Kyoji Yamamoto (山本 恭司 Yamamoto Kyōji, born March 23, 1956 in Matsue, Shimane, Japan) is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer who is the leader of the hard rock/metal bands Bow Wow (known as Vow Wow for a period of time) and Wild Flag. He is known for his skillful guitar playing, and was the first hard rock guitarist to use the tapping technique.
After entering Yamaha Music School, Kyoji formed Bow Wow in 1975 and they released their debut album a year later . The following year they opened for Aerosmith and Kiss. In 1984, with the addition of two new members, the group renamed themselves Vow Wow and moved to England in 1987 before disbanding in 1990. Kyoji reformed Bow Wow with all new members in 1995, however original members Mitsuhiro Saito and Toshihiro Niimi rejoined him in 1998 to become a trio.
Kyoji began a solo career in 1980, and has appeared as a special guest performer for numerous musicians. In 1986 he was asked by producer Wilfried F. Rimensberger to participate in the supergroup Phenomena, playing on their second album
Perhaps the stereotypical Chicago bluesman, this big bellowing fellow (and bassist, too) is one of the city's busiest performers. A mainstay of the ..Buddy Guy/Junior Wells.. bands of the '70s (he was scheduled to participate in a Wells tribute at the 1999 Chicago Blues Festival), you can currently catch him with his band, the Chi-Town Hustlers. Says the Chicago Reader, though he "has always sounded to me as if he'd rather be playing funk than blues, ... he's a solid craftsman whose tendency to overplay is tempered by a solid rhythmic sense and an energetic attack."
Toured with ..Bo Diddley, James Cotton, Jimmy Walker, Carey Bell, Lurrie Bell & Billy Branch, Margie Evans...
Recorded with ..Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Syl Johnson, Lurrie Bell & Billy Branch..
Founded the Chi-Town Hustlers in 1976
Also played with ..Jimmy Reed, Bobby Rush, Lonnie Brooks, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Big Mama Thorton
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