BLINDMAN debuted in 1998 with the album 'Sensitive Pictures'. The band line up at this juncture comprised vocalist Manabu Takaya, guitarist Tatsuya Nakamura, bassist Tatsuya Toda, keyboard man Hitoshi Endo with Louis Sesto on the drums. For the recording of the 1999 live album Kennosuke Inoue had taken over on keyboards. A further change saw drummer Katsutoshi 'Cozy' Murakami enrolled for the 2000 EP 'In The Dark'.

During 2004 Murakami assembled the COZY MURAKAMI PROJECT album 'Soul Bound', a belated tribute to the late COZY POWELL. The record saw a whole host of name Japanese musicians from acts such as CONCERTO MOON, ANTHEM, DEAD END, MARINO, ONMYO-ZA, SIXRIDE, REDRISE, BULLETS TOUGH and BLINDMAN. 'Soul Bound' comprised tracks by bands Powell had made his mark on such as BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE, EMERSON, LAKE AND POWELL and the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP.