Bow Wow is a famous hard rock band from Japan founded in 1975. They are regarded with influencing many hard rock and heavy metal bands, and are known for the distinctive vocals of Genki Hitomi, and Kyoji Yamamoto's guitar playing. Beginning as Bow Wow, they changed their name to Vow Wow in 1984 to avoid confusion with Bow Wow Wow, and relocated to the United Kingdom in 1987, where they recruited former Whitesnake bassist Neil Murray. They disbanded in 1990, when vocalist Genki Hitomi wanted to start a family.