THE YELLOW MONKEY

Japanese Rock Band The Yellow Monkey initially formed as a glam rock outfit inspired by artists like David Bowie and T. Rex. Over time, they incorporated influences from hard rock, prog, and disco, rising to become one of the top bands in the Japanese music scene during the 1990s. Known to fans as YeMon, The Yellow Monkey was founded in 1988 by Yoshii 'Lovin' Kazuya, Hirose 'Heesey' Youichi, and Kikuchi 'Annie' Eiji. They were later joined by Eiji's brother, Kikuchi 'Emma' Hideaki, completing the line-up. The band built a following by playing extensively in underground clubs for three years before releasing their first EP, Bunched Birth (1991). This initial success led to a deal with Columbia, and they continued to grow in popularity, releasing their best-selling single "Love Communication" in 1995. After facing issues with Columbia, they switched to the Funhouse label, delaying their fifth album, Sicks (1997). The wait proved worthwhile as it topped the Japanese album chart, and the track "Tactics" gained additional fame by being featured in the popular anime series Rurouni Kenshin. In 1998, the band embarked on an extensive 113-date Japanese tour and released their sixth album, Punch Drunkard, which also reached Number 1. However, the relentless schedule began to take a toll, leading the band to reduce their live performances. They released another album, 8, which landed at number 2 in 2000, but a hiatus in 2001 eventually led to an official split in 2004. After pursuing separate careers, The Yellow Monkey reunited in 2016 and embarked on a 20-arena tour. Following various covers and singles, they released their first album in nearly two decades, 9999, in April 2019. The album went to number 3 on the charts, earning them the Album of the Year award at the 61st Japan Record Awards. On January 1, 2024, The Yellow Monkey released the song "Hotel Neutrino", followed by "Shine On" on April 3, holding their first concert in three years at the Tokyo Dome on April 27 before releasing their eleventh studio album, Sparkle X, on May 29.