VERMILION SANDS is formed; the core members Yoko Royama(Vocal) and Masahiro Yamada(Keyboards) from a cover band of RENAISSANCE, ILLUSION, etc, and also with Masumi Sakaue(Guitars), Kenji Ota(Bass), Takafumi Yamazaki(Drums), and Hiroyuki Tanabe(Flute & Keyboards). While playing cover music of RENAISSANCE, SOLSTICE, SANDROSE, etc. in live festivals for amateur bands. Someone said "It's a band who covers the songs from expensive records". they composed their own originals and finally debuted by the end of the year at a livehouse SILVER ELEPHANT, a venue for progressive rock in Tokyo.

above, from left Tanabe, Ota, Yamazaki / below, from left Yamada, Royama, Sakaue.

They give live performances at several events such as Progressive Rock Festival by SILVER ELEPHANT and MADE IN JAPAN. The group starts afresh with new members Hisashi Matoba(Drums), Ryoji Ogasawara(Bass) after Tanabe, Yamazaki and Ota left. LP "WATER BLUE" is released.(21 Dec. 1987)

1.MY LAGAN LOVE
2.ASHES OF THE TIME
3.IN YOUR MIND
4.CORAL D - THE CLOUD SCULPTORS
5.KITAMOTO
6.LIVING IN THE SHINY DAYS
7.THE POET

From left Yamada, Ogasawara, Sakaue, Royama, Matoba.

  From 1988 to 89 they are active at several livehouses including SILVER ELEPHANT,in Tokyo.
Omnibus CD "SYMPHONIC ROCK COLLECTION" which includes "ASHES OF THE TIME" is released. (The CD album has a re-recorded version of "ASHES OF THE TIME".)
CD "WATER BLUE", which includes a re-recorded version of "ASHES OF THE TIME" is released. The members decided to record a new version, "ASHES OF THE TIME"
on the CD is a re-record of the original LP version, and therefore slightly different from the original.
Requested by a French label MUSEA, they start another recording for their concept album.

They suspend their live performances after giving a live concert in May.

A concept album "7 DAYS OF A LIFE" is released from MUSEA.

1.MONDAY(MAN) : KERRS PINK (Norway)
2.MARCH : HALLOWEEN (France)
3.WEDNESDAY : ROUSSEAU (Germany)
4.THURSDAY : NORTH STAR (U.S.A.)
5.THE LOVE IN THE CAGE : VERMILION SANDS (Japan)
6.DARK ANGEL SUITE : EZRA WINSTON (Italy)
7.THE CENTRAL SUN OF THE UNIVERSE : SAGRADO (Brazil)

This is an album by bands from seven countries, each of them telling a story about a life, with an analogy of seven days.

 Royama and Yamada resume live performances with new members: Hideki Kurosawa(Bass), Shin Yoshimune(Guitar), Genta Kudo(Drums, ex-DEJAVU). Later they are joined by Akihisa Tsuboi(Violin), and Yasuyuki Hirose(Bass, ex-PROVIDENCE) takes over the basist.

 Royama gives a birth to a baby and the group suspend their performances second time.

 CD "WATER BLUE", which includes "THE LOVE IN THE CAGE" and some vonus tracks is released from MUSEA.

23 Aug. 2004

I regrettably tell a very sad news...

Yoko Royama (Vocal) was dead on 23 Aug. 2004 because of illness.
I really thank you for your lots of encouragement till now for her.

She was a enthusiastic fan of Sandy Denny(Fairport Convention) and
Pete Bardens(Camel). They are already gone. And she lost her father
2 years ago. Now, she can play and talk with them in heaven.

Yoko, we will miss you forever. Our mind is always with your beautiful voice.
Rest in peace, Yoko.