VOW WOW was the name taken onboard by the experienced and successful Tokyo Hard Rock act BOW WOW mid way into their career as they attempted to crack the Western market. As BOW WOW the band was created during 1975. The group first performed live in July 1976 by making a bold statement with an impromptu gig on a flatbed truck outside of film studios in Tokyo before debuting with the 'Bow Wow' album in December 1976 for the Invitation label. The band's inaugural line-up comprised vocalist / guitarist KYOJI YAMAMOTO, vocalist / guitarist Mitsuhiro Saito, bass player Kenji Sano and drummer Toshiri Niimi, the latter citing prior membership of Pop teen idol band DOT DOLLS. Yamamoto proved himself early on as an accomplished guitarist developing the hammer on technique long before Eddie Van Halen.

High scale exposure was afforded when BOW WOW opened for KISS on their 1977 Japanese tour, promoting the second album 'Signal Fire', and for AEROSMITH the year after. A June 1978 concert recording, 'Super Live', including BOW WOW's take on EDDY COCHRAN's 'Summertime Blues'. Third studio album 'Charge' arrived in December 1978 with the 'Guarantee' set delivered in December 1979. KYOJI YAMAMOTO issued his debut solo effort 'Horizons' in 1980, an industrious year for the man as BOW WOW issued three album within twelve months, 'Glorious Road' in February, 'Telephone' in September and 'X Bomber Suite' in November, the latter an animated movie soundtrack. 'Hard Dog' was issued in April 1981.

Spreading their wings internationally BOW WOW played the Reading festival in Britain and the world famous Montreux Jazz festival in 1982. To capitalise on this venture Roadrunner Records released the 'Asian Volcano' album across Europe. Their presence would be felt on the continent still further with the licensed releases of 'Warning From Stardust' in September 1982 on the Heavy Metal label and 'Holy Expedition' through Roadrunner in July 1983. Both of these records drew significant media praise, initiating the start of considerable fan support in the Western world. A further Yamamoto solo album 'Electric Circus' found the man's reputation growing into western countries as interest in Japanese Metal began to spread.

As BOW WOW morphed into VOW WOW, in order to avoid confusion with Malcolm McLaren's Pop act BOW WOW WOW, original vocalist Mitsuhiro Saito lost his position. The band was brought back up to strength by former NOIZ vocalist Genki Hitomi plus SENSE OF WONDER and MOONDANCER keyboard player Rei Atsumi for June 1984's 'Beat Of Metal Motion' album.

During their period as VOW WOW the band released 7 albums: 1984's 'Beat Of Metal Motion', June 1985's 'Cyclone' and January 1986's Tony Platt produced 'III', July 1986's 'Vow Wow Live' (titled 'Hard Rock Night' in Japan) and September 1987's 'Vow Wow V', recorded on the Spanish island of Ibiza with producer Kit Woolven. ASIA and URIAH HEEP bassist JOHN WETTON features on the 'Don't Leave Me Now' single. Album output continued apace with 1989's 'Helter Skelter', produced by Tony Taverner and hosting it's title namesake of THE BEATLES cover version and titled 'Vibe' in Japan with a different track listing, plus April 1990's 'Mountain Top'. This final outing under the VOW WOW banner was a co-production shared between Nick Griffiths, Brian Christian and Bob Ezrin.

The 1988 Heavy Metal Records 'Vow Wow' cash in compilation is actually made up of tracks recorded as BOW WOW. During this period the band actually relocated to London in 1986. In down time, various band members contributed to Tom Galley's 'Phenomena II' concept album. Bassist Kenji Sano departed to make way for the surprise inclusion of ex-WHITESNAKE and GARY MOORE bassist Neil Murray. Quite a sight live as the band's February and March 1987 British dates witnessed Murray standing a good foot prouder than his Japanese compatriots. UK headline dates took place in March 1989, the London Astoria gig on the 15th generating the video 'Live In The UK', prior to German concerts in May backing WARLOCK.

Murray quit in 1990 following the 'Helter Skelter' album, the bassman joining BLACK SABBATH. A further album 'Mountain Top', produced by Bob Ezrin and featuring American bassist Mark Gould, followed, after which VOW WOW folded. Yamamoto created WILD FLAG whilst Atsumi joined REVOLUTION OF RED WARRIORS.

Yamamoto then decided to concentrate on the Japanese market almost exclusively and reverted back to their previous name of BOW WOW for the August 1995 mini-album 'Bow Wow #0'. Two months later the full-length 'Bow Wow #1' arrived in Japanese stores. The group would see a much revised line-up, with Yamamoto being joined by vocalist Tetsuya Horie, second guitarist Hiroshi Yaegashi, bassist Shotaro Mitsuzono and drummer Eiji Mitsuzono. The band, back with Saito and with Toshihiro Niimi on drums, then put out 'Bow Wow #2 (Led By The Sun)' in July 1996.

BOW WOW, now back to a trio of Saito, Yamamoto and Niimi, reformed yet again during 1998 testing the waters with an April live mini-album 'Still On Fire' through Tears Music. The subsequent 'Back' album, released by East West, included three new songs.

BOW WOW's energies were renewed and releases ensued in quickfire fashion. 'Ancient Dreams', released in July 1999 on the Mars label, was recorded by singer Kyoji Yamamoto, guitarist Mitsuhiro Saito, bass player Daisuke Kitsuwa with Toshihiro Niimi on drums. For live work the band re-drafted Kenji Sano, this line-up captured on the live album 'Live Explosion 1999' issued that December.

BOW WOW lost Sano's services once again and often employed producer Daisuke Kitsuwa to handle studio bass duties. Successive releases in Japan included 'Beyond' in December 2000, 'Another Place' in July 2001, 'What's Going On?' in February 2002, the live 'Super Live 2004' in October 2005 and 'Era' in November 2005.