Boøwy

Although they would eventually become one of the biggest bands in Japan in the '80s, Boøwy had to face not only the pitfalls of a band finding its feet, but would have to fight an uphill battle against a Japanese record industry that wasn't too happy about a band that took promotion and management into its own hands. Boøwy's roots first took shape way back in 1979, when founding members Himuro Kyosuke and Hotei Tomoyasu were involved in a music contest in their hometown of Takasaki. Himuro's band, Death Penalty, won, and Hotei's band finished runner-up. Himuro coupled victory with signing to a label and moving himself and Death Penalty to Tokyo, and although Hotei still had school to finish, he was expelled and found himself moving to the city as well a year or so later. Death Penalty split shortly after moving to Tokyo, and Himuro found himself fronting the band Spinach Power for a short time before leaving that band in 1980. Himuro then approached the newly arrived Hotei Tomoyasu about starting a band. Auditions were held, and with all the members in place -- Kyosuke on vocals, Tomoyasu on guitar, Moroboshi Atsushi on guitar, Matsui Tsunematsu on bass, Fuazawa Matusaki on saxophone, and Kimura Mamoru on drums -- Boui were ready to take on Japan. After many gigs and mailing a number of demos to various record companies, Boui were signed to Victor Entertainment. The next few years were turbulent -- to say the least -- for the band. Takahashi Makoto joined the band in 1981 (replacing Mamoru, who had decided to call it a day), and in 1982, the newly christened Boøwy released their first album, Moral. The decision to explore a more pop-oriented direction led to the departure of Fuazawa and Moroboshi, but the core of Himuro and Hotei decided to soldier on as a four-piece...