L'Arc-en-Ciel, stylized as L'Arc〜en〜Ciel and abbreviated as Laruku, is a Japanese rock band formed in Osaka in 1991 by bassist Tetsuya and vocalist Hyde. Following the departure of original members Hiro and Pero, guitarist Ken and drummer Sakura were recruited to replace them in 1992 and 1993, respectively. While they first got their start as a visual kei band, L'Arc-en-Ciel have not had any association with the movement since their major label debut in 1994. Sakura left the band in 1997 and was replaced by Yukihiro in January 1998, completing the current line-up.
Hideto Takarai, known by his stage name Hyde, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. Best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel since 1991, he is also the lead vocalist of Vamps and has a solo career.
Dune is the debut album by Japanese rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. It was released by the independent label Danger Crue Records, first in a limited edition on April 10, 1993, and followed by a regular edition on April 27, which contained an additional tenth track. The regular edition reached number 1 on the Oricon indies chart on May 10.
Heart is the fifth album by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on February 25, 1998. It is the band's first album with yukihiro on drums and marked the band's return to mainstream attention following the arrest of the former drummer sakura. It reached number one on the Oricon chart and sold over a million copies, being certified by the RIAJ.
Ark is the sixth album by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on July 1, 1999, simultaneously with Ray. It reached number one on the Oricon chart and sold over two million copies, being certified by the RIAJ.
Tetsuya, formerly known as Tetsu, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as bassist and bandleader of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. Formed in 1991, they have sold over 40 million records, making them one of the best-selling music artists in Japan.
Ken is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter, best known as guitarist of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. After he joined them in 1992, they went on to sell over 40 million records, making them one of the best-selling music artists in Japan. He has written a breadth of L'Arc-en-Ciel's material, including "Vivid Colors", "The Fourth Avenue Cafe", "Niji", "Kasou", "My Heart Draws a Dream", "Daybreak's Bell" and "Chase". Ken was also the vocalist and guitarist of the rock trio Sons of All Pussys, and has released a solo album entitled In Physical.
"Blurry Eyes" is the second single by Japanese rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on October 21, 1994. It reached number 22 on the Oricon chart. The title track appears on the soundtrack of the DNA² anime. The single was re-released on August 30, 2006 and reached number 12 on the Oricon chart. In 2012, Vince Neil covered the song for a tribute album.
"Natsu no Yuu-utsu [Time to Say Good-bye]" is the fourth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on October 20, 1995 it reached number 22 on the Oricon chart. The title track is a remake of the song "Natsu no Yuu-utsu" from the album, it is longer with different and additional lyrics as well as new music. The single was re-released on August 30, 2006.
"Honey" is the eleventh single by L'Arc-en-Ciel. It was released simultaneously with "Shinshoku ~Lose Control~" and "Kasou" on July 8, 1998. "Honey" was used as the main theme song and ending song for the TBS Television Football highlights programme "Super Soccer".
"Shinshoku (Lose Control)" (浸食 〜lose control〜, Erosion) is the thirteenth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel. It was released simultaneously with "Honey" and "Kasou" on July 8, 1998. The single reached number 2 on the Oricon chart. It was re-released on August 30, 2006.
"Hurry Xmas" is the thirty-fourth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on November 14, 2007. There are two editions of the original single, a regular and a special edition. The special edition was packaged in a gift box, includes a DVD with two music videos for the A-side and B-side, a photograph of the band, and a Christmas ornament.
"Snow Drop" is the fourteenth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on October 7, 1998 it debuted at number 1 on the Oricon chart. The single was re-released on August 30, 2006. The song was used as the theme song to the TV drama Hashire Kōmuin!.
"Drink it Down" is the thirty-fifth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on April 2, 2008. The single debuted at number one on the Oricon chart. It was the theme song of Devil May Cry 4 video game.
"Neo Universe/Finale" is the twentieth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel. this Double A-side single was released on January 19, 2000, as the second single from the band's eighth studio album, Real (2000). It debuted at number 1 on the Oricon chart and sold 1,103,880 copies, as certified by the RIAJ. "Finale" was used as the theme song of Ringu 0: Birthday. The third track is an instrumental song called "hole" which also featured in Ringu 0: Birthday during the opening sequence, and the fourth is a remix version of the song "Trick" from the band's seventh studio album Ray.
"Spirit Dreams Inside -Another Dream-" is the twenty-second single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on September 5, 2001. It was their first single of the 21st century and their last single until "Ready Steady Go" in 2004. The song debuted at number 1 on the Oricon chart and sold over 201,000 copies in its first week.
"Nexus 4/Shine" is the thirty-sixth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on August 27, 2008. The double A-side single features the song "Nexus 4" which was used in a commercial for the Subaru Legacy and the song "Shine" which was used as the opening song for the NHK anime series Guardian of the Spirit. "Nexus 4/Shine" reached number 2 on the Oricon Singles Chart and sold 109,752 in the first week.
"Bless" is the thirty-seventh single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on January 27, 2010. It was used as the theme song to the NHK broadcast of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. "Bless" reached number 2 on the Oricon singles chart, selling 80,859 copies during the first week.
Butterfly is the twelfth album by the Japanese rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. It was released on February 8, 2012, in two versions: regular and deluxe edition, with the latter including the tracks of the first album by their alter ego band P'unk-en-Ciel, titled P'unk Is Not Dead, and a DVD. The album was released in several European countries, starting on March 5, 2012, with the United Kingdom and finishing on March 17 with Spain and Poland.
"X X X" is the thirty-ninth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on October 12, 2011. The single debuted at number one on the Oricon chart and remained for over a week, selling 81,414 copies. The band had not reached the top of the Oricon chart since the release of "Drink It Down" in 2008.
