991. Since then they have released many successful albums and singles.

Yamanaka Sawao became friends with JIRO of GLAY after he met him at one of his concerts with his band the pillows. In 2004, JIRO and Sawao met Nakayama Shinpei from STRAIGHTENER. Eventually JIRO and Sawao asked Shinpei if he wanted to form a band together, and formed the band THE PREDATORS in 2005.

In 2010 Sawao released his first solo album DISCHARGE and released a second less then four months later titled Taikutsu na Otoko.

Trivia

• Yamanaka started his own independent record label in 1999 with fellow member Ueda Kenji called Delicious Label.

Discography

Albums

• [2010.06.23] DISCHARGE
• [2010.10.12] Taikutsu na Otoko (退屈な男; Tedious Man)

Compilations / Other

• [2001.09.25] my room is delicious vol.1 (#11 Long Vacation, #12 Birthday)
• [2002.01.23] my room is delicious vol.2 (#11 Nobody can find me, #12 Clare Butterfly)

Filmography

Movies

• [2003] Colors of Life (Cameo)

External Links

• the pillows Official Website
• THE PREDATORS Official Website