Tojo Yamamoto cover “Heroes

Coming out of Lexington in Kentucky, Tojo Yamamoto is a band brimming with a rich heritage of noise rock veterans from the 90s. The members bring their varied backgrounds from iconic bands such as The Mighty Skullhead, ZZ Top, Nine Pound Hammer, Supafuzz, Ted Bundy’s Volkswagon and Abusement Park, creating a fusion of modern, brash rock with an unexpected hint of danceability.

Part of the Forbidden Place Records family, this band draws on their eventful past while forging a bold, new sound. The group features four core members, each a seasoned artist in their own right. Guitarist Elwood Francis doubles as the current bass player for the legendary ZZ Top. Drummer Darren Howard, with his roots in Nine Pound Hammer, The Mighty Skullhead,and Idiot Box, brings a powerful dose of rhythm.

Will Pieratt, a noted chef and bassist for Abusement Park, Pincushion and The Mighty Skullhead, provides the foundational grooves while cocalist Larry Joe Treadway, a filmmaker and former singer for the 90s sludge punks Ted Bundy’s Volkswagon, lends his distinctive voice to the ensemble. Together, they form a formidable unit that has already made significant waves in the rock scene.

Tojo Yamamoto debuted last year with their EP, 山本東条 (Tojo Yamamoto) Ltd Ed., which was released to critical acclaim and quickly sold out its limited-edition vinyl release. Their sound is a conceptual homage to the 70s and 80s professional wrestling scene in the South, infused with a punk-meets-new-wave style that channels the aesthetic of Killing Joke and Gang of Four, with an edge of Antiseen and Killdozer’s raw intensity.

Now they follow the success of their debut release with a new cover of the 1977 David Bowie and Brian Eno classic song “Heroes.” This release offers an irresistible glipmse into the material expected this summer from the quartet, now a quintet with the addition of Elwood’s teenage daughter Billi Francis on backing vocals.

The band recorded the track at Lexington’s Sneak Attack Recording Co, ensuring stellar production quality and arrangement. Their rendition of “Heroes” stays true to the original’s spirit while infusing it with their unique driving rock energy. With their version, fuzzed out guitars, pounding drums and commanding vocals breathe new life into this beloved classic, completely reimagining it in a new light. Retaining all the charm of the familiar lyrics and intricate guitar melodies, Tojo Yamamoto’s cover of “Heroes” showcases their knack for re-imagining music and reframing it through their own sonic lens.

Commenting on the single, singer Larry Joe Treadway shares, “This song has been covered by over the years by an eclectic bunch of people from Motorhead to David Hasselhoff. I think it’s important to remember that title of the song was always in quotes, Bowie was telling us that there was sarcasm in the chorus and title.”

Adding, “We felt because of the pandemic and other things, the song had been highjacked. It was turned into some sort of triumphant ballad about the heroic endeavours of healthcare and frontline workers – not that they weren’t deserving of praise – but the chorus became background music in pharmaceutical ads – I think I even saw some version of it used to praise the cops – it seemed like a moment to snatch it back for the rest of us.”

Listen to Heroes below

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