A.B.'s
| AB'S | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Rock, AOR, soft rock |
| Years active | 1982–1985, 1988, 2003-present |
| Labels | Moon, Warner Music Japan, Dreamweaver |
| Members |
Fujimaru Yoshino Makoto Matsushita Naoki Watanabe Atsuo Okamoto |
| Past members |
Yoshihiko Ando Hidetoshi Yamada |
AB'S (often written "A.B.'s" in the U.K.) is a male Japanese rock band formed in Tokyo in 1982. In Japan, their music is regularly associated with "city pop" or adult-oriented rock. Their song "Deja Vu" was released in the U.K. and often categorized as instrumental and or jazz funk, but the music of AB'S, including "Deja Vu" is also known for their chorus performance in Japan.
The band currently consists of Fujimaru Yoshino (芳野藤丸) (guitars, vocals), Makoto Matsushita (松下誠) (guitars, vocals), Naoki Watanabe (渡辺直樹) (bass guitars, vocals), Atsuo Okamoto (岡本郭男) (drums, vocals). As all the members are session players, sometimes the band is compared to Toto (band) in Japan.
AB'S is sometimes known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, funk and progressive rock.
The members are Fujimaru Yoshino and the recording members of his first solo album Yoshino Fujimal released in 1982. Yoshino recruited Matsushita when he listened to Matsushita's first album First Light (1981) and he wanted to form a band with Matsushita. Yoshino also recruited Watanabe and Okamoto, both of whom were formerly a Bassist and Drummer (respectively) for the Brass-Rock band, SPECTRUM from 1979 to 1981, and Ando also for his ability of writing lyrics.
The band name came from the blood types of the original members. The blood type of Yoshino, Matsushita and Watanabe is AB, and the blood type of Ando and Okamoto is A. Therefore, the name "A.B.'s", written on the 12-inch single Deja Vu released in the U.K. is incorrect.
The leaflet for their second album promotion published by Alfa Moon Records, shows the blood types of each member with profiles. They also thought that the name starting with AB would become first in a catalogue. In 2012, Yoshino said in his Facebook that he saw the result of his latest medical check and learned that his blood-type is not AB but B, after Matsushita's reissued CD (see above) was released.
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