Official Site　

http://www.grapevineonline.jp/

Biography | Profile　

A precocious vocalist who’d been showered in blues and soul and a Beatles, Neil Young, XTC-influenced guitarist met one day in Osaka.
They eventually named themselves ‘GRAPEVINE’ after the Marvin Gaye song and departed on their career. The original members of the band were Kazumasa Tanaka (Vocal/Guitar) Hiroyoshi Nishikawa (Guitar), Toru Kamei (Drums), Makoto Nishihara (Bass). A self-released cassette tape initially gained them widespread exposure – leading to numerous offers from major labels and they signed with Pony Canyon in 1997. Their debut mini album “Kakusei” was released in September 1997. They went on to make history with a top 3 album “Lifetime” (released 1999) which included smash hits “Slow” and “Hikari Ni Tsuite” – a feat very few new bands have achieved since.
Makoto Nishihara left the band in 2002 upon which 2 new members, XXX Kaneto (Bass) and XXX Takano (Keyboards) joined. 2005 saw the start of a collaboration with producer Shin Nagata (Dr.Strangelove) and resulted in the single “FLY” and album “Deracine” in 2006, and the 2007 album “From A Smalltown”. Their brand new album “TWANGS” is scheduled to be released in Summer 2009.

10 years since their debut record, GRAPEVINE continue to stay passionate, constantly transforming themselves and reeling in new audiences while gaining respect from their musical peers with their uncompromising rock sensibilities.

In the summer of 2006, they provided the theme song for the TV commercial for the alcoholic beverage,　Suntory “Calori” with a cover of The Nolans (Gotta Pull Myself Together). They were also hand picked to be the front act for the Stereophonics Japan tour in 2005. April 2007 also saw Kazumasa Tanaka appear in the infamous Tower Records advert/poster/billboard “No Music, No Life”.
In the spring of 2009, Grapevine performed at SXSW held annually in Texas, with other shows in New York and in other parts of Texas.

NIKE and Tower Records also collaborated for the “PLAY HARD” campaign in which Grapevine starred – when they put on a free live show for the campaign at the Yoyogi Park Outdoor Stage, Grapevine were billed as headliners.

Discography