Motoharu Kawashima

Full biography Motoharu Kawashima

Motoharu Kawashima was a renowned Japanese composer, bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was born on February 25th, 1942 in Tokyo, Japan. Motoharu Kawashima is also widely known as Mott the Hoople, a name that he took from a novel by Willard Manus, "Mott the Hoople."

Kawashima began his music career in the 1960s with his band The Wild Ones, who were popular in the Tokyo music scene. He later became known for his work with the popular Japanese band April Fool, where Mott the Hoople truly emerged to the forefront of Japanese music history. He also played with several other bands in his career, including Masayoshi Takanaka's band, The Flying Kidney.

Motoharu Kawashima's music was a fusion of Western rock music with traditional Japanese elements, and his innovative approach to music helped to define the psychedelic and progressive rock movements of Japan in the 1970s.

Throughout his career, Kawashima released over 25 albums, including "Kirikyogen" and "Golden Circle," as well as many singles. He was also a prolific songwriter and penned hits such as "I Love You, Sayonara" and "Amy."

Kawashima was known for his unique sound and was a master of the fretless bass guitar. He continued to perform until his death on June 16th, 2012, at the age of 70. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. Motoharu Kawashima is revered as one of Japan's greatest composers and musicians.