Dir En Grey: Difference between revisions

Dir en grey is a Japanese band formed in 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As of 2007, they have released six full-length records and while the group's lineup has remained consistent since its inception, numerous stylistic changes have made its music's genre difficult to determine (though it is generally considered to be a form of rock music). Originally part of Japan's visual kei movement, the band has opted for less flamboyant attire in recent years.^[1]

Billboard writes, that the group "has transcended the language barrier in the United States through its music [...] gained its audience without singing in English".^[2] In June 2006, their United States debut, Withering to Death. reached number 42 on Billboard's "Top Heatseekers" chart,^[3] and in March 2007, their follow-up album The Marrow of a Bone reached number 21 on Billboard's "Top Independent Albums" chart.^[4]

Dir en grey was preceded by the independent band La:Sadie's which included four of Dir en grey's later members before it disbanded. After parting ways with La:Sadie's bassist Kisaki, Kyo, Kaoru, Die and Shinya along with newly recruited bassist Toshiya regrouped as a new band on February 2, 1997^[5][6] and released a first EP, Missa, a few months later. According to guitarist Kaoru, the name "Dir en grey" was chosen because it "sounded right," and is comprised of words from several languages, so that people would not be able to attach a specific meaning to it other than that the band's name itself.^[7][1]

They first attracted mainstream attention in 1998, by entering the top ten on the Oricon music charts with the still independently produced songs "Jealous" and "-I'll-".^[8][9] Five subsequent singles, arranged and produced by X Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi, were published during the first half of 1999, the band's first full-length record, Gauze, followed. One of the shows in support for the album (filmed at the Osaka-jo Hall) would later become the first of several live concerts to be released on VHS and DVD.

In 2000 vocalist Kyo was hospitalized with hearing trouble and several dates of the tour in support of Dir en grey's then upcoming album, Macabre, had to be postponed. "Tour 00 >> 01 Macabre" eventually took off later the same year and was concluded at Nippon Budokan, shortly after the release of the single "Ain't Afraid to Die" in April 2001.

In the following year, along with the release of a third full-length album, Kisou, Dir en grey gave their first performances abroad, touring China, Taiwan, and South Korea.^[10] Back in Japan, the last dates of the lengthy "Rettou Gekishin Angya" tour were already in support for the band's second EP, Six Ugly. In summer 2003, Dir en grey performed at the Akasaka Blitz for five evenings in one week. Each show (except the first) was themed after a certain album, the last featuring songs from the then yet to be released Vulgar. A DVD set, titled Blitz 5 Days, was later released exclusively for members of the band's official fan club, A Knot. Vulgar released in September 2003, tours in support for the record would last well into 2004.^[11][12]

In 2005, Dir en grey performed in Europe for the first time. Their concerts in Berlin and Paris (as part of the "It Withers and Withers" tour) sold out without promotion, save for newsletters by import record stores and internet-based word of mouth. The band also performed at two major festivals, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. Becoming more involved with the international music scene, they had French band Eths open for them at the Paris concert and invited American musician Wednesday 13 and his band to play at a show in Japan. Dir en grey also appeared at the Japanese leg of the "Taste of Chaos" tour.

2005 saw the first official European releases as well, in the form of that year's album Withering to Death. The band's music had previously been available to fans not living in Asia through means of import and Internet file-sharing only. The album also managed to achieve Dir en grey's first non-Asian chart position, reaching #31 in the Finnish album charts. The subsequent single, "Clever Sleazoid", later climbed to #15 on the singles charts in the same country. Several Dir en grey songs were also featured in the soundtrack of the 2005 film Death Trance.^[13]

In early 2006 touring was expanded to the United States. The band performed in Austin, Texas (South by Southwest festival), New York City (Avalon Club) and Los Angeles, California (Wiltern Theatre), followed by the North American release of Withering to Death., which reached number 42 on Billboard's "Top Heatseekers" chart. ^[14] and Billboard Magazine commented that stated that Dir en grey "ignited frenzied response with its first three U.S. shows." ^[2] After more concerts and festival appearances in Germany during the summer, singer Kyo was again hospitalized, due to inflamed vocal cords. While two concert dates in Japan had to be postponed, Dir en grey was still able to join Korn's Family Values Tour.^[15] In October, the band was back in Japan to perform at the Loudpark Festival, along with bands such as Megadeth, Slayer and Children of Bodom.^[16] Their 22nd single, "Agitated Screams of Maggots" was released on November 15, during the Japanese leg of the Inward Scream tour. On December 30, the music video for "Saku" was voted the #1 video of the year on the MTV2 show Headbanger's Ball.^[17]

In February, Dir en grey went on its first North American headlining tour, visiting seventeen cities^[18] while its sixth full-length album, The Marrow of a Bone, was released on February 7 in Japan, and in the United States and Europe in the following months. The album reached number 21 on Billboard's "Top Independent Albums" chart. From May to June, the group opened during a United States tour of Deftones^[19] and afterwards did another European tour, which included their debut shows in Denmark, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom,^[20] as well as several festival performances across the continent, including Ankkarock, M'era Luna Festival and Wacken Open Air.^[21]

The group went on another international tour in September, titled after its most recent single "Dozing Green", beginning in Japan, and continuing in Europe.^[22][23] In late November, Dir en grey will open two shows for Linkin Park at Saitama Super Arena and in December perform another Japan tour with 10 Years as support act.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

As with numerous other Japanese bands, the members of Dir en grey are credited with their given or stage name, the names of Kyo (京) and Kaoru (薫) usually being written in kanji. While there has been speculation among fans, the artists' full names are not a matter of public knowledge.

• Kyo – vocals
• Kaoru – guitar
• Die – guitar
• Toshiya – bass
• Shinya – drums

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dir en grey.

• Official website
• Official MySpace
• Dir en grey at Free-Will America
• Dir en grey at Warcon Records