Back Number

Biography

Back Number (Japanese: バックナンバー, Hepburn: Bakku Nambā; stylized in all lowercase) is a Japanese rock power trio formed in 2004. The band consists of Iyori Shimizu (lead vocals, guitar), Kazuya Kojima (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Hisashi Kurihara (drums, percussion). The group signed to independent record label Idolsmith Recordings in 2009 and released their debut EP Nogashita Sakana (逃した魚, Fish Set Free) (2009) and studio album Ato no Matsuri (あとのまつり×あとのまつり2 June 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1stay with me5:002あとのうた5:063浮ついた気持ち4:454風の強い日5:155tender3:306そのドレスちょっと待った4:367おまえさん4:508ハイスクールガール5:159Life3:0210fallman3:4811march4:5512いつか忘れてしまっても5:3413blank1:1014Extra Track7:54, Too Late) (2010). They signed to Universal Sigma in 2011. The band have a major cult following in Japan.
The group's biggest hit is "Christmas Song", which peaked at number-one for three weeks on the Japan Hot 100 chart, and was later certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Their first compilation album, Encore (2016), reached number one on the Billboard Japan Hot Album for two consecutive weeks in 2016 and also ranked number five on the Oricon yearly best-selling album chart of 2017. In 2018, back number successfully held a Dome Tour titled “stay with you”, including a 2-night-concert in Tokyo Dome. All tickets for 5 concerts are sold out within 2 hours, mobilized over 45,000 guests per concert.

Members

Current members

Iyori Shimizu – lead vocals, guitar (2004–present)
Kazuya Kojima – bass guitar, backing vocals (2005–present)
Hisashi Kurihara – drums, percussion (2006–present)
Former members

Makio Saito – guitar, backing vocals (2006–2007)

History

In 2004, Iyori Shimizu formed the band in Gunma Prefecture. Prior to the band's formation, Shimizu lost a girlfriend to another band member. This experience made him feel "outdated", which is why he named the band "back number".
In November 2004, the band performed their first live show at Isezaki DUSTBOWL.
Since 2005, voluntary live performances were held annually in November (until 2007), following the release of the demo CD.
In 2007, the band performed a one-man live show, mobilized over 150 people and the tickets were sold out. In the same year, the band was chosen as the semi-best rocker (second place) from more than 100 bands at the band audition "ROCKERS 2007" sponsored by FM Gunma, which is a gateway for the northern Kanto band. It became well known in the local media.
In April 2008, their regular radio program "PIZZA SMALL WORLD" started broadcasting at the radio station FM TARO for an area of Ota City, Gunma Prefecture (broadcast ended in March 2014). In June 2008, the band won a qualifying competition from among 500 pairs of entries at the Shonan Music Festival Opening Act Audition and secured an appearance at the large outdoor festival Shonan Music Festival Vol. 2.
On February 18, 2009, the band released their first mini album, Nogashita Sakana, and became HMV push item "HOT PICKS", TOWER RECORDS push item "Tawareko Men" for the first time, selected as power play of FM station and Sony Ericsson CS commercial song, the band then was widely known throughout the country. On May 27, Tawareko, a back number free live with HMV as the co-ownership was held at SHIBUYA-BOXX, and more than 500 people joined, which exceeded the capacity of the regular entry. In June, the band finished a tour at the Ferrari Temple Park Outdoor Stage in Isezaki City with a crowd of 500 people. After that, the band also positively appeared in events such as "SAKAE-SPRING", "MINAMI WHEEL", "TREASURE", "MUSIC CUBE" all over the country, school festival, install alive, etc.
On June 2, 2010, released their first full-length album, Ato no Matsuri.
On April 6, 2011, the band made their major debut with the single "Hanabira".
On September 7, 2013, the band held a one-man live "back number live at Nippon Budokan - stay with us-" at Nippon Budokan.
From April 2014, the band was appointed as a regular personality of Nippon Broadcasting "All Night Nippon" on every Tuesday. On September 14, 2014, at the Yokohama Arena, the first arena performance "love stories tour 2014 - Yokohama love story 2 ~" was held.
On December 15, 2015, their fifth album, Chandelier, reached first place on the Oricon chart for two consecutive weeks.
On December 28, 2016, the band released their own all-time best album, Encore, which reached number one on the Billboard Japan Hot Album for two consecutive weeks.
On December 20, 2017, the band released their 17th single, Mabataki, which reached number one on the Recochoku Weekly Download Charts for two weeks.

Live tour

Bolded performances are additional performances.