Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Japan |
Genres |
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Discography | Midi:Nette |
Members | Mana Közi Yu~ki |
Past members | Gaz Tetsu Gackt Kami Klaha |
Website | malice-mizer.co.jp |
Malice Mizer (stylized as MALICE MIZER) was a Japanese visual kei rock band active from 1992 to 2001. The band was famous for their music and their live shows, featuring lavish historical costumes and stage sets, short silent theater pieces preluding various songs.
Formed by guitarists Mana and Közi, throughout their history, the band has gone through several different lineups and three drastic image changes. Their earlier music and themes were characterized by their strong French and classical influences, later moving away from deliberate French romanticism and incorporating Gothic aspects after several difficulties befell the band.
At their peak with singer Gackt, they were considered one of "the big four of visual kei" alongside La'cryma Christi, Fanatic Crisis and Shazna.[2] Their third and most successful studio album Merveilles (1998) was included in 2021 by Kerrang! on a list of 13 essential Japanese rock and metal albums.[3] However, their success was short-lived, and in late 2001 was announced that Malice Mizer would go on an indefinite hiatus. Mana, Közi and bassist Yu~ki have performed together several times since 2010.
History
1992–1994: Tetsu era
After leaving Matenrou, guitarists
1995–1999: Gackt era
After almost a year of inactivity, Malice Mizer recruited
Malice Mizer released their second album, Voyage Sans Retour, in 1996, and their first home video in 1997; Sans Retour Voyage "Derniere" (Encore Une Fois), a concert video recorded at Shibuya Public Hall featuring an elaborate stage and dance routines.[4] The band became increasingly popular and signed with major record label Nippon Columbia that same year, where they released a number of successful singles and a short film, Bel Air (Kuuhaku no Toki no Naka de) de L'image. Their major label debut album, Merveilles, was released in 1998. The band even had their own radio show around this time and played a two-day live at the Nippon Budokan, which involved a large building as a stage prop and elaborate theatrics; each member performing a skit with another member on their own (including [on "Le Ciel"] the aforementioned skit in which Gackt fell to the stage [to sing the song] and returned to "Heaven" by song's end). It was a massive success and was released on video as Merveilles (Shuuen to kisuu) l'espace. In July 1998, the Yokohama Arena's stage would be the last for Gackt as in January 1999, at the height of Malice Mizer's success, he would suddenly leave the band. No reason was given, but after just four months he would release his first solo EP. Malice Mizer left Nippon Columbia shortly after and returned to Midi:Nette (established as Midi:Nette M.†.M).
A few months after Gackt's departure, drummer Kami died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage on June 21, 1999. He left behind a handful of songs, which the band eventually released as part of the EP/video boxset Shinwa, which consists of two songs composed by him and the short track "Saikai" written by the band. Kami was never officially replaced; from that point on, Malice Mizer would only use support drummers (namely ex-Aion member Shu, who is not shown in the band's later promotional material, nor credited) and Kami would be credited as "eternal blood relative" on all their future releases. Possibly due to Kami's death and other factors, the band shifted to a "darker" image and sound.
2000–2001: Klaha era
In the second half of 1999 and the beginning of 2000, Malice Mizer, still without an official vocalist, released a number of singles and began to work on a new album. Eventually, they recruited
Post projects
After his departure in 1994, Tetsu released one solo album, and has subsequently taken part in a series of bands such as Zigzo, Mega 8 Ball, Nil; his most recent being The JuneJulyAugust.
After his departure in early 1999, Gackt started a solo career a year later which has been enormously successful; he is one of Japan's top musicians and TV personalities.[5]
Klaha started a solo career as well in December 2002, but in the middle of 2004 it was announced that his fan club would be closing down, and after that there have been long periods of silence, only broken by rare updates on his site. In 2007 he stated on his site that he would resume musical activity that year. But this did not happen and no information has been announced since.
Yu~ki has not been active on the music scene since 2004 when he wrote the song "
Közi formed the industrial duo Eve of Destiny with Haruhiko Ash (ex:The Zolge) and also started a solo career. As of Halloween 2008 he is part of the band Dalle. Around June 2010, Közi started to perform with a band called My Horror Revue. He has also formed the band XA-VAT, who held their first performance on November 16, 2010 and released their first single on December 2.[6] In 2012, he formed the band ZIZ with the musicians who supported him with his solo career.
Mana has formed his own solo project
Malice Mizer's song "Gekka no Yasōkyoku" was covered by D 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.[7] Their song "Illuminati" was covered by Moran on its sequel, Crush! 2 -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-, that was released on November 23, 2011.[8]
Original drummer Gaz died on December 22, 2017, due to illness.[9]
Deep Sanctuary reunions
Since 2008, Mana's band Moi dix Mois has held a special event, most taking place every two years, which has had some sort of connection to Malice Mizer.[4] The first was Dis Inferno Vol.VI: Last Year Party on December 27, 2008, where Malice Mizer's "Speed of Desperate" was played in a session by Mana on drums, Közi on guitar and Mana's cousin Katsuo U.K (カツヲU.K) on vocals.[4] Közi said that this was the first time he and Mana had met since 2001.[4] In 2009, Moi dix Mois and Közi went on a short two-date tour called Deep Sanctuary, on July 17 in Osaka and the 19th in Tokyo.
A year later in July 2010, Közi once again went on a tour with Moi dix Mois, titled Deep Sanctuary II. This tour had six shows, but the gig at Akasaka Blitz on the 17th was special, as Yu~ki was a special guest.[4][10] This was the first time in 9 years that the three original members of Malice Mizer played together, and they were supported by Hayato (Moi dix Mois) on drums. They played "Saikai no Chi to Bara" and "Beast of Blood", as well as a cover of Rob Zombie's "What Lurks on Channel X?". In 2012, the three played together twice more for Deep Sanctuary III;[11] once on September 12 at Akasaka Blitz and again on November 14, 2012 at Osaka Muse Hall.
In 2014, another reunion of the three original members happened for Deep Sanctuary IV at Akasaka Blitz on October 11. This marked the first time they performed under the Malice Mizer name since 2001. It was followed by Deep Sanctuary V at Akasaka Blitz on August 7, 2016. On September 8 and 9, 2018, Mana, Közi, and Yu~ki reunited as Malice Mizer to perform two shows for the band's 25th anniversary special at Tokyo Toyosu Pit. of the concert was released on June 21, 2019.
Deep Sanctuary VII was scheduled to take place at
Influences
Mana stated that the Doyou Waido Gekijou (土曜ワイド劇場) opening theme music scared him a lot in childhood and Malice Mizer's music has its roots in that experience.[13]
Members
- Mana – guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion (1992–2001, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)
- Közi – guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, backing vocals (1992–2001, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)
- Yu~ki – bass, contrabass, percussion (1992–2001, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)
Former members
- Klaha – vocals (2000–2001)
- Gaz – drums (1992–1993; died 2017)
- Tetsu – vocals (1992–1994)
- Gackt – vocals, piano (1995–1999)
- Kami – drums (1993–1999; died 1999)[n 1]
Support members
- Shu "Shue" Sakai – drums (2000–2001)
- Kazune – keyboards, synthesizers (2000–2001)
- Hayato – drums (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
- Sakura – drums (2018)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
- Memoire (1994)
- Voyage Sans Retour (1996)
- Merveilles (1998)
- Bara no Seidou (2000)
Notes
- ^ After his death, the band listed Kami on all subsequent releases as "eternal blood relative."
References
- ^ a b c "Malice Mizer". Allmusic.
- ^ "【V系】ヴィジュアル系はもう「終わり」?「2012年のV系を振り返る」第3回(ゲスト:NoGoD 団長) -". CyberAgent. December 31, 2012. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ "The 13 essential Japanese rock and metal albums you need to know". Kerrang!. May 13, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "【インタビュー】Mana × Közi、MALICE MIZERを語る「Kamiの約束が実現できる」". Barks (in Japanese). August 29, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- ISBN 9781317588191.
- ^ "XA-VAT Information". jame-world.com. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ "D covers Malice Mizer song". jame-world.com. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
- ^ "Aoi, Moran, and more to release '90s Visual Kei cover album". tokyohive.com. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
- ^ "Malice Mizer's original drummer GAZ has passed away". visual ioner. December 23, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ^ "Moi dix Mois tour with Közi and Yu~ki". jame-world.com. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
- ^ "Deep Sanctuary III". jame-world.com. November 22, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ "【ライヴレポート】MALICE MIZER<25th Anniversary Special>、「Kamiも降臨しています」". BARKS (in Japanese). October 12, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ 増渕公子 (February 1, 1998). "MALICE MIZER すべてはひとつの物語の中に…". Pop Beat (in Japanese): 129–131.
External links
- Official website
- Malice Mizer discography at Discogs
- Malice Mizer at IMDb