OOIOO Guitarist Kyoko Passes Away

Now 20 years into their existence, Japanese experimental rock band OOIOO have lost one of their founding members. Kyoko, who assisted Boredoms drummer Yoshimi P-We in starting the band, has passed away.

P-We confirmed the news on Instagram, posting an early OOIOO band photo and sharing the following statement:

This is Yoshimio.

I regret to inform you that my friend, Kyoko has passed away morning on July 19th.

Kyoko came from same hometown as I am . We started OOIOO together. She was the first guitar player of OOIOO. She left the band to concentrate to cure her illness but she came to help selling merchandise sometimes to our shows. She started the band with Itoken who was also her longtime partner.

Kyoko was 183cm tall. She was on her own pace , optimistic and natural blur. I loved her very much. I do not like to believe she is no longer with us anymore. I love to see her again.

Though Kyoko had not appeared on the band's recordings since 2000's Gold and Green, OOIOO have remained active. Most recently, they released Gamel in 2014.
 

 

This is Yoshimio. I regret to inform you that my friend, Kyoko has passed away morning on July 19th. Kyoko came from same hometown as I am . We started OOIOO together. She was the first guitar player of OOIOO. She left the band to concentrate to cure her illness but she came to help selling merchandise sometimes to our shows. She started the band with Itoken who was also her longtime partner. Kyoko was 183cm tall. She was on her own pace , optimistic and natural blur. I loved her very much. I do not like to believe she is no longer with us anymore. I love to see her again. わたしとhometownが同じで一緒によく旅行行ったり遊んでた身長183センチの恭子 ちゃん。OOIOOも一緒に始めて初代ギタリストだった。病気になって治療とOOIOOの両 方は無理だったので身体第一にOOIOOはやめました。あ、やめてからはOOIOOの物販の 売り子でよくライブきてくれたな。で、身体も調子よかったりで、いとけん(恭子 ちゃんのパートナー)と面白い音楽始めたりもしてた。マイペースで前向きでかなり な天然ボケで、大好きな人間だったが、7/19の朝、病院で旅立ちました。信じられな いけど、また会いたい。 #ooioo #harpykyoko

A photo posted by YOSHIMIO (@emeraldragonfly) on Jul 20, 2015 at 3:26am PDT