UNICORN

Much like the mythical creature of their namesake, J-rock legends Unicorn symbolize power and positivity: a pop-rock beast conjured from the depths of a vivid imagination. Formed in Hiroshima in 1986 by university pals Koichi Kawanishi (drums) and Isamu Teshima (lead guitar), the pair recruited bassist Kazushi Horiuchi and vocalist/guitarist Tamio Okuda, with keyboardist and vocalist Yoshiharu Abe joining in 1988 and the band moving to Tokyo. Unicorn rode the wave of Japan's so-called 'band boom,' which began flourishing in the '80s and yielded an abundance of Japanese rock bands often inspired by western influences. Unicorn auditioned for CBS/Sony in December 1986 and released their debut album, Boom, the following year. Their sound spanned a range of styles, from new wave and ska to art-rock, and they ultimately became national heroes, releasing a string of well-received albums in the '80s and early '90s before announcing their split in 1993, following the release of their sixth studio album, Springman. Unicorn reunited in 2009 and released a new album, Chambre, in February that year, followed by a national tour in March. They went on to notch up another stack of albums, singles and EPs, including 2016's "Echo" and 2021 album Twist Island & Shout Island.

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