The Birthday is a Japanese garage rock band which formed in 2006. Members: Vocals (since 2025), Bass: Hirai Haruki (ヒライハルキ) (former member of てるる...) Vocals (since 2025), Drums: Kuhara Kazuyuki (クハラカズユキ) (former member of THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT) Vocals (since 2025), Guitar: Fuji Kenji (フジイケンジ / 藤井謙二) (former member of THE BARRETT and My Little Lover) Vocals (from 2025): Guest vocalists like Takumi Kitamura of DISH// Former Members: Vocals, Guitar: Chiba Yusuke (チバユウスケ) (from 2006 until his death in 2023) (former member of THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT and ROSSO) Guitar: Imai Akinobu (イマイアキノブ) (from 2006 to 2010) (former member of フリクション and ROSSO) Formed in 2005. The following year, they debuted with the single “stupid.” Their raw, authentic rock sound rooted in garage and blues rock, combined with energetic live performances, earned them strong support. In 2008, they held their first concert at the Nippon Budokan. In 2010, Imai left the band, and Fujii joined in 2011. To date, they have released 11 original albums. In 2023, Chiba passed away at the age of 55, and since then, the band has continued as a three-piece. Formation to Imai Akinobu’s Departure In September 2005, The Birthday was formed around Chiba Yusuke and Imai Akinobu of ROSSO, joined by former THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT drummer Kuhara Kazuyuki and former Teruru… bassist Hirai Haruki. In August 2006, they debuted with their first single “stupid.” That fall, they released their first album Rollers Romantics. In 2007, they released their second album TEARDROP. In January 2008, they performed their first concert at the Nippon Budokan. Later that year, they released the mini-album MOTEL RADIO SiXTY SiX and appeared for the first time as The Birthday at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, performing on both the WHITE STAGE (second day) and GREEN STAGE (third day). At the Rising Sun Rock Festival, they played an unprecedented two-hour set. That fall, they released their third album NIGHT ON FOOL. On July 25, 2009, they performed at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL. It was shortly after the death of Abe Futoshi, who had played with Chiba and Kuhara in THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT. At the beginning of the set, Chiba said, “Today’s show is dedicated to our great friend Abe Futoshi.” In February 2010, they released their fourth album STAR BLOWS. On September 1, 2010, Imai’s departure was announced. Their appearance at ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2010 on August 6 marked the final performance with the original lineup. From Fujii Kenji’s Joining to Chiba’s Death In January 2011, through an introduction from their agency’s president, former My Little Lover guitarist Fujii Kenji joined the band. According to Chiba, Fujii had been considered as a potential guitarist during ROSSO’s second phase. In April 2011, they released the single “Naze ka Kyou wa,” followed in June by their fifth album I’M JUST A DOG. In July 2012, they released their sixth album VISION, and in December, they performed their second show at the Nippon Budokan. In May 2013, they released a DVD and Blu-ray recording of that Budokan concert, and in December, the single “LEMON.” In April 2014, they released the single “Kusottare no Sekai,” and in May, their seventh album COME TOGETHER. In 2015, their 10th anniversary year, they released two singles in May and June, “I KNOW” and “MOTHER,” followed in September by their first best album GOLD TRASH. That same month, they held their third Budokan concert, and in October, they released their eighth album BLOOD AND LOVE CIRCUS. In November 2016, they released the single “Yume to Bach to Caffeine to,” and in March 2017, “Dakishimetai.” In May, they released their ninth album NOMAD. In January 2018, they released their first live album LIVE AT XXXX. In June, they released the single “THE ANSWER,” and in October, “Aozora.” In February 2019, they released the single “OH BABY!,” and in March, their tenth album VIVIAN KILLERS. In August, they released WATCH YOUR BLINDSIDE 2, a collection of B-sides and self-covers previously unavailable on albums. In November 2020, they released their first double A-side single “Himawari / Orugooru.” In 2021, marking the 10th anniversary of Fujii’s joining, they released their 11th album SUNBURST in July, followed in November by the EP CORE 4, which featured four new songs and live recordings. In December 2022, they released the EP Tsukiyo no Zankyou ep. The track “LOVE ROCKETS” was used as the opening theme for the film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK. On April 24, 2023, Chiba was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and went on hiatus for treatment, but on November 26 of the same year, he passed away at the age of 55. The date coincided with the scheduled final show of their autumn tour at Zepp DiverCity. Activities as a Three-Piece On January 19, 2024, a flower offering event for Chiba, titled Thanks !, was held at Zepp DiverCity. In April, honoring Chiba’s wishes, the band released three new songs recorded before his hiatus as the EP April, and performed at ARABAKI ROCK FEST 2024’s “BIG BEAT CARNIVAL ~Dream of Rock’n’Roll~,” where Hosomi Takeshi of ELLEGARDEN sang lead on “Namida ga Koboresou.” On Chiba’s birthday, July 10, they released a Blu-ray and live vinyl recording of their 2022 Nakano Sunplaza concert, the final tour with Chiba. That summer, WEEKEND LOVERS, a joint live project originally started in 2002 by Chiba and Nakamura Tatsuya, was revived. The band appeared for the first time at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL and returned to RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL for the first time in 22 years, performing Chiba’s songs with guest musicians. In April 2025, they performed at ARABAKI ROCK FEST 2025 as a three-piece, with all three members sharing vocal duties. Takumi Kitamura of DISH// appeared as guest vocalist, performing “Calendar Girl” and “Naze ka Kyou wa.” Albums Rollers Romantics (2006) Teardrop (2007) Motel Radio Sixty Six (mini-album) (2008) Night on Fool (2008) Star Blows (2010) I'm Just a Dog (2011) Vision (2012) Come Together (2014) Blood and Love Circus (2015) Nomad (2017) Vivian Killers (2019) Sunburst (2021) Singles "Stupid" (2006) "Kiki the Pixy" (2006) "Night Line" (2007) "Alicia" (2007) "Press Factory" (2007) "Namida Ga Koboresou" (2008) "Ai de Nuritsubuse" (2009) "Piano" (2009) "Dig Zero" (2010) "Maddy Cat Blues" (2010) "Nazeka Kyouha" (2011) "Roka" (2012) "Sayonara Saisyuuheiki" (2012) "Lemon" (2013) "Kusottare no Sekai" (2014) "I Know" (2015) "Mother" (2015) "Yume to Bach to Caffeine to" (2016) "Dakishimetai" (2017) "The Answer" (2018) "Aozora" (2018) "Oh Baby!" (2019) CORE 4 (2021) Tsukiyo no Zankyou ep. (2022) Love Rockets (2023) Compilations Watch Your Blindside (B-side and rare track collection) (2010) Gold Trash (Greatest hits album) (2015) Watch Your Blindside 2 (B-side and rare track collection) (2019) Other releases Party People (2008) The Birthday Meets Love Grocer at On-U Sound Mixed by Adrian Sherwood (2009) Live at XXXX (live album) (2018) Official Webpages: http://universal-music.co.jp/thebirthday/ http://rockin-blues.com/ http://www.rockin-blues.com/category/the-birthday <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/The+Birthday">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.