L'Arc-en-Ciel is a Japanese rock band, founded in Osaka in 1991. With a reported 40 million records sold, they were the first Japanese act to headline at Madison Square Garden. In 2003, they were ranked 58 on a list of the top 100 Japanese pop musicians by HMV Japan. While they first got their start as a visual kei band, they have not had any association with the movement since their major label debut in 1994.
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.
Ken is a musician and singer-songwriter, best known as guitarist of the Japanese rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. He is also the leader, vocalist and guitarist of Sons of All Pussys and has released a solo album entitled In Physical. While in L'Arc-en-Ciel his name is stylized as ken.
"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.
Yukihiro, stylized as yukihiro and previously stylized as YUKIHIRO, is a Japanese musician, best known as drummer of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. He also sings and plays bass for his solo project, Acid Android. Before joining L'Arc-en-Ciel he was in the popular visual kei bands Zi:Kill and Die in Cries.
"Ready Steady Go" is the twenty-third single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on February 4, 2004 it reached number 1 on the Oricon chart. The four alternate versions on the single omit each titular band member's contributions; for instance, the "Hydeless Version" features none of hyde's vocals, while the "Yukihiroless Version" has no percussion whatsoever.
"Link" is the twenty-ninth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on July 20, 2005. It is the second track by the band to be used in the Fullmetal Alchemist anime franchise, following "Ready Steady Go", used as the opening theme to the feature-length film Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa. The second track "Promised Land 2005" is a remake of an old song by their self-cover band P'unk-en-Ciel. The single reached number 2 on the Oricon chart.
"The Fourth Avenue Cafe" is the thirtieth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel. Originally expected on March 21, 1997, but due to drug charges against drummer Sakura it was only finally released on August 30, 2006. The single reached number 5 on the Oricon chart. Back in 1997, it was used as the 4th ending theme to the popular Rurouni Kenshin anime, but was removed after a few episodes and replaced with the previous ending song "Heart of Sword" by T.M. Revolution. The song does not appear on any officially released soundtracks for Rurouni Kenshin as well.
"Niji" is the eighth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on October 17, 1997. It reached number 3 on the Oricon chart. It was their first release after Sakura's arrest and Yukihiro joining as the band's support drummer. The title track was used as the opening theme of the Rurouni Kenshin movie Requiem for the Ishin Patriots, making them the only artist to contribute more than one song for the franchise. The single was re-released on August 30, 2006. The song is one of the band's signature songs, often played at the end of concerts.
"Kasou" is the twelfth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel. It was released simultaneously with "Honey" and "Shinshoku ~Lose Control~" on July 8, 1998. The song was used as the ending theme to TV Asahi's Shinsou Kyumei! Uwasa no Flie. The single debuted at number 4 on the Oricon chart. It was re-released on August 30, 2006. The single was also rerecorded by P'unk~en~ciel in 2012 as "花葬 平成十七年", in the album "P'unk is Not Dead".
"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 s 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, released on January 19, 2000. It debuted at number 1 on the Oricon chart and sold over one million copies, as certified by the RIAJ. "Finale" was used as the theme song of Ring 0: Birthday. The third track is an instrumental and the fourth is a remix version of the song "Trick" from their 1999 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 initial 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.
"Good Luck My Way" is the thirty-eighth single, and first 20th L'Anniversary's single, by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on June 29, 2011. It was used as the closing theme song of Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos. Released in three different editions; a standard, a limited, which came with a DVD of "Good Luck My Way" music clip compilation, and a "Fullmetal Alchemist". The later version contains; all of L'Arc-en-Ciel's songs that were used for the franchise, and a DVD of "Good Luck My Way" music clip "Fullmetal Alchemist" version compilation and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos theatrical version and TV spot.
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 limited editions, with the latter including the first album by their alter ego band P'unk-en-Ciel, titled P'unk Is Not Dead, and a DVD. The album is also set to be released in several European countries, starting on March 5, 2012, with the United Kingdom and finishing on March 17 with Spain and Poland.
"Chase" is the fortieth single by L'Arc-en-Ciel, released on December 21, 2011. The single reached number 2 on the Oricon chart, selling 71,894 copies in the first week.
