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Janis Tanaka

b. 1963

American musician

Bass guitaristSinger Actor
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About Janis Tanaka

Born 1963. Janis Tanaka is an American bass guitarist, singer and actor.

Janis Tanaka (born January 9, 1963) is a Japanese-American musician who has worked as a session bassist and on tour with a number of well-known artists including Pink, Fireball Ministry, Hammers of Misfortune, Stone Fox, and L7. She was also a member of Pagan Babies, a band formed by Courtney Love and Kat Bjelland in the 1980s.

Music career Tanaka grew up in Long Beach, California, in a family with several sisters. She took courses at UCLA for one year followed by Long Beach City College

She left Hammers of Misfortune to play with Pink. In 2001, Tanaka appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno supporting Pink.

Filmography Tanaka has appeared in several films as herself including L7: Pretend We're Dead, released in 2016 and directed by Sarah Price. Fireball Ministry: Master of None, released in 2003. She has acted in the films: Live Freaky Die Freaky, Down and Out With Dolls. Starred in the film The Year of My Japanese Cousin (1995). She had a starring role in The Year of My Japanese Cousin and received a favorable review of her performance in the San Francisco Chronicle.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Bass guitarist, singer, actor
Nationality

People in Janis Tanaka's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Janis Tanaka's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Janis Tanaka?

American musician

When was Janis Tanaka born?

Janis Tanaka was born on 9 January 1963 in San Francisco.

What is Janis Tanaka's occupation?

Janis Tanaka is a bass guitarist, singer and actor.

What nationality is Janis Tanaka?

Janis Tanaka is American.

Sources & further reading

Β· Wikipedia: Janis Tanaka

Β· Wikidata: Q6154655

Β· DBpedia: Janis Tanaka

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Janis Tanaka. https://biography.guide/janis-tanaka/

MLA: "Janis Tanaka." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/janis-tanaka/.

Chicago: "Janis Tanaka." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/janis-tanaka/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-24 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.

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