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were a rock band from Japan that was formed in 1968.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 work = hp.ponycanyon.co.jp ) 〕 In Japan they often go by the moniker FTB. They were connected to Japan's counterculture movement and noted for their mixture of early heavy metal with psychedelic and progressive rock. They received wide acclaim from critics but failed to achieve commercial success and disbanded in 1973 to pursue individual careers.〔http://www.allmusic.com/album/made-in-japan-mw0001879059〕 The band reunited in late 2007 when hippie influences became popular again in Japanese fashion, music and cinema; it was permanently disbanded after the 2011 death of vocalist Joe Yamanaka. While the band's releases have never sold well they continue to be held in high regard by the music industry. Their albums have never been out of print〔http://wmg.jp/wmlife/sp/1969/hagiwara02.html〕 and they continue to be made available on new audiophile formats such as SHM-CDs.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=フラワー・トラヴェリン・バンド / SATORI () )〕 The former members of the Flower Travellin' Band continue to perform FTB songs live together under the name ''Flower Power'' with other musicians.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=CROCODILE _SCHEDULE )〕 ==History== The band was initially started as a side-project by Yuya Uchida when he returned to Japan after visiting his friend John Lennon in England in the mid 1960s, where he was introduced to various upcoming artists such as Cream and Jimi Hendrix. Yuya wanted to introduce a similar sound to the Japanese, and formed the "Flowers" as a cover band with various group sounds musicians, and two vocalists; male singer Chiba Hiroshi and female singer Remi Aso.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 work = uchidayuya.com ) 〕 They released the album ''Challenge!'' in 1968, featuring covers of songs by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Jefferson Airplane and Big Brother and the Holding Company, in addition to an original song. The cover caused a stir in the Japanese media as it depicted each member posing naked. In 1969, after the release of the album; Remi Aso and guitarist Katsuhiko Kobayashi relocated to the United States. Later that year, Yuya dropped all the remaining members, except George Wada, and recruited Hideki Ishima, Joe Yamanaka and Jun Kobayashi, and formed the Flower Travellin' Band as a way to produce and explore a new musical direction outside his own career. Their first release was the mini-album ''Anywhere'' in 1970, made to emulate the Flowers' release by means of cover songs and a nude cover. Their first original album ''Satori'' was being produced that same year, and was released in 1971. Hideki Ishima was the band's lead guitarist, and wrote almost every one of the band's songs.〔Inoue, Takako. 2009. ''Japanese rock 70's vol.2''. Artes Publishing, ISBN 978-4-903951-25-6〕 They became friends with the Canadian band Lighthouse and in December relocated to Toronto, Canada, where they performed with artists such as Dr. John and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. While there they recorded their second original album ''Made in Japan'' and signed a deal with Atlantic Records. They returned to Japan for a show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, and in 1973 were billed to perform with the Rolling Stones throughout their Japanese tour, however all concerts were canceled when Mick Jagger's visa was rejected due to a drug conviction. Rescheduling, they released a half-studio, half-live album titled ''Make Up'' and in April performed at Maruyama Park in Kyoto. It would be their last concert, as at this time Yuya became involved in numerous projects and the band went on a long hiatus, with each member going onto individual careers. Joe Yamanaka recorded numerous solo albums, and collaborated with the iconic reggae band The Wailers in the 1980s. Guitarist Hideki Ishima moved to India and studied the sitar under Indian classical musician Pandit Manilal Nag, and in 2000 invented the sitarla, which combines the qualities of a solid-body electric guitar and the sitar.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 work = jrawk.com ) 〕 On November 25, 2007, the members officially reunited and formally recruited keyboardist Nobuhiko Shinohara, who had previously worked with the band. In 2008, 35 years after their last, they released the album ''We Are Here''. They performed in New York City in November and in Canada the following month. In March 2010, future tours and productions were halted when it was announced that Joe was diagnosed with lung cancer.〔 Joe died from his cancer on August 7, 2011 at the age of 64.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 work = kyodonews.jp ) 〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Flower Travellin' Band」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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