Anyone who has paid any attention at all to Japanese rock history knows The Flower Travellin' Band. Beginning with 1970's ‘Anywhere’, they became one of the biggest acts in Japan, as well as achieving no small degree of success overseas, particularly Canada, where the band lived for roughly two years. Today, over three decades later, their catalogue still has the power to shock, disorient, and above all astonish even the most jaded listeners.

Originally envisioned as a male-fronted Japanese rock cover act called The Flowers by entertainer and "entrepreneur" Yuya Uchida, the Flower Travellin' Band would eventually chart their own course, becoming an underground influence on later acts, and counting one Julian Cope as a disciple. As The Flowers, they released their debut, ‘Challenge’, in 1969. Consisting entirely of cover versions of Western pop/rock songs, the album got attention not necessarily from the music, but from the fact that the entire band was photographed in the nude on the cover; something considered scandalous at the time.

With Joe Yamanaka joining as lead singer their first album as the Flower Travellin' Band, ‘Anywhere’, was released in 1970. The album featured five covers, including Muddy Waters' "Louisiana Blues" and Black Sabbath's "Black Sabbath." Again, the band members appeared nude on the cover; this time on motorcycles. Their first wholly "original"-based full-length, ‘Satori’, released in 1971, remains their ultimate masterpiece, delivering a really captivating, personal psych-hard rockin' trip with discreet Eastern mystical influences. That same year, the band signed with American Atlantic Records and Canadian GRT records who released ‘Satori’ in the U.S and Canada. They performed with Light House, Blues Project, EL&P and Doctor John and many others. The single ‘Satori Pt 2’ charted at No.8 on the local Canadian charts. ‘Made in Japan’ was released in 1972, and the band's final album, a double live and studio set, ‘Make Up’, came out the following year.  In 1973, they were billed to open for the Rolling Stones, but all concerts were cancelled because of visa problems. After performing at Kyoto Maruyama Park Outdoor Music Stage, the band took a long break.

Joe Yamanaka has had a long and successful solo career in Japan (occasionally playing some of Flower Travellin' Band's songs at his concerts). He celebrated his 60th birthday in 2006 with a tour and the release of a live DVD, ‘Joe’s Bag’. Guitarist Hideki Ishima only released one solo album, but remained in the music business. He's known for his self designed instrument the SITARLA, which is a combination of an electric guitar and a sitar, an Indian string instrument.

In January 2008 the world received joyful news that Flower Travellin' Band had reunited, and in their words, "decided to make a fuss once again." The group hired one new member, keyboardist Nobuhiko Shinohara, and performed at the Fuji Rock Festival in July 2008. They have subsequently appeared at South by South West in Texas, Toronto’s World Rock Festival and undertaken a US tour which included shows in NYC (Knitting Factory), Philadelphia and Washington. They recently performed at the Rising Sun Rock Festival in Japan.  The group’s “reunion” album ‘We Are Here’ was released by Pony Canyon in Japan in September 2008. The critically acclaimed DVD ‘Resurrection’ followed in March 2009.

With recent attention stirred up by both their new album, "We Are Here” and effusive praise from Julian Cope in his book ‘Japrocksampler’ The Flower Travellin' Band is poised to re-introduce their music to the world.