X JAPAN NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES, 2010: YOSHIKI'S VIDEO GREETING TO FANS. INTERVIEW WITH DJ CHIHIRO & DEE LEE OF VANISHED EMPIRE, TOKYO GOTH BAND.
Get ready, pirates… X Japan is setting sail for our North American shores for the very first time in th’ history books! The legendary Visual Kei band will be touring US and Canada, September 25 to October 10 ( join the official Facebook Page for dates, ticket information and updates). Mastermind Yoshiki has just released a video message to his fans:
Why should you see X Japan in concert? Because they’re a monumental band: the LA Times compared the group to U2, but I think that doesn’t do them justice. X Japan’s vision — from their Visual appearance to hide’s guitar work and Yoshiki’s passionate presence — created a revolution in Japanese rock music. And the songs: they hold up. No matter how many times you revisit it, the opening piano strains of Endless Rain will send shivers up your spine.
Moreover, you should get tickets ASAP because… your favorite Jrock bands need you. If we want Dir en Grey, Miyavi and their cohorts to keep touring outside Japan, we must show our support. So let’s give X Japan a huge welcome! You can find out more about their tour on the official site. Of course, I’ll be reviewing one of their shows, so keep checking back.
Speaking of forward-thinking bands… one of Japan’s spookiest spooks, DJ Chihiro, has paired up with Dee Lee and created a dark electro / Goth band, Vanished Empire. Their latest songs and image are based on H. P. Lovecraft’s myth-cycle, Cthulhu Mythos. With the help of my evil minion Kanae, I picked their brains…
La Carmina: What does Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos mean to you? Has it influenced your music?
Chihiro: I entrust the details to Dee Lee, but I have wanted to create music based on sinister and scary things that come from unreal world. Lovecraft’s Mythos is very attractive material for me.
Dee Lee: I started to write new songs since late 2009. Back then, I didn’t specify themes or materials. But while composing I realized “Oh this is Azathoth’s anthem!” After I finished composing, I thought I must compose other songs for other deities from Cthulhu Mythos. This is why I decided make Cthulhu Mythos trilogy.
La Carmina: Lee, what draws you to Nyarlathotep?
Dee Lee: Nyarlathotep is the messenger of outer gods and I wrote the message from outer gods in the songs this time. I think Nyarlathotep took control of me for his purpose.
La Carmina: How did you come up with your band’s name? Is it inspired by the Russian movie “Vanished Empire”?
Chihiro: The name “Vanished Empire” was the temporary title of one of our songs. Back then, we had no band name and I thought the words “Vanished Empire” were really good for our band. I thought these words can express our musical direction. So we used this as our band’s name instead of a song title. Therefore it is not related to Russian movie.
La Carmina: Can you tell me about your process of creating music? Who is responsible for what?
Dee Lee: Usually I make first draft, record a demo version and send it to Chihiro. After, I incorporate Chihiro’s ideas. I always compose music before I write lyrics. But this time I had to peruse Lovecraft’s mythos and make music and lyrics at same time. So I spent a lot of time on the process. While I was making songs for this trilogy (mainly March and April), I was going insane from insomnia and nightmares. I think Cthulhu sent messages from R’lyeh.
La Carmina: Your album was released by Darkest Labyrinth. What made you decide to work with this label? Do you collaborate or perform with other Darkest Labyrinth bands?
Chihiro: I have been associated with Kiwamu (owner of Darkest Labyrinth and member of GPKISM) and trust Darkest Labyrinth as the best in the Japanese Gothic scene. Spectrum-X (they are also a label mate) remixed our song in our first album “Theater Of Tragedy.” There are a lot of talented bands on this label, so I would like to collaborate with them.
La Carmina: What are your goals for this year? How has your sound evolved?
Chihiro: We will release a EP based on the Cthulhu mythos in this year. And if we can, we would like to go to tour with this album.
Vanished Empire’s music will be deeper and darker.
Dee Lee: The title of new EP will be “The Unnamable Symphony”. Our recording work is in progress. I think we can announce release dates and detail soon… I hope! This will be the most blasphemous CD in our history.
La Carmina: If could perform with anyone, who would it be and why?
Chihiro: I love the bands like Alien Vampires, Siva Six, and Leather Strip so I would like to perform with them someday.
Kanae may be incompetent as an evil minion, but she’s mad talented as a visual artist. She created the photo manipulations of Vanished Empire to reflect their new image (and that’s her in the bottom row of the above photos).
Kanae made these spectral images for the Japanese band Despair. They recently played at the Goth party Lunatic Sabbath, where Kenny Creation’s band performed and Yukiro danced.
Kanae is from Tokyo but currently attends school in New York; I think her artwork reflects both sensibilities, from the perspective of darkness and beauty. You can see more of Kanae’s photo manipulations on her website. To hear “the most blasphemous music in history,” check out Vanished Empire’s MySpace.
Who’s getting excited for X Japan? Which songs are currently on your playlist?
Japanese Word of the Day: Aseru = Discolor
Song of the Day: Vanished Empire – Hellfire Within Me
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MEETING DIR EN GREY IN SEATTLE! JROCK VISUAL KEI CONCERTS, US TOUR PHOTOS: KYO, KAORU, DIE, SHINYA, TOSHIYA.
I hear quite a few of you recognized Rose at the Dir en Grey Seattle concert, and asked where I was. Sadly, I couldn’t make it because of travel and work overload… However, Rose submitted an A+ report and had quite the adventure, including hanging out with Dir en Grey in the flesh! It’s wonderful to hear that the famous musicians are sweethearts in person, and truly make time for their fans. (Photos by Rose, except the ones used with permission from Edge.)
It took me an entire day to travel to Seattle — but it was more than worth it to see my favorite band, Dir en Grey! On September 10th (the day before the live), I rushed to get myself glam-fabulous for a nightcrawl at club Can Can (which I visited with La Carmina last month). I had just approached the front door when the owner Chris (above right) saw me, and gave me a huge warm welcome. He hooked me up with free absinthe, and the fun began. I missed the beginning of the Castaways show, but it was spectacular and totally different than the one we saw.
The next day I went down to Uwajimaya to buy some cute Rilakkuma things, then stopped in the Daiso at the train station before going back to get ready for the Dir en Grey concert.
I got to the Showbox SoDo around 5:30pm, and received my press ticket and photo pass. Then I went into the bar, so that I could get in before the others outside. I want to say I was paying attention to their opening act but all I could think was “DIRENGREYDIRENGREY oh my God I get to take photos of Dir en Grey hurry up!” The band was Evaline, and they were all right, but honestly I am never going to remember anyone who plays before Diru.
I bought a Dir en Grey poster, made my way up to the barrier again, and waited for them to come onstage. Finally the lights dimmed and the beginning of Sa Bir began to play. I was allowed in front on the barrier, since I had a photo pass, and out they came!
I lost my breath, as I always do when I see my favorite band in person. And this time, I was so close, just inches away from my music idols. Kyo looked very different from the last time I saw him in Seattle; his blond hair is now short and black, and he was dressed in jeans and a black shirt. Die was looking lovely; he’s got his hair longer again, as I like it. Kaoru… I think he always looks like he knows just how awesome he is. Last time, Toshiya’s hair was long and shaved on the side, and he had a little facial hair going on. This time, he has a cute short little hair cut, and a clean-shaved face; he was dressed in a black skirt and long sleeved black shirt. And then there was Shinya, lovely Shinya: white long sleeved shirt, and a similar hairstyle as last time I saw him. Beautiful hair as always.
Kyo put his heart into the songs, as always, and they all looked to be enjoying themselves on stage. Shinya, he always amazes me, tiny and beautiful, but so much energy on stage. Such amazing drumming; I don’t know how he does it.
I’m pretty sure this is the correct Dir en Grey Seattle set list: Sa Bir, Red Soil, Agitated Screams of Maggots, Gaika, Chinmoku ga Nemuru Koro, Hageshisa to Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami, Obscure, Shokubeni, Rotting Root, Inward Scream, Dozing Green, Vinushka, The Final, Reiketsu Nariseba, Rasetsukoku, Encore, Kodou.
The crowd and I went crazy when they played The Final, and went positively insane for the encore. The songs Kodou and Vinushka always get a huge approval from the crowd. I was surprised that they played Rasetsukoku (it was great live) and happy they played Dozing Green (such a beautiful song). Sadly, after they played Kodou, the show was over… As always, they could have played forever and it still wouldn’t have been long enough!
I went outside for a break, and even though I knew Apocalyptica was up next (and Kyo would most likely sing with them), I chose to stay outside. I made my way to where the staff was loading up Dir en Grey equipment, and sat down with about two dozen other Diru fans. I talked to many nice people and waited for a glimpse of the band when they would finally come out. Some fans recognized me from your blog and from the D’espairsRay and Miyavi concerts. They all wanted to know why La Carmina wasn’t there too!
After over an hour of freezing, out came Toshiya: so cute. Quite sometime later, Kyo emerged with a towel over his head and waved as he quickly went to the bus. Shinya waved and quickly disappeared. I chatted with their translator and roadie, who I had met before. They invited me to the bar across the street. I found a seat…
… and noticed the merchandise sales guy at the bar with Kaoru and Die! So, I summoned up my courage and went over to ask for autographs. I walked up and tapped Kaoru’s shoulder, and asked him to sign something, which he did. Die asked my name, and wrote: “To Rose, I love you, Dir en Grey, Die.” I can’t tell you everything that went on behind-the-scenes, but I had so much fun and couldn’t stop laughing.
I stayed for another hour with the band members and their friends. Then we went outside, and the drummer from Apocalyptica set up his DJ equipment in front of the buses! They had a silly DJ party with some of the members of Apocalyptica, Kaoru, Die, and some random fans. Eicca from Apocalyptica kept trying to get me to dance, but I stood around beside Kaoru most of the time. I asked their translator if there was any chance I could get a pic with Shinya. She said he was already asleep on the bus. I’ll have to wait until next time… but she kindly gave me a poster signed by every member of Dir en Grey.
Needless to say, I had the most incredible time. Dir en Grey just means so much to me, and has for ten years now. Their music has gotten me through many horrible times in my life, and I know so many others feel this way too. I’ll be counting down the days until they return to America!
Have you seen Dir en Grey in concert yet? Did you have any memorable encounters with them? How has their music impacted your life?
Japanese Word of the Day: Haiiro = Grey
Song of the Day: Dir en Grey – Kodou
LA CARMINA
