Yukihiro Takahashi


Yukihiro Takahashi is a Japanese musician, singer, record producer and actor, who is best known internationally as the drummer and lead vocalist of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and as the former drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band. He is currently a member of the group METAFIVE.

Biography

Yukihiro Takahashi first came to prominence as the drummer of the Sadistic Mika Band in the early 1970s, and became known to western audiences after this band toured and recorded in the United Kingdom. After the Sadistic Mika Band disbanded, some of the members formed another band called The Sadistics, who released several albums. Takahashi recorded his first solo album, Saravah, in 1977. In 1978, Takahashi joined Ryuichi Sakamoto and Haruomi Hosono to form the Yellow Magic Orchestra.
After the Yellow Magic Orchestra disbanded in the mid 1980s, Takahashi went solo and released a large number of solo albums, primarily intended for the Japanese market. Takahashi has collaborated extensively with other musicians, including Bill Nelson, Iva Davies of Icehouse, Keiichi Suzuki of the Moonriders and in particular Steve Jansen. Takahashi has released a single Stay Close and an EP Pulse as a duo with Jansen.
Takahashi helped compose the soundtrack to the anime series in 1989, including the song "Families". Takahashi participated in temporary reunions of both the Sadistic Mika Band, and The Yellow Magic Orchestra. Both of these reunions included tours of Japan, and an album of new material.
In the early 2000s, Takahashi became a member of the duo Sketch Show, with Haruomi Hosono. Sketch Show has released two albums, one of which, Loophole, has been released in the UK. Both Takahashi and Hosono have recently reunited with Sakamoto as HASYMO – a combination of Human Audio Sponge and Yellow Magic Orchestra. This collaboration produced a new single "Rescue" in 2007. Takahashi is still actively involved in music and its production, having released the solo album Life Anew on July 17, 2013, as well as anniversary and live albums. His latest work is Saravah, Saravah!, a remastered reboot of his solo debut album which, along with re-recorded vocals, features appearances by Sakamoto, Hosono and other musicians.

Discography

Solo albums