One Ok Rock (stylized as ONE OK ROCK) is a Japanese rock band formed in 2005, composed of Taka, Toru, Ryota, and Tomoya. Originally a five piece band, guitarist Alex left the group in 2009.
The band had various singles that entered the Oricon charts and
their songs are gradually gaining popularity online, catapulting them as one of
the most promising rock artists in Asia.
History
The foundation for One Ok Rock began when Toru Yamashita, then a high school
student, wanted to start a band. He told his friend Ryota Kohama, a fellow
member of the hip
hop dance group Heads, to learn the bass and asked Alex Onizawa to join.
After seeing Taka Moriuchi perform in a cover band, Toru insisted that he join.
Drummer Tomoya Kanki had been playing with them since 2006, but only became an
official member when they debuted in 2007.
The band's name, One Ok Rock, comes from "one o'clock", the time
that the band used to practice on weekends. However, noticing that the Japanese
language made no distinction between r's and l's, they changed "o'clock"
to "o'crock" (or "o'krock"), which was then separated to
become "ok rock".
On April 5, 2009, Alex was arrested for groping the leg of a twenty-one year
old female student on a train.
He admitted to the charges and the case was settled out of court.
However, the band's next single "Around the World Shounen", which was
planned for a May 6 release and to be used as the theme song for the TV drama God
Hand Teru, and their nationwide tour were both cancelled.
In May 2009, it was announced that One Ok Rock would continue without Alex.
The band released the single "Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer" on February
3, 2010. It reached 9th on the Weekly Oricon Chart. They released their fourth
studio album titled Niche Syndrome on June 9, 2010. Their next
single, "Answer is Near", was released on February 16, 2011.
The band released their first double
A-side single "Re:make/No Scared" on July 20, 2011, the latter
song being the main theme for the Black Rock Shooter: The Game video
game. The
band's fifth album, Zankyo Reference, was released on October 5,
2011. Their latest single, "The Beginning", which is used as a theme
for the live action movie adaptation of the Rurouni
Kenshin manga, was released on August 22, 2012.
Members
- Toru (山下 亨 Yamashita Tōru, born December 7, 1988 in Osaka) is the leader and guitarist of the group. He also contributes some vocals. He was previously a member of the hip-hop dance group Heads with Ryota.
- Taka (森田 貴寬 Morita Takahiro, born April 17, 1988 in Tokyo) is the main vocalist of the group. Prior to debuting with One Ok Rock, he was a member of the boy band NEWS. He is the son of singers Shinichi Mori and Masako Mori.
- Ryota (小浜 良太 Kohama Ryōta, born September 4, 1989 in Osaka) is the bassist of the group. He was also previously a member of the hip-hop dance group Heads with Toru.
- Tomoya (神吉 智也 Kanki Tomoya, born June 27, 1987 in Hyogo) is the drummer of the group.
Former members
- Alex (鬼澤アレクサンダー礼門 Onizawa Alexander Reimon, born March 19, 1988 in San Francisco) was guitarist of the group along with Toru, until he left in May 2009 after being arrested on charges of groping.
- Tomo (小柳友 Koyanagi Yuu, born August 29, 1988 in Kyoto) was the original drummer of the group since before their official debut. He left the band in June 2006 to follow an acting career.
ALBUMS
Zeitakubyō
"Naihi Shinsho" ("内秘心書"?)
"Borderline"
"(You Can Do)Everything"
"Yoru ni Shika Sakanai Mangetsu" ("夜にしか咲かない満月"?)
"Yume Yume" ("努努-ゆめゆめ"?)
"Kagerō" ("カゲロウ"?)
"Lujo"
"Kemuri" ("ケムリ"?)
"Yokubō ni Michi ta Seinendan" ("欲望に満ちた青年団"?)
"Et Cetera" ("エトセトラ"?)
"A New One for All, All for the New One"
Beam of Light
"Hitsuzen Maker" ("必然メーカー"?)
"Melody Line no Shibouritsu" ("Melody Lineの死亡率"?)
"100%(hundred percent)"
"Abduction-Interlude"
"San-san Dama" ("燦さん星"?)
"Koubou" ("光芒"?)
"Crazy Botch"
"Yap"
Kanjō Effect
"Koi no Aibō Kokoro no Cupid" ("恋ノアイボウ心ノクピド"?)
"Doppelgänger" ("どっぺるゲンガー"?)
"Kaimu" ("皆無"?)
"20 Years Old"
"Living Dolls"
"Break My Strings"
"Sonzai Shōmei" ("存在証明"?)
"Convincing"
"My Sweet Baby"
"Reflection"
"Viva Violent Fellow: Utsukushiki Moshpit" ("Viva Violent Fellow ～美しきモッシュピット～"?)
"Just"
"Bossa Nova" (hidden track)
Niche Syndrome
1. "Introduction"
2. "Never Let This Go"
3. "Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer" (完全感覚Dreamer)
4. "Konzatsu Communication" (混雑コミュニケーション
5. "Yes I Am"
6. "Shake It Down"
7. "Jibun Rock" (じぶんROCK)
8. "Liar"
9. "Wherever You Are"
10. "Riot!!!"
11. "Adult Suit" (アダルトスーツ
12. "Mikansei Kokyokyoku" (未完成交響曲
13. "Nobody's Home"
SINGLES
2007
From Album : Zeitakubyō
"Naihi Shinso" (内秘心書 Keep It Inside?)
Oricon Singles Charts 48
Billboard Japan Hot 100 -
RIAJ Digital Tracks -
Oricon Sales 15,000
"Yume Yume" (努努-ゆめゆめ- Absolutely?)
Oricon Singles Charts 43
Billboard Japan Hot 100 -
RIAJ Digital Tracks -
Oricon Sales 9,200
"Et Cetera" (エトセトラ Eto Setora?)
Oricon Singles Charts 29
Billboard Japan Hot 100 -
RIAJ Digital Tracks -
Oricon Sales 6,700
2008
From Album : Beam of Light
"Hitsuzen Maker" (必然メーカー Necessary Maker?)
Oricon Singles Charts -
Billboard Japan Hot 100 -
RIAJ Digital Tracks -
Oricon Sales -
From Album : Kanjō Effect
"Koi no Aibō Kokoro no Cupid" (恋ノアイボウ心ノクピド Love Companion, Cupid of the Heart?)
Oricon Singles Charts -
Billboard Japan Hot 100 -
RIAJ Digital Tracks -
Oricon Sales -
2010
From Album : Niche Syndrome
"Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer" (完全感覚Dreamer Perfect Sensation Dreamer?)
Oricon Singles Charts 9
Billboard Japan Hot 100 45
RIAJ Digital Tracks 53
Oricon Sales 17,000
\t
"Jibun Rock" (じぶんROCK My Own Rock)
Oricon Singles Charts -
Billboard Japan Hot 100 -
RIAJ Digital Tracks 98
Oricon Sales -
2011
"Answer Is Near" (アンサイズニア
Oricon Singles Charts 6
Billboard Japan Hot 100 13
RIAJ Digital Tracks 27
Oricon Sales -
