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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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 Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:22 pm
 DIR EN GREY HISTORY
Dir en grey is a Japanese rock group -- IMHO the coolest in the vein of what's known by many as Visual Rock. By far and above, they are definately one of the most unique visual rock groups, each of them having a certain flair that, when put together with the rest of the group, forms something stunning. From music to lyrics, from photo shoots to video clips, from interviews to live performances, they do everything with all the intensity and passion they can. And that passion is what drives them and makes them so loved.
Dir en grey originally formed in 1997 from the ashes of indies band La:Sadies, and released their first mini-album, MISSA, later that year. But it wasn't until 1998 with the release of several singles that their popularity began to grow. In August that year their single 'I'll' broke the sales record of indie singles and reached #7 on the Oricon chart in Japan.
They soon came to the attention of one of their idols, Yoshiki from X-Japan, and in the beginning of 1999, three major singles were released that had been produced by him; these songs had a more slickly polished feel to them, but were nonetheless uniquely Dir en grey and well recieved by a hungry audience. Their first major release album, Gauze, came out in July, followed by an extensive tour, a video with clips for all the songs on Gauze, and an amazing performance at the end of the year in Osakajou Hall.
With the beginning of 2000, a live video of the Osakajou concert was released, along with a brand new single, the first since Gauze, called Myaku. This single was more reminiscent of their indie days, in a way discarding the pop-glossiness of Yoshiki's production; and despite their success under Yoshiki's hand, this was definately the way for them to go. Further singles only proved they were maturing just fine on their own, and the September release of their second album, Macabre was truly an accomplishment; with it's hard, unique, dark feel excelling well and beyond Gauze's already auspicious beginning.
A long, sellout tour followed; partly postponed for a few months when Kyo became ill was forced to take time off, but they were soon back on the road. The tour ended in April 2001 with a fanastic live at the Budoukan, a venue that's quite an accomplishment to be able to fill. And since then, several new, amazingly cool singles have been released, and the release of their new album Kisou is a fantastic start to 2002; with a trademark Dir en Grey darkness and uniqueness, but with an even more experimental feel than before, it shows that the band is still pushing themselves to their limits and not looking back.
And through all of this, they have remained loyal to their fans, taking care of them as few other bands do; they have an official fan club they pay a lot of attention to, and even do special concerts that are only open to fan club members.
If you would like to send Dir en grey fanmail, gifts, etc, then this is the address to do so:
"a knot"
106-0032
Tokyo-to
Minato-ku
Roppongi 4-8-6
Pacific Capital Plaza Building 6F
JAPAN
Make sure you put the name of the member you wish to send it to, for example: "a knot", Dir en grey, Kaoru.
Thank you free-will for allowing me to use this information.
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:18 pm
KYO 
Kanji - 京
Position - vocalist
Birthdate - 16th of February 1976
Bloodtype - B
Height - 163cm (5'4")
The short, wicked member of the group, Kyo is a lively, bouncing bundle of twisted energy. You've just got to watch him in action for awhile, see the expressions that go across his face, to know that there's something demented going on up there. In the most wonderful of ways, of course.
Kyo was born in Kyoto, is currently 31, Aquarius if you believe in astrology, and is known to enjoy lying during interviews, which means you can never really be sure that what he said has an ounce of truth in it. Kyo is not his real name, but he hates his own and decided to change it, choosing the Miyamoto Kyo from his birthplace Kyoto. (His real name was Tooru Nishimura) [I didn't tell you that... so don't go around calling him by his real name.... he'll kill me] He has a powerful, throaty voice that he can do an amazing number of things with, and writes all the lyrics for Dir en grey's songs. He's been known to say that he will never write a happy ending in a song.
His uniquely plain face is transformed into something stunningly beautiful when covered with the sort of extreme makeup he favours, his short, spiky hair changes colour constantly, particularly to bright red and blonde, both of which suit him the best, and the kind of costumes he designs often draw upon traditional Japanese (such as kimonos) intertwined with the darker twist of the modern -- leather, pvc, corsets, cyber-esque wiring.. of all Dir en grey he's the one I will happily say has never made a poor choice in the clothing department.
A Fun Fact: Kyo is too modest for his own good!!! >.>
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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:29 pm
KAORU 
Kanji - 薫
Position - guitarist
Birthdate - 17th of February, 1974
Bloodtype - A
Height - 170cm (5'7")
Kaoru is the stoic, "leader-san" of the group, a lean, poker-faced figure with the grace and swagger of a stalking panther and the beauty of a longlimbed lion. He rarely smiles ~ though when he does, it's a lovely sight! ~ and was the one member of the group who scared all the others the first time they met him. Kyo was scared only a litle bit.
Kaoru was born in Hyougo, is currently 33, Aquarius, and is the one known to keep Dir en grey in order. They say whenever there is differences in making decisions it's always Kaoru who keeps things under control and has the final say. He is the main guitarist [people often take him for the 2nd guitarist, becasue Die does more solos then Kaoru] and main song writer for the group, and writes some wonderfully diverse music, from the ghostly haunting melodies of mazohyst of decadence and MACABRE to the manicness of Zan and Berry, to the sweetly sorrowful Akuro no Oka. He can also produce some of the most amazing sounds from a guitar that you've ever heard.
He is sparing [compared to the rest of the group, that is] when it comes to makeup, though he is always sure to accent two of his loveliest features, his eyes and lips. And he has no need to accentuate his cheekbones. His hair tends to go through various shades of blue to purple and thereabouts, and is currently a vivid mauve; though it's usually chinlength, he also sports a very long, thick lock of hair at the back that remains black. His clothes are a little more downstated than the rest of the members, but he holds more of an elegance in simplicity; long, lean lines of leather and pvc, tight corsetry, unusually layered skirts and buckled shirts, and almost always he is dressed in black. He also rarely shows much of his skin but his clothes show that the figure beneath them is beautiful indeed.
A Fun Fact: Kaoru LOVES to cut people's hair.... so if you ever need a haircut... ><
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:42 pm
DIE 
Kanji - NONE
Position - guitarist
Birthdate - 20th of December, 1974
Bloodtype - B
Height - 178cm (5'10")
Die is the easy-going member of the group, the joker, and one at odds with many things. Tall and full, with a softly beautiful face and a sweet voice, he is always extreme in whatever he may be doing, and his supposedly 'nasty' looks can be very misleading.
Die was born in Mie, is currently 32, Sagittarius, and is straightforward, talkative, and able to joke and make the others laugh at anytime. He is said to be kind and gentle, though he tends to disagree. He likes to tease the others, particularly Shinya, who seems to be the easiest to tease. Die is second guitarist and sometime songwriter for the group, having written the music for one of my favourite tracks, the mournful 304 goushitsu, Hakushi no Sakura, as well as the more upbeat Yokan, the hard and powerful Schwein no Isu and Children, and the lively Wake and Audrey. He too, like Kaoru, is diverse in what he can write, and it is this diversity that keeps his music fresh and interesting.guitarist
Die is quite extreme when it comes to his looks and fashion; though his makeup is not always as full-on as say, Kyo's, he makes up for it in other ways. His hair is mostly bright red extensions, some long, some short, making for a crazy, punkish hairstyle that he usually has sticking upwards in all directions. [althought now he decided to leave it black, and not wear any makeup...] His clothing is always very hard and hot, full leather suits, metal pads and patches, wide shoulders, thick gloves, and the like ~ he always looks very tough.
A Fun Fact: Die LOVES to rape people's hand!!!!!! (¬_¬")
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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:49 pm
TOSHIYA 
Kanji - NONE
Position - bassist
Birthdate - 31st of March, 1977
Bloodtype - B
Height - 178cm (5'10")
Toshiya is the vibrant and childish one, full of energy and always ready to play. Beautifully slim and beautifully feminine in appearance, perhaps the most feminine of all, he nonetheless holds endless boyish delight and seems to love nothing more than having fun.
Toshiya was born in Nagano, is currently 29, Aries, and perhaps the most open and forthcoming with his emotions and feelings. When he is happy, you know about it; his beaming grin shows it all. And when something really touches him, you know it too. He is quite prone to crying about it! Of them all, Toshiya is the most beautiful in a feminine way, and often dresses to show that off, yet he belies this appearance with his boyish antics. He is the bassist for Dir en grey, and a very talented one at that; he has also written Erode and egnirys cimredopyh +) an injection and co-written raison detre with Shinya, and I can only hope that he will try his hand at more songwriting; he writes some great music!
Toshiya's face is so naturally beautiful that it hardly needs makeup, but he wears it nonetheless, and makes himself more striking in doing so; like Kyo, he is often prone to extremes, oddly accentutating his lovely full lips and clear, pretty eyes. His hair is always fairly short, sometimes black, sometimes blue, and he styles it upwards and out in all manner of odd, spiky styles that suit him well. He is prone to dressing in quite revealing outfits, baring plenty of thigh and showing off his all-but-perfect figure; he wears a lot of pvc and fishnet, lace and leather, mixed together in some weird and wonderful fashions.
A Fun Fact: Toshiya is good at slap-bass. ><
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:56 pm
SHINYA 
Kanji - NONE
Position - drummer
Birthdate - 24th of February, 1978
Bloodtype - B
Height - 170cm (5'7")
Shinya is the "baby" of Dir en grey, the youngest and quietest member. His serious expressions and stoic silence mark him as difficult to understand, hard to get to know, and it is a rare occasion to see his pretty, pouting face smiling. Tall and slim, feminine in style and beauty. But be rest assured, he promiced that once he hits 30, he will reveal everything about himself.
Shinya was born in Osaka, is currently 29, Pisces, and is the the most difficult member of Dir en grey to really learn anything about. He is constantly quiet, much more unlikely to answer questions, and never really volunteers any information about himself. In fact it was 6 months before the other members found out what his phone number was as he refused to give it to them! He is also much more serious, slower to smile, and as a result the most likely to get teased. [Mostly by Die.] But of them all he is said to be the strongest and most willful. He is Dir en grey's drummer, and also has tried his hand at songwriting, having written the music for Toriko, Yurameki and Hotarubi, as well as co-writing raison detre with Toshiya. His music, young and fresh, shows his natural talent, and is improving with time; it will surely continue to do so.
Shinya wears a light dusting of makeup for the most, a very feminine style, emphasising his pouting lips and until he cut his hair he would style it in spiralling curls or long, lucious locks that framed his delicate face and promoted his girlish appearance. He makes a habit of dressing in a much more female fashion than any of the others, to the point of looking just like a girl; almost all of his clothing is dresses of various unusual designs, and he loves to wear thigh-high boots with them.
A Fun Fact: [not so fun for Kiyoshi] Shinya gets mad when you trip over him and fall on top of him while he's signing autographs.... (IT WAS DIE'S FAULT!!!!! HE WAS THE ONE WHO WOULDN'T LET GO!!!!! (>x
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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:01 pm
MODERN DIR EN GREY
Moderns Dir En Grey has let go of the "Visual Kei", but never the less keep on surprising us with the amazing songwriting, and outfits!!
err.... nothing else to say.... go see them live! ^-^
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:14 pm
HARRY 
I know that Harry is not in the band....
and some of you are probobly wondering who Harry is...
Harry is Dir En Grey's manager!!! ^-^
He is a cool guy, if you get to hang out with him a for a bit....
Some people think that he's too strict, or even that he is mean. he has a very tough job, people!!! He is a manager to some of the most popular bands in Japan!!! he is also the worner of the free-will, which sponsors all of those bands.
so yeah... More info on Harry will come later... becasue i don't think he wants to get too much attention...
A Fun Fact: ~A Convo Between Kiyoshi and Harry~
Kiyoshi: Hey Harry!!! Guess what?!
Harry: What are you doing backstage?
Kiyoshi: ~waves a backstage pass in front of his nose~
Harry: Damn it!! -laughs- alright, lets go! -smile-
~a few moments later~
Kiyoshi: Harry, i need to speak with you...
Harry: ok, in a few minutes... i need to take care of something for the band.
Kiyoshi: -few minutes later- Harry?
Harry: just hold on a second... -sits down in his car and drives away waving goodbye to Kiyoshi-
Kiyoshi -screams to him- DUDE!!!!!! THATS NOT COOL!!!!!! >.>
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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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-x-Average Psycho-x- Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:36 pm
Please don't post in the Info page.... -sweatdrop- if you have a question, make a thread about it, or send me a PM.
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