The 5.6.7.8's | |
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The 5.6.7.8's in concert in Lille, May 2004
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Background information | |
Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
Genres | Garage punk, post-punk, garage rock, surf rock, rockabilly |
Years active | 1986–present |
Labels | Rockville, SFT, Au Go Go, Bomba, Hara, Third Man |
Website | Official website |
Members |
Yoshiko "Ronnie" Fujiyama Sachiko Fujii Akiko Omo |
Past members |
Yoshie Rico Mikako Eddie Aya Yoshiko "Yama" Yamaguchi |
The 5.6.7.8's are a Japanese rock trio, whose music is reminiscent of American surf music, rockabilly and garage rock. They frequently cover songs from American rock and roll. All members are from Tokyo, Japan.
The 5.6.7.8's first started performing as a quartet in Tokyo, and recruited guest performers during their Australian tour, once even utilizing a male member, "Eddie". They first officially became a trio in 1992, before touring Australia.
The 5.6.7.8's made a brief appearance in the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill Volume 1, where they were shown playing barefoot in an izakaya.
In 2012, they appeared at the "Girls Got Rhythm" fest in St. Paul, MN alongside artists such as Ronnie Spector, The Muffs, Nikki Corvette and L'Assassins.
The 5.6.7.8's formed when Sachiko and Yoshiko "Ronnie" Fujiyama, two sisters from Tokyo who both shared a passion for rock and roll, founded the band in 1986 with two other members. Originally, the line-up consisted of Yoshiko on vocals and guitar, Rico on second guitar, Yoshie on bass guitar and Sachiko on drums. After several line-up changes (including the bassist Yoshiko "Yama" Yamaguchi, who was the bassist featured in the Kill Bill movie), the band eventually became a trio after Rico and Yoshie's departures. Yoshiko and Sachiko are still the main components in the band, and now Akiko Omo has rejoined the band as the bass guitarist (She originally joined the 5.6.7.8's in the early 1990s).
Even though the group mostly sing their songs in Japanese, they do many covers of American rock and roll records from the 1950s to the 1980s. However, their official website and most of their fansites and fanclubs are in Japanese, as they have their biggest following in their home country.