Hideto Matsumoto, known professionally as hide, was a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band X Japan from 1987 to 1997 and a solo artist from 1993 onward. He also formed the United States-based rock supergroup Zilch in 1996.
Tomoaki Ishizuka, known exclusively by his stage name Pata, is a Japanese musician. He is best known as rhythm guitarist of the visual kei rock band X Japan. He joined the band in 1987, stayed with them until their dissolution in 1997, and rejoined when the band reunited in 2007.
D'espairsRay was a Japanese visual kei rock band active from 1999 to 2011. The lineup of Hizumi on vocals, Karyu on guitar, Zero on bass and Tsukasa on drums remained the same, with the group having released four full-length records, three EPs and thirteen singles. Outside Japan, D'espairsRay have toured Europe and North America and had domestic releases in those territories.
My American Heart is an American rock band from San Diego, California, formed in 2001. Originally named No Way Out, the band released two studio albums through Warcon Enterprises and toured the world before disbanding in late 2009. They reunited in 2017.
Mucc is a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1997. The classic line up of Tatsuro on vocals, Miya on guitar, Yukke on bass, and Satochi on drums was solidified in 1999 following the departure of original bassist Hiro. After 24 years, Satochi retired from the music industry in October 2021, leaving Mucc a trio. They have released 16 studio albums, with 2020's Aku being their highest-charting. Although predominately a heavy band both lyrically and musically, Mucc is known for switching between music genres and styles frequently. Kerrang! included their fourth studio album Kuchiki no Tō (2004) on a list of 13 essential Japanese rock and metal albums.
Taste of Chaos was a live music tour that was started in the winter of 2005 by Kevin Lyman, the creator of the successful Warped Tour along with his friend and business partner, John Reese. The Taste of Chaos tour catered to fans of the post-hardcore, emo, pop punk and metalcore genres, while offering the same low ticket price and festival-style format as the Warped Tour. In 2007, each of the seven bands playing the entire tour was a Warped Tour veteran: five had played the 2006 Warped Tour and two had played TOC previously.
Merry is a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in Tokyo in 2001. The current member lineup consists of Gara on vocals, Yuu on guitar, Tetsu on bass, and Nero on the drums.
Girugamesh is a Japanese rock band, formed in 2003. Their name is sometimes stylized with a metal umlaut as girugämesh and is derived from the Final Fantasy character. They disbanded on July 10, 2016, although announced a new song, to celebrate label MAVERICK's 40th anniversary as well as to encourage the music scene exhausted by COVID-19, in January 2022.
Oblivion Dust is a Japanese rock band first active from 1996 to 2001; they reunited in 2007. Although they were originally largely influenced by early 1990s American grunge bands, since reuniting their music has become straight alternative rock. They stand out in the Japanese scene as most of their songs are written and sung in fluent English.
D'erlanger is a Japanese rock band from Kyoto Prefecture, formed in 1983 by guitarist Cipher and bassist Seela. While they originally played speed and power metal, after recruiting drummer Tetsu and vocalist Kyo they switched to a punk rock sound for their debut album La Vie En Rose in 1989. Although it was on an indie label, it sold out and was reissued three times that year, earning them a major label record deal with BMG Japan the following year. They released Basilisk in March 1990 and it reached the top five on the charts. However, in December the group suddenly announced their disbandment.
Angelo is a Japanese visual kei rock supergroup, formed in 2006 by three members of Pierrot. Originally a trio of vocalist Kirito, bassist Kohta and drummer Takeo, guitarists Karyu (ex-D'espairsRay) and Giru (ex-Vidoll) joined in 2011. After 15 years and 13 studio albums, Angelo began an indefinite hiatus following two concerts at Yoyogi Daini Taiikukan on January 15 and 16, 2022.
Marbell was a Japanese rock band active from 2006 to 2010 and signed to their own independent label, N-Records. The band's clothes and outfits were all designed by famed fashion designer H. Naoto.
Sekaiichi (セカイイチ) is a four-piece Japanese rock band which started in 2001. They signed to Toy's Factory in 2005, but changed labels to Tearbridge Records/Avex in 2010. Their first mini album was released in 2003 and they also played their first live performance the same year.
Take the Crown was an American post-hardcore band from Huntington Beach, California. The original lineup included vocalist Beau Bokan, guitarist Nick Coffey, guitarist Tony Gonzalez, bassist James Campbell, and keyboardist Ryan Wilson. The band began recording demos in 2004 with friend Chris Sorenson of Saosin; he would later produce their self-released debut EP, Let the Games Begin, in 2006. The band signed to Rise in 2007 and released their follow up full-length album, Relapse React, in May 2008. They announced their disbandment on September 25, 2008, which was due to the departure of James Campbell and Tony Gonzalez, lack of management, and financial burdens. After their disbandment, lead vocalist Beau Bokan went on to become the lead vocalist of blessthefall, replacing Craig Mabbitt who would later go on to front Escape the Fate.
Defspiral is a Japanese visual kei alternative metal band composed of most of the former members of the Underneath. When the Underneath disbanded in 2010, most of the group was signed to Avex Mode to perform songs for the Kamen Rider Series. This occurred with a change to their style to a smoother, slicker and more seductive style than their previous incarnations.
Shangri-La is the eleventh studio album by Japanese rock band Mucc, released on November 28, 2012. It continues the sound used in their previous album Karma, this time with elements of metalcore.
Japanese metal is heavy metal music from Japan. The country's first metal bands formed in the mid-to-late 1970s. The number of acts increased significantly in the next decade, but only a few saw their material released internationally, including Europe and North America with their pre-established metal bases. Domestic metal saw its commercial peak in Japan in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the top acts selling millions of records. Many metal bands from the visual kei scene toured and gained recognition in the West in the 2000s. The 2010s saw a boom of all-female metal bands form and gain mainstream attention.
Sakanaquarium 2012: Zepp Alive is a live album by Japanese band Sakanaction. A recording of their June 19, 2012 performance at Zepp Tokyo, the album was released on November 14, 2012 through Victor Entertainment and an exclusive digital download to iTunes.
The discography of Mucc includes 17 studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays, 47 singles, 15 demos and 33 video albums. They are a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1997. When original bassist Hiro left in 1999, the classic line up of Tatsuro on vocals, Miya on guitar, Yukke on bass, and Satochi on drums was solidified. Antique, their debut EP, was released in 1999 by Misshitsu Neurose, an independent record label formed by Cali Gari guitarist Ao Sakurai. Mucc signed to Danger Crue Records and established their own sublabel, Shu, for the 2002 release of their second album, Hōmura Uta. The band made their major label debut on Universal with Zekū the following year. In 2009, they returned to being an indie band on Danger Crue, before signing to Sony for 2012's Shangri-La. With the end of 2017, Mucc returned to being an independent band on Danger Crue yet again. After 24 years, Satochi retired from the music industry in October 2021, leaving Mucc a trio.
Masaaki Yaguchi, better known as Miya (ミヤ), is a Japanese musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as guitarist and leader of the visual kei rock band Mucc since 1997. He is also a guitarist of the supergroup Petit Brabancon. In addition to his work as a musician, Miya also works as a DJ and as a record producer and audio engineer for other artists. He also makes and sells homemade audio equipment with engineer Koji Watanabe under the brand name Yaguchi Watanabe Densen (矢口渡邉電線).
