External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
La'cryma Christi | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Strippe-D Lady |
| Origin | Osaka, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
|
| Labels |
|
| Members | Taka Hiro Levin Shuse |
| Past members | Sima-chan Kita-J Jun Koji |
| Website | www |
La'cryma Christi (Latin for "Tears of Christ" [1] ) is a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in Osaka in 1991. After changing their name from Strippe-D Lady, the classic lineup of vocalist Taka, guitarists Hiro and Koji, drummer Levin and bassist Shuse lasted from 1994 until 2005. Following Koji's departure that year, the band continued for two more years before disbanding in January 2007. At their peak in the mid-to-late 1990s, they were considered one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of visual kei" alongside Malice Mizer, Fanatic Crisis and Shazna. [4] [5] La'cryma Christi's music is largely hard rock and progressive rock, but they achieved popularity through accessible pop songs. The five members reunited for a festival performance in 2009, a short reunion tour in 2010, and a 15th anniversary tour in 2012 and 2013. Koji died from cancer in 2022, and the four surviving members are scheduled to reunite in November 2025.
The band was originally formed in 1991 under the name of Strippe-D Lady by vocalist and leader Taka with his college friend and neighbor, Hiro. The two friends held a small audition in Kansai to find new talent for the band. They recruited bassist Kita-J and drummer Sima-chan, although Sima-chan was later replaced by Levin, who invited his high school friend, Koji, to join the band as the second guitarist. This Osaka based band played hard rock and heavy metal during this time period. In October 1994, Kita-J decided to leave the band and was replaced by Jun and later Shuse, who had played in the same band as Taka in the past.
The band then changed their name to La'cryma Christi, which Taka chose after browsing an Italian dictionary. It means "Tears of Christ" in Latin, and the band has said it was chosen as they wanted to "express the color of Christ's tears, which no one has ever seen, through our staging and music." [3] They released their first single, "Siam's Eye", on a local indies label in 1994. The band moved to Tokyo in 1996, after releasing their first mini-album that February; Warm Snow, which sold 15,000 copies. [1] The mini-album Dwellers of Sand Castle, released five months later, was named one of the top albums from 1989 to 1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazine Band Yarouze. [6] In 1997, the band signed with Polydor Records and made their major label debut with the single "Ivory Trees". [1] Their first full-length album, Sculpture of Time, reached number No. 8 on the Oricon Albums Chart when it was released that November. They matched the rank almost exactly one year later with November 1998's Lhasa, which was certified Platinum by the RIAJ for sales over 400,000, making it the band's best-selling album. [7] Its single "Mirai Kōro" was used as the ending theme of the Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective anime, reached No. 3 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and was certified Gold for sales over 200,000. [7] [8]
La'cryma Christi founded their own record label, Majestic Ring, in 2003. Koji left the band after their Zepp Tokyo gig on March 21, 2005. [9] Continuing as a quartet, they released their eighth album Zeus on May 25 of that same year. The band's final album, Where the Earth is Rotting Away, was released on September 27, 2006. That same month, La'cryma Christi announced that they would officially disband on January 20, 2007. They explained that each member had differing opinions after discussing their future music and activities. [2]
Koji formed ALvino in 2006, with former Pierrot member Jun. Taka and Hiro formed the band Libraian in 2007. In 2009, Hiro became a support guitarist for Creature Creature, the solo project of Morrie from Dead End. He also contributes compositions to the band, including "Dream Caller", the lead track of their 2009 album Inferno. Levin played with several artists including Toshi with T-Earth, while Shuse played with acts such as Acid Black Cherry and 44Magnum, and in 2010 formed †яi¢к.
La'cryma Christi, including Koji, reunited for one night at the V-Rock Festival on October 21, 2009. [10] There they announced their reunion tour, La'cryma Christi Resurrection ~Final Prayer~, which started on January 12, 2010 and ended on February 1. [11]
In 2012, La'cryma Christi performed a 15th anniversary tour from May 8 to July 29. [12] At the final show, another concert was announced for September 30 at Shibuya-AX. [13] Two additional anniversary concerts were held the following year; Shibuya-AX on May 5 and Akasaka Blitz on June 8. [14]
Rhythm guitarist Koji died from esophageal cancer on April 15, 2022. [15] The four surviving members of La'cryma Christi are scheduled to reunite and headline both nights of the Cross Road Fest, which will take place at the Makuhari Event Hall on November 15 and 16, 2025. [16] They will then hold their first tour in 12 years, Night Flight ~Final Call~, between December 24 and January 14, 2026. [17] Due to demand, additional dates were added for between March 14 and May 9, under the title Night Flight ~Last Finale~. [18]
Music news website Barks described La'cryma Christi as having a hard rock sound, despite having achieved popularity through accessible pop songs. [2] Hiroko Yamamoto of OK Music called them a progressive rock band with "complex yet melodic songs" that blend Western rock with elements of Eastern oriental music. She praised their technical skills and wrote that Taka's high-pitched vocals bring out pop melodies. [3] Hiro said he is often asked if he likes progressive rock, but has never listened to it. [19] He opined that it was because Koji and himself were polar opposites that they were able to create innovative guitar arrangements. [20] Lhasa, the band's best known album, is separated into two sides; "Yours", composed of pop songs, and "Ours", which features more technical and complex tracks. [5] For Zeus, their first album without Koji, visual kei journalist Akemi Oshima wrote that La'cryma Christi dropped most of their progressive elements in favor of a classic hard rock sound focused on guitar riffs. [5]
Hiro cited Dead End as one of his favorite bands, while Koji named Van Halen as his favorite. [21] Koji said he had admired guitarists such as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani ever since he started playing the instrument. [22] Shuse listed Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, U2, Duran Duran, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, 44 Magnum, Dead End, The Beatles, Jellyfish and Kiss as his favorite bands. [23]
Nogod vocalist Dancho cited La'cryma Christi as an influence, explaining that they were the band that made him realize "strong technical ability, great songs and a distinct worldview" all the three necessary components to truly be visual kei. [24] Yomi from Nightmare covered their songs in his high school days. [25] Leetspeak Monsters guitarist Yo'shmeer is also a fan of La'cryma Christi, particularly mentioning how he likes that their songs are uplifting. [26] La'cryma Christi's song "With-You" was covered by Daizystripper on the compilation Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-, which was released on January 26, 2011 and features current visual kei bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement. [27] "Mirai Kōro" was covered by Blu-Billion on its sequel, Crush! 2 -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-, which was released on November 23, 2011. [28]
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
