It All Started at Ron Wood's Birthday Party!

Gota Yashioka debuted in 1981 as a member of the legendary dub band RUDE FLOWER. Emerging from 'RISE BAR' in Sendagaya, the band later evolved into MUTE BEAT and led Japan's dub scene from 'Pithecanthropus Erectus' in Harajuku, considered the first club in Japan. In parallel, he joined MELON/WATER MELON GROUP, led by Toshio Nakanishi. He supported the dawn of Japanese hip-hop and co-founded MAJOR FORCE, Japan's first hip-hop label, with Kan Takagi, Hiroshi Fujiwara, and Masayuki Kudo.

He then moved to the UK alone. In 1987, he produced the programming for Soul II Soul, creating groundbeat, and two years later, officially joined Simply Red as their drummer. In recent years, he has produced and remixed for many artists, while also pursuing borderless activities as a solo artist.

To celebrate Gota Yashioka's 50th birthday, a grand jam session will be held. At the venue, 'Shibuya AX,' members of bands Yashioka previously belonged to, such as RUDE FLOWER, MUTE BEAT, and MELON/WATER MELON GROUP, along with fellow musicians like Tokyo Bravo, Rei Ohara, and FIASCO 3, will gather. With Seikou Itoh, a pioneer of the early Japanese hip-hop scene, serving as the MC, the event promises to be a one-night-only "Tokyo Subculture Reunion."

The event was sparked by an encounter at the 50th birthday party of Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood. Witnessing top musicians like Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck engage in a jam session inspired him to do the same when he turned 50.

A night where musicians who supported Tokyo's subculture scene from the 1980s to the 90s will gather. Let's reminisce about those times and have a fantastic time.