Died On This Date (August 7, 2011) Joe Yamanaka / Lead Singer For Japanese Prog Rockers, Flower Travellin’ Band
themusicsover Akira “Joe” Yamanaka
September 2, 1946 – August 7, 2011
Joe Yamanaka was a singer who is perhaps best remembered as the lead vocalist for Japanese prog rock group, Flower Travellin’ Band. Formed as a cover band in 1968, their intent was to introduce Japanese audiences to the sounds of such western rock artists as Jefferson Airplane, Cream and Jimi Hendrix. Yamanaka joined the group the following year as they were beginning to record original music and after they relocated to Los Angeles, California. Flower Travellin’ Band broke up in 1973, but reunited for good in 2007 with Yamanaka on board as the front man. Outside of group, Yamanaka released several solo albums, one of which included his biggest hit, “Proof Of The Man,” which sold in excess of 500,000 copies and made him a household name throughout Asia. In early 1982, Yamanaka became the lead singer of the Wailers as replacement for the recently deceased Bob Marley with whom he was good friends. He fronted the Wailers for the better part of the next five years. Yamanaka was also an accomplished actor, appearing in several Japanese films and at least one American one – mostly in “tough guy” roles. During the spring of 2010, Joe Yamanaka was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 64 when he ultimately died from it on August 7, 2011.
What You Should Do
Mike Reaves was a guitarist in alternative metal band, Full Devil Jacket. Formed as Voodoo Hippies in Jackson, Tennessee, the band changed its name to Full Devil Jacket just before being signed to Island Records during the late ’90s. The band went on to release an EP and their self-titled full length debut which quickly went gold. The band was a popular live draw and toured with the likes of Creed, Stone Temple Pilots, and Type O Negative. Following his departure from Full Devil Jacket, Reaves played with Travisty and collaborated with 3 Legged Dog, Jasmine Cain and Randy Lovelace. During the spring of 2010, Reaves was diagnosed with prostate cancer which ultimately took his life on July 25, 2011. He was 52.
Dan Peek is perhaps best remembered as a member of popular soft-rock band America between 1970 and 1977 – the group’s most successful period. While in the band which also included Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley, Peek played guitar, bass, and keyboards, and sang back up on such hits as “Sandman,” “A Horse With No Name,” and “Ventura Highway.” As a songwriter, he contributed such charting singles as “Lonely People,” “Don’t Cross The River,” and “Today’s The Day.” In 1977, Peek left the group to pursue a solo a career, being one of Christian rock’s earliest successes. His first single, “All Things Are Possible,” reached #1 on the Contemporary Christian charts, and by landing on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, became one of Christian rock’s first crossover hits. Although Peek never officially reunited with America, Bunnell and Beckley did sing on his solo debut, and he occasionally joined them on stage throughout the years. Peek all but retired from music during the ’90s, releasing a sporadic album or collaborating with others here and there. In recent years, he released new recordings via his website. Dan Peek was 60 when he passed away on July 24, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Taiji Sawada was a respected Japanese musician who is perhaps best remembered for his bass work with popular metal bands, X Japan and Loudness. A gifted musician by his early teens, Sawada dropped out of high school to form his first band, Trash in which he played guitar until switching to bass a couple of years later. He went on to play in a handful of other bands until joining X Japan in 1986. One of Japan’s most influential hard rock bands, X Japan released several singles and one full length album before being signed by Sony Music in 1988. Sawada played on the band’s first three album, including Blue Blood, which is arguably one of the best metal releases of the ’80s. After leaving X Japan, Sawada was asked to join Loudness, playing on just one studio and one live album before departing to form his own band. Over the better part of the next 20 years, he played in numerous bands including D.T.R., Cloud Nine, and the Killing Red Addiction, as well as his own projects. Meanwhile, Sawada reportedly suffered from epilepsy and chronic strokes for many years. On July 11, 2011, he was arrested after an alleged altercation with a flight attendant on a plane en route from Japan to Saipan. Sawada faced federal charges in the United States as a result. While in a holding cell, he allegedly tried to commit suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet only to be discovered by staff and rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced brain-dead and remained on life support for the next several days. On July 17, 2011, Taiji Sawada passed away after being removed from life support at the request of his family. He was 45.