ザ・ドリフターズ

The Drifters (ザ・ドリフターズ, Za Dorifutāzu) are a Japanese rock and roll band and comedy group. The band formed as "Sons of Drifters" around 1956 from two bands "Mountain Boys" and "Tokyo Western Boys".However, members in the group changed back and forth occasionally. Chosuke Ikariya became the group's leader in 1964. Although the band became famous as a comedy group under Ikariya, they took part in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen as a musical band for the first time in 2001. Ikariya died of lymph node cancer in 2004 at the age of 72. The group is also known for its 40-second performance as an opening act for The Beatles' first ever concert in Japan.