We are proud to announce EVL ONE Clothing Co.’s first international Featured Artist STONE DEAF - an underground rock trio based out of Tokyo, Japan. This indie band has already caught the attention of legendary punk band Ramones member Marky Ramone (they were his supporting band during his 2006 Japan tour)… now it’s your turn to discover the sounds of STONE DEAF!
MEMBER PROFILES:
Yukio Yamamura
Guitar / Vocals
Yukio joined his first band at the age of 16, played mainly in Kumamoto where he is from, Hakata and Tokyo. In 1990 after a surprise visit to the London home of “Topper Headon” of “The Clash” (one of his favorite bands), Yukio decided to live in England. It lasted for 12 years.
Yuki learned guitar from “Big Jim Sullivan” - who went for a tour with “Eddie Cochran” as a back member and played with Tom Jones, Cliff Richards, Kinks, David Bowie, Donovan, Walker Brothers, Marianne Faithful, Seekers and more. He is also famous for being the guitar teacher of “Ritchie Blackmore”(“Deep Purple”).
Meanwhile Yukio played many pub gigs with a local white Rock Blues band. In 1997, Yukio made his original band, “the effuse”. Yukio applied all his energy to play gigs at London’s hot venues such as “Dublin Castle”, “The Monarch”, “Bull & Gate”, “ Dingwalls”, “Hackney Empire”, “Hope & Anchor”, “The Bug Bar” and more. “the effuse” won the 3 rd prize in the Hackney The Best Band of The Year 1999 against 36 British bands. The winner of the contest went to the “Glastonbury Festival”. The Japanese documentary TV program “I’m” (TV Asahi) broadcasted “the effuse” regularly between 1999 to 2000. Meanwhile “the effuse” succeeded a Japan tour in 7 cities.
In 2002, Just after “the effuse” released their first album “the effuse”, the drummer suffered from the serious nervous break down and the band couldn’t continue their activities. Yukio decided to go back to Japan. As soon as Yuko settled down in Tokyo, he started a new project, “Stone Deaf.”
Koujiro Akai
Bass / Vocals
Koujiro was born in Yokohama and made his own band called “Woos”, and played many gigs in Yokohama. After moving to Tokyo, “Woos” continuously played even more gigs in Tokyo including their regular venue, “Kichijoji MandalaI”. In 1999, Koujiro joined the “The world is wanting her” tour of the legendary art performer, “Nao Saejima”. In 2000, “Woos” appeared on Nagoya TV program (Asahi TV) “J-Beat” Koujiro joined the band called “henssimo” and they released their maxi single “henssimo” in 2001. One of the songs, “Irukanoirubasho Inaibasho” was chosen for the ending theme song of ”Fukakin” (TV Kouchi). In 2002, Koujiro met Yukio and started a new band, “Stone Deaf.”
Ai Niikura
Drums / Vocals
Ai was just a music lover and never dreamt of being a drummer when she was a teenager. In 1994 Ai moved to England to studying English for a year, but ended up staying in London for 8 years and became a rock drummer. Ai joined a psychedelic 4 piece band, “Instant Flight” in 1998. “Instant Flight” played in many famous London venues such as “Dublin Castle”, “The Monarch”, “Bull & Gate”, “the Orange”, “Dingwalls”, “Water Rats”, “Red Eye”, “Vibe Bar”, “93 Feet East” and more. “Instant Flight” released own album “Instant Flight” in 2000. At the same time, Ai joined “Anthony Anderson” which was another project of the guitarist of “Death In Vegas” (Ian Button). Ai played several gigs with “Anthony Anderson” and experienced some recordings such as for “BBC” children program “The Saturday Show” Ai decided to go back to Japan in 2002. One year later she joined “Stone Deaf”.
Stone Deaf’s Official Website
Stone Deaf’s MySpace
Artist: Stone Deaf
Album: (self-titled) Stone Deaf
Track 2 - Parade
Track 3 - Hot Shot Cool Cut
© Stone Deaf
Distributed with permission.
