Japanese rock legends Boris, Kiyoharu collide at “Heavy Rock Breakfast” Australia tour

Boris and Kiyoharu, both iconic figures in the Japanese rock scene, are joining forces for the “Heavy Rock Breakfast” Australia tour, taking place from March 6–11, 2024.

This dynamic collaboration isn’t just about music—it’s a bold move to redefine the rock experience, especially in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While delivering the passion of rock to the masses, the “Heavy Rock Breakfast” tour also aims to showcase Japanese rock music on a global scale.

Atsuo, frontman and drummer of Boris shared the following statement:

In the world’s eyes, Japan’s rock history remains largely uncharted territory. It’s understandable, amidst the continuous emergence of brilliant music worldwide, there might not be a compelling need to delve into the history of a small Asian nation.

However, Japanese music is now starting to exert its influence on the world to some extent. The opportunity to uncover the truth and the deeper layers of Japan’s rock history, deserving of proper recognition, is coming your way.

Boris resonates its sound on the foundation of global rock, and, of course, the inheritance of Japanese rock. In this tour, we aim to integrate the history of rock worldwide, alongside the charismatic figure of Japanese rock, Kiyoharu. This tour carries such significance.

From this ground, let’s grind, repaint, and update. Stay tuned.

Boris headlines shows in Sydney and Melbourne and triumphantly return to Adelaide and Perth for the first time since 2015. But that’s not all—Boris is set to blaze the stage at two festivals, the renowned Ohm Festival in Brisbane and the Golden Plains Festival in Melbourne.

On this tour, Boris’ original drummer, Atsuo, takes on the role of vocalist and frontman. He is joined by guitarist and bassist Takeshi, guitarist and keyboardist Wata, and support drummer Osamu.

Boris is joined by Jrock luminary Kiyoharu, making his first-ever live appearance in Australia. Kiyoharu is scheduled for every performance except the Golden Plains Festival on March 9, so please consider this when purchasing tickets.

For more ticketing information, please see the bottom of this post.

About Boris

With a 30-year career under their belt, Boris is composed of drummer and vocalist Atsuo, guitarist and bassist Takeshi, and guitarist-keyboardist Wata. The Japanese rock trio has since become a cult favorite, releasing 29 studio albums across a multitude of genres. Their ambitious catalog of work features everything from psychedelic rock, punk, and noise, to even electropop.

On February 2, Boris released their live recording compilation A bao a qu -boris performing fade- (ア バオ ア ク-boris performing fade-). It is available to purchase on Bandcamp worldwide.

About Kiyoharu

Kiyoharu, also known as Kiyoharu Mori, is a respected pioneer of Jrock. He played a prominent role as the frontman for two successful bands, Kuroyume and SADS, during the ’90s and 2000s. In addition to his contributions to these bands, Kiyoharu has also built a thriving solo career, where he is known for his charismatic stage presence.

On January 26, 2024, Kiyoharu premiered his latest music video, SAINT. SAINT appears on his upcoming album ETERNAL, which will be released on March 20, 2024.