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were a Japanese pop and rock band, who were one of the top bands performing in the Group Sounds scene in the late 1960s. ==Career== The band formed in November 1966 in Yokohama, and initially comprised locally born singer Tokimune "Dave" Hirao (November 17, 1944–November 10, 2008), guitarist Eddie Ban (born June 22, 1947), Hawaiian-born guitarist Kenneth Ito (January 1, 1946–March 2, 1997), bassist Masayoshi "Louis" Kabe (born November 5, 1948), and drummer Mamoru Manu (born June 3, 1949). Hirao had previously sung in local band The Sphinx, and had recently traveled to the US, as had Ban who returned to Japan with one of the first fuzzboxes in the country. The new band initially called themselves Group & I, and were influenced by the rock and roll music broadcast on the Far East Network from the local US Army base at Honmoku, and more generally by contacts made with Americans and others in the port city of Yokohama.〔(Julian Cope, ''The Golden Cups'', at Japrocksampler.com ). Retrieved 10 February 2013〕〔( Nippop.com, The Golden Cups ). Retrieved 10 February 2013〕 They began playing sets consisting of covers of American pop and rock hits such as "Hey Joe", "Got My Mojo Workin'" and "I Feel Good". They became the house band at the Golden Cup discotheque close to the US Army base, and the club's owner persuaded them to change their name to the Golden Cups. The band also soon won a regular place on the NHK-TV morning show, ''Young 720'', and a recording deal with the Capital label owned by Toshiba. In June 1967, they released their first single, "Itoshi No Jizabel" / "Hiwa Mata Noboru". The record label compelled the group to record bland pop songs written by staff songwriters for most of their A-sides, only allowing them free rein on the records' B-sides and some album tracks. The same approach was imposed on their performances, with the band obliged to play pop ballads at their major concerts, while playing eccentric garage band covers and hard rock when appearing in small clubs. They released their first album, ''The Golden Cups Album'', in March 1968, and had their biggest pop hit, "Nagai Kami No Shoujo" ("Girl With Long Hair") soon afterwards.〔〔 Kenneth Ito traveled to Hawaii in mid-1968, and was not allowed a visa to return to Japan. He was replaced by keyboard player Mickey Yoshino, in time to record the band's second album ''The Golden Cups Album Vol. 2''. This again featured covers of American pop hits like "Woman, Woman" alongside more adventurous numbers, producing what Julian Cope has called "a schizophrenic stalemate". Their next album was a live recording, ''Blues Message'', on which the band performed versions of most of the tracks on the Paul Butterfield Blues Band's album ''East-West''.〔〔 In 1969, Eddie Ban left the group to form his own band, and Louis Kabe took over on guitar. Later albums included ''Super Live Session'', heavily influenced by the album ''Super Session'' by Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield; ''Recital'', which featured orchestral versions of some of the group's hits; and ''Live Album with the Golden Cups'', described by Julian Cope as "abominable". During this period the band underwent many personnel changes, with only Hirao and Kabe remaining constant. On New Years Eve 1971/72, the band were playing in a club in Okinawa when the building caught fire and burned to the ground, taking all of the band's equipment and possessions with it. Although the group members were unharmed, they split up immediately afterwards.〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Golden Cups」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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