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The Gazette (band)

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The Gazette

The Gazette (ガゼット, Gazetto), stylized as the GazettE, is a Japanese visual kei-based[1] rock band formed early in 2002, currently signed to Sony Music Japan's VVV Records. Achieving success in their released singles, they are now an influential pioneer of the Visual Kei scene around the globe.

Biography

2002: Conception and early work

The foundations of the band began with Ruki (vocals), Reita (bass), and Uruha (guitar). After being involved with other bands in the visual scene, the trio decided that the GazettE would be their last band[2]. They recruited Aoi (guitar) and Yune (drums) from disbanded visual band Artia and so began the GazettE in January 2002.[3][2]

Originally signed to Matina, they released their first single, "Wakaremichi", and a video release on April 30, 2002[4]. They re-released Wakaremichi and the video release in June of the same year[4]. By September, they had released "Kichiku Kyoushi (32sai Dokushin) no Nousatsu Kouza" and their second PV release. In October they played their first one-man live. On Christmas, the 5-song compilation 妖幻鏡moon including the Gazette's song "Yougenkyou" was released [5].

2003: New drummer and Cockayne Soup

In early 2003, Yune decided to leave the band, and he was replaced by Kai. Shortly after, they signed with the PS Company label and in May, released their first EP, Cockayne Soup. They started their first tour, with the band Hanamuke, and along with the tour, the bands collaborated on two songs. A second tour followed with the band Vidoll, and the bands were featured together on the November issue of Cure, a magazine focusing on Visual Kei bands.[6]

In early December, they played a co-headlining show with Deadman. On December 28 they performed at Fool's Mate magazine's Beauti-fool's Fest which was later released on DVD.

2004: Disorder

On January 16, 2004 they recorded a solo performance at the Shibuya-AX, which was released on DVD as Tokyo Saihan -Judgment Day-.[3] On March 30, 2004 they released their Madara mini-album, which reached #2 on the Oricon Indie Charts. Madara was followed in May by a companion DVD, which included six music videos and an in-the-studio documentary. The same month, the GazettE was featured in Shoxx magazine's Expect Rush III, a catalogue of independent Visual Kei artists.[7] A second live DVD, Heisei Banka, was released in August.[3] During September and October they toured with fellow PS Company bands Kra and BIS. Their debut album, Disorder, was released in October and made it to the top 5 of the indies Oricon Daily Charts.

The band spent the remainder of 2004 and 2005 touring extensively, releasing Gama, another mini-album, in August.

2005-2006: Nil and Nameless Liberty Six Guns

In 2005, the band released their first major label single, Cassis, in December.[8]

Starting 2006 with a name change—from Japanese characters to a romanized script—they released NIL, their second studio album, on February 8, 2006,[3] and embarked on another Japanese tour, ending at the venue Nippon Budokan.[9] That July, the GazettE performed at the Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Germany, their first show outside of Asia. The concerts were arranged in conjunction with the AnimagiC anime and manga convention.[10]

2007-2009: Stacked Rubbish and DIM

Three more singles were released followed by 3rd studio album, STACKED RUBBISH on July 4, 2007. It reached #2 on the Oricon charts within a day from the release. The album debut was followed by a promotional tour from July through September. In October, the GazettE embarked on their first European tour, performing in England, Finland, France, and Germany.

A single named "Guren" was released on February 13, 2008, which landed a #1 spot on the Oricon Charts. It was announced that a new DVD would be released in August, and a new single LEECH in Autumn 2008 [11], which also landed a #1 spot on the Oricon daily charts.[12]

The GazettE accomplished a one man tour through all of October called "From the Distorted City," referencing to the song "Distorted Daytime" in their single "LEECH," which portrays Tokyo as a "distorted city," in terms of the society and political crisis sweeping over Japan.

On November 15, 2008, the GazettE hosted their first secret show in Shinjuku Station. Originally, around two-hundred fifty people were to be anticipated, but instead, over seven thousand attended, the most in the band's history. Due to the amount of people on the streets, the police were forced to shut it down after two songs.[12][13]

On January 3, 2009, the GazettE performed alongside their fellow bands signed to the PS Company label to celebrate the record label's tenth anniversary, where they announced they would release a new single called "DISTRESS AND COMA", which was preceded by a seventh-anniversary performance on March 10 at Makuhari Messe Convention Hall.

The band released their 4th studio album, "DIM" in the summer, followed by another Japan-wide summer tour starting in July, for which the tour's final show was held at Saitama Super Arena.

On October 7, 2009, they released their new single called "BEFORE I DECAY". On December 24, the GazettE held a Christmas Eve live to close out the year called "A HYMN OF THE CRUXIFIXION".[14]

2010: Transfer to Sony Music Records

On March 2010, the band embarked on "THE END OF STILLNESS" fan club only tour.[14]

After the fanclub tour, the band then announced another single and a live tour, which is named "TOUR10 NAMELESS LIBERTY SIX BULLETS" starting in July with two consecutive nights at the Nippon Budokan.[15] On August 4, 2010, they released a DVD of the band's ten promotional videos titled FILM BUG II. Among all of these events, the band has announced that they would be transferring from King Records to Sony Music Records, with the release of their seventeenth single "SHIVER", which was also selected as the opening theme song to the Sony anime series Kuroshitsuji II, was released on July 21, 2010.[16]

Right after the release of "SHIVER", the band announced the location for the final of the tour for "TOUR10 NAMELESS LIBERTY SIX BULLETS" which would be Tokyo Dome on 26 December 2010, and two new singles "Red" and "PLEDGE". [17] "Red" was released on September 22, 2010 and "PLEDGE" was released on December 15, 2010. [18]

On 23 March 2011, the GazettE will release new best of album titled "TRACES BEST OF 2005-2009" and in the same day they release live concert in DVD name THE NAMELESS LIBERTY AT 10.12.26 TOKYO DOME. New single (title not yet finalized) will be released in Spring 2011 respectively, although details have not yet been announced.

Musical style

the GazettE's musical style varies greatly, but it is generally considered to be a form of rock music while delving into the genres of heavy metal found in songs like "OGRE." They have also dabbled in alternative metal with the likes of "Taion" and "THE INVISIBLE WALL". Other songs like "SILLY GO DISCO" and "SWALLOWTAIL ON THE DEATH VALLEY" feature a funk rock sound with the use of jazzy chords and upbeat choruses. Other works such as "LEECH" and "HYENA" feature hard rock sound. "Filth in the beauty" features female R&B vocals and bass, Spanish-influenced acoustic guitar with techno beat, crunchy metal riffs, harmonized choruses and an incredible headbanging riff right in the middle - all within the same song. The songs "Maggots", "DISCHARGE" and "HEADACHE MAN" dwell into heavier forms of music, in particular, metalcore. the GazettE also uses a wide range of synthesized sounds during their songs to achieve interesting effects as well as create new listening dynamics and atmospheres. the GazettE is also known for utilizing various tunings to achieve a wide variety of sounds and styles. The Gazette has also produced a number of ballads such as "Reila", "Cassis", "Calm Envy", "Guren", and "PLEDGE" .

Discography

The Gazette discography
Studio albums4
EPs6
Compilation albums1
Singles19
Video albums3

Albums & EPs

Year Title Type Chart positions
2003 Cockayne Soup EP
2003 Akuyuukai EP
2003 Supermargarita EP
2003 Hankou Seimeibun EP
2004 Madara EP
2004 Disorder Studio album 19
2005 Gama EP
2006 NIL Studio album 4
2006 Dainihon Itangeishateki... Compilation album
2007 Stacked Rubbish Studio album 2
2009 DIM Studio album 5

Singles

Compilations

  • "Yougenkyou"(妖幻鏡moon) (December 25, 2002, Eternal)
    • (With the song "Okuribi" (おくり火))
  • "Kaleidoscope" (May 1, 2003, PS Company)
    • (With the songs "Back Drop Junkie [Nancy]" and "Akai One Piece" (赤いワンピース))
  • "Hanamuke & Gazette live"(男尻ツアーファイナル) (May 6, 2003, PS Company)
    • (With the song "Machibouke no Kouen de" (待ちぼうけの公園))
  • "Japanesque Rock Collectionz" (July 28, 2004)
    • (With the song "Okuribi" (おくり火))
  • "Rock Nippon Shouji Nori ko Selection" (ロックNIPPON 東海林のり子セレクション) (January 24, 2007)

Other releases

  • "Juuyon sai no naifu" / 14 sai no knife(十四歳のナイフ) (September 11, 2004, PS Company)
  • "Chigire"(チギレ) (August 2005, PS Company)
  • "Verwelktes Gedicht" (October 20, 2005, PS Company)
    • (With the song "Kare uta"(枯詩))

Videography

  • Shichoukaku Shitsu (視聴覚　質) (August 30, 2002)
  • Sentimental Video (センチメンタルビデオ) (March 1, 2003)
  • -Matina- Final Prelude Live (April 10, 2003) (Various artists)
  • Hyakkiyagyou (百鬼家行) (October 1, 2003)
  • Tokyo Saihan -Judgement Day- (東京裁判-Judgement Day-) (April 28, 2004, PS Company)
  • Madara (DVD) (斑蠡-Madara-) (May 26, 2004, PS Company)
  • Heisei Banka (平成挽歌) (August 25, 2004, PS Company)
  • Peace & Smile Carnival Tour 2005 (～笑顔でファッキュー～) Live DVD (2006) (with Miyavi, Kagrra, Kra, Alice Nine)
  • Standing Tour 2005 Final Maximum Royal Disorder at 2005.4.17 Shibuya Kokaido Live (STANDING TOUR 2005 FINAL「M.R.D」at 2005.4.17 渋谷公会堂) (July 6, 2005, PS Company)
  • Film Bug I (June 7, 2006, PS Company)
  • Standing Tour 2006 Nameless Liberty. Six Guns... -Tour Final- at Nippon Budokan (September 6, 2006, PS Company)
  • Tour 2006-2007 Decomposition Beauty—Final "Meaningless Art That People Showed" at Yokohama Arena (June 13, 2007, PS Company)
  • Tour 2007-2008 Stacked Rubbish Grand Finale [Repeated Countless Error] at Yoyogi National Gymnasium (August 6, 2008, PS Company)
  • Peace & Smile Carnival Tour 2009 at Nippon Budokan (April 15, 2009, PS Company) (with Miyavi, Kagrra, Kra, Alice Nine, Screw & Sug)
  • Tour09-DIM SCENE- Final at Saitama Super Arena (December 16, 2009, PS Company)
  • FILM BUG II (August 4, 2010, PS Company)
  • THE NAMELESS LIBERTY 10.12.26 at Tokyo Dome (March 23 , 2011)

References

  1. ^ a b Shoxx http://cljrecords.com/cms/content/view/27/49/ Cite error: The named reference "Shoxx 106" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Fool's Mate April 2006 April 2006
  3. ^ a b c d Gazette's page at Grass Thread Retrieved August 19, 2007 Cite error: The named reference "Grass Thread" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b "GazettE Bio Page" Retrieved April 2, 2010
  5. ^ [www.visunavi.com] Retrieved April 2, 2010
  6. ^ Cure Vol 2 Nov 2003
  7. ^ Expect Rush III
  8. ^ King Records Official Site Retrieved August 16, 2007
  9. ^ Gazette at the Top JAME News Retrieved August 19, 2007
  10. ^ Gazette in Germany This Summer JAME News Retrieved on August 19, 2007
  11. ^ New DVD and Single announced PSC Staff blog Retrieved April 20, 2008
  12. ^ a b Sponichi Annex ガゼットが街頭ライブ！当局指示で即中止に Nov 16 2008 News report Retrieved December 7, 2008 (Japanese)
  13. ^ Daily Sports Online Nov 16 2008 News report ガゼット 新宿駅前で７０００人ライブ Retrieved December 7, 2008 (Japanese)
  14. ^ a b [1] Dec 25 2009 Live report the GazettE、初のクリスマスイヴライブで雪 Retrieved March 22, 2010 (Japanese)
  15. ^ "the GazettE Will Continue Running as a Live Band in 2010!". Musicjapanplus. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  16. ^ "GazettE moves to Sony Music with their new single". Asia Pacific Arts. 2010-06-07. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  17. ^ "the GazettE to Perform at TOKYO DOME in August!". MusicJapanPlus. 2010-07-23. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  18. ^ "the GazettE、東京ドーム公演直前にニュー・シングルをリリース". Tower Records. 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
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