Hi-Standard (stylized as Hi-STANDARD) is a Japanese
punk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
band formed in 1991 by bassist and lead vocalist Akihiro Nanba, guitarist and vocalist Ken Yokoyama, and drummer Akira Tsuneoka. The release ''
Making the Road'' sparked sold-out Japan shows and U.S./European tours with punk bands such as
NOFX
NOFX () was an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Bassist/lead vocalist Fat Mike, rhythm guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin were original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every ...
,
No Use for a Name, and
Wizo. Although the members of Hi-Standard are Japanese, all of their major releases are sung in English. Tsuneoka died in February 2023, with Nanba and Yokoyama continuing the band as a two-piece. In 2003, Hi-Standard was ranked by
HMV
HMV is an international music and entertainment retailer, founded in 1921. The brand is owned by Hilco Capital and operated by Sunrise Records, except in Japan, where it is owned and operated by Lawson.
The inaugural shop was opened on Lo ...
at number 64 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts.
History
Formation and success: 1991–2000
Forming in August 1991 as a four-piece band,
the initial lineup of Hi-Standard contained lead vocalist Atsuhiko Matsumoto, bassist Akihiro Nanba, guitarist Ken Yokoyama, and drummer Akira Tsuneoka. They had their first concert that October at Kōenji 20000V in
Kōenji
is a district of Tokyo in the Suginami ward, west of Shinjuku. The district's name originates from the old temples in the area.
Kōenji is primarily a residential community with easy access to the Shinjuku and Tokyo stations. It was largely un ...
, Tokyo.
Shortly after recording their first demo tape in 1992, Matsumoto left the group in September, with bassist Nanba taking over vocal duties, solidifying Hi-Standard's lineup as a
power trio
A power trio is a rock band format having a lineup of electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit, leaving out a dedicated vocalist or an additional rhythm guitar or keyboard instrument that are often used in other rock music bands that are quart ...
.
They provided the song "Selfish Girl" to the November 1992 omnibus album ''Shake a Move'', and two tracks to the 1993 live omnibus ''BQ Jap''.
In 1994, Hi-Standard contributed two songs to the live omnibus ''Sokobi Jūatsu Hachiwari Pull Up from the Underground 80%'' and released their debut mini-album ''Last of Sunny Day''.
It was released on their own record label,
Pizza of Death Records.
Three months later, they released a 7" titled "In the Brightly Moonlight", and embarked on numerous tours across Japan throughout the mid-90s.
In January 1995, the band performed with
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Garden Grove, California, in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Dexter Holland, Bryan "Dexter" Holland, ...
and toured with
Garlic Boys
Garlicboys is a Japanese punk band from Osaka. The current lineup is Peta (lead vocals), Larry (guitar, vocals), Pessin (bass, vocals) and Ryo (drums, vocals). They are known in Japan's "trendy" underground music scene as the "godfathers of new ...
.
A Japanese tour with
NOFX
NOFX () was an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Bassist/lead vocalist Fat Mike, rhythm guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin were original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every ...
followed in May.
That August, Hi-Standard traveled to America to record their first full-length LP. ''
Growing Up'' was produced by NOFX member
Fat Mike
Michael John Burkett (born January 16, 1967), known professionally as Fat Mike, is an American musician and producer. He was the bassist and lead vocalist for the punk rock band NOFX and the cofounder and bassist of the punk rock supergroup cov ...
and released by
Toy's Factory
is a Japanese record label founded in the late 1980s as a subsidiary of the entertainment company VAP, based in Japan. On May 30, 1990, it was established as an independent company. It is an associate member of the Recording Industry Assoc ...
that November.
1996 saw the band accompany
Green Day
Green Day is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their majo ...
on a Japanese tour in January, and
Rancid on a tour of Japan in February.
When ''Growing Up'' was released in North America by
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is an independent record label based in San Francisco focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) and his wife at the time, Erin Burkett in 1990. ...
, Hi-Standard held a tour of the US and Canada in March 1996.
In May 1997, their second full-length album, ''
Angry Fist
''Angry Fist'' is the second album by Japanese punk rock band, Hi-Standard. It was released on American label, Fat Wreck Chords, in July 1997.
Track listing
*All songs written by Hi-Standard, unless otherwise stated.
#"Fighting Fists, Angry Soul" ...
'', was released, selling 500,000 copies worldwide.
In 1998, Hi-Standard and NOFX embarked on a US/Canada tour. Over the following months, they participated in the
1998 Warped Tour, headlined the '98 Air Jam to an audience of 30,000, and once again joined NOFX on a European tour.
Riding the wave of successes from their prior albums and touring, they released their third album, ''
Making the Road'', in 1999. It sold over one million copies.
Hiatus: 2000–2011
After recording five albums, Hi-Standard entered a hiatus in August 2000, shortly after playing Air Jam 2000. Guitarist Ken Yokoyama began working on other projects, including solo work in a similar vein to Hi-Standard, as well as exploring a more traditional hardcore punk style with
BBQ Chickens
BBQ Chickens (often stylized as BBQ CHICKENS) is a Japanese hardcore punk band, created in 2000 by former Hi-Standard member Ken Yokoyama. All four members have been "buddies since childhood", and convened to form the band when Ken announced t ...
, fronted by longtime friend and artist, Daisuke Hongolian, who provided artwork for some of Hi-Standard's early releases. Yokoyama revisited the band's original label
Pizza of Death Records, which has since signed many punk and alternative rock bands. Bassist Akihiro Nanba's newest project is Ultra Brain. According to CDJapan, Nanba proclaims their debut album, ''Neo Punk'', to be the birth of neo-punk. Akira Tsuneoka provided the drums for the group Cubismo Grafico Five.
Reformation and Tsuneoka's death: 2011–present
In 2011, it was announced that Hi-Standard would be reforming. The band played at 'Air Jam 2011', and 'Air Jam 2012', and headlined the Japanese edition of Fat Wreck Chords' 25th-anniversary show in Tokyo in November 2015. The single "Another Starting Line" was released on October 5, 2016 with no preceding PR campaign, and available exclusively in stores. In 2017, they released ''The Gift'', their first album in over 15 years.
Akira Tsuneoka died suddenly on February 14, 2023, at the age of 51. Later that month, Nanba and Yokoyama announced they would continue the band. Hi-Standard released the digital single "I'm a Rat", which features Tsuneoka, on April 19.
Band members
* – lead vocals, bass (1991–2000, 2011–present)
* – guitar, backing vocals (1991–2000, 2011–present)
;Former members
* – lead vocals (1991–1992)
* – drums (1991–2000, 2011–2023, His death)
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
Other albums
Music videos
* Maximum Overdrive
* New Life
* Growing Up
* The Sound of Secret Minds
* The Kids Are Alright
* Brand New Sunset
* Stay Gold
* Teenagers Are All Assholes
* Another Starting Line
* All Generations
References
External links
*
Pizza of Death RecordsFat Wreck Chords*
{{Authority control
Fat Wreck Chords artists
Japanese punk rock groups
Musical groups established in 1991
1991 establishments in Japan
Japanese pop punk groups
Melodic hardcore groups
English-language musical groups from Japan