formed in ''london'', england in early 1974, ''japan'' comprised ''david alan batt'' (a.k.a. ''david sylvian'', on vocals), his brother ''stephen batt'' (a.k.a. ''steve jansen'', on drums), ''richard barbieri'' (on keyboards) & ''anthony michelides'' (a.k.a. ''mick karn'', on saxophone & bass). a guitarist, ''rob dean'', was added to the line-up when the band won a recording contract with the german record company ''ariola-hansa''.
eminently unfashionable in the u.k. ''punk'' era, they first found success in japan.
after three albums with ''ariola-hansa'', they switched to ''virgin records'' in 1980 & found their fortunes dramatically improving thanks to the surge of popularity in the ''new romantic'' movement.
japan's androgynous image made them suddenly fashionable & they registered several top 20 singles.
disagreements between ''karn'' & ''sylvian'' undermined the band's progress just as they were achieving some long-overdue success, & they split in late 1982.
the members diversified into collaborative work & solo careers, reuniting (minus ''dean'') in 1991 for a project under the moniker of ''rain tree crow'':
01. ''a view to japan'' (e.p., unofficial release, 1981)
link: http://www.mediafire.com/?gg55a4z2hvbi00e
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