. The Band .

Tomiko Van
Vocal and Words
Date Of Birth: 1979.1.9
Birthplace: Kumamoto Prefecture
Size: T)163cm
Favorite Artists:Sheryl Crow, Tina Turner, Soul II Soul, TLC


Owatari Ryo
E.Guitar, A.Guitar and Chorus
Date Of Birth: 1971.4.4
Birthplace: Kanagawa Prefecture
Size: T)180cm W)64kg
Favorite Artists: Jimi Hendrix, RADIO HEAD



Dai Nagao
Composer, E.Guitar, A.Guitar and Programming
Date Of Birth: 1971.3.28
Birthplace: Chiba Prefecture
Size: T)182cm W)70kg
Favorite Artists: Led Zeppelin, AEROSMITH, Natalie Imbruglia


History:


Before there was Do As Infinity, there was only Nagao Dai. In his early days as a musician, Dai was a composer for an amateur band. One thing leads to another, and that band disbanded. Keeping his dream alive, Dai kept on composing songs and he sent them to more than 50 record companies in Japan.


Everything changed when Dai found AVEX, who hired him as a composer. He was immediately given a task to compose songs for Ayumi Hamasaki and Hitomi. But he never forgot his one dream: to have his own band.


AVEX gave him a chance to make his dream come true. Auditions were held, and he chose Van Tomiko as lead singer, and Ryo Owatari as guitarist. On September 29th, 1999, the trio released their first single Tangerine Dream, and held a live concert at the Shibuya.


After a few years, several singles and albums, along with video collections and recorded live concerts, Do As Infinity is still going strong. Although Nagao Dai isn’t as active as he was in the beginning (he doesn’t participate in promotional events anymore, such as video clips or photo shoots) he is still the main composer and the brain behind the band. He does, though, appear in concerts from time to time.



Interesting facts:


1. Before Tangerine Dream was released, DAI and their fellow workers were giving out copies of their recordings for free to passerbys (Dai was very good at giving recordings to girls waiting at the traffic lights!)


2. That tactic didn't really work and they decided to perform on the streets..at first no one bothered to stop!...but thankfully more came


3. Tomiko sang "Heart" as a band member 42 hours after the AVEX people read her application


4. Heart was actually written before Tangerine Dream, but was recorded together in July due to the complicated drum samples


5. At their 100th concert, held at Shibuya AX for free, the members of DAI recognized that the fans were the same bunch that bothered to listen to them (in section 2.)


6. Tomiko didn't know where the hell Shibuya AXwas and was reading the map 3 days before the performance!


7. Desire was actually named M-42, which was used in their street peformances.


8. The cover of "We Are" was actualy taken in Taiwan...and it was on that trip that the inspriation for Shinjitsu no Uta came


9. Shinjitsu no Uta actually became famous in china in July 2002, way before Japan!


10. The official DAI website was set up in july1999 and the average number of visits per day was 7! (one day, it suddenly reached 30 and everyone rejoiced, only to find that it was because of DAI and their fellow workers logging on!)


11. The Great Tour Band Versions were NEVER used in live performances...they were recorded in a studio to remember the Deep Forest Tour, and were recorded in 2 days only!


12. A couple actually met while listening to DAI's street performances, and on their recent wedding, Dai-san personally sent them a letter saying:" Don't name your son Dai! cos you won't want him to be like me!haha!"


13. Ryo turned up for the auditions in a red tracksuit with a Fender Jaguar and his effects pedals. He was asked to perform a small segment, but he didn't care and played 3 songs before going off (now is that cool or what?)