Michio Kurihara

The premier guitarist of the Japanese underground psychedelic movement, Michio Kurihara was born November 23, 1961, in Tokyo. Though raised on a diet of classical music, as a teen his interests turned to rock & roll, and he began playing guitar at age 14. Kurihara made his recorded debut in 1983 with ONNA, a group led by cartoonist Keizo Miyanishi, followed a year later by a tenure with Yb02. In mid-1986, he was invited to join the You Ishihara-led White Heaven, considered in some quarters the most significant band of Japan's psychedelic revival. Here Kurihara's guitar playing blossomed, its ferocious, feedback-rich lyricism often evoking Quicksilver Messenger Service's John Cippolina. He remained with White Heaven until 1991, going on to play with Henkyo Gakudan and others.



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