It’s a sad day for fans of Japanese rock band the pillows. Following a January 31 show at KT Zepp Yokohama, the members officially announced that they have disbanded, ending a legacy of over three decades that included 22 studio albums and a boost in global recognition thanks to their iconic soundtracks for the FLCL anime series.The band thanked fans for their support over the past 35 years, and while they noted that “disbanded” is a strong term, they didn’t want to “leave room for expectations of a future reunion.”The statement notes that the official website and social media accounts will continue as “the pillows monument,” which will be used to “share updates on individual activities.” Here’s the full statement:
To all fans of the pillows,
Thank you for always supporting the pillows.
This is a sudden announcement, but the pillows officially disbanded following their show at KT Zepp Yokohama on January 31st.
The members sincerely thank all the fans for their constant support over the past 35 years. These years have been a truly memorable journey, and it’s all thanks to the fans.
The band hesitated to use the word “disbanded,” as it is a strong term. However, they decided to use it rather than leave room for expectations of a future reunion.
The members are deeply grateful to the fans who valued their music and supported them throughout their career.
They hope to meet the fans again through their individual activities in the future.
Thank you once again for supporting the pillows for 35 years.
the pillows
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the pillows first formed in 1989, with the main and final lineup consisting of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sawao Yamanaka, lead guitarist Yoshiaki Manabe and drummer Shinichiro Sato. They had a number of different bassists over the years, starting with Kenji Ueda in 1989 and most recently featuring Tomoyuki Miyakawa.Western awareness of the pillows skyrocketed with the release of Gainax’s original FLCL OVA series in 2000. They would return to the series to contribute music to the FLCL Progressive and FLCL Alternative seasons in 2018, followed by FLCL Grunge and FLCL Shoegaze in 2023. Source: Official X (formerly Twitter)
