Prism

Prism is one of three artists: 1) プリズム - A Japanese jazz-rock fusion band that formed in 1975. 2) A rock band from Vancouver, BC, Canada, first formed in 1976. 3) An alias of Japanese techno artist Susumu Yokota. As Prism he made subtle and dreamy ambient techno. ----- Japanese band: Akira Wada (electric guitar), Ken Watanabe (bass guitar), Daisaku Kume (keyboards), Koki "Corky" Ito (strings ensemble), Katsutoshi Morizono (electric guitar) and Toru "Rika" Suzuki (drums). In 1976, the band toured Japan as Eric Clapton's opening act. Prism have released a total of 28 albums since 1977. The band was signed to Universal Music Group in 2003, which re-released the band's first four albums, and remained their record publisher. Canadian band: The original composition of the band was a collection of session musicians brought together by Bruce Allen, manager of Loverboy. Drummer Jim Vallance and Bruce Fairbairn had a jazz rock band named Sunshyne. They incorporated Lindsey Mitchell and Ron Tabak, and switched names to "Under Construction" (also briefly "Stanley Screamer"). Then, when John Hall was brought in as keyboardist, the band's name became Prism. (See their official website at http://www.prism.ca/.) After signing with GRT Records, they released their debut album with a lineup of Tabak, Mitchell, Lavin, Hall, Ab Bryant and Jim Vallance, who both produced, and played drums under the name of "Rodney Higgs." Vallance did not want to tour though, so left and was replaced by Rocket Norton. In 1977, they released their self-titled album PRISM, and it had a hit with "Spaceship Superstar". The band subsequently issued See Forever Eyes (1978), after which Bryant left, and Allen Harlow was brought in as a new guitarist. Armageddon (was released in 1979), featuring some compositional input from the then largely unknown Bryan Adams, and Young and Restless was released in 1980. After the greatest hits album All the Best From Prism, Prism signed on with Capitol Records and after a few more lineup changes (Mitchell and Harlow went their separate ways, Tabak was fired due to "lifestyle" issues), and vocalist Henry Small was brought in), they released Small Change (1981). The lead single "Don't Let Him Know" became their first top 40 hit in America and the follow-up "Turn on Your Radar" also charted, becoming their fifth and final American hit. In 1982, the band's touring line up was composed of Small, guitarist Paul Warren, bassist John Trivers, keyboardist Robyn Robbins, and Doug Maddick on drums. The band broke up in 1982 but Beat Street followed in 1983 featuring Henry Small, Bill Champlin, Richie Zito, Mike Baird (drummer from Journey), and backup vocalists Bobby Kimball (Toto) and Alan Pasqua. Plans for a Prism reunion with Tabak were cancelled when he died on 25 December 1984, one day after a brain hemorrhage he suffered from a cycling accident. In 1988 they reformed for another greatest hits album called Over 60 Minutes with...Prism, and five years later another new album, Jericho (1993), with Darcy Deutsch as vocalist, Harlow, Mitchell, Norton, and keyboardist Andy Lorimer. Deutsche. Studio musicians included Bryan Adams, Paul Janz, Mark LaFrance, with Rick Springfield doing some of the songwriting. The band has continued to tour, and is expected to release a new album Big Black Sky in 2008.