Hi-Standard

Hi-Standard is a Japanese punk rock band formed in 1991 by guitarist/vocalist Ken Yokoyama, bassist/vocalist Akihiro Nanba, and drummer Akira Tsuneoka. The release Making the Road sparked sold-out Japan shows and US/European tours with punk bands such as NOFX, No Use for a Name, and Wizo. Although members of Hi-Standard were Japanese born, all of the band's major releases were sung in English. Live footage of the band shows them talking to the crowd in their native Japanese and then immediately changing to English for the songs.

Hi-Standard
OriginJapan
Genres
Years active1991–2000, 2011–present
Labels
Associated acts
MembersAkihiro Nanba (難波章浩)
Ken Yokoyama (横山健)
Akira Tsuneoka (恒岡章)

Formation and early history: 1991-2000

Forming in August 1991 as a four-piece band, the lineup initially contained lead vocalist Atsuhiko Matsumoto. However, shortly after recording their first demo tape in 1992, Matsumoto left the group, with bassist Akihiro Nanba taking over vocal duties, solidifying Hi-Standard's lineup as a power trio.[1]

In 1994, they released their first EP, Last of Sunny Day. Three months later, they released a 7" titled In The Brightly Moonlight, and embarked on numerous tours across Japan throughout the mid-90s.

The following year in 1995, they began recording their debut LP, Growing Up, in the United States. Shortly after, they accompanied American bands Green Day and Rancid on their tours of Japan. Their LP was subsequently re-released on Fat Wreck Chords in 1996.

In 1997, their second full-length album, Angry Fist, was released, selling 500,000 copies worldwide.[2]

In 1998, Hi-Standard, joined by the American band NOFX, embarked on their 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 in attendance, and once again joined NOFX in a Europe tour.

Riding the wave of successes from their prior albums and touring, they released their third album, Making the Road, in 1999.

Hiatus: 2000-2011

After recording five Hi-Standard albums, the band 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, 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.[3] Akira Tsuneoka now provides the drums for the group Cubismo Grafico Five.

Reformation: 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. In 2017, they released The Gift, their first album in over 15 years.

Members
  • Akihiro Nanba – lead vocals, bass
  • Ken Yokoyama – guitar, backing vocals
  • Akira Tsuneoka – drums

Discography
Year Title Label
1996Growing UpFat Wreck Chords
1996California Dreamin' EPFat Wreck Chords
1997Angry FistFat Wreck Chords
1997Weihnachten stinkt!Hulk Räckorz
1999Making the RoadFat Wreck Chords
2000Last of Sunny DayFat Wreck Chords
2001Love Is a Battlefield (EP)Fat Wreck Chords
2016 Another Starting Line Pizza of Death
2017The GiftPizza of Death
  • Last of Sunny Day contains songs from their prior releases and original songs. The band have an additional single "The Kids Are Alright" available only in Japan
  • Hi-Standard performs punk covers of American songs like "California Dreamin'", "Green Acres", "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and "Can't Help Falling In Love".
  • On October 5, 2016, Hi-Standard suddenly ended their 16-year hiatus by releasing a new single, "Another Starting Line," with no preceding PR campaign, and available exclusively in stores

Videography
  • 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
  1. "Biography". Hi-STANDARD | ハイスタンダード (in Japanese). 2017-06-16. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  2. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1999-07-31). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  3. "Ultra Brain - Neo Punk". cdjapan.co.jp.
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