****Go!Go!7188 (Go Go Nana Ichi Hachi Hachi), also known simply as Go!Go!, was a Japanese rock band with influences spanning from surf rock to punk rock to J-pop.

History

In June 1998, Yumi Nakashima (nicknamed Yuu) and Akiko Hamada (nicknamed Akko), both alumnae of the same year at Shoyo High School in Kagoshima of Kyūshū, formed a band with the goal of participating in a national competition. They had previously played together in a Judy and Mary cover band while in high school along with three other girls from their school. The band broke up when the members graduated; Yuu and Akko wanted to continue but the other members did not. In college, Yuu and Akko formed a new band, along with a boy who played the drums and was the same age as them. In November 1998 they participated in the Yamaha Music Foundation's Teens' Music Festival as Go Go 7188. They didn't win the grand prize but their performance was seen by their future producer and later the band was signed to the talent agency breast/milia. Drummer Takayuki Hosokawa (nicknamed Turkey) joined Go!Go!7188 in 1999, and the band then signed with major label Capitol Music (Toshiba-EMI). They went to Tokyo in February 2000, and started recording on the same day they arrived. Their first single, "Taiyō," was released a few months later on June 28. Go!Go!7188 starting recording their debut album in September of that year with plans to release it in December. The album, Dasoku Hokō, was released on December 6, 2000, and peaked at number 25 on the Oricon albums chart. In April 2001, "Dotanba de Cancel" was released as the first single from Go!Go!7188's follow up album. Reviewers noted the song's sad melody and lyrics, which stood in contrast to their usually upbeat material. Later that year, on August 5, the band played at the Rock In Japan Festival for the first time. Go!Go!7188 released their second album, Gyotaku, on November 21, 2001. Reviewers pointed out the "garage-style" rock, melodies "filled with Taishō era romanticism" and "well-constructed key changes" present in the songs. The album surpassed its predecessor, reaching 17 on the Oricon chart. The following year, on July 10, Go!Go! released their first cover album, titled Tora no Ana. The tracklist included covers of "Shōwa era pop songs and anime songs." As part of the promotion of the album, Toshiba EMI held a contest with a one million yen prize. Later in 2002, on October 9, the band released "Ukifune," the first single from their subsequent original album. The song, based on a story of Ukifune from The Tale of Genji, combined "Japanese taste with rock," resulting in a sound which "drip[ped] malevolent mystery." The single peaked at number 12 on the Oricon chart. On February 26, 2003, Go!Go!7188 released Tategami, their third original album. The new collection of songs "demonstrate[d] a post-punk influence" and "[drew] on the sounds of postwar 'kayoukyoku' pop music." Additionally, the band's sound and lyrics on the new album were described as having more depth and power, resulting in the group becoming "a more exciting force." The album reached number five on the Oricon albums chart. Later in the year, on August 2, Go!Go! played at the Summer Sonic music festival in Tokyo. Later in 2003, on August 8, Go!Go! released the single "Ruriiro." It was described as "slightly spooky" and having an "Arabian-style sound." The song's music video was directed by Higuchinsky. A few months later, on October 8, Akko released her first solo album, Kirari, under the name of Akiko Hamada. On February 25, 2004, Yuu released her solo album Ten no Mikaku. It featured jazz and cabaret-style music and incorporated sanshin, kokyū and strings on some tracks, with only one track featuring Yuu on guitar. Later that year, on October 27, Go!Go!7188 released their fourth original album, titled Ryūzetsuran. The band embarked on a nationwide tour the following month, which included a date at the famed Nippon Budokan on December 21. The footage and audio from the concert was later released on DVD and as the band's second live album on March 16, 2005. In 2005, Yuu formed a new band, Chirinuruwowaka, which differed from Go!Go!7188 by the inclusion of a second guitarist. The band released their debut album, Iroha, on September 28, 2005. On November 2 of that year, Akko released her second solo album, Aruyoude Naiyoude, Arumono. It was inspired by her travels to such places as Fukuoka, Aso and Nakashibetsu and featured elements of jazz, rock and experimental music. On October 1, 2006, Akko announced on her official site that she had gotten married and had changed her legal name to Akiko Noma. That same month, Go!Go!7188 released their fifth studio album, Parade. The band commented that after pursuing solo activities in the previous year, they had learned that they "did music for fun," which provided the focus for making the album. In early 2007, Go!Go!7188 transferred to BMG Japan. That March, the band carried out their first tour of the United States as part of the multi-band Japan Nite tour, including performances in New York City, Los Angeles, and at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Later that year, in August, Go!Go!7188 returned to the United States for a second tour, playing at Musikfest in Bethel, Pennsylvania, as well as concerts in New York City and Chicago. On October 24, 2007, Go!Go!7188 released their sixth album and first on BMG Japan, 569 (pronounced Go Rock). Four days before the album was available in stores, the band made all of the tracks available on their MySpace page. The next year, on May 28, Go!Go!7188 released their second cover album, titled Tora no Ana 2. Regarding the songs included on the album, Akko stated that the band tried to make each one show off their best parts. Each track was arranged into the "Go!Go! rock style," such as their surf rock version of Pink Lady's "Nagisa no Sinbad" and cover of Spitz's "Spider" incorporating the intro from "There She Goes" by The La's. Also on May 28, 2008, Go!Go! released the single "Kataomoi Fighter," which was written for the ending theme of the Itazura na Kiss anime adaption. While writing the song, Yuu stated that she imagined watching the anime on TV and Akko mentioned that she wrote the lyrics while thinking about her high-school days. The single peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart. In addition to the band featuring on the ending theme, Yuu voiced one of the characters in the eighth episode. Go!Go! released their seventh original album, Antenna, on February 4, 2009. The songs on it were described as a "speedy, energetic flurry of sound." In support of the album, the band embarked on the Hentena Tour in March but had to postpone it in May when Akko was diagnosed with a retinal detachment. The tour resumed a few months later in August, including a date at the JCB Hall in Tokyo. In 2010, they transferred to FlyingStar Records (Victor Entertainment). On June 2, Go!Go! released their eighth and final studio album, Go!!Go!Go!Go!! The album reached number 10 on the Billboard Japan Top Albums chart. On February 10, 2012, the band announced on their website that they were disbanding. In 2019, Yuu and Akko reunited, writing and recording two songs for actress and creative artist Non, which appeared on her Baby Face mini-album released that June.

Members

Discography

Singles

Albums

Original albums

Other albums

DVDs and videos

Radio