Welcome Back
Rumor has it that one of Okinawa’s own is returning home next year. She is a very well known singer (Marie Kyan) that started-out on the Okinawan rock scene in Medusa, which soon after became Marie with Medusa, of Kinville fame in the ’70’s and ’80s. It seems her mainland recording contract is coming to an end and she has plans to go into some sort of journalistic endeavor. The way I see it, she’s lucky. After all, what better time to return home then when an entire city block, on Gate 2 Street, is getting ready to be torn down to accommodate a major government sponsored facility? The new facility, Music Town, is scheduled to take two years to build. This should allow sufficient time to make necessary organizational and administrative assignments and preparations. Oh well, maybe it’s all just coincidence. Stay tuned and we’ll all find out together.
13 comments
Copy link for RSS feed for comments on this post
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Was at Camp Hansen and saw Medusa several times.
Still have a recording of them at Harbor light (Kinville) and some photos. What happen to the band. They were a strong group when I was station there in 1978-79
Comment by Steve — August 25, 2005 @ 10:15 am
Marie is just now getting back into the local music scene. Kochan plays drums for JET on Friday and Saturday nights at Live Music Bar JET on Gate 2 Street in Koza.
Comment by JAWjaw — August 25, 2005 @ 1:45 pm
Hello
I just posted a picture of Medusa from 1979 It would of been around july/Aug? I know that a 5th member had quit sometime before this picture
Could you name everyone for me? and any american nicknames
the website is https://home.comcast.net/~swilcox3/Military/Medusa.htm
Thanks again
Comment by Steve — September 12, 2005 @ 8:35 am
Just added a sound file to the page
Steve
Comment by Steve — September 12, 2005 @ 10:13 am
Thank you very much for the link to the Medusa page. Both my husband and I really enjoyed it very much. We were living in Washington D.C. when the picture was taken. The guitarist in the pic is Tabo. He is currently in the very popular local band Diamantes. The other person is Kyan, who was Marie’s husband/manager at that time.
Comment by JAWjaw — September 12, 2005 @ 11:20 am
Thanks for the update, for some reason I thought that Kyan or Kochan used a nic name of kenny, I guess I’m wrong but what do want after 26 years! I posted the names on the webpage. How did you like “white rabbit’ The orginal cassette tape has held up pretty well. Please let Kochan know about the website, He may like to remember how he played 26 years ago! 😆 one drummer to another.
Comment by Steve — September 12, 2005 @ 12:26 pm
You’re not losing it, Kenny was Kyan’s nickname!:wink:
Comment by JAWjaw — September 13, 2005 @ 11:24 am
Hi Again
I’ve added some more photos to the website and a second page.
Each page has a mp3 of the band live. I have 6 of 22 photos posted. I’ll more when I have time. The mp3 are the 1st and last songs of tape number 1 side a. Please let Kochan know about the website, He may enjoy a drum solo from 27 years ago. BTW what happen to Kyan, is he still playing?
Enjoy Steve 🙂
Comment by Steve — October 11, 2005 @ 9:54 am
Sorry it took so long to get back on this, I was hunting down a contact point for you. Marie doesn’t have a website. but communications can be sent to the following e-mail address:
marie.music.office@comet.ocn.ne.jp
Comment by JAWjaw — October 15, 2005 @ 1:25 pm
Hi Thanks for the email address
Kochan plays for Jet correct, did you let him know about the website, He may want to see the pictures or listen to the mp3’s
I put out there. Steve
Comment by Steve — October 15, 2005 @ 1:55 pm
Kochan has been informed. Although he’s not really computer savvy, he has a personal assistant to help him in that area and that’s who we told. Since the members of JET are independent, he plays at other venues (mainly local festivals) with other musicians, including Marie. Live Music Bar JET is his primary Friday and Saturday night gig.
The structure of local bands has changed since you lived on island. Most of the musicians are independent and play in more than one ensemble. Although the “musical musician” aspect is still present in newer bands, most of the more well-known older bands occasionally get together for special events and concerts. Nowadays the live music club system more closely resembles the stateside system where there is not a weekly (or nightly) house band. Live Music Bar JET (and a few other clubs) is an exception to that island-wide system. In our case it is mainly because Taki is the owner of the club as well as JET’s bassist, lead vocalist, and primary song writer.
Comment by JAWjaw — October 15, 2005 @ 5:08 pm
Am I right in saying that traditional bands don’t exist in Okinawa any more. No one is trying to form a group that makes it big? If everyone is independent then how do they get work?
Taki owns JET and can bring in the best musican that fits his style of writing. How does the new kid on block break into the scene. you said that old bands sometimes get together to play, are these bands from the late 70’s 80’s. Thought that Medusa was a strong band back then and wondered how they did. A Google search turned up some CD’s on Okinawa bands and thats how I found this blog. I never thought I’d make contact with someone still on the island. Well Marie has done well for herself along with Tabo. Kochan has found a nice club in JET making great music I’m sure. Makes me wish I could find a way to get back there on vacation. What ever happend to Kyan, does he still play? is he still maried to Marie?
Boy I got long winded. Thanks for chat.
Steve
Comment by Steve — October 16, 2005 @ 1:52 pm
If you look carefully at most of local rock CDs, they are compilations of previous music or old releases. The majority of local bands from the ’70s and ’80s broke-up. Those that do make occasional appearances use the name with new musicians filling the roles of former artists. (This isn’t that different from Van Halen or many other groups that have established names.) We don’t really socialize with Marie (or Kyan) and only see her on the rare occasion, so I can’t provide any info on that subject. Questions concerning her or Medusa should be directed to the e-mail address I provided.
Comment by JAWjaw — October 16, 2005 @ 2:46 pm