The Predators (typeset as THE PREDATORS) is a Japanese

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

supergroup formed in 2005 by vocalist and guitarist Sawao Yamanaka ( The Pillows), bassist Yoshihito "Jiro" Wayama (

Glay Glay (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese Rock music, rock band formed in Hakodate in 1988. The core four members, vocalist Teru (singer), Teru, guitarists Takuro (musician), Takuro and Hisashi (musician), Hisashi, and bassist Jiro (musician), ...

), and drummer Shinpei Nakayama ( Straightener). In 2010, Nakayama left and was replaced by Hirotaka Takahashi ( Ellegarden). Originally on their own record label Three Mountain, name chosen because all three original members have the word "yama" (mountain) in their last name, they were then on

Avex Trax is a record label owned by Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex Inc. The label was launched in September 1990, and was the first label by the Group. History Two years after Max Matsuura began a career distributing studio albums from othe ...

from 2008 until 2015, when they switched to Yamanaka's own Delicious Label. The Predators have sporadic periods of activity due to its members' commitments to their main bands.

History

bassist Jiro became a fan of The Pillows during the Runners High tour in 1999 and became friends with their vocalist and guitarist Sawao Yamanaka. In 2001, the two

Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...

natives did a cover session of

Nirvana Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...

together. In 2004, Jiro participated in the recording of The Pillows' 15th anniversary tribute album '' Synchronized Rockers'', where he met Straightener drummer Shinpei Nakayama, saw his drumming style and thought he was talented. And so when the chance came, Jiro and Sawao asked Shinpei if he wanted to form a band together. The formation of The Predators was officially announced in May 2005. Their debut mini-album ''Hunting!!!'' was released on July 6, and reached number 12 on the

Oricon Albums Chart The Oricon Albums Chart is the Japanese music industry standard albums popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Oricon originally published LP, CT, Cartridge and CD charts prior to the establishment of the Oricon A ...

. The trio had their first concert at

FM802 (call sign JOFV-FM) is a commercial radio broadcasting, radio station based at Daiwa Building in Tenjimbashi Nichome, Kita-ku, Osaka, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan, broadcasting on 80.2 FM broadcasting, FM from Mount Iimori to Kansai region. As a latec ...

Meet the World Beat 2005 on July 24. After participating in more festivals, the band went on sabbatical as the members continued their main bands' activities. In 2007, the Predators returned with a performance at Sound Shooter Vol. 2 on March 9. On October 15, 2008, they released their second mini-album ''Kiba wo Misero'', which debuted at number 6 on the Oricon chart. They held the six-date Shoot the Moon tour in October and November to support the record. In March 2010, the band announced the amicable departure of Shinpei so he could focus on Straightener. Shinpei had asked to leave the group during the 2008 Shoot the Moon Tour, explaining that although he wanted to continue both bands, the stress was outweighing the joy. He was replaced by Ellegarden drummer Hirotaka Takahashi, whom Yamanaka asked to join after working together on his solo album. The first concert with the new lineup took place at Arabaki Rock Fest. on May 1, 2010. On August 4, the band released its third mini-album ''This World'', which peaked at number 12 on the Oricon chart. It was supported by a four-date tour in September. After another break, The Predators released the mini-album ''Monster in My Head'' on August 1, 2012, and supported it with a nationwide tour from September to October. Their fifth album ''Rock'N'Roll Pandemic'' followed three years later on August 26, 2015, and was also supported by a nationwide tour from September to October. The trio resumed activities in January 2018 with the release of "Arabian Dance", a single featuring four studio songs and five live tracks that was sold only through mail-order and at venues on its accompanying tour. Three and a half years later, the album ''Go Back to Yesterday!'' was released only through mail-order on November 17, 2021.

Members

* –

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

( The Pillows) (2005–present) * –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

(

) (2005–present) * –

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

( Ellegarden, Scars Borough) (2010–present)

Former members

* – drums ( Straightener) (2005–2010)

Discography

* ''Hunting!!!'' (July 6, 2005),

Peak Position: #12 * #6 * ''This World'' (August 4, 2010) #12 * ''Monster in My Head'' (August 1, 2012) #10 * ''Rock'N'Roll Pandemic'' (August 26, 2015) #12 * "Arabian Dance" (January 10, 2018, mail-order and concert venue only) * ''Go Back to Yesterday!'' (November 17, 2021, mail-order only)

Videography

*''Shoot the Moon Tour 2008.11.4 at Zepp Tokyo'' (February 4, 2009) *''This World Tour 2010.9.17 at Zepp Tokyo'' (January 26, 2011) *''"Monster in Your Head" 2012.10.12 at Zepp Tokyo'' (January 26, 2011) *''Rock'N'Roll Pandemic Tour 2015.10.9 at Zepp Tokyo'' (March 2, 2016) *''The Predators Arabian Dance Tour 2018.2.8 at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo'' (April 25, 2018)

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Predators, The Japanese alternative rock groups Rock music supergroups Japanese musical trios Musical groups established in 2005 Japanese supergroups