Tora Tora is a hard rock band formed in Memphis, TN in 1985. "Tora" means "tiger" in Japanese (not "bird", which is "tori" in Japanese). The name is a play on the code name for attack used by the Japanese Imperial Navy during their attack on Pearl Harbor, "Tora, Tora, Tora". The actual origin of the bandname was more likely a reference to the song of the same name recorded by Van Halen on their 1980 release Women and Children First.
Tora Tora started out as a local garage band then eventually got studio time when they won a local Battle of the Bands contest. Following this, the band recorded To Rock To Roll as an independent EP. After its release the songs "Phantom Rider" and "Love's A Bitch" received extensive airplay on local radio station Rock 98. After signing with A&M Records, they recorded their debut album Surprise! Attack in 1989. This album peaked on Billboard's Top 200 at #47. The single "Dancing With A Gypsy" was on the soundtrack for the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure later that year.
In 1992, their second album, Wild America, was released. It only achieved #134 on the Billboard charts and it did not sell as well, but, it was a more mature step at songwriting.
A third album, Revolution Day, was recorded in 1994, but it was never released due to label restructuring. After missing the due date, the band folded.
As of 2008, all four original bandmembers have reunited to perform at Rocklahoma 2008. It is unclear whether any further touring from the band will follow.
