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Urusei Yatsura
Also known asYatsura
OriginGlasgow, Scotland
Genres
Years active1993–2001
LabelsChé Trading, Oni Records, Rocket Girl
MembersFergus Lawrie
Graham Kemp
Elaine Graham
Ian Graham

Urusei Yatsura were a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1993.

History

Founding members Fergus Lawrie and Graham Kemp met in the summer of 1993, whilst attending the University of Glasgow. They recruited Elaine Graham as bassist, and the line-up was completed with the subsequent addition of Elaine's brother, Ian Graham, on drums.[1] They took their band name from the manga Urusei Yatsura, written by Rumiko Takahashi,[1] and contributed their first recording, "Guitars Are Boring", to a compilation album released by the Kazoo Club. This was based in Glasgow, and run at one point by the future Franz Ferdinand singer Alex Kapranos. This record in turn brought them to the attention of the BBC Radio DJ John Peel, who brought them in to do a session in 1994.[1] They recorded four Peel Sessions, between Glasgow and Maida Vale Studios,[2] as well as appearing on the Evening Session for Steve Lamacq.[3]

They released three albums: We Are Urusei Yatsura (1996), Slain By Urusei Yatsura (1998)[1] and Everybody Loves Urusei Yatsura (2000). Albums in America and Japan were released under the name of Yatsura for legal reasons.[1] The band had one Top 40 hit single, 1997's "Hello Tiger", which reached number 40 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] Other singles released by the band include "Strategic Hamlets" and "Slain By Elf".[5]

Urusei Yatsura split in June 2001, leaving Kemp to work on solo material and the other band members to form Projekt A-ko. In 2011, Lawrie formed the three-piece band, Angel of Everyone Murder, with Sarah Glass and Lea Cummings on bass, and released a self-titled double album on Kovorox Sound.[6] The release featured six drone compositions of 15–20 minutes each, made with self-modified guitars he called HALO guitars. In 2012, Angel of Everyone Murder 2 was released.

In 2016, Rocket Girl released a 'Best of' album called You are my Urusei Yatsura, consisting of recordings they had made for the BBC sessions.[7]

In 2020, a compilation of b-sides and rarities, Can You Spell Urusei Yatsura - Lost Songs 1993-2000, was released.[8]

Discography

Albums

Live

EPs

Compilations

Singles

Compilation appearances

Projekt A-ko

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 410. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  2. ^ "BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Urusei Yatsura". Bbc.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Urusei Yatsura - You Are My Urusei Yatsura / Rocket Girl from Piccadilly Records". Piccadillyrecords.com.
  4. ^ "hello tiger | full Official Chart History". Official Charts.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 577. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ "ANGEL OF EVERYONE MURDER - ANGEL OF EVERYONE MURDER". Kovoroxsound.com.
  7. ^ "Rocket Girl | Discography". Rocketgirl.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Can You Spell Urusei Yatsura - Lost Songs 1993-2000, by Urusei Yatsura". Uruseiyatsuraband.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  9. ^ Urusei Yatsura at Discogs

External links

Authority control databases
Categories