was a Japanese underground indie rock band. Formed in 1998, the band is best known for their contributions to the soundtracks of Sega's Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future games. The band disbanded in 2007.

Guitar Vader had two lead vocalists and songwriters, guitarist Miki Tanabe and bassist Ujuan Shozo. The Pixies as well as lesser influences like Air and Guitar Wolf. Others have likened their sound to bands as disparate as The B-52's and Smashing Pumpkins.

It was around this time that the band departed from the lo-fi recording sensibilities of their earlier work with their second album Wild at Honey (a reference to the Beach Boys album Wild Honey) containing two songs from Guitar Vader Vol. 3 and new material. Shortly thereafter, the band released a single, Beach Panic, containing two songs. Following its completion, drummer Takumiya left the band.

Video game composer Hideki Naganuma was among the many who discovered Guitar Vader through the Die Happy! tapes. A lover of underground music, Naganuma decided that they would be a perfect fit for the upcoming game Jet Set Radio, set in an alternate-reality version of Shinjuku, Tokyo. The game was widely praised for its soundtrack, which prominently featured Guitar Vader's song "Magical Girl" in the opening tutorial, and "Super Brothers" (another Die Happy! track) in a later stage.

In 2000, Guitar Vader began work on their third album, From Dusk. Joined by Suzuki Yoshifumi on drums, the album marked a major evolution for the band, particularly for its prominent use of keyboards, played by producer Taichi Ohira, as well as its more polished, melodic sound. The album was released in early 2001, and although it was not a big seller, the album remains Guitar Vader's commercial peak. Jet Set Radio Future was released in 2002, and featured a song from the album, "Baby-T" as well as a remix (by Naganuma) of "I Love Love You," which had previously been released on the remix album Remixes GVR.

After the acquisition of Berry Records by Sony Music, Guitar Vader became increasingly unhappy with their contract, in particular their lack of ownership of their music, low royalties, and inability to get a new album released. At the time, both members of the band still worked part-time jobs to earn their living. The band left Berry in 2003 and formed an independent label, Plugs House. They built their own studio and produced a fourth album, Dawn. The release marked a continued evolution of the band's sound, with synths and programming performed by Shozo. In 2003, the band also played two shows in England, hosted by Pixelsurgeon, their only shows outside Japan.

To replicate these songs in live performances, the band recruited American keyboardist Steve Laity. Although Laity was made an official member of the band, he only appeared in live performances, not on the band's albums. In October 2004, Guitar Vader released what would be their final album, Happy East. It continued the expanded sound of Dawn with an eclectic mix of songs, including an electronica instrumental "Suspense" that marked the only song of its kind in the band's catalog.

In 2006, the band began work on another album, and had nearly completed it, when Shozo suffered a vital heart infection that left him hospitalized for months, with continuing health issues long after. The band cancelled their first scheduled concert in the United States at that year's FanimeCon. Although the album was either completed or close to completed, a falling out between Tanabe and Shozo prevented its release, despite pressure from Yoshifumi and Laity to release it. In 2007, Laity confirmed on Guitar Vader's message board that the band had disbanded and a "very large rift" had formed between the band's two key members.

  • Miki Tanabe - vocals, guitar
  • Wild at Honey (2000)
  • From Dusk (2001)
  • Dawn (2003)
  • Happy East (2004)

Singles

  • Beach Panic! (2000)
  • Baby-T/GVTV/Shimanagashi (2001)

Remixes

  • REMIXES_GVR (2001)

Other credits

  • Makoto Kawamoto, "Gimmeshelter" (2001; production, instrumentation and backing vocals)

Notes

References

  • Guitar Vader @ MySpace
  • Keikaku - English Feature/interviews: Guitar Vader and Steve Laity