This Japanese heavy metal band, formed in 1981, enjoyed a successful career in their homeland by cloning western rock music. The original line-up featured Naoto Shibata (bass), Eizo Sakamoto (vocals), Hiroya Fukuda (guitar) and Takamasa Ohuchi (drums). Influenced by the style and melodies of UFO, Thin Lizzy and Kiss they produced a series of solid albums in the first phase of their career, with 1987's Bound To Break a major success in the Far East. Yukio Morikawa replaced Sakamoto from 1988's Gypsy Ways onwards, with new guitarist Hideaki Nakama joining up for the 1990 release No Smoke Without Fire. Nakama was then replaced by Akio Shimizu but Anthem decided to call it a day after releasing Domestic Booty. Shibata subsequently worked with fellow Japanese metal band Loudness.
Shibata reconvened Anthem in the new millennium, recruiting latterday guitarist Shimizu, original drummer Ohuchi and well-travelled UK vocalist Graham Bonnet (b. 12 December 1947, Skegness, Lincolnshire, England) to help record 2000's Heavy Metal Anthem. Bonnet was then replaced by original vocalist Sakamoto and with new drummer Hiro Homma also on board, the band then completed a series of new studio albums.
DISCOGRAPHY: Anthem (King 1985)***, Tightrope (Nexus 1986)**, Bound To Break (Nexus/Restless 1987)***, The Show Carries On (Nexus 1987)**, Gypsy Ways (Nexus 1988)***, Hunting Time (Nexus 1989)***, No Smoke Without Fire (Nexus 1990)**, Domestic Booty (Nexus 1992)**, Last Anthem (Nexus 1992)**, Heavy Metal Anthem (Victor 2000)***, Seven Hills (Victor 2001)**, Overload (Victor 2002)**.
COMPILATIONS: Best 1981-1990 (Nexus 1990)***, Best II (Nexus 1992)***, Prologue Live Boxx (Victor 2005)***.

Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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