For information on the cushion, see pillow. The correct title of this article is the pillows. The initial letter is capitalized due to technical restrictions.
the pillows are a Japanese rock band, best known outside Japan for their music in the anime series FLCL.
the pillows formed in 1989 when Sawao Yamanaka struck up an unlikely friendship with one half of the legendary Japanese punk band Kenzi & the Trips. Bassist Kenji Ueda, short-lived replacement of the original Kenzi & The Trips bassist Jun Gray and original Kenzi & Trips drummer Shinichiro Sato teamed up with guitarist Yoshiaki Manabe of the hair metal band Persia and the young, charismatic frontman Sawao Yamanaka to work on what would become one of the catchiest asian pop rock bands to cross the Pacific.
The original Coinlocker Babies made their independent debut with the five-song demo tape Pantomime. The original lineup, then Sawao Yamanaka and two other unammed individuals on bass and drums, toured and performed for almost two years under this name and were featured on the extremely popular VOS (Video on Street) bi-monthly VHS compilation tape entitled "God Save The Punx", among others. The Coinlocker Babies were on the verge of indie success and the inevitable major label contract when the three piece split due to unknown reasons. The details behind what happened to the original lineup of The Coinlocker Babies isn't known but in 1989, Sawao Yamanaka was already hard at work on another project. During this year, Sawao unveiled the new Coinlocker Babies, a four piece consisting of Sawao Yamanaka (Rhyhtm Guitar/Vocals), Yoshiaki Manabe (Lead Guitar), Kenji Ueda (Bass), and Shinichiro Sato (Drums). This name didn't stick for very long, however. The story as to where the band's odd name came about is that allegedly Sawao Yamanaka was hanging out at Yoshiaki Manabe's place and an English post punk and mod rock band compilation record entitled Pillows & Prayers hanging on Manabe's wall inspired him. The name stuck and late into 1989, the pillows were signed to Captain Records and got to work on their first official release. During the first half of 1990, the foursome toured and worked on recording another copy of Pantomime, Sawao himself opting this time not to re-record his blatant Robert Smith homage I Don't Cry and instead choosing to replace it with the upbeat fan favorite Energy. This mildly successful EP was immediately followed by the appropriately named 90's My Life