Dragon Ash are a Japanese rock and hip-hop act formed in Tokyo in 1996 by vocalist and guitarist Kenji Furuya (who goes by KJ), drummer Makoto Sakurai and bassist Ikuzo Baba, who died of heart failure in 2012. The current line-up features KJ and Makoto along with DJ Tetsuya Salo (DJ BOTS), guitarist Hiroki Sugiyama and dancers Atsushi Takahashi and Masaki Chiba (Dri-V). They have released many albums, EPs, singles, vinyl records, DVDs and Blu-Rays and music videos since then. Top-selling albums include 'Mustang' (1997), 'Buzz Songs' (1998), 'Viva La Revolution' (1999), 'Lily of da Valley' (2001) and 'Harvest' (2003).
Hit singles include 'Let Yourself Go, Let Myself Go' (1999), 'Grateful Days' featuring Zeebra (1999), 'Hip Hop' (1999) and 'Life Goes On' (2002). They have collaborated with many other acts including hip-hop group Rappagariya on 'Deep Impact' (2000) and played 'Rocket Drive' on 'Tribute Impulse', the 2018 album honouring the late Hideto Matsumoto (known as Hide). Compilation releases include 'The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 1' (2007) and 'The Best of Dragon Ash with Changes Vol. 2' (2007). The album 'Majestic' came out in 2017 and their 2019 schedule was to include appearances across Japan.
