Yonin Bayashi (四人囃子) is a legendary Japanese rock group that was popular in the 1970s.
The group made its debut with the record Isshoku Sokuhatsu (一触即発 Volatile) in 1974, when all of the members were 20. Their virtuoso performance and experiment in studio were exceptional and impressive at the dawn of Japanese rock business.
In the beginning, the band was led by singer-guitarist Katsutoshi Morizono (森園勝敏) and drummer Daiji Okai (岡井大二). The sound was a mixture of Pink Floyd, Yes, Deep Purple or Frank Zappa with Hendrixed guitar and Procol Harum-like drumming. After the first guitarist and bassist left, the band was fronted by guitarist Mitsuru Sato (佐藤ミツル). The second bassist Masahide Sakuma (佐久間正英) brought feelings of Talking Heads or King Crimson in the 1980s.
Yonin Bayashi broke up in 1979. Since then, the group has sporadically reformed with its almost original lineup.
In 2003, HMV Records Japan rated Yonin Bayashi #86 in their "Top 100 Japanese pops Artists".
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Artist biography from last.fm