Shigeru Suzuki's historic masterpiece BAND WAGON is set to be reissued with a newly remastered version, personally supervised by Suzuki himself. The 2025 edition will be available as a colored vinyl LP and cassette tape, set to be released on March 25, 2025—exactly 50 years after its original release!
Fifty years after its debut, BAND WAGON remains timeless and is considered a bible for guitarists. Created in the fall of 1974 during Suzuki’s solo trip to the U.S., this monumental first solo album features his sharp guitar playing on his beloved Stratocaster. It ignited the passion of members from bands like Little Feat, Sly & The Family Stone, Santana, and Tower of Power, resulting in a powerful, funky groove with an overwhelming band sound. Combined with Takashi Matsumoto's poetic lyrics, it created a unique world that changed the standard of Japanese rock forever. BAND WAGON, the legendary masterpiece that established Shigeru Suzuki as one of Japan's most prominent guitarists, continues to resonate today!
Original release: March 25, 1975 (recorded on the U.S. West Coast)