Post by neoblisseyx on Oct 21, 2009 13:29:10 GMT -5
Former "Iron Chef" judge Kazuhiko Kato was found hanged in a hotel room in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, on October 17th, 2009.
Article from the Kyoto News:
Musician Kazuhiko Kato found hanged at Karuizawa hotel
NAGANO, Oct. 17 KYODO
Musician Kazuhiko Kato, founder of the Sadistic Mika Band which was internationally successful in the 1970s, was found hanged at a hotel in the resort town of Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture on Saturday, police said.
The local police believe Kato, 62, who had stayed at the hotel, committed suicide. Kato was found by police officers and hotel employees after the hotel was unable to contact him and called the police in the morning.
An apparent suicide note was left in his room, according to the police.
Kato, known as a creator of innovative sound, started his recording career as a member of the Folk Crusaders in the 1960s. The band's debut single, ''Kaettekita Yopparai,'' with its English title ''I Only Live Twice,'' named after James Bond movie ''You Only Live Twice,'' was a big hit.
After the breakup of the Folk Crusaders, Kato formed the Sadistic Mika Band with his first wife Mika Fukui and other members, and was internationally successful in the 1970s.
The Sadistic Mika Band opened for Roxy Music on tour in Britain in 1975, becoming the first Japanese band to tour Britain. The Sadistic Mika Band has disbanded and reassembled several times.
Kato also performed as a solo musician, and served as composer and producer for other musicians.
He was nicknamed ''Tonovan'' as he was known as a friend of Donovan Leitch, a Scottish singer-songwriter and a British folk icon in the 1960s.
Article from the Kyoto News:
Musician Kazuhiko Kato found hanged at Karuizawa hotel
NAGANO, Oct. 17 KYODO
Musician Kazuhiko Kato, founder of the Sadistic Mika Band which was internationally successful in the 1970s, was found hanged at a hotel in the resort town of Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture on Saturday, police said.
The local police believe Kato, 62, who had stayed at the hotel, committed suicide. Kato was found by police officers and hotel employees after the hotel was unable to contact him and called the police in the morning.
An apparent suicide note was left in his room, according to the police.
Kato, known as a creator of innovative sound, started his recording career as a member of the Folk Crusaders in the 1960s. The band's debut single, ''Kaettekita Yopparai,'' with its English title ''I Only Live Twice,'' named after James Bond movie ''You Only Live Twice,'' was a big hit.
After the breakup of the Folk Crusaders, Kato formed the Sadistic Mika Band with his first wife Mika Fukui and other members, and was internationally successful in the 1970s.
The Sadistic Mika Band opened for Roxy Music on tour in Britain in 1975, becoming the first Japanese band to tour Britain. The Sadistic Mika Band has disbanded and reassembled several times.
Kato also performed as a solo musician, and served as composer and producer for other musicians.
He was nicknamed ''Tonovan'' as he was known as a friend of Donovan Leitch, a Scottish singer-songwriter and a British folk icon in the 1960s.