Name	Koshi Inaba
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Hiroshi Inaba
Origin	Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Born	September 23, 1964
Genre	Hard rockJ-popJ-Rock
Occupation	vocalist, lyricist, composer, instrumentialist
Years active	1988–present (B'z)1997–present (solo)
Instrument	vocals,guitars, piano, blues-harp, drums, maracas, mandolin
Label	Rooms RecordsVermillion
Associated acts	B'z
Url	B'z official web site

is a Japanese vocalist. His real name is . He graduated from the Faculty of Education at the Yokohama National University, and has a degree in mathematics.

Musical career

Inaba is the vocalist and lyricist for the Japanese hard rock band B'z. Their debut album, B'z, was released in 1988, and he started his solo career in 1997 with album Magma. Whereas B'z songs are composed by Tak Matsumoto, Koshi composed songs for his own solo albums.

His musical influences are Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, and Guns N' Roses. He respects David Coverdale, Robert Plant, and especially Steven Tyler as vocalists. He is a fan of Elvis Presley.

As a vocalist, he is known for his wide vocal range, covering three and a half octaves. Subject matter of his lyrics include social issues ("Liar! Liar!"), war ("Ai to Nikushimi no Hajimari"), peace ("ROOTS"), lost love, and loneliness ("Itsuka no Merry Christmas").

Inaba sang on the Steve Vai song "Asian Sky" from the album The Ultra Zone in 1999. He has played with overseas musicians such as Greg Upchurch (Puddle of Mudd), Stevie Salas, and others. On September 29, 2009, it was announced that he would be featured in Slash's 2010 solo album, Slash. Inaba sang on the first single, "Sahara", released on November 11, 2009 in Japan. The song Sahara was featured in the 15th track of the Japanese edition of the album. On February 24, 2010, it was announced that single "Sahara" won the Western single of the year 2010 at Japan Gold Disc Award 2010 held by RIAJ.

Discography

Albums

Magma (29 January 1997)

Shian (9 October 2002)

Peace of Mind (22 September 2004)

Hadou (18 August 2010)

Singles

"Tooku Made" (16 December 1998)

"KI" (11 June 2003)

"Wonderland" (14 July 2004)

"Okay" (23 June 2010)

Guest appearances

The Ultra Zone (on the track "Asian Sky") — Steve Vai, 1999

Slash (on the track Sahara) — Slash, 2010

See also

Tak Matsumoto

References

External links

B'z official website B'z no bise Off The Lock

Category:B'z Category:Japanese male singers Category:Japanese rock singers Category:Japanese singer-songwriters Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:People from Okayama Prefecture

Name	Tak Matsumoto
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Takahiro Matsumoto
Alias	Tak
Born	March 27, 1961
Origin	Toyonaka, Japan
Genre	Hard rock, Blues rock, heavy metal, Instrumental rock, J-pop
Years active	1981–present
Label	Vermillion RecordsFavored Nations
Associated acts	B'zTMG (Tak Matsumoto Group)
Url	Official B’z website
Notable instruments	Tak Matsumoto Signature Model Les Paul

is a Japanese guitarist, producer, arranger, composer and songwriter. In addition to guitarist and lead composer for the hard rock band B'z, he has also had a successful solo career.

Background

Tak's formal education in jazz was minimal, but when he started working as a session musician, and supporting many tours like TM Network, his musicianship was cemented. His exposure to a myriad of styles helped him to meld his own unique blend, incorporating elements of his jazz training, blues (his incorporation of the style known as "Kansai Blues" is well known), classical, metal, rock, and ska.

Tak continued his session work throughout the early and mid-1980s until deciding to jump on the emerging solo instrumental trend catching on in Japan at that time. He recorded "Thousand Wave" and working with future globe headliner Tetsuya Komuro. "99", a simple instrumental incorporating some blistering fretwork, is considered one of his finest works.

After the solo album he decided to try his hand at starting his own band. With his session work behind him, and a burgeoning production career, he started to search for a singer. After being presented with a tape from an unknown session singer known as Koshi Inaba, Tak was blown away. Their first recorded session was a rendition of "Let It Be" of the Beatles fame, and even though the amp blew out, Tak knew he had his new singer. Tak and Koshi formed the band B'z and debuted in September 1988. B'z has continued to be one of the most successful bands in the history of Japanese music, helped by the pairing of two very different musical directions. Tak always drew his tastes from blues, classical, and jazz, while Koshi preferred rock music. Tak has ongoing friendships with musicians such as Barry Sparks, Marty Friedman, Billy Sheehan, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Martin, Jack Blades, Joe Perry, Pat Torpey, Shane Gaalaas, Steven Tyler, and Steve Vai, with whom Tak and Koshi recorded the song "Asian Sky" from the 1999 album, The Ultra Zone. Billy Sheehan recorded tracks for 1999's Brotherhood album, as well as touring (along with Shane Gaalaas) as support musicians for 2002's Green Live-Gym Tour.

In 2002, Tak Matsumoto contributed music to two songs ("Don't Stop Music!" and "Koiuta") in Misia's fourth album, Kiss in the Sky. She invited him to be a part of the album after discovering his solo work.

In 2004, Tak formed the "Tak Matsumoto Group" with Eric Martin on vocal, Jack Blades on bass, and Brian Tichy on drums, forging ahead with his own brand of musical genius. Tak played guitar, produced the album and wrote songs while Eric and Jack wrote lyrics. On March, the single "Oh Japan ~Our Time Is Now~", was released. The album TMG I that made Tak go back and forth to US for the recording, was released on June 23. Tak has had this project idea for a long time, the album mixes rock and oriental sound. The album topped the chart on the first week.

Tak energetically kept working. On July 18, 19 and 20, Tak had a collaboration concert with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra at Suntory Hall. At this special concert named Tokyo Special Collaboration 2004 Matsumoto Takahiro -HANA-, Tak played B'z hit "Love Phantom" and solo number "HANA" with his only guitar and the Orchestra.

Soon after, TMG started its tour rehearsal. From July 30, the "Dodge The Bullet" tour started at ZEPP Fukuoka. Chris Frazier who played songs on the B'z album Big Machine joined as drummer for this tour. TMG had 16 shows in 8 locations including the last show at Nihon Budokan.

In November, Tak established his own label "House of Strings" which emphasizes guitarists and string musicians. He recorded again at a studio the songs played with orchestra in July, and released it as the first House of Strings CD with the same title on the album. It is an instrumental album including Christmas numbers such as "Itsukano Merry Christmas" and "HOLY NIGHT".

Tak has said over the years that he has many favourite artists, from whom he has drawn much inspiration, such as: Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, Deep Purple, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. He has also cited a love of classical music, which was the catalyst for the incorporation of strings into many B'z compositions. He has also worked with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra for many years, and their work often appears on many of the earlier B'z albums.

Tak was given his own Signature Model Les Paul from Gibson in 1999. Tak Matsumoto was added to the Gibson signature artist club as the first and to date, the only guitarist from Asia. He currently holds the record with 4 different signature models produced, including a new tiger-striped, offset double cut model, which incorporates his new, specially wound TM-1 pickups. His Les Paul model was also adapted into an Epiphone made for commercial sale in the US.

Tak wrote the music of "Real Face" for KAT-TUN. According to Oricon, "Real Face" became the Japanese best-selling single in 2006.

In 2010, after the tour "Ain't No Magic" with B'z, he comes back with the guitarist Larry Carlton. They released together an album called Take Your Pick in June 2010, available in Japan and around the world. The album was considered for nomination for nine categories of the 2011 Grammy Awards.

Musical equipment

Early career

#'Tak' Matsumoto Yamaha MGM Signature Model (1986–1989) #'Tak' Matsumoto Yamaha MGM-II Signature Model (1989–1992) #'Tak' Matsumoto Yamaha MGM-III Signature Model (1993–1995) # Gibson les paul standard gold top (1991–1998) #Music Man EVH Signature Model (1995–1998) #(Mesa boogie) Mark III head amp (1985–1991) #VHT 100 watt rack-mounted heads (1985–1991) #(mesa boogie) 2 channel Dual Rectifier 100 watt (1992–1995) #(mesa boogie) 4 X 12 celestion speaker (Rebadged to a Ferrari emblem) #Rockman preamp (1988–1997) #Marshall JCM 800 100 watt heads (1994) #Marshall 4x12's with Celestion speakers (Rebadged "Matsumoto") (1992–1997) #Peavey 5150 guitar amp (1996–2000) #Peavey 5150II 100 watt amplifier (2000–2002) #EMB Audio Remote wah system

2002—

#'Tak' Matsumoto Gibson Les Paul Signature Model (4 types) #Bogner Ecstasy Classic 100 watt Amplifiers # Bogner Uberschall 100 Watt Amplifiers #Bogner "Rei" 4x12 cabinets (with specially voiced custom speakers) #Budda Budwah #Digitech Whammy Pedal #Taurus Distortion Pedal #Dunlop 1.00 Guitar Picks #Sadwasky tokyo stratocaster type (2006,from the dvd monsters garage) Tak has also amassed a substantial guitar collection, including the following:

#1870 Martin C-7 Acoustic Guitar #1937 Martin 000-18 Acoustic Guitar #1952 Fender Telecaster (Butterscotch Blonde) #1954 Fender Stratocaster (Tobacco Sunburst) #1956 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (with 'Soapbar' pickups) #1959 Gibson Les Paul Flametop (with PAF pickups) #1962 Fender Stratocaster (Fiesta Red) #1962 Gibson SG

Tak is also an avid collector of older guitar amplifiers, as well as being an accomplished bass player. Aside from guitars, he also owns other instruments, such as a few sitar, electric and otherwise.

Discography

With B'z

Solo works

Albums

#Thousand Wave (May 21, 1988) #Wanna Go Home (April 22, 1992) #Knockin' "T" Around (April 14, 1999) #Dragon From The West (February 27, 2002) #華 (Hana) (February 27, 2002) #Rock'n Roll Standard Club (May 15, 1996) #Thousand Wave Plus (October 7, 1996) #The Hit Parade (November 26, 2003) #House Of Strings (November 24, 2004) #Ultraman Original Soundtrack(July 20, 2005) #Theatre Of Strings (October 19, 2005) #Take Your Pick (June 2, 2010)

Singles

#'88 ~ Love Story/Love Ya (September 25, 1991) (8th in oricon) ##1090 Thousand Dreams/LIFE (March 18, 1992) (3rd in oricon) #異邦人 (Ihoujin) (August 27, 2003); features Zard (2nd in oricon) #イミテイション・ゴールド [Imitation Gold] (October 8, 2003); features Mai Kuraki (1st in oricon)

TMG (Tak Matsumoto Group)

Albums

#TMG I (June 23, 2004)

Singles

#"Oh Japan ~Our Time Is Now~" (March 31, 2004)

Video

#Dodge The Bullet (December 15, 2004)

References

External links

B'z official website (in Japanese & English) - also includes Tak's substantial guitar collection

House of Strings - Tak's instrumental collaborative solo project

Tak Studio

B'z no bise (News and translations in French)

Category:1961 births Category:B'z Category:Lead guitarists Category:Living people Category:People from Toyonaka Category:Japanese rock guitarists