The Roosters (ザ・ルースターズ, Za Rūsutāzu, also written as The Roosterz) are a Japanese rock band that mixed punk, blues-rock, ska, straightforward rock and roll, and later on, even gothic rock. Originally active from 1979 to 1988, they performed at the 2004 Fuji Rock Festival before restarting activities in 2009. Through the years, guitarist Hiroyuki Hanada remained the only constant member, with the band currently consisting of the original lineup. In 2003, HMV Japan ranked the Roosters at number 75 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. In September 2007, Rolling Stone Japan rated their album Good Dreams number 28 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".
They formed in 1979 in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, named after the blues standard "Little Red Rooster". Although there were four different lineups throughout the life of the band—all centered around guitarist Hiroyuki Hanada--Shinya Ohe was the band's first frontman. Ohe not only sang lead vocals, but also dominated the writing of lyrics and music for the group for the first three albums. In addition to Ohe's contributions, the first two albums were made up of several cover songs. Their third album Insane was a step in a new direction, it was not only the first original Roosters album, but it also featured the first Roosters song not written and composed by Ohe: "Baby Sitter", written and composed by bassist Tomio Inoue. This was the first sign of a more democratic Roosters, and it paved the way for Hanada to compose songs for their fourth album Dis.
The Roosters may refer to
the movement of the air
is the only thing i can breathe
it’s my only possession
it’s my only disease
if a sea of self resentment
is the only thing you can see
will you be able to forgive yourself
what a pale existence
reminds me sometimes of me
i could see the resemblance
i could see the difference
i’ve been a boy for to long
but i’m awake the boy here,
how long ‘till he’ll break
intend to miss you
intend to miss you bad
but tend to keep my habitat sealed
burn my loved ones it seems i’m
so indifferent to the meaning of
existence and feelings
bound to a toll on my heart is
pushed away alone here