URGENT: JASMINE YOU IS DEAD
I've checked all of the major J-rock and Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet- fansites, and minus their Myspace which is pretty much never updated, it has been confirmed that early in the morning, on August 9th 2009, bassist of Versailles and the HIZAKI Grace Project, Jasmine You, died.
The cause of death is unknown at the moment, but it's said that his health had decreased so he took a break from the band (announced in August), yet the bass tracks were still being recorded for the new album. However, it seems highly unlikely now that the album will come to us, as Jasmine You's last great, yet unfinished, masterpieces. The album has obviously been put on an indefinite hiatus until the rest of the members of Versailles can come to grips long enough to officially decide if they want to release the untitled album.
I'm in absolute shock. I've been listening to Ascendead Master like a drug, watching the PV, too, but I've been so out of the Versailles loop other than that that I had no idea. My jaw took a good 15 minutes to come up off the floor, my body is shaking and numb, and my eyes welled up with tears and fell. I'm just... I was just in Japan and feel so guilty because I had no idea that he was even in bad health (The poor Myspace fans are still leaving 'get well' messages because no one updates their Myspace...)
My friend even bought the Rock&Read vol. 26 with Kai (GazettE) and Jasmine You, and I admired his natural beauty, while it was still feminine. I honestly never liked him when he was dressed as Jasmine You, in fact, I thought he looked scary and too manly to play a feminine role. I hate that I was ignorant. Just because he wasn't petit like his long-time friend and band member Hizaki, it does not mean that he was not beautiful in that way. It was a very unique style that he created and perfected, that I see now. I wish I had sooner, but I still believe he was beautiful outside of his stage character. I believe that jame-world.com described him best:
"Kageyama Yuuichi, also known as Jasmine You, was born on March 8th in the Aichi prefecture of Japan. Beneath his ornate clothing and classy flair, Jasmine was a typical male, with a love for cars, motorsports, music and movies.
Despite his masculine hobbies, Jasmine You was best known for his femininity and beauty. Jasmine embraced beauty in every form, and lived his life in its luxury, admiring not only natural beauties like landscapes and flowers, but materialistic treasures like fashion, automobiles and well crafted household items. In the visual scene, it was easy to set Jasmine apart from other musicians with his richly designed costumes, teased hair and elaborate accessories, all of which he created himself. From the start of his career to his finale, Jasmine has proved that beauty and fashion breaks the line which divides gender."
His last released masterpiece, Ascendead Master, is something that I, and many other Versailles fans, I'm sure, are listening to and watching his parts, especially, with hopes of a peaceful afterlife. May his family, friends, and, of course his band members find closure soon, and best wishes to them in this extremely tough time. And of course...
~*~ R.I.P. ~*~
~*~ Kageyama Yuuichi aka 'Jasmine You' ~*~
~*~ March 8th - August 9th, 2009 ~*~
From your great start in the visual kei scene with Jakura, to your grand finale with Versailles, it is truly a shame that your fans cannot see what great surprises and magic you had in store under your new major record label. You are now amongst the greats who also went before their time, such as hide-sama {X Japan} and Kami-sama {Malice Mizer}, a bassist for the heavenly band departed.
Forever may you rest in peace, Noble Prince.
[EDIT] Sorry for such over-dramaticness if shown, but Versailles is absolutely one of my favorite bands, and this news hit me hard.
My sources...
http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-53908-goodnight-sweet-prince.html
http://community.livejournal.com/versaillesfans/172053.html?view=2124053#t2124053
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles_(Japanese_band)
The cause of death is unknown at the moment, but it's said that his health had decreased so he took a break from the band (announced in August), yet the bass tracks were still being recorded for the new album. However, it seems highly unlikely now that the album will come to us, as Jasmine You's last great, yet unfinished, masterpieces. The album has obviously been put on an indefinite hiatus until the rest of the members of Versailles can come to grips long enough to officially decide if they want to release the untitled album.
I'm in absolute shock. I've been listening to Ascendead Master like a drug, watching the PV, too, but I've been so out of the Versailles loop other than that that I had no idea. My jaw took a good 15 minutes to come up off the floor, my body is shaking and numb, and my eyes welled up with tears and fell. I'm just... I was just in Japan and feel so guilty because I had no idea that he was even in bad health (The poor Myspace fans are still leaving 'get well' messages because no one updates their Myspace...)
My friend even bought the Rock&Read vol. 26 with Kai (GazettE) and Jasmine You, and I admired his natural beauty, while it was still feminine. I honestly never liked him when he was dressed as Jasmine You, in fact, I thought he looked scary and too manly to play a feminine role. I hate that I was ignorant. Just because he wasn't petit like his long-time friend and band member Hizaki, it does not mean that he was not beautiful in that way. It was a very unique style that he created and perfected, that I see now. I wish I had sooner, but I still believe he was beautiful outside of his stage character. I believe that jame-world.com described him best:
"Kageyama Yuuichi, also known as Jasmine You, was born on March 8th in the Aichi prefecture of Japan. Beneath his ornate clothing and classy flair, Jasmine was a typical male, with a love for cars, motorsports, music and movies.
Despite his masculine hobbies, Jasmine You was best known for his femininity and beauty. Jasmine embraced beauty in every form, and lived his life in its luxury, admiring not only natural beauties like landscapes and flowers, but materialistic treasures like fashion, automobiles and well crafted household items. In the visual scene, it was easy to set Jasmine apart from other musicians with his richly designed costumes, teased hair and elaborate accessories, all of which he created himself. From the start of his career to his finale, Jasmine has proved that beauty and fashion breaks the line which divides gender."
His last released masterpiece, Ascendead Master, is something that I, and many other Versailles fans, I'm sure, are listening to and watching his parts, especially, with hopes of a peaceful afterlife. May his family, friends, and, of course his band members find closure soon, and best wishes to them in this extremely tough time. And of course...
~*~ R.I.P. ~*~
~*~ Kageyama Yuuichi aka 'Jasmine You' ~*~
~*~ March 8th - August 9th, 2009 ~*~
From your great start in the visual kei scene with Jakura, to your grand finale with Versailles, it is truly a shame that your fans cannot see what great surprises and magic you had in store under your new major record label. You are now amongst the greats who also went before their time, such as hide-sama {X Japan} and Kami-sama {Malice Mizer}, a bassist for the heavenly band departed.
Forever may you rest in peace, Noble Prince.
[EDIT] Sorry for such over-dramaticness if shown, but Versailles is absolutely one of my favorite bands, and this news hit me hard.
My sources...
http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-53908-goodnight-sweet-prince.html
http://community.livejournal.com/versaillesfans/172053.html?view=2124053#t2124053
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles_(Japanese_band)