J~music Eden ~ News Archive

News

November 2007

D'espairsRay and MUCC to join Taste of Chaos tour

Both D'espairsRay and MUCC will be joining the Taste of Chaos tour early next year for 46 dates in North America.

Happy Birthday YOSHIKI!

YOSHIKI's birthday is November 20th. Happy Birthday YOSHIKI!

October 2007

On October 22nd, the legendary band X JAPAN announced that they will be performing a concert in Tokyo in the spring of 2008.
On the same day, they recorded a PV in Tokyo at Aqua City in Odaiba before thousands of fans for their new song "I.V.", which is their first new song since their disbandment in 1997. This song will be the end title song for the new feature film "SAW IV".

June 2007

Sponichi, a Japanese newspaper recently reported that X Japan will officially be reuniting, with plans for a tour and new single sometime within the coming year.

Since their personal reunion in November 2006, Yoshiki and former X Japan vocalist Toshi have kept in touch by phone. In March of this year, Toshi came to Los Angeles at Yoshiki's invitation to sing a new version of the song "Without You". This song was originally an instrumental song Yoshiki wrote in 1998 when Hide passed away which was released on Yoshiki's first album. Yoshiki said that he wrote the lyrics for the years ago, but it was only after an emotional recording session that the two of them felt that "the puzzle pieces just fit".

It has been reported that Yoshiki is currently in discussions with guitarist Pata and bassist Heath about the reunion. The tentative plan is to begin the tour in Los Angeles, with ten or more guest guitarists joining Yoshiki, Toshi, Pata and Heath to perform Hide's parts during various songs at each show. The new version of "Without You" is to be released sometime this year.

Yoshiki made the following statement regarding the reunion: "After Hide's death most fans were divided between to extreme opinions, either 'you reunite and I'll kill you' or 'if you don't reunite I'll die.' It was a difficult decision, which is why we didn't put anything into motion before. [X Japan's] reunion is something we had to decide for ourselves."

February 2007

Two members of DuelJewel will make appearances in the U.S. this month. On February 16th, Hayato and another member will do a photo & autograph session at Katsucon, and they will also have a premier of a special concert video which was shot at one of their recent sold out performances in Japan. On February 17th & 18th, they will make appearances at Megacon, where they will also do a photo & autograph session and appear at the showing of their concert video.
For more information, visit the JhouseRock website.

October 2006

D'espairsRay will tour Europe next month. For more information, see the D'espairsRay section of this site.
They will release a new Live DVD [LIQUIDIZE] on December 20th.

DuelJewel is releasing a new CD + DVD entitled "Aishu Melancholia/｢Life On...｣" on November 1st. There are 2 versions of this CD. The "GONE SIDE" version DVD features the "Aishu Melancholia" PV, as well 'making of' footage. The "FROM SIDE" version features a "｢Life On...｣" video comprised of concert footage, and also contains a special message from the members.

September 2006

Dir en grey would like to know what the fans thought of their recent tour. Please go to the Free Will America website and complete their online survey. By completing the survey, you will automatically be entered into a special prize giveaway for exclusive Dir en grey memorabilia.

August 2006

YOSHIKI makes biggest announcement of the year!!!

YOSHIKI announced at his panel at Otakon that he is forming a band with none other than Gackt! No details about when this will happen have been released yet. He will also continue his work with Violet UK.

June 2006

YOSHIKI will be a guest at Otakon, according to an announcement made today by the convention. He will be participating in a panel discussion of his work and signing autographs.

MUCC will be performing 2 shows at Otakon, and will also be participating in a panel and an autograph session. According to MUCC's official website, their concerts will be on August 4th & 5th.

May 2006

Here is the information on D'espairsRay's fourth U.S. tour:

June 15 - Webster Underground ~ Hartford, CT
June 16 - AnimeNEXT ~ Secaucus, NJ
June 17 - CBGB ~ New York, New York

April 2006

DuelJewel will release a new CD single called "azure", which will be released on July 5th in Japan through Avex Marketing Communications.
Three tracks will be on the CD:
1. azure
2. versus
3. Akaneiri no machi (piano version)

Free Will America has confirmed that Dir en grey will be a part obf the "Family Values Tour 06" in the U.S. However, the tour is scheduled to begin on July 27th, and Dir en grey has shows scheduled in Tokyo on July 31st and August 1st. I will update any new information concerning this as it becomes available.

PIERROT IS DISBANDING. This was posted in a message by Kirito on PIERROT's official website today, April 12, 2006. The following is a translation of that post:

News of PIERROT Disbandment

PIERROT is disbanding, though it's informed abruptly. The intentions among the members, was to value the activity of PIERROT to the last, unification on this subject was not possible. We would like to make solo activity the top priority for this reason. It is truly mortifying to end this in such a way. And, after thinking of the feelings of the people who up until now, loved PIERROT, many avenues were discussed desperately- many times. That feeling persuaded us not to give up until the very last moment, no matter what. Hot tears were shed. Somehow, everything we did to continue PIERROT became exhausted. Even then with enthusiasm for the recovery of PIERROT, from Jun and Aiji, it would not do. As with all Leaders, I thought the shortage of my power was the cause. KOHTA and Takeo persevered until both their mind and bodies became ragged and torn. But they also judged that they could not fight for such a painful desire any further.

It was thought that I could stop my solo activity, so that we may give PIERROT top priority, but two people were unable to be persuaded to take this route by any means. There is no way to apologize for this result, to the fans, for the anxiety this will cause. "However we could do a member change." is a method that is not possible by any means. It is the thought of both KOHTA and TAKEO that this is PIERROT because of these five people.

Even a live disbanding is not possible, at the same time, it is severely mortifying, and regrettable, when you think about it, that there is no possible excuse. But the present condition of our feelings left from the disbandment of PIERROT make it impossible, it's a reality.

Honestly, I have anxiety and insecurity of having to go on, how to go on in the future. I don't know if it's good.

But I cannot stop after all.

I think that KOHTA and TAKEO will be helping, and it's thought that they can do nothing but advance ahead in the future. I will make new music as soon as possible. I think there is a determination, between Aiji and Jun, doing solo until the end of PIERROT. Please support these two people.

These words seem insufficient, and I think they cannot possibly be the end all kind of words. But please let me say them.

Those who have loved PIERROT up until this moment, thank you truly.

PIERROT Kirito

*translation is from konmei's LiveJournal

Dir en grey will release "IT WITHERS AND WITHERS" LIVE DVD TOUR '05 on May 3rd.

D'espairsRay will release 2 new CD singles entitled "Kogoeru Yoru ni Saita Hana (Type A)" and "Kogoeru Yoru ni Saita Hana (Type B)" on April 5th. Each CD will contain additional special content - live concert footage which was recorded at Megacon in Orlando, Florida on February 26, 2006. The Type A single will have footage of the song "Forbidden" and will also contain a special CD-size card. There are 4 different cards, one of each of the band members. One of these cards will be inserted at random in each CD. The Type B single will have footage of the song "Garnet".

Phantasmagoria will be making several releases in the near future:

DVDs
"SURVIVOR'S GUILT-2005,10.21&22 USA Houston, Texas Park Plaza Hotel Reliant-"
Release date ~ 06-21-2006
1st One Man performance in Houston

"TERRITORY OF DIVINE-2006.3.27 SHIBUYA-AX"
Release date ~ 07-26-2006
1st Japanese One Man performance at SHIBUYA AX

3 Compilations released at the same time
Release date ~ 05-31-2006

"PLEASURE of DESTRUCTION"
Compilation CD
(A track which will be announced later is included)
5 Tracks
(Bands: Phantasmagoria(GUEST)/ SERPENT/ BLOOD STAIN CHILD/ OTO ONI/ VAGERKE)
See the 3-29 & 4-29 issues of FOOL'S MATE for details.

"NIHON SEIATSU-2005.11.30 TOKYO LIQUIDROOM ebisu-"
Compilation Live DVD

"NIHON SEIATSU-Bands@id ch-"
Compilation Documentary DVD

According to the member's blog on the SYNECTICS website, Psycho le Cému will suspend activities indefinitely following their tour in May.

February 2006

Free Will America has announced Dir en grey's U.S. tour. They will be doing a music industry only performance at the South by Southwest Music Festival on March 17th, as well as shows at Club Avalon in New York City, NY on March 21st and Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA on March 23rd. For more information see Free Will America's website.

D'espairsRay will release their documentary DVD "[The World OutSide The Cage]" on March 8th.

January 2006

D'espairsRay will be returning to the U.S. for their 3rd American tour in February.

February 23 - Avalon - New York, NY
February 26 - Megacon - Orlando, FL
For more information see the Jhouserock Website

I have it on good authority that due to their amazing popularity, GAZETTE will be going major this year.

The radio show Tainted Reality will return from hiatus on January 19th. This show airs via the web on MP3 simulcast every Thursday from 7-10 PM EST on WIXQ.

December 2005

Duel Jewel will release a 5-track mini album on February 22, 2006 entitled "Visions". One of the songs from this CD, "Akaneiro no machi" (an instrumantal song), is the ending theme for a 20-minute short movie titled "Kiseki wa sora kara futte kuru".

Gazette released 2 versions of their newest single Cassis on December 7th, 2005. The A type version has a DVD of the Cassis PV, while the B type version has a bonus track, Bite to All.

D released their first full album The name of the ROSE on September 28, 2005. There are two versions of this album. The Sleeper version, which has a DVD of the Sleeper PV, and the Mayutsuki no Hitsugi version, which has a DVD of the Mayutsuki no Hitsugi PV.
D also has a new bassist, Tsunehito (formerly of SCISSOR).

Dir en grey released the single CLEVER SLEAZOID on September 21, 2005.