Zelda

Zelda (ゼルダ), stylized as ZELDA, was a Japanese rock band active in the 1980s and 1990s. They played a pioneering role as one of Japan's first all-girl bands. Led by Sachiho Kojima (小嶋さちほ), the band covered an impressive range of musical genres, from new wave, punk, pop, post-punk, and later, reggae. Zelda played a seminal role for later bands with their forays into roots music and experimental sounds.

 

In 1980 Sayoko Takahashi (高橋佐代子) joins as vocalist at age 15, and the next year the band have their major debut on 25 August with the simultaneous release of their first album 'ZELDA' and the single 'Mirage Lover' through Nippon Phonogram (later Mercury Music Entertainment, now absorbed by Universal Music KK). The band lineup at the time is: Kojima, Takahashi, Yōko Suzuki (鈴木洋子, guitar) and Kuniko Nozawa (野沢久仁子, drums). In 1983 Fukie Ishihara (石原富紀江) takes over as guitarist, and Ako Ozawa (小沢亜子) becomes the band's drummer. Next year Kojima and Takahashi form side project Maneki-neko Kagekidan (招き猫カゲキ団), releasing the album 'Dai-ichi Kakyoku-shū' ('第一歌曲集') in September. 

 

In 1985 Zelda moves to CBS Sony (Sony Music Entertainment) and the next year appears in the movie "The New Dawn of Billy the Kid" ("ビリー・ザ・キッドの新しい夜明け"). In 1990 Ishihara leaves the band and Zelda takes a one-year break, during which time they move to the cutting edge label (avex). In 1991 Naomi Motomura (本村直美) joins as guitarista and in 1996 Zelda disbands. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]