Wag was a Japanese rock band under the Giza Studio label, active from 1998 to 2006.
Members Members consisted of siblings, cousins and their childhood friends. Shinya Hirayama (平山進也) - vocalist (born 31 January 1979) Yuuji Hirayama (平山裕司) - side guitarist (born 18 October 1980) Keisuke Yanagida (柳田圭祐) - leader guitarist (born 16 March 1981) Tetsuya Oguro (小黒哲也) - drummer (born 29 November 1978) Kousuke Minami (南公祐) - bassist and member of band until 2004 (born 21 May 1977)
Biography 1998-2001 The formation of the band began in autumn 1998 by the Hirayama siblings, later other members joined the band.
In July 1999, under Giza Studio label they released their first single Odyssey. The single was used as an image song for Sanyo's radio recorder U4.
On 3 September 1999, the first mini album Waggish Tricks was released which includes previously released single Odyssey. Minami Kousuke wrote all the lyrics in English for their indie releases.
On 13 September 1999, they launched their fanclub Wag-On with a monthly fanclub magazine Go For it!
On 2 October 1999, they started broadcasting their own radio program Future Paradise Wag-On on Kiss-Fm radio station. On their official site under section Radio section they shared for listeners the complete radio talk and list of power-played songs. The final program was broadcast on 27 December 2003.
On 14 October 1999, they made a major debut with single Free Magic composed by Makoto Miyoshi from Rumania Montevideo and written by Nana Azuki from Garnet Crow. The on-air version of this song was broadcast from 19 July.Credits from In media, it was used as an ending theme for popular Anime television series Detective Conan. On the weekly Oricon Charts it reached #33 rank and charted for 3 weeks.
In December 1999, they held a mini-live performance in Saison group Shibuya Club Quattro.
In February 2000, there were plans to release another mini album Ri-Ra (GZCA-1018) however due to unknown reason the release was canceled.
In October 2001, they released their first studio album WAG.
In December 2001, their single Kanashimi no Ame was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2001.
2002-2006 From September 2002 to March 2003, they held seven Friend Man-three Live events Whisky a Go go! in Osaka Muse Hall.
On 21 December 2002, their single All For Your Love was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2002. This single was exclusively released for this album, and does not appear in any of their studio albums.
In July 2003, Wag held a live performance Hills Pan Koujou GIZA studio presents THURSDAY LIVE "ROCK NIGHT" with guest Ami Matsunaga from The Tambourines and on October with indies band Elf.
In November 2003, they renewed and changed their website domain from giza.co.jp/wag into wag-net.com.
In December 2003, their single Fight Song was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2003.
In February 2004, their single Fukisusabu Kaze no Naka de appeared on the Oricon Weekly charts for the first time since 1999. The single was composed by Akihito Tokunaga and written by Yuka Saegusa from U-ka Saegusa in dB. In media it was used as an ending theme for Anime television series Saiyuki Reload.
In March 2004, Kousuke left the band.
In May 2005, the band released their final single Don't look back again. In media, it was used as an opening theme for Anime television series Saiyuki Reload Gunlock.
In November 2005, through official fanclub Wag-On they announced the. band's disbandment on 31 December 2006, a year after their official website was removed by Giza staff.
Discography
Indies singles Release DayTitleCD Code1st1999/07/10OdysseyICR-009
Singles Release DayTitleRankCD code1st1999/10/14Free Magic33GZDA-10132nd2000/7/19Don't Think Twice, It's All RightXGZCA-10403rd2001/5/16Just wanna beXGZCA-10754th2001/8/29Kanashimi no Ame (悲しみの雨)XGZCA-20125th2001/11/21Time Waits For No OneXGZCA-20216th2002/2/27All For Your LoveX GZCA-20297th2002/12/18Rollin' ManXGZCA-70098th2003/5/28Fight SongXGZCA-70179th2003/8/6Soshite Kyou mo Dokoka de (そして今日も何処かで)XGZCA-702810th2004/2/25Fukisusabu Kaze no Naka de (吹きすさぶ風の中で)64GZCA-704111th2004/5/26Don't look back again104GZCA-7052
Studio albums Release DayTitleRankCD code1st2001/10/3WAGXGZCA-50042nd2003/11/19Point DepotXGZCA-5039
Indies albums Release DayTitleCD code1st1999/9/3Waggish TricksICR-0101st1999/10/3Baggot InICR-012
Magazine appearances From Music Freak Magazine:
Vol.59 1999/October Vol.60 1999/November Vol.61 1999/December Vol.62 2000/January Vol.63 2000/February Vol.64 2000/March Vol.67 2000/June Vol.68 2000/July Vol.70 2000/September Vol.73 2000/December Vol.74 2001/January Vol.78 2001/May Vol.81 2001/August Vol.82 2001/September Vol.83 2001/October Vol.84 2001/November Vol.86 2002/January Vol.87 2002/February Vol.88 2002/March Vol.89 2002/April Vol.93 2002/August Vol.94 2002/September Vol.95 2002/October Vol.96 2002/November Vol.97 2002/December Vol.98 2003/January Vol.99 2003/February Vol.100 2003/March Vol.101 2003/April Vol.102 2003/May Vol.104 2003/July Vol.105 2003/August Vol.107 2003/October Vol.108 2003/November Vol.109 2003/December Vol.110 2004/January Vol.111 2004/February Vol.113 2004/April Vol.114 2004/May
From J-Rock Magazine: 1999/08 1999/09 1999/11 1999/12 2000/01 2000/03 2000/05 2000/06 2000/07 2000/08
From Digital Creators DGCR Vol.5 Vol.10 Vol.13 Vol.15 Vol.16 Vol.19
From J-Groove Magazine: November 2000 Vol.1 June 2001 Vol.8 September 2001 Vol.11 November 2001 Vol.13 April 2002 Vol.18 January 2003 Vol.27 February 2003 Vol.28 July 2003 Vol.33 September 2003 Vol.35
References
External links Official website Renewed official website Official website by Being (in Japanese) Musing profile (in Japanese) () Oricon profile (in Japanese)()