Loudness was Japan's largest rock export in the 1980's, but EZO wasn't far behind. Many people may have assumed that their outrageous hair and kabuki masks/make-up was being used to divert attention from the music, but their brand of melodic Scorpions meet Kingdom Come metal was very satisfying.
EZO was a Japanese heavy metal band originally formed and known as Flatbacker in Sapporo, Japan. EZO has been named a "seminal influence by such artists as Steve McDonald of Redd Kross and Michael Steele of the Bangles.
EZO consisted of Masaki Yamada (vocals), Taro Takahashi (bass), Shoyo Iida (guitar) and Hiro Homma (drums). They released one demo cassette (Minagoroshi) in 1984 and two albums (1985's Senzo and 1986's Esa) in Japan as Flatbacker in the mid-1980s before coming to the U.S. Rumor has it that Gene Simmons of KISS, who produced their self-titled U.S. debut album, was behind the band's name change to EZO, inspired by Eizo, an ancient name for Hokkaidō. They released two albums for Geffen Records, 1987's E-Z-O and 1989's Fire Fire, before being dropped from the label and internal differences led to the band's demise.
Vocalist Masaki Yamada joined fellow Japanese metalheads Loudness in 1992 and drummer Hiro Homma joined Loudness in 1994. In 2000, the original Loudness lineup reunited and Masaki and Hiro left the band. Hiro Homma is currently the drummer for the Japanese metal band Anthem and vocalist Masaki Yamada is now the bass player for the New York-based band FiRESiGN. EZO may have failed to reach big success in America, but they did open doors for similar Japanese artists while leaving behind some incredible music.
EZO was a Japanese heavy metal band originally formed and known as Flatbacker in Sapporo, Japan. EZO has been named a "seminal influence by such artists as Steve McDonald of Redd Kross and Michael Steele of the Bangles.
EZO consisted of Masaki Yamada (vocals), Taro Takahashi (bass), Shoyo Iida (guitar) and Hiro Homma (drums). They released one demo cassette (Minagoroshi) in 1984 and two albums (1985's Senzo and 1986's Esa) in Japan as Flatbacker in the mid-1980s before coming to the U.S. Rumor has it that Gene Simmons of KISS, who produced their self-titled U.S. debut album, was behind the band's name change to EZO, inspired by Eizo, an ancient name for Hokkaidō. They released two albums for Geffen Records, 1987's E-Z-O and 1989's Fire Fire, before being dropped from the label and internal differences led to the band's demise.
Vocalist Masaki Yamada joined fellow Japanese metalheads Loudness in 1992 and drummer Hiro Homma joined Loudness in 1994. In 2000, the original Loudness lineup reunited and Masaki and Hiro left the band. Hiro Homma is currently the drummer for the Japanese metal band Anthem and vocalist Masaki Yamada is now the bass player for the New York-based band FiRESiGN. EZO may have failed to reach big success in America, but they did open doors for similar Japanese artists while leaving behind some incredible music.
Band Members
Former members
Masaki Yamada
Taro Takahashi
Shoyo Iida
Hirotsugu Homma
Discography
* Accident (1985) (as 'Flatbacker')
* Esa (1986) (as 'Flatbacker')
* EZO (1987)
* Fire Fire (1989)
Listen To EZO Music!
Watch EZO Video!
Flashback Heart Attack
Million miles Away
Here It Comes - Kiss of Fire
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