the pillows (always written in lowercase) is a Japanese rock band, known in the West for having produced the soundtrack of the anime FLCL. The band the pillows was formed in late 1989 by Kenji Ueda (bass), with Sawao Yamanaka (vocals), Yoshiaki Manabe (guitar), and Shinichiro Sato (drums). His first album Pantomime was released shortly after (1990), announcing an indie trend that Moon Gold would successfully confirm the following year. The band takes its name from a poster that guitarist Yoshiaki Manabe had in his room, representing the cover of a compilation by Cherry Red Records Pillows and Prayers Compilation.
