Porno Graffitti

Porno Graffitti (also known as Porno) is a male rock band from Innoshima. The band’s name is from the album Pornograffitti by Extreme. They currently record under Sony’s SME Records label.

The band originated in a band called No score, formed by Haruichi Shindo (20th September 1974) with his cousin in high school. Haruichi later asked Akihito Okano (15th October 1974) and Masami Shiratama (Tama, 27th April 1974) to join. The name reflected the fact that none of the band members could read a musical score. At the beginning, Haruichi was the vocalist, but when they found out that Akihito was the better singer, Haruichi became the band’s guitarist. Tama played bass and provided background vocals.

Porno Graffitti released the song Apollo in 1999. Their single CDs Saudade and Agehach both sold over a million copies in Japan. The band is also well known for the song Melissa, which was used as the opening theme of the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist in 2003. They also wrote the song Hitori no Yoru, used as the opening theme of the anime series GTO, in 2000 and Winding Road, used as the ending theme of the anime series Ayakashi Ayashi in 2006. Tama left the band in June 2004 After left the band in June 2004 and released the solo album Great Pleasure in December 2005.

Trivia

Shindo acted with Toshihide Tonesaku in the movie Road 88: Deai-michi Shikoku e in 2003, playing a gangster by the name of Bessho.

Members

• Vocals/Guitar: Akihito Okano
• Background voclas/Guitar: Haruichi Shindo

Discography

• Apollo (1999)
• Hitori no Yoru (2000)
• Music Hour (2000)
• Saudade (2000)
• Saboten (2000)
• Agehach (20001)
• Voice (2001)
• Mugen (2002)
• Uzu (2003)
• Oto no Nai Mori (2003)
• Melissa (2003)
• Ai ga Yobu Hoe (2003)
• Lack (2003)
• Sister (2004)
• Tasogare Romance (2004)
• Neomelodramatic/ROLL (2005)
• Na Na Na Summer Girl (2005)
• Yo Bailo/DON' T CALL ME CRAZY (2005)
• Haneuma Rider (2006)
• Winding Road (2006)

Albums

• Romantist Egoist (2000)
• Foo? (2001)
• Kumo omo Tsukamu Tami (2002)
• Worldzilla (2003)
• THUMPx (2005)
• m-CABI (2006)
• Porno Graffitti Best Reds (2004)
• Porno Graffitti Best Blues (2004)

DVDs

• Tour 08452, Welcome to my heart (2000)
• Porno Graffitti Visual Works (2001)
• Bitter Sweet5 Music Biz: Live in Budokan 2002 (2003)
• 74ers: Live in Osaka-Jo Hall 2003 (2004)
• 5th Anniversary Special Live: Purple’s in Tokyo Taiikukan 2004 (2005)
• 7th Live Circuit Switch 2005 (2006)

Books

• Front cover of The History of Porno Graffitti from Innoshima
• The History of Porno Graffitti from Innoshima (2001)
• Real Days (2004)
• At My House (2006)
• Porno Graffitti Document Photo Book (2006)

External Links

• [www.pornograffitti.jp/ Official website], (Japanese)
• SME Records official website, (Japanese)
• Haruichi' s Blog, (Japanese)
• Porno Graffitti Fansite, (English)