Lead (band)

Lead is a Japanese hip-hop group, under the Record of Pony Canyon/ Flight Master. Their debut was on July 31, 2002 with their single Manatsu no Magic (Mid-Summer Magic).

Biography

Hiroki Nakadoi, Shinya Taniuchi and Akira Kagimoto all attended the CALESS Vocal & Dance School (キャレスボーカル&ダンススクール) in Osaka, Japan, where they met each other and became good friends. By March 2002, they began doing live street performances on the streets of Shiroten at Osaka Castle Park under the dance unit name of "remix". By May 2002, they renamed the group from "remix" to "flow". After the name change, the three decided to recruit a fourth member.^[1]

Meanwhile, on April 13, 2002, the Kyushu/Fukuoka Joint Starlight Audition (九州・沖縄合同スターライトオーディション) was being held in Okinawa by Rising Production on a search for new talent. At the time, thirteen-year-old Keita Furuya and another contestant, Senoe Seimi (瀬上聖未), were declared winners out of the 8,751 hopefuls that auditioned.^[2] flow tracked down Keita and he soon joined the group flow on May 18, 2002.

On May 23, 2002, the group underwent another and final name change, officially becoming "Lead", whereas they had hoped to become a "leading group" of the age.

Around early July 2002, they held their first live street performance as four-member group Lead at Osaka Castle Park. Giving the public a taste of not only their dancing, but also their abilities in singing and rapping. The event was a huge success with around 7,000 attendees. Lead also became the opening act for budding group w-inds for their first live tour - 1st Message - and performed in front of 120,000 people for each opening.

Lead soon released their first single Manatsu no Magic on July 31, 2002.

That same year, Lead had won the Best Newcomer Award during the 44th Japan Record Awards, alongside the group day after tomorrow and soloists Mika Nakashima and Sachika Shino.^[3].

By 2008, Lead had released a total of fourteen singles, five albums, seven DVDs and had performed five live tours. Along with making numerous guest appearances on talk shows, they had hosted their own TV shows, starred in several films and dramas, and had won a total of three Japan Record Awards.

On August 5, 2009, they released their 16th single GiraGira Romantic (ギラギラRomantic). July 28, 2010, their 17th single Speed Star (SPEED STAR☆) was released. Their 18th single, Hurricane, was released on August 10, 2011. Their 19th single, Wanna Be With You (March 14, 2012), peaked at #3 on the Oricon Singles Charts, making the single their highest ranking single on Oricon. This was until the release of Sakura on February 26, 2014, which also peaked at #3.

On December 12, 2012, their 20th single Still was released. This was the last single released with lead vocalist Hiroki Nakadoi, whereas he left the group in April 2013 after feelings of inadequacy. Their seventh studio album, The Showcase, was released four years later on June 8, 2016. The album's preluding singles were their highest charting singles since their debut in 2002, and the album became their highest charting album in their career, peaking at #2.^[4]

On March 8, 2017, they released their twenty-seventh single, Tokyo Fever, and another single, Beautiful Day, on August 23. Both singles charted in the top 10, charting at #5 and #6 respectively. On April 25, 2018, the group released Bumblebee, which became their highest debuting single at #2.^[5] The group released their eighth studio album on July 19, 2018, titled Milestone.^[6]

Departure of Hiroki Nakadoi

It is such a big thing that our leader is graduating, but we, the three of us, will continue holding up Lead's motto "Stand and Fight," and keep on going as Lead with our full effort, in order to see an even more vivid future with you Leaders.

— Shinya Tanuichi, Keita Furuya, Akira Kagimoto

After Lead celebrated their tenth anniversary with the Leader's Party 10! concert for their fan club in March 2013, vocalist Hiroki Nakadoi stepped away from the group.^[7] His final release with Lead was for their single Still, which had been released on December 12, 2012, with his departure being in April 2013.

Hiroki began to discuss his feelings about leaving to the other members prior to his departure, explaining how he felt that they had surpassed him since they debuted in 2002 with "Manatsu no Magic"; however, due to their reassurance and saying that they would all "do their best together," he had decided to stay on, putting more effort into his overall performance. Despite this, he fell into a depression, believing that he was unable to "catch up" to his friends' level and began talking about wanting to leave again. He said how he felt that, due to him still not having any self-confidence, he "shouldn't be with the members who are aiming higher and . . . relying on the kindness of the staff members . . . and the Leaders (their fans)."

Prior to Hiroki making his final decision, the other members, Keita Furuya, Akira Kagimoto and Shinya Tanuichi, had questioned if they should remain as a unit if Hiroki decided to leave. When Hiroki finalized his decision, with full support to the others as a group, they chose to stay together due to the constant support of their fans.^[8]

Members

Shinya Taniuchi / 谷内伸也

• D.O.B.: September 23, 1987
• Birthplace: Hirakata, Osaka
• Image Color: Green

Keita Furuya / 古屋敬多

• D.O.B.: June 13, 1988
• Birthplace: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
• Image Color: Yellow

Akira Kagimoto / 鍵本輝

• D.O.B.: August 20, 1988
• Birthplace: Ikaruga Ikoma District, Nara
• Image Color: Blue

Former member

Hiroki Nakadoi / 中土居宏宜

• D.O.B.: July 26, 1985
• Birthplace: Hiroshima
  • Raised in Fujiidera, Osaka Prefecture
• Image Color: Red
• Graduated: March 31, 2013

Discography

See also

• List of bands from Japan

References

• www.cosmicdrive.com/

External links

• Official Lead Website
• Interview, reviews,gallery and much more