Toshiya, of DIr en Grey
Happy belated birthday to Toshiya, bassist of the Jrock band Dir en Grey, who turned 31 yesterday!!
Dir en Grey was formed when the indies band La:Sadies disbanded in 1995/1996. All of the members except one (KISAKI, who later went to participate in several other indie groups, including Phantasmagoria) recruited bassist Toshiya, who had been in the band D+L, to join them, and the five of them created Dir en Grey in February of 1997. The name comes from a combination of several languages, apparently so that no other meaning could be drawn from it except being the name of the band. (Credit: Wikipedia)
Shortly after their formation they released a mini-album entitled Missa. The next year they managed to hit the Oricon charts with their indie singles Jealous and I’ll, attracting the attention of many Japanese fans. Their next five singles were arranged and produced by the former X-Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi, and thus achieved much attention. In 1999, their first album Gauze was released. They then embarked on a series of tours promoting the album.
The group released their second album, Macabre, in September 2000, and they planned to partake in promotional concerts in the beginning of the year, but lead singer Kyo was hospitalized with hearing problems. The group was back at end of the year to kick off their tour, and they finished off in April 2001.
In 2002, after the release of their third album, Kisou, Dir en Grey had their first overseas concerts, touring China, Taiwan, and South Korea. They returned to Japan shortly afterwards to appear in more live venues to promote their second mini-album Six Ugly, which featured American-style rock, and, in 2003, their album Vulgar, which came out in September 2003. They spent much of 2004 touring for the new album.
They performed in Europe for the first time in 2005. Their concerts in Berlin and Paris sold out at this time. They also participated in a few major festivals and worked together with European and American bands at their concerts. They also appeared in the Taste of Chaos concert tour in Japan. That same year they also released their albums in Europe. Their newest album, Withering to Death, was the first of their releases to hit a foreign chart.
In 2006 they began to appear in the United States, playing in Austin, New York City, and Los Angeles after releasing Withering to Death in the US. After Kyo was hospitalized again, this time for inflamed vocal cords, they performed with Korn at the Family Values Tour, and then they returned to Japan for the release of a new single and more concerts.
In February of 2007, their sixth studio album, The Marrow of a Bone, was released in Japan, and in the United States and Europe the following months. They embarked on a North American tour, hitting seventeen cities, then opened for Deftones at a nationwide tour. In August, they returned to Europe for another tour, playing in more than five countries and festivals across the continent.
September saw the beginning of another international tour promoting their latest single, Dozing Green. Recently, to commemorate 10 years as a band, they released two compilation albums on December 19.
Dir en Grey is expected in early 2008 to begin working on their next album, and will commence the first tour of the year, a Japan tour, in May.
Debut date: February 1997
Labels:
Japanese indie: Firewall Div (Free-Will)
Japanese major: Sony Music Japan
Europe: Gan Shin
US indie: Warcon Enterprises
US major: Fontana
Members:
Vocals: Kyo
Guitar: Die
Guitar: Kaoru
Bass: Toshiya
Drums: Shinya
Discography
Singles:
05/10/1998 - Jealous
08/12/1998 - -I’ll-
01/20/1999 - Akuro no Oka
01/20/1999 - Yurameki
01/20/1999 - -Zan-
05/26/1999 - Cage
07/14/1999 - Yokan
02/16/2000 - Myaku
06/07/2000 - [KR] Cube
07/26/2000 - Taiyou no Ao
04/18/2001 - Ain’t Afraid to Die
09/12/2001 - Filth
11/14/2001 - Jessica
12/19/2001 - Embryo
07/31/2002 - Child Prey
01/22/2003 - Drain Away
04/23/2003 - Kasumi
03/22/2004 - The Final
07/14/2004 - Saku
10/21/2005 - Cleaver Sleazoid
07/26/2006 - Ryoujoku no Ame
11/15/2006 - Agitated Screams of Maggots
10/24/2007 - Dozing Greem
Mini-Albums:
07/25/1997 - Missa
07/31/2002 - Six Ugly
Albums:
07/28/1999 - Gauze
09/20/2000 - Macabre
08/22/2001 - Kai (Remix Album)
01/30/2002 - Kisou
09/10/2003 - Vulgar
03/19/2005 - Withering to Death
02/07/2007 - The Marrow of a Bone
12/19/2007 - Decade 1998-2002
12/19/2007 - Decade 2003-2007
Chronological Discography:
1st mini-album: 07/25/1997 - Missa
1st single: 05/10/1998 - Jealous
2nd single: 08/12/1998 - -I’ll-
3rd single: 01/20/1999 - Akuro no Oka
4th single: 01/20/1999 - Yurameki
5th single: 01/20/1999 - -Zan-
6th single: 05/26/1999 - Cage
7th single: 07/14/1999 - Yokan
1st album: 07/28/1999 - Gauze
8th single: 02/16/2000 - Myaku
9th single: 06/07/2000 - [KR] Cube
10th single: 07/26/2000 - Taiyou no Ao
2nd album: 09/20/2000 - Macabre
11th single: 04/18/2001 - Ain’t Afraid to Die
1st remix album: 08/22/2001 - Kai (Remix Album)
12th single: 09/12/2001 - Filth
13th single: 11/14/2001 - Jessica
14th single: 12/19/2001 - Embryo
3rd album: 01/30/2002 - Kisou
15th single: 07/31/2002 - Child Prey
2nd mini-album: 07/31/2002 - Six Ugly
16th single: 01/22/2003 - Drain Away
17th single: 04/23/2003 - Kasumi
4th album: 09/10/2003 - Vulgar
18th single: 03/22/2004 - The Final
19th single: 07/14/2004 - Saku
5th album: 03/19/2005 - Withering to Death
20th single: 10/21/2005 - Cleaver Sleazoid
21st single: 07/26/2006 - Ryoujoku no Ame
22nd single: 11/15/2006 - Agitated Screams of Maggots
6th album: 02/07/2007 - The Marrow of a Bone
23rd single: 10/24/2007 - Dozing Greem
1st compilation album: 12/19/2007 - Decade 1998-2002
2nd compilation album: 12/19/2007 - Decade 2003-2007
Credits: Wikipedia
Dir en Grey is great. =D I've done a lot of birthdays on them already, and I don't feel like putting too much of an opinion up. xD; So, they're great. And they rock hard. :3
Agitated Screams of Maggots (Second most recent single)
Caution: Viewer Discretion is advised! Woooow this song is crazy! It’s a lot of screaming and angry sounds and creepy images. There are A LOT of sexual images in this video, especially since it’s about rape. WOW. It’s all animated. But it’s…wow. Yeah. Not for children. Very creepy and weird. O_o; The song itself is meh for me, because it's too screamy for my tastes. x_x;
Lyrics | Translation
Download
Dir en Grey - Agitated Screams of Maggots
Dir en Grey was formed when the indies band La:Sadies disbanded in 1995/1996. All of the members except one (KISAKI, who later went to participate in several other indie groups, including Phantasmagoria) recruited bassist Toshiya, who had been in the band D+L, to join them, and the five of them created Dir en Grey in February of 1997. The name comes from a combination of several languages, apparently so that no other meaning could be drawn from it except being the name of the band. (Credit: Wikipedia)
Shortly after their formation they released a mini-album entitled Missa. The next year they managed to hit the Oricon charts with their indie singles Jealous and I’ll, attracting the attention of many Japanese fans. Their next five singles were arranged and produced by the former X-Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi, and thus achieved much attention. In 1999, their first album Gauze was released. They then embarked on a series of tours promoting the album.
The group released their second album, Macabre, in September 2000, and they planned to partake in promotional concerts in the beginning of the year, but lead singer Kyo was hospitalized with hearing problems. The group was back at end of the year to kick off their tour, and they finished off in April 2001.
In 2002, after the release of their third album, Kisou, Dir en Grey had their first overseas concerts, touring China, Taiwan, and South Korea. They returned to Japan shortly afterwards to appear in more live venues to promote their second mini-album Six Ugly, which featured American-style rock, and, in 2003, their album Vulgar, which came out in September 2003. They spent much of 2004 touring for the new album.
They performed in Europe for the first time in 2005. Their concerts in Berlin and Paris sold out at this time. They also participated in a few major festivals and worked together with European and American bands at their concerts. They also appeared in the Taste of Chaos concert tour in Japan. That same year they also released their albums in Europe. Their newest album, Withering to Death, was the first of their releases to hit a foreign chart.
In 2006 they began to appear in the United States, playing in Austin, New York City, and Los Angeles after releasing Withering to Death in the US. After Kyo was hospitalized again, this time for inflamed vocal cords, they performed with Korn at the Family Values Tour, and then they returned to Japan for the release of a new single and more concerts.
In February of 2007, their sixth studio album, The Marrow of a Bone, was released in Japan, and in the United States and Europe the following months. They embarked on a North American tour, hitting seventeen cities, then opened for Deftones at a nationwide tour. In August, they returned to Europe for another tour, playing in more than five countries and festivals across the continent.
September saw the beginning of another international tour promoting their latest single, Dozing Green. Recently, to commemorate 10 years as a band, they released two compilation albums on December 19.
Dir en Grey is expected in early 2008 to begin working on their next album, and will commence the first tour of the year, a Japan tour, in May.
Debut date: February 1997
Labels:
Japanese indie: Firewall Div (Free-Will)
Japanese major: Sony Music Japan
Europe: Gan Shin
US indie: Warcon Enterprises
US major: Fontana
Members:
Vocals: Kyo
Guitar: Die
Guitar: Kaoru
Bass: Toshiya
Drums: Shinya
Discography
Singles:
05/10/1998 - Jealous
08/12/1998 - -I’ll-
01/20/1999 - Akuro no Oka
01/20/1999 - Yurameki
01/20/1999 - -Zan-
05/26/1999 - Cage
07/14/1999 - Yokan
02/16/2000 - Myaku
06/07/2000 - [KR] Cube
07/26/2000 - Taiyou no Ao
04/18/2001 - Ain’t Afraid to Die
09/12/2001 - Filth
11/14/2001 - Jessica
12/19/2001 - Embryo
07/31/2002 - Child Prey
01/22/2003 - Drain Away
04/23/2003 - Kasumi
03/22/2004 - The Final
07/14/2004 - Saku
10/21/2005 - Cleaver Sleazoid
07/26/2006 - Ryoujoku no Ame
11/15/2006 - Agitated Screams of Maggots
10/24/2007 - Dozing Greem
Mini-Albums:
07/25/1997 - Missa
07/31/2002 - Six Ugly
Albums:
07/28/1999 - Gauze
09/20/2000 - Macabre
08/22/2001 - Kai (Remix Album)
01/30/2002 - Kisou
09/10/2003 - Vulgar
03/19/2005 - Withering to Death
02/07/2007 - The Marrow of a Bone
12/19/2007 - Decade 1998-2002
12/19/2007 - Decade 2003-2007
Chronological Discography:
1st mini-album: 07/25/1997 - Missa
1st single: 05/10/1998 - Jealous
2nd single: 08/12/1998 - -I’ll-
3rd single: 01/20/1999 - Akuro no Oka
4th single: 01/20/1999 - Yurameki
5th single: 01/20/1999 - -Zan-
6th single: 05/26/1999 - Cage
7th single: 07/14/1999 - Yokan
1st album: 07/28/1999 - Gauze
8th single: 02/16/2000 - Myaku
9th single: 06/07/2000 - [KR] Cube
10th single: 07/26/2000 - Taiyou no Ao
2nd album: 09/20/2000 - Macabre
11th single: 04/18/2001 - Ain’t Afraid to Die
1st remix album: 08/22/2001 - Kai (Remix Album)
12th single: 09/12/2001 - Filth
13th single: 11/14/2001 - Jessica
14th single: 12/19/2001 - Embryo
3rd album: 01/30/2002 - Kisou
15th single: 07/31/2002 - Child Prey
2nd mini-album: 07/31/2002 - Six Ugly
16th single: 01/22/2003 - Drain Away
17th single: 04/23/2003 - Kasumi
4th album: 09/10/2003 - Vulgar
18th single: 03/22/2004 - The Final
19th single: 07/14/2004 - Saku
5th album: 03/19/2005 - Withering to Death
20th single: 10/21/2005 - Cleaver Sleazoid
21st single: 07/26/2006 - Ryoujoku no Ame
22nd single: 11/15/2006 - Agitated Screams of Maggots
6th album: 02/07/2007 - The Marrow of a Bone
23rd single: 10/24/2007 - Dozing Greem
1st compilation album: 12/19/2007 - Decade 1998-2002
2nd compilation album: 12/19/2007 - Decade 2003-2007
Credits: Wikipedia
Dir en Grey is great. =D I've done a lot of birthdays on them already, and I don't feel like putting too much of an opinion up. xD; So, they're great. And they rock hard. :3
Agitated Screams of Maggots (Second most recent single)
Caution: Viewer Discretion is advised! Woooow this song is crazy! It’s a lot of screaming and angry sounds and creepy images. There are A LOT of sexual images in this video, especially since it’s about rape. WOW. It’s all animated. But it’s…wow. Yeah. Not for children. Very creepy and weird. O_o; The song itself is meh for me, because it's too screamy for my tastes. x_x;
Lyrics | Translation
Click to viewDownload
Dir en Grey - Agitated Screams of Maggots