Japan

At the dawn of the ’80s, Japan’s sophisticated fusion of post-disco, glam and art rock sounded like the future. Driven by Mick Karn’s liquid bass grooves, Richard Barbieri’s glittering keyboards and David Sylvian’s elegant vocal presence, songs like 1979’s “Life in Tokyo” and “Quiet Life” ushered in the early-’80s New Romantic movement and inspired bands like Duran Duran. Japan formed in Catford, South London, in 1974 and were heavily inspired by David Bowie and Roxy Music on early albums, starting with their 1978 debut, Adolescent Sex. Subsequent efforts saw the group embrace a more minimalist sound, which led to greater success with 1980’s Gentlemen Take Polaroids and 1981’s Tin Drum; the latter spawned their biggest hit, the spare and avant-garde “Ghosts”. Despite the success, Japan broke up in 1982, Sylvian having grown unhappy with fame and wanting to move in a different creative direction. Karn went on to play in Dalis Car with Peter Murphy, while Sylvian embarked on an eclectic and experimental solo career that included another big chart hit (1984’s “Red Guitar”) and collaborations with Robert Fripp and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The band members reunited in the late ’80s under the name Rain Tree Crow and released a self-titled 1991 album that leaned toward prog and esoteric atmospherics, but they parted ways again soon after.