Nine years of musical godliness
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DIR EN GREY!!!!
*Turns up stereo volume and headbangs like an autistic monkey*
I sent a thank-you e-card to my dear friend/cousin, for being the reason I got to hear Dir as early as I did; without him it would have been two more years before I heard them for the first time. Yoshi was also the one who introduced me to X about twenty years ago so endless thanks are certainly due.
Of course it would have been nice to know WHO I was listening to at the time, so I could have heard more immediately. It was autumn of 1997 when Yoshi had returned from visiting cousins in Tokyo and Yokohama, and while showing off the mountain of crap he had brought home, we listened to a mix tape he made while there. Two songs stood out like an aural beacon to me: Byou Shin and Garden. Unfortunately, I did not know they were Byou Shin and Garden, because O-baka had forgotten to label the tape. =p I loved the songs, made a copy and wore out the tape... Yoshi promised to find out who the bands were but I ended up finding out on my own.
Fast-forward about two years later. I hear Yoshiki is producing this 'new' band, so of course I'm intrigued. "Wow Yoshiki-sama is supporting them, they must be really good!" So I found out the name of band and album and begged Chris at RnR+ to order for me. And... they blew me away. It was instant love. Naturally I was back at RnR+ in a flash, to find out what other glorious work these people had done, and I acquired Missa. Wish I had myself on videotape, or at least a photo, when I heard those two familiar tracks. "Wait... OHMYGOD I KNOW this song!" *5 minutes later* "AAAGH!!! I know this song too!!!" *freaks out*
I regret the fact that I didn't know who to credit sooner, but I am sooo grateful to have heard them at all back then. Even just two songs. Nine years later and I can definitely say, without exaggeration, these guys have completely changed my life. Changed it, inspired it, made it better, given me strength, gotten me through the worst of times... just... utterly owned my soul. PWNED. And I love them so dearly for it.
Thank you Yoshi. And THANK YOU DIR EN GREY!!!!!