Hi-STANDARD - The Kind Punks

I have introduced many kinds of my favorite musicians, but I haven’t introduced a punk rock band yet. Many punk rock bands sing political lyrics or disobedient lyrics with a distorted instrumental sound. However, today I will introduce a punk band which sing affectionately.

They are Hi-STANDARD. They are a 3piece band which formed in 1991 at Shimokitazawa, Tokyo. Their music type is basically short, fast and loud with pop melodies and gentle lyrics. Their songs are English only. It was improbable for Japanese musicians at that time. Ken Yokoyama (Gt,backing Vo.) started a record company for them self, then they made a million seller album from their own record company. I think it’s a amazing history of Japanese rock history.

They stopped their activity in 2000. It was because Ken Yokoyama got sick. They restarted their activity since 2011 for to support victims of the Tohoku earthquake, and they started a revival project that is called Tohoku Livehouse-daisakusen (東北ライブハウス大作戦). This project revives stricken areas by the power of music. They rebuilt a music club in Tohoku. They did a charity concert tour and made charity items. They collect donations and relief supplies for stricken areas in their charity concert.

I think their English pronunciations is not good. However, I'm impressed bytheir attitudes to take action.

http://hi-standard.jp