Rats & Star, also known as Chanels, is a Japanese male pop group specializing in doo-wop-influenced music. Formed in 1975 by Masayuki Suzuki, Masashi Tashiro, and Nobuyoshi Kuwano, the band debuted in 1980 with their first single "Runaway", which sold over a million copies and became a significant hit. The group's name was later changed to Rats & Star due to complaints from the French fashion giant Chanel. Their debut album Hey!ブラザー was released on December 10, 1981, followed by Soul Vacation in 1982. In 1983, their single "Me-Gumi no Hito" reached Number 1 on the Oricon Singles Chart. The band's activity essentially stopped when Masayuki Suzuki launched a solo career. Notable achievements include Andy Warhol creating the album cover for Soul Vacation, and unique screen prints of this cover selling for upwards of $25,000 each. In 1996, the band reunited briefly and released the single "Yume de Aetara", which encouraged them to go on a final nationwide tour. The group's name is a palindrome, reading the same both backwards and forwards, symbolizing their journey from humble beginnings to stardom.
![NIAGARA FALL STARS '81 Remix Special [2015 Remastered]](https://cdn-images.dzcdn.net/images/cover/7dfb1e062885259755a5e43afc151816/120x120-000000-80-0-0.jpg)