Yuji Adachi

You
Promotional photograph of You, circa 2020
Background information
Birth nameYuji Adachi (足立祐二)
Also known asYou
Born(1964-03-10)March 10, 1964
Osaka, Japan
DiedJune 16, 2020(2020-06-16) (aged 56)
GenresHeavy metal, hard rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, music instructor
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1981–2020
Formerly ofDead End, Terra Rosa

Yuji Adachi (Japanese: 足立祐二, Hepburn: Adachi Yūji, March 10, 1964 – June 16, 2020), also known as You, was a Japanese musician, best known as guitarist of the influential heavy metal band Dead End. Before joining Dead End in 1986, he was in the band Terra Rosa, and also ran a guitar school.

Career

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You was largely influenced by UFO guitarist Michael Schenker. At 16, he joined his first band Steeler, performing covers of UFO, Rainbow, and Deep Purple. In 1982, You was a member of Terra Rosa and a year later of Jesus, before joining Dead End in 1986. That same year the band released their debut studio album, Dead Line, on the independent record label Night Gallery. You became the main composer of their songs. They released three more major studio albums until 1990, when Dead End disbanded.

You formed the short-lived band Goatcore with Color bassist Marry. He later also worked with Ryuichi Kawamura (from Luna Sea), Nami Tamaki and Cozy Murakami among others and released two solo albums. In 2009, Dead End reunited and released two studio albums.[1][2]

In 2016, You reunited with his Terra Rosa bandmates Kazue Akao and Masashi "Jill" Okagaki to perform a limited-time tour, supported by Animetal bassist Masaki and former Galneryus drummer Jun-ichi Satoh.[3] They only performed older songs at the three shows, with the exception of one new composition by You. A live album from the tour, Terra Rosa Live from Coda, was released in 2017.[3] You released his fourth solo album Andromedia on March 13, 2019. The instrumental album features The Yellow Monkey member Eiji "Annie" Kikuchi on drums and Atsushi Hasegawa of Ded Chaplin on bass.[4] That same day, a remastered version of Jesus' demo tape Le Dernier Slow was released. In addition to bonus live tracks, it also includes a new recording of "Sahara", which You had written just as he left the band decades earlier at age 19.[4] Youcoustic, the guitarist's first acoustic album, was released on March 18, 2020.[5]

You performed live with Hasegawa and drummer Tetsuya Hoshiyama on June 14, 2020, for an audience-less concert that was streamed online.[6] On June 19, 2020, Dead End announced that You had died from sepsis on June 16, aged 56.[7][8] On August 9, Tokyo FM aired a special memorial program to You hosted by Ryuichi Kawamura and featuring guests such as his Dead End bandmates, Eiji Kikuchi and music critics.[9] Sugizo, who cites You as one of his guitar influences, included a cover of Dead End's "So Sweet So Lonely" on his December 2020 album Love & Tranquility as a tribute to You.[10] Morrie held a concert in You's memory on the first anniversary of his death, where the singer reminisced and talked about his former bandmate in addition to performing. He covered You's solo song "Immoral", after writing lyrics to go with the instrumental.[11] A memorial concert for You was held at Spotify O-East on June 16, 2022. In addition to a Dead End session featuring Morrie and Sugizo, a group featuring members of Terra Rosa performed in addition to several others.[12]

Discography

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See also: Dead End discography

Albums

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  • Psychical Island (September 21, 1990)
  • You's Alien (August 24, 2005)
  • Maniac Love Station (April 3, 2013) Oricon Albums Chart: 192[13]
  • Andromedia (March 13, 2019) 93[13]
  • Youcoustic (March 18, 2020) 150[13]

Guitars

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You had about 50 guitars at home,[14] and more than 100 guitar effects.[15] He had a signature model with Fernandes Guitars, the NTG-YOU "Marin-chan." (まりんちゃん。).[16] He also had the ST "YOU" MODEL Type-III with the brand Freedom.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "伝説のロックバンド・DEAD END、20年ぶりに復活" (in Japanese). Oricon. July 3, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  2. ^ "New Dead End Album: METAMORPHOSIS". J-Pop World. October 21, 2009. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Tsuchiya, Kyosuke (July 25, 2022). "【ライブレポート】足立"YOU"祐二＜三回忌追悼コンサート＞、MORRIEやSUGIZO、TERRA ROSA等が出演「思う存分、楽しんでもらえたら」". Barks (in Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "【インタビュー】YOU（足立祐二）「久しぶりにヤル気モード、DEAD ENDもやりますよ」". Barks (in Japanese). March 1, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  5. ^ "【インタビュー】YOU（足立祐二）、「エレキとアコギの融合」という新境地". Barks (in Japanese). March 17, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "Yuji "YOU" Adachi Passes Away". JaME. June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  7. ^ "Obituary". Dead End Official Website. June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "DEAD ENDギタリスト足立"YOU"祐二が敗血症のため死去". Natalie (in Japanese). June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "DEAD ENDのギタリスト、足立祐二を偲ぶ特別番組TOKYO FMにてオンエア。ナビゲーターは河村隆一が担当". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). August 6, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "SUGIZO、亡くなった恩師「DEAD END」足立祐二さんに捧げる魂のギター「大切なメッセージを込めた」". Encount (in Japanese). December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "【ライヴレポート】MORRIE、＜幻葬回帰の夜 〜足立祐二を偲んで〜＞に時空を超えたコラボ". Barks (in Japanese). July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "DEAD ENDのギタリスト 足立"YOU"祐二の追悼コンサートが6/16開催決定。MORRIE、SUGIZOなど参加". Geki-Rock (in Japanese). March 25, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "足立祐二のアルバム売り上げランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  14. ^ "YOU: I think I have something like 50 guitars at home. I love all the signature models I made." (Dead End Facebook)
  15. ^ "Yuji Adachi (You) | Equipboard".
  16. ^ "いよいよ足立"YOU"祐二(DEAD END)のシグネチャーモデルが初登場！". Fernandes Guitars (in Japanese). Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "足立"YOU"祐二（デッドエンド）モデル". Ikebe Gakki (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 23, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
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