Glam rock’s history is clustered into two distinct eras: its initial early 70s glitter-pop boom (T.Rex, Sweet, Slade, Suzi, Bowie, New York Dolls) and its macho, chest-thumping 80s hair metal resurgence (Mötley Crüe, Poison, Ratt). If you’re looking for the connective tissue between the two, it’s very clearly KISS and Hanoi Rocks. But there was also a hazy and overlooked “art-glam” moment in the mid to late 1970s when bands like Roxy Music and Sparks stretched glam’s platform boot stomp into weird new musical life-forms. Art-glam’s pinnacle achievement, I think, was the first two albums by reluctant Brit glitter-kings Japan. Adolescent Sex and Obscure Alternatives were both released in 1978. By the time most people discovered them, the band had already abandoned their sound and vision, barreling straight-ahead into synth-driven pop, eventually becoming vanguards of the “New Romantic” movement. They were much happier being proto Duran Durans, and Japan frontman David Sylvian decided to just pretend 1978 never even happened. But it did, man. And it was glorious. Dandies in the underworld: Japan in 1978 Japan was formed in South London in 1974 by Sylvian and his brother, Steve Jansen. Sylvian’s tragic...
Glam rock’s history is clustered into two distinct eras: its initial early 70s glitter-pop boom (T.Rex, Sweet, Slade, Suzi, Bowie, New York Dolls) and its macho, chest-thumping 80s hair metal resurgence (Mötley Crüe, Poison, Ratt). If you’re looking for the connective tissue between the two, it’s very clearly KISS and Hanoi Rocks. But there was also a hazy and overlooked “art-glam” moment in the mid to late 1970s when bands like Roxy Music and Sparks stretched glam’s platform boot stomp into weird new musical life-forms. Art-glam’s pinnacle achievement, I think, was the first two albums by reluctant Brit glitter-kings Japan. Adolescent Sex and Obscure Alternatives were both released in 1978. By the time most people discovered them, the band had already abandoned their sound and vision, barreling straight-ahead into synth-driven pop, eventually becoming vanguards of the “New Romantic” movement. They were much happier being proto Duran Durans, and Japan frontman David Sylvian decided to just pretend 1978 never even happened. But it did, man. And it was glorious. Dandies in the underworld: Japan in 1978 Japan was formed in South London in 1974 by Sylvian and his brother, Steve Jansen. Sylvian’s tragic...
Posed portrait of David Sylvian from Japan during the Tin Drum album photo session in November 1981. A picture of Chairman Mao hangs behind.
Mick Karn and David Sylvian from Japan posed with instruments in London in October 1980.
Producer Giorgio Moroder and David Sylvian of Japan during a recording session at Cherokee recoding studios in Hollywood, California. **EXCLUSIVE**
Record Mirror Oct 23 1982 Linx Pauline Black Depeche Mode David Sylvian birthday / gift / present wedding anniversary props Condition: Cover slight water damaged and detached (see picture) also tiny tear otherwise inside copy very good and complete.
David has just unveiled a new song called I Should Not Dare via Twitter, and it's almost painfully beautiful. I didn't like the last album, but the new one, Died in the Wool , will be released next week and I'm looking forward to it! I Should Not Dare sets Emily…
David Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead vocalist and main songwriter in the group Japan.
