Wag (band) explained

Wag
Origin:	Japan
Genre:	Rock
Years Active:	1998–2006
Associated Acts:	Akihito Tokunaga Nana Azuki Makoto Miyoshi Hirohito Furui Yoshinobu Ohga
Label:	Garage Indies Zapping Association (1999) Giza Studio (1999-2006)
Website:	http://www.giza.co.jp/wag/ (WebArchive)
Past Members:	Shinya Hirayama Yuuji Hirayama Keisuke Yanagida Tetsuya Oguro Kousuke Minami

Wag was a Japanese rock band under the Giza Studio label, active from 1998 to 2006.

Members

Members consisted of siblings, cousins and their childhood friends.

• Shinya Hirayama (平山進也) - vocalist (born 31 January 1979)
• Yuuji Hirayama (平山裕司) - side guitarist (born 18 October 1980)
• Keisuke Yanagida (柳田圭祐) - leader guitarist (born 16 March 1981)
• Tetsuya Oguro (小黒哲也) - drummer (born 29 November 1978)
• Kousuke Minami (南公祐) - bassist and member of band until 2004 (born 21 May 1977)

Biography

1998-2001

The formation of the band began in autumn 1998 by the Hirayama siblings, later other members joined the band.

In July 1999, under Giza Studio label they released their first single Odyssey. The single was used as an image song for Sanyo's radio recorder U4.

On 3 September 1999, the first mini album Waggish Tricks was released which includes previously released single Odyssey. Minami Kousuke wrote all the lyrics in English for their indie releases.^[1]

On 13 September 1999, they launched their fanclub Wag-On with a monthly fanclub magazine Go For it!^[2]

On 2 October 1999, they started broadcasting their own radio program Future Paradise Wag-On on Kiss-Fm radio station. On their official site under section Radio section they shared for listeners the complete radio talk and list of power-played songs.^[3] The final program was broadcast on 27 December 2003.^[4]

On 14 October 1999, they made a major debut with single Free Magic composed by Makoto Miyoshi from Rumania Montevideo and written by Nana Azuki from Garnet Crow. The on-air version of this song was broadcast from 19 July.^[5] In media, it was used as an ending theme for popular Anime television series Detective Conan. On the weekly Oricon Charts it reached #33 rank and charted for 3 weeks.^[6]

In December 1999, they held a mini-live performance in Saison group Shibuya Club Quattro.^[7]

In February 2000, there were plans to release another mini album Ri-Ra (GZCA-1018) however due to unknown reason the release was canceled.

In October 2001, they released their first studio album WAG.

In December 2001, their single Kanashimi no Ame was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2001.^[8]

2002-2006

From September 2002 to March 2003, they held seven Friend Man-three Live events Whisky a Go go! in Osaka Muse Hall.^[9]

On 21 December 2002, their single All For Your Love was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2002. This single was exclusively released for this album, and does not appear in any of their studio albums.^[10]

In July 2003, Wag held a live performance Hills Pan Koujou GIZA studio presents THURSDAY LIVE "ROCK NIGHT" with guest Ami Matsunaga from The Tambourines^[11] and on October with indies band Elf.^[12]

In November 2003, they renewed and changed their website domain from giza.co.jp/wag into wag-net.com.^[13]

In December 2003, their single Fight Song was included in Giza Studio's compilation album Giza Studio Masterpiece Blend 2003.^[14]

In February 2004, their single Fukisusabu Kaze no Naka de appeared on the Oricon Weekly charts for the first time since 1999. The single was composed by Akihito Tokunaga and written by Yuka Saegusa from U-ka Saegusa in dB. In media it was used as an ending theme for Anime television series Saiyuki Reload.

In March 2004, Kousuke left the band.^[15]

In May 2005, the band released their final single Don't look back again. In media, it was used as an opening theme for Anime television series Saiyuki Reload Gunlock.^[16]

In November 2005, through official fanclub Wag-On they announced the. band's disbandment on 31 December 2006, a year after their official website was removed by Giza staff.

Discography

Singles

	Release Day	Title	Rank	CD code
1st	1999/10/14	Free Magic	33^[17]	GZDA-1013
2nd	2000/7/19	Don't Think Twice, It's All Right	X	GZCA-1040
3rd	2001/5/16	Just wanna be	X	GZCA-1075
4th	2001/8/29	Kanashimi no Ame (悲しみの雨)	X	GZCA-2012
5th	2001/11/21	Time Waits For No One	X	GZCA-2021
6th	2002/2/27	All For Your Love	X	GZCA-2029
7th	2002/12/18	Rollin' Man	X	GZCA-7009
8th	2003/5/28	Fight Song	X	GZCA-7017
9th	2003/8/6	Soshite Kyou mo Dokoka de (そして今日も何処かで)	X	GZCA-7028
10th	2004/2/25	Fukisusabu Kaze no Naka de (吹きすさぶ風の中で)	64^[18]	GZCA-7041
11th	2004/5/26	Don't look back again	104^[19]	GZCA-7052

Studio albums

	Release Day	Title	Rank	CD code
1st	2001/10/3	WAG	X	GZCA-5004
2nd	2003/11/19	Point Depot	X	GZCA-5039

Indies albums

	Release Day	Title	CD code
1st	1999/9/3	Waggish Tricks	ICR-010
1st	1999/10/3	Baggot In	ICR-012

Magazine appearances

From Music Freak Magazine:

• Vol.59 1999/October^[20]
• Vol.60 1999/November^[21]
• Vol.61 1999/December^[22]
• Vol.62 2000/January^[23]
• Vol.63 2000/February^[24]
• Vol.64 2000/March^[25]
• Vol.67 2000/June^[26]
• Vol.68 2000/July^[27]
• Vol.70 2000/September^[28]
• Vol.73 2000/December^[29]
• Vol.74 2001/January^[30]
• Vol.78 2001/May^[31]
• Vol.81 2001/August^[32]
• Vol.82 2001/September^[33]
• Vol.83 2001/October^[34]
• Vol.84 2001/November^[35]
• Vol.86 2002/January^[36]
• Vol.87 2002/February^[37]
• Vol.88 2002/March^[38]
• Vol.89 2002/April^[39]
• Vol.93 2002/August^[40]
• Vol.94 2002/September^[41]
• Vol.95 2002/October^[42]
• Vol.96 2002/November^[43]
• Vol.97 2002/December^[44]
• Vol.98 2003/January^[45]
• Vol.99 2003/February^[46]
• Vol.100 2003/March^[47]
• Vol.101 2003/April^[48]
• Vol.102 2003/May^[49]
• Vol.104 2003/July^[50]
• Vol.105 2003/August^[51]
• Vol.107 2003/October^[52]
• Vol.108 2003/November^[53]
• Vol.109 2003/December^[54]
• Vol.110 2004/January^[55]
• Vol.111 2004/February^[56]
• Vol.113 2004/April^[57]
• Vol.114 2004/May^[58]

From J-Rock Magazine:

• 1999/08^[59]
• 1999/09^[60]
• 1999/11^[61]
• 1999/12^[62]
• 2000/01^[63]
• 2000/03^[64]
• 2000/05^[65]
• 2000/06^[66]
• 2000/07^[67]
• 2000/08^[68]

From Digital Creators DGCR

• Vol.5^[69]
• Vol.10^[70]
• Vol.13^[71]
• Vol.15^[72]
• Vol.16^[73]
• Vol.19^[74]

From J-Groove Magazine:

• November 2000 Vol.1^[75]
• June 2001 Vol.8^[76]
• September 2001 Vol.11^[77]
• November 2001 Vol.13^[78]
• April 2002 Vol.18^[79]
• January 2003 Vol.27^[80]
• February 2003 Vol.28^[81]
• July 2003 Vol.33^[82]
• September 2003 Vol.35^[83]

External links

• Official website https://web.archive.org/web/20040114000424/http://www.giza.co.jp/wag/index2.html
• Renewed official website https://web.archive.org/web/20040606043125/http://wag-net.com:80/
• Official website by Being (in Japanese) http://beinggiza.com/ci/artist/wag
• Musing profile (in Japanese) (http://musing.jp/artist/wag)
• Oricon profile (in Japanese)(https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/25847/products/)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Profile Minami Kousuke. https://web.archive.org/web/20050111200456/http://www.giza.co.jp:80/wag/bio/mina.html. dead. 2005-01-11. Wag Official Website (archived).
2. Web site: Wag Fanclub. https://web.archive.org/web/20070816080545/http://www.wag-net.com:80/file/fan_3.html. dead. 2007-08-16. Wag-net.com (archived).
3. Web site: Wag Radio Web Text. https://web.archive.org/web/20020130215934/http://www.giza.co.jp:80/wag/radio/index.html. dead. 2002-01-30. Wag Official Website (archived).
4. Web site: Wag Radio Report. https://web.archive.org/web/20050316150456/http://www.wag-net.com:80/file/rad.html. dead. 2005-03-16. Wag-net.com (archived).
5. Credits from 園子のアブない夏物語 . . . July 19, 1999 . 6 . Japanese.
6. Web site: Free Magic (WAG). Oricon News.
7. Web site: WAG Profile (12/30). https://web.archive.org/web/20001109082800/http://www.giza.co.jp:80/wag/news/index_nws.htm. dead. 2000-11-09. being Music Fantasy (Archived).
8. Web site: GIZA studio Masterpiece BLEND 2001 (V.A). cdjapan.co.jp.
9. Web site: Wag LIVE Report. Wag-net.com (archived).
10. Web site: GIZA studio Masterpiece BLEND 2002 (V.A). cdjapan.co.jp.
11. Web site: WAG NEWS: Live Information. https://web.archive.org/web/20030801082647/http://www.giza.co.jp:80/wag/index2.html. dead. 2003-08-01. Wag Official Website (archived).
12. Web site: WAG NEWS: Live Information. https://web.archive.org/web/20030801184820/http://www.giza.co.jp:80/wag/news.html. dead. 2003-08-01. Wag Official Website (archived).
13. Web site: WAG INFORMATION (2003/11/20 WAG OFFICIAL WEBSITEリニューアルオープン!!). https://web.archive.org/web/20040229032059/http://www.wag-net.com:80/file/new.html. dead. 2004-02-29. Wag-net.com (archived).
14. Web site: GIZA studio Masterpiece BLEND 2003 (V.A). cdjapan.co.jp.
15. Web site: Wands Biography. https://web.archive.org/web/20040529165750/http://wag-net.com:80/file/bio.html. dead. 2004-05-29. Wag-net.com (Archived).
16. Web site: WAG NEW RELEASE情報. https://web.archive.org/web/20070707133710/http://www.wag-net.com:80/file/info.html. dead. 2007-07-07. Wag-net.com.
17. Web site: Free Magic (WAG). Oricon News.
18. Web site: Fukisusabu Kaze no Naka de (WAG). Oricon News.
19. Web site: Breathe On Me (New Cinema 蜥蜴). Oricon News.
20. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 1999 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
21. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 1999 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
22. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 1999 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
23. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2000 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
24. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2000 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
25. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2000 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
26. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2000 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
27. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2000 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
28. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2000 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
29. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2000 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
30. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2001 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
31. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2001 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
32. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2001 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
33. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2001 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
34. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2001 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
35. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2001 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
36. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
37. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
38. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
39. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
40. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
41. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
42. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
43. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
44. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2002 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
45. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
46. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
47. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
48. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
49. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
50. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
51. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
52. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
53. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
54. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2003 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
55. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2004 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
56. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2004 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
57. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2004 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
58. Web site: Music Freak Magazine 2004 Releases. Japanese. Official Website of Music Freak Magazine.
59. Web site: Back Number 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20010220092351/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_9908.html. dead. 2001-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
60. Web site: Back Number 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20010220092351/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_9909.html. dead. 2001-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
61. Web site: Back Number 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20010220092351/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_9911.html. dead. 2001-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
62. Web site: Back Number 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20010220092351/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_9912.html. dead. 2001-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
63. Web site: Back Number 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20011208145347/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/00_1/0012/00121.html. dead. 2001-12-08. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
64. Web site: Back Number 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20010220094212/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_0003.html. dead. 2001-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
65. Web site: Back Number 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20020809233129/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_0005.html. dead. 2002-08-09. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
66. Web site: Back Number 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20020809233129/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_0006.html. dead. 2002-08-09. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
67. Web site: Back Number 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20020809233129/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_0007.html. dead. 2002-08-09. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
68. Web site: Back Number 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20020809233129/http://www.j-rock.com:80/back_intime/cont_0008.html. dead. 2002-08-09. Japanese. Official Website of J Rock Magazine.
69. Web site: 個人個人がレベルアップできた. https://web.archive.org/web/20021003070833/http://www.dgcr.com:80/jam/backnumber/005/interview/wag/wag.html. dead. 2002-10-03. Japanese. Dgcr.com (WebArchive).
70. Web site: 毎回毎回の作品で自分達の成長とか、新しい面を見せていきたい. https://web.archive.org/web/20021003070833/http://www.dgcr.com:80/jam/backnumber/010/wag/wag.html. dead. 2002-10-03. Japanese. Dgcr.com (WebArchive).
71. Web site: 音を楽しむ心は忘れたくない. https://web.archive.org/web/20021003070833/http://www.dgcr.com:80/jam/backnumber/013/wag/wag.html. dead. 2002-10-03. Japanese. Dgcr.com (WebArchive).
72. Web site: 自分らを素直に表現できるようになった. https://web.archive.org/web/20021003070833/http://www.dgcr.com:80/jam/backnumber/015/WAG/wag.html. dead. 2002-10-03. Japanese. Dgcr.com (WebArchive).
73. Web site: 5人がそれぞれ固まってきた. https://web.archive.org/web/20021003070833/http://www.dgcr.com:80/jam/backnumber/016/wag/wag.html. dead. 2002-10-03. Japanese. Dgcr.com (WebArchive).
74. Web site: カッコいいと思うものは何でもやりたい. https://web.archive.org/web/20021003070833/http://www.dgcr.com:80/jam/backnumber/019/wag/wag.html. dead. 2002-10-03. Japanese. Dgcr.com (WebArchive).
75. Web site: Back Groove 2000 Vol.1. https://web.archive.org/web/20030213081652/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2000/0011.html. dead. 2003-02-13. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).
76. Web site: Back Number 2001 June. https://web.archive.org/web/20030213084320/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2001/008.html. dead. 2003-02-13. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).
77. Web site: Back Number 2001 September. https://web.archive.org/web/20030213083909/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2001/011.html. dead. 2003-02-13. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).
78. Web site: Back Number 2001 November. https://web.archive.org/web/20030220161744/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2001/013.html. dead. 2003-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).
79. Web site: Back Number 2002 April. https://web.archive.org/web/20030220163619/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2002/018.html. dead. 2003-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).
80. Web site: Back Number 2003 January. https://web.archive.org/web/20030220153923/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2002/026.html. dead. 2003-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).
81. Web site: Back Number 2003 February. https://web.archive.org/web/20030220153923/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2002/026.html. dead. 2003-02-20. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).
82. Web site: Back Number 2003 July. https://web.archive.org/web/20030727100020/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2003/031.html. dead. 2003-07-27. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).
83. Web site: Back Number 2003 September. https://web.archive.org/web/20031219073608/http://www.j-rock.com:80/J-GROOVE/BACK_GROOVE/2003/035.html. dead. 2003-12-19. Japanese. Official Website of J-Groove Magazine (WebArchive).