Janis Tanaka

Janis Tanaka (born January 9, 1963) is an American musician who has worked as a session bassist and on tour with a number of well-known artists including Pink,[1] Fireball Ministry, Hammers of Misfortune, Stone Fox, and L7. She was also a member of Pagan Babies, a band formed by Courtney Love and Kat Bjelland in the 1980s.

Janis Tanaka
Tanaka performing in 2002
Tanaka performing in 2002
Background information
Born (1963-01-09) January 9, 1963
OriginSan Francisco, California, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Bass
  • vocals

Biography

Tanaka grew up in Long Beach, California, in a family with several sisters. She took courses at UCLA for one year followed by Long Beach City College.[2] Tanaka began playing guitar, violin, and piano in elementary school.[2]

Early bands Tanaka played with include The Jackson Saints and Pagan Babies.[3]

She left Hammers of Misfortune to play with Pink.[4] In 2001, Tanaka appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno supporting Pink.[4]

She has also played in the band Winterthrall. As of 2017, Tanaka was reportedly playing in The Big Meat Combo and in the all female version of Los Angeles-based Femme Fatale.[2][5]

Tanaka in 2004

Tanaka has appeared in several films as herself including L7: Pretend We're Dead, released in 2016 and directed by Sarah Price, and Fireball Ministry: Master of None, released in 2003. She has acted in the films: Live Freaky Die Freaky, Down and Out With Dolls and starred in the film The Year of My Japanese Cousin (1995).[6] She had a starring role in The Year of My Japanese Cousin and received a favorable review of her performance in the San Francisco Chronicle.[7]

References
  1. "Singer Songwriter Pink Performs with Bassist Janis Tanaka". Getty Image. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  2. Wolff, Sander Roscoe (September 30, 2015). "Banana Shenanigans: Q&A with Musician Janis Tanaka". Long Beach Post. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  3. Selvin, Joe (May 11, 1995). "Courtney and Dad -- No Love Lost / He downplays estrangement, she won't see him". SFGate. Retrieved October 7, 2019. Janis Tanaka, bassist with local rockers Stone Fox, belonged briefly to Sugar Baby Doll and never laid eyes on Harrison
  4. Mittur, Avinash (January 13, 2015). "An Oral History of Women in the Bay Area Metal Scene Part 2". Invisible Oranges. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  5. Krombholz, Izzy (November 2, 2017). "The Bassist That's Done It All, An Interview with Janis Tanaka". Women in Rock Magazine. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  6. Janis Tanaka at IMDb
  7. Guthmann, Edward (November 20, 1996). "FILM REVIEW -- Rockers Convincing in 'Japanese Cousin'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
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