First of all: please visit them, if you are interested, via:
http://twitter.com/#!/Direngrey
http://www.myspace.com/direngrey
http://www.facebook.com/direngrey
ディル アン グレイ this is the Katakana-form for Dir en grey and also used the most. The band was formed on the 2nd February 1997 in Kansai region, Osaka. It consists of following members: Kyo (vocal), Kaoru (lead guitar and leader), Die (acoustic and rythm guitar), Toshiya (bass) and Shinya (drummer).
The lyrics of Dir en grey are written by the vocalist Kyo. The texts have no happy ending, because Kyo stated he dislikes them (read his facts). The lyrics are full of symbols and metaphors and very difficult to understand. I´m sure there are just a FEW ones, who get the real and correct meaning, but we´ll never know. The „stories“ in those texts are often just hinted and offer a lot room for thinking and interpretations. Kyo also uses unusual Kanji and „plays“ with the language. The same goes to his using in german (Schwein no isu), russian or english words, also with writing songs in english only (Deity, Hydra, Child Prey). Another intersting fact is, that you will notice, that he doesn´t tell you the stories of his sight of view only. For example, „mazohyst of decadence“ was written of a view for a foetus, „Jealous“ of the view of a woman.
The songs of Dir en grey are dedicated to themes like death, murder, suicide, rape, abuse of children, suffering etc. Those themes, humans are troubled with. „The dark themes…the taboo-themes.“ He builts no shining walls around the centre of the problems and wakes up the emotional side in us; doesn´t matter if it´s sorrow, anger, fear….depends on our interpretation.
A lot MVs also got cencored because of the voilent or too exactly showing of the situations. But, as a lot of other fans, I think, Dir en grey wants to wake us up and to make us thinking about the deeper meaning of the songs and also about today´s society and daily life.
Well, please let me lead you into the existence of Dir en grey:
Kyo and Shinya know each other since they were young. Together with Kisaki (bass) they were in a band called „Haijin Kurobarazoku.“ 1995 the three left this band later and formed together with Die and Shio (both guitar) “La:Sadies”. 1996 Shio left the Band and was replaced with Kaoru. The music La:Sadies played was identificated to the Visual Kei scene and inspired by the music of “Kuroyume”, a band, Kyo once was a roadie for (he also found his idol in Kuroyume´s singer Kiyoharu). During La:Sadies´s carrier, they released some demo tapes, several CDs and played a few lives. 1997 Kisaki made a decision for himself and left the band. There are a few rumors about that: 1st Kisaki didn´t want to be a part of a major label, while the rest wanted to be, 2nd Kisaki and Kyo had been in a very worse dispute because they didn´t have the same opinion about the future of La:Sadies and 3rd rumor says that Kaoru and Kisaki weren´t able to go along together and always argued with each other. Well, they hadn´t a bassist anymore, but didn´t stop the music. It is said that they performed as “DEAD ONE”, but there are no facts revealed about this. Nevertheless, they needed a bassist. They remembered, that they were interested in the skills of a bassist of “GO:SICK”, on whose live appearance they took a break during their own live in Nagano. They rememberd no other than Toshiya. Like he jokingly says, he was kidnapped and forced to play in La:Sadies. They changed the band name (ex-Kuroyume, then DEAD ONE like rumors say) to “DEATH MASK”. 1997 they finally decided on the name Dir en grey. Some fans even wrote them in different ways: Dir En Grey and Dir en Grey, but on older albums definetly stood Dir en grey (just had to say). Today it is written as DIR EN GREY.
The beginning and carreer of Dir en grey:
After Dir en grey already released the mini-album “MISSA” (under the label FREE-WILL) in 1997 and the following singles “JEALOUS” and “-I´ll-“ (which made it on place 7 of the japanese Oricon Charts and broke the record as the highest ranking title from an independent label at that time) in 1998, the drummer, pianist, producer and leader of X-Japan, Yoshiki Hayashi (idol of Shinya btw.) was interested in the music they played and offered his help for releasing a few things.
On the 20th January 1999 they produced “akuro no oka”, “yurameki” and “-ZAN-“ via “east west japan” (sublabel of warner music group). With success. All three were in top 10 of the Oricon Chars (places 5,6 and 7). They were also one of the first independent bamds, who broke into the mainstream charts. The singles “cage” and “yokan” were following and finally on the 28th Juli 1999 their first album “GAUZE” (published half on Dir en grey´s own in Japan and half on Yoshiki´s own in Los Angeles- based for the realeased singles of GAUZE; they also say, that a video with songs of GAUZE exitst, but I´m not sure about that). Their first album also reached place 5 of the charts. The next step was their first tour through Japan, which final appearance was held in the hall of Osaka´s castle.
In 2000 Dir en grey released a DVD (Osaka-jo Hall) about that. Once they were well-known, they broke away from Yoshiki, starting “their own thing” (that does NOT mean, that the friendship between them broke up). After this decision, they released the singles “MIYAKU”, “[KR]cube” and “taiyou no ao”. They also changed to Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and got their own sublable FIREWALL DIV. for producing themselves on their own. They published their second album “MACABRE” which made it to place 4 of the Oricon Charts.
Though the singles “ain´t afraid to die” (which was written during MACABRE but not published with this album), “filth”, “Yessica”, “Embryo” and the album “Kai” were released, they mainly performed live shows in 2001.
In January 2002 they released their third album “KISOU” and the singles “child prey” & the EP “six Ugly” . Btw, “KISOU” made it on place 3 of the charts. In 2002 they also toured through Asia (China, Taiwan and Korea) for the first time, under the name “RETTOU GEKISHIN ANGYA 2002 -ASIA- The Japanese Fxxker Family” (in January of the following year, this tour was selled on DVD, too). In Shanghai, security officals had to be called in to calm down fanatic fans. This incident became a theme in the newspapers later.
In January 2003 Dir en grey begun the year with a live at Yokohama Arena. In summer they toured under „5 DAYS live at Akasaka Blitz“. Meanwhile they released the singles „drain away“ and „Kasumi.“ In September 2003 their fourth album „VULGAR“ was born. Through these past years they already changed in their music style. They were no longer a Visual Kei band, but changed into J-Rock category.They became even more aggressive, which the later following singles „the final“ and „Saku“ proved. With their unique style, their fanbase became bigger and bigger. But therefore they were also critizised by their older fans, who were missing their VK past.
In 2004 they continue to tour. The career became even more popular, not longer just in asian regions. But let´s not forget, that they also released the singles “The Final” and “Saku”.
In March 2005 Dir en grey released the 5th album „Withering to death“. On 28th May they performed in Germany (Columbia Halle in Berlin) the first time (*yey* cuz I´m a German). But not only „first time in Germany“ also first time in Europe! Right after that they performed at „Rock am Ring“and „Rock im Park“. On 24th July they performed at Olympia Hall in Paris and two days later they appeared on „Octupus Rock Festival” in Belgien. In November they went on Japan´s „Taste of Chaos Tour Japan 2005“ (with other bands). September 2005 was the month, when their next single „Clever Sleazoid“ was selled.In the same month, they signed a record contract for Germany (label Gan-Shin, focused on japanese rock music; Gan-Shin released the 5th and then the 4th album in Germany).
In 2006 Dir en grey toured 3 major cities in America, before „Withering to deah“ finally gets released there. It was also Dir en grey´s first time for America, where they now have a contract with „US Label Warcon Records”. In May to June they toured through Europe for 2 years under the name „It withers and withers“ (they returned to Columbia Halle and the day after they went to Kölner E-Werk) and performed at „Rock am Ring“ again. They were the first japanese band which performed on the main stage! In July the single „ryouyoku no ame“ was released –during- their tour. On 31sth July and 1st August they performed at NIPPON BUDOKAN; each day under an other name. The shows were sold out, of course. Starting on the 4th August they went on an other tour for 2 months. This tour was presented by „KORN“, called „The family values tour“ together with bands like „Deftones“ and „Flyleaf“. During the whole time in Europe, Dir en grey didn´t need to advertise their coming, because they were popular enough among their fans and rock-fans. The speech barrier between them and the audience also didn´t matter! The „family values tour“,with 32 live appearances, took time from August til the end of September through whole USA and Canada . And the touring doesn´t end: In October they performed at Japan´s Rock festival „Loud Park“ on the main stage. November 2006: „Aggitated screams of maggots“ was born. The most agressive til 2006 with (out of the view of my opinion) a heartbraking lyric. In the end of 2006 they won „2006 best music video“ at MTV´s program „Headbangers Ball“.
In February 2007 they perfomed 18 shows again, including many sold-out shows in one month at their North American Headliner Tour. LA Times quoted on 22.02.2007 „From NY to LA, the band causes a media frenzy.“ (cool, right :D) On the 7th February 2007 they release their 6th album „the marrow of a bone“ in Japan (yes, during the tour). All 26 titles which were released after their debut, hit the Top 10 of the Oricon Charts. At this time, the 6th album also was released in 11 other countries (Germany and America included). „KERRANG!“, an english major rock magazine, gave the album a review. In March they continued their performances with the 21 Show Japan Tour at Makuhari Messe´s Event Hall and ended this tour in April. In June they went on a tour as special guests with the band „Deftones“. Startin from August the performed their first live show in England and headed over to Germany´s rock festival „Wacken Open Air“ and also played with „Nine Inch Nails“ at other festivals (I think it was in Ankkarock (Finland) and M’era Luna).
In October 2007 the single “Dozing Green” was released (featuring a new version of the song “Hydra”, named with “Hydra666”) and is also featured on “Uroboros” album, which came out in November 2008. For the “Dozing Green” MV, horror-mangaka Umezu Kazuo supported Dir en grey with drawing them scenes. In the end of November 2007, Dir en grey opened two shows for Linking Park, during their “Linking Park Japan Tour”. The December was dedicated for 2 albums called “best of- Decade 1998-2002” and “Decade 2003-2007.” To be honest my heart stopped when I heard about a best of, cuz it could mean, they´ll stop their music. But then I got the chance for Kaoru´s interview, where he statet, that it´s just a chance for someone who wants to get to know Dir en grey´s whole music.
While they started 2008 with working on their new album, they started in May another Japan Tour, called „Tour08 Death over Blindness“. This tour actually ended on 30th May- on the 28th-30th they appeared on three shows in Shinkiba Sudio Coast. But for the 4th May they interrupted the tour for the memorial day of hide– the famous and still beloved guitarist from X-Japan and who had the most successful solo during the break up of X-Japan, who gathered again for continuing music. But not only Dir en grey appeared on the memorial, of course also X-Japan, Luna Sea, D´espairsRay, MUCC, heidi and some other bands. In September 2008 Dir en grey gave us the single “Glass Skin” which is also recorded in an english version on their album “Uroboros” that said “hello” to the world in November 2008. With another and whole new music style and with an oriental touch. The September was also the month for their 2nd Japan tour of 2008 (“The Rose Trims Again”). It started with 2 shows in Shibuya AK, Tokyo, which only [a knot] members were allowed to go to. “The Rose Trims Again” ended with –again- 2 shows in Zepp Sapporo, on 10th and 12th October 2008 (“open for every one”). During the 3 christmas days in 2008, Dir en grey appeared live again in Yokohama; the shows were given under the name “-BAJRA-“. The 29th December surely have been emotional touching for our boys, because they gave a show in Osaka-Jo Hall, where they had given their very first concert. But the stressful year still wasn´t over: On 31st December, they gave a silvester-concert, which had started at 23:55 in Namba Hatch, Osaka.
In January 2009 Dir en grey participated in “Kerrang! Relentless Tour 2009” in Ireland and Great Britain. In February they started the “Tour 09 Feast of V Senses”. Besides the “normal” concerts, they also had done some “male-only” in smaller towns and clubs of Japan. In summer, they also returned to Europe again, also in Germany.2nd December 2009: the single “Hageshisa to kono mune no naka de karamitsuita shakunetsu no yami” was published, featuring new versions of the songs “shokubeni” and “ZAN”. This single also is a music theme for “SAW 3D”.After two days tickets for the upcoming Nippon Budokan show were sold out. Dir en grey also stated to travel to foreign countries again, but before they leaved Japan, they gave us a photo collection of the Budokan show and video material of these concerts.
9th January 2010 the DVD “Uroboros- with the proof in the name of living-“ was released. Almost whole 2010 was for concerts and tours only, like the “unwavering fact of tomorrow tour 2010”, “Pentaport Rock Festival” or “Sonisphere Festival.” The 2010 tour goes til the 6th January 2011. They already stated that they will release a new single titled “LOTUS” on the 26th January 2011. We all can become exited for the new stuff…maybe with a radical change again?
note: If there is ANY mistake above, please, tell me. I don´t want to give wrong informations and also don´t want to think, that something which is actually wrong is true.
justkonkodou 