Matt Schley
February 2, 2025 
The Pillows, the Japanese rock band best known in the west for the soundtrack to anime FLCL, have disbanded after 35 years.
The band, made up of core members Sawao Yamanaka (vocals/guitar), Yoshiaki Manabe (lead guitar), and Shinichiro Sato (drums), formed in September 1989, and released their first LP, Moon Gold, in 1991.
Anime studio Gainax licensed several songs by The Pillows to serve as the soundtrack for its 2000-2001 OVA series FLCL. The release of the series in the west brought The Pillows broader recognition abroad. Their first US show was in 2005 at the festival South by Southwest.
The band would go on to contribute to the soundtracks for FLCL sequels Progressive, Alternative, Grunge and Shoegaze. Their music was also featured in anime like Ahiru no Sora, BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer, and Moonlight Mile. The 2019 live-action film Be the King, made to celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary, features music and a story by Sawao Yamanaka.
In the announcement of their disbandment, the band hinted that future reunions and activities may be possible.
I was lucky to see the band play twice, once in Los Angeles shortly following the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Here’s a short clip from that show.
Source: ANN
Related Posts
