Pizzicato Five
| Pizzicato Five | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as |
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| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1979–2001 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Fantastic Plastic Machine |
| Past members | |
Pizzicato Five (formerly typeset as Pizzicato V and sometimes abbreviated to P5) was a Japanese pop band formed in Tokyo. They gained international fame during their later incarnation as the duo of multi-instrumentalist co-founder Yasuharu Konishi and lead vocalist Maki Nomiya. The group, widely credited (along with Flipper's Guitar) with spearheading the Shibuya-kei movement of Tokyo in the 1990s, is known for eclectic and energetic compositions that often pay homage to late 1960s English-language pop music. The catchphrase "A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular" captured the group's ironic stance and eager attitude.
Pizzicato Five was a hugely prolific group during its 16-year-long existence, usually releasing at least an album each year in addition to various EPs and remix albums. Their music has appeared in numerous movies, television episodes, and video games.
Pizzicato V had its beginnings in 1979 when Yasuharu Konishi and Keitarō Takanami were attending university, first meeting each other at a local music society conference. Ryō Kamomiya, Mamiko Sasaki, and Shigeo Miyata were soon recruited after a few years. Miyata left the group almost immediately but the four remaining members kept the name Pizzicato V. The band released its first single on Haruomi Hosono's Non-Standard label (Teichiku Records), a 12-inch EP called Audrey Hepburn Complex which was produced by Hosono in 1985. They followed this with the Pizzicato V in Action EP.
In 1986, Pizzicato V signed with CBS/Sony (now Sony Music Entertainment Japan). In 1987, the band released their first all-new album, Couples. It was a commercial failure, and the record company began pressuring the band to find a new lead singer. Kamomiya and Sasaki decided to quit. Takao Tajima, Original Love's frontman, joined the band soon as the new vocalist. He decided to work at these two bands. With Tajima, the band released its second album, Belissima! in 1988.
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