From
left to right they're guitarist Yoshaki Manabe, guitarist and vocalist
Sawao Yamanaka, and drummer Shinichiro Sato. Seven years earlier, this
rock trio had performed in London and attracted only 30 people. But
that was before director Tsurumaki Kazuya asked them to provide music
for an unusual animated series called "FLCL." That series became an
international hit, and its music was as memorable as its story. Now the
rock trio's name, The Pillows, is no longer obscure, and the band is
welcome around the globe. Fans screamed at Anime Central when the group
performed their favorites from the FLCL soundtrack. "I think our
opportunity to perform outside Japan has been rare, but people are
interested in us and looking at us of as something new," Yamanaka said
at an interview session. "For instance, a press session like this we
never do in Japan - this is the first time we've ever done a press
session." Joked Manabe, "Please be gentle with us." so, the group was
asked about the origin of their name, "The Pillows." It was inspired by
the logo of a British group, the band said. "We were not familiar with
English," Yamanaka added. "`Pillows' looked good, but we did not know
what pillows were."
The
band members also didn't know before the session that FLCL had been
cablecast on the Cartoon Network, and they were pleased to learn that
their work had been exposed to U.S. TV viewers. The power of the band's
music and its impact on FLCL can be seen in the song "Shooting Star,"
part of the series' end credits. Yamanaka said he wrote the song before
The Pillows were commissioned to supply music for the series, and
director Kazuya had asked for a slower end credit song, "which we
already had but it came out much different. At the time, "Shooting
Star" was my favorite music, even though it was different from what the
director wanted. I gave it to him nd he liked it right away -- and e
changed the ending." The result was the stop-motion end credit sequence
that mirrors the mood of the series. All of the band members bring at
least 20 years of performing experience to The Pillows, and they're not
a young garage band by any means, yet they feel they're as valid as
younger groups. "We have made our lives much better by doing this than
by doing any sort of real work," Yamanaka said. "It's not bad, the rock
and roll life," Manabe said. As for being older than some bands, "When
the Rolling Stones quit we'll think about it," Sato said, referring to
the 60's rock band whose members are in their 60's. Ironically, The
Pillows were founded by another musician who put together the group,
then left for another project, leaving the core trip to continue the
band. Years later, their FLCL experience has meant great opportunities
and more money for the group.
From
left to right they're guitarist Yoshaki Manabe, guitarist and vocalist
Sawao Yamanaka, and drummer Shinichiro Sato. Seven years earlier, this
rock trio had performed in London and attracted only 30 people. But
that was before director Tsurumaki Kazuya asked them to provide music
for an unusual animated series called "FLCL." That series became an
international hit, and its music was as memorable as its story. Now the
rock trio's name, The Pillows, is no longer obscure, and the band is
welcome around the globe. Fans screamed at Anime Central when the group
performed their favorites from the FLCL soundtrack. "I think our
opportunity to perform outside Japan has been rare, but people are
interested in us and looking at us of as something new," Yamanaka said
at an interview session. "For instance, a press session like this we
never do in Japan - this is the first time we've ever done a press
session." Joked Manabe, "Please be gentle with us." so, the group was
asked about the origin of their name, "The Pillows." It was inspired by
the logo of a British group, the band said. "We were not familiar with
English," Yamanaka added. "`Pillows' looked good, but we did not know
what pillows were."
The
band members also didn't know before the session that FLCL had been
cablecast on the Cartoon Network, and they were pleased to learn that
their work had been exposed to U.S. TV viewers. The power of the band's
music and its impact on FLCL can be seen in the song "Shooting Star,"
part of the series' end credits. Yamanaka said he wrote the song before
The Pillows were commissioned to supply music for the series, and
director Kazuya had asked for a slower end credit song, "which we
already had but it came out much different. At the time, "Shooting
Star" was my favorite music, even though it was different from what the
director wanted. I gave it to him nd he liked it right away -- and e
changed the ending." The result was the stop-motion end credit sequence
that mirrors the mood of the series. All of the band members bring at
least 20 years of performing experience to The Pillows, and they're not
a young garage band by any means, yet they feel they're as valid as
younger groups. "We have made our lives much better by doing this than
by doing any sort of real work," Yamanaka said. "It's not bad, the rock
and roll life," Manabe said. As for being older than some bands, "When
the Rolling Stones quit we'll think about it," Sato said, referring to
the 60's rock band whose members are in their 60's. Ironically, The
Pillows were founded by another musician who put together the group,
then left for another project, leaving the core trip to continue the
band. Years later, their FLCL experience has meant great opportunities
and more money for the group.
