L`arc^en^ciel

LArc-en-Ciel is not a visual-kei band. Repeat not a visual-kei band. Not at all. Just a straightahead rock band. That message bears repeating because the band vehemently objects to being tagged with the visual-kei label, so much so that they once walked off the stage during a TV broadcast when the MC had the temerity to use the dreaded V word when introducing LArc-en-Ciel. The bands management also demands apologies from journalists who dare to describe LArc-en-Ciel as visual-kei. LArc-en-Ciel were in fact identified with the whole decadent/glam visual-kei scene when the band was formed in Osaka in 1991 by vocalist Hyde, guitarist Hiro, bassist Tetsu and drummer Pero. The bands name, by the way, means rainbow, in French, reflecting the visual-kei scenes fascination with things Gallic, which they associate with fin-de-siecle decadence. LArc-en-Ciels fans, however, refer to the band simply as Laruku. After gigging extensively throughout western Japan, LArc-en-Ciel released their first album, Dune on an independent label in 1993, and their first single, Blurry Eyes, in October 1994. They soon became one of Japans biggest rock acts and continue to sell truckloads of CDs. LArc-en-Ciels lineup has changed over the years, starting with the replacement of guitarist Hiro by Ken (the band doesnt seem to go in for surnames much). And at the beginning of 1998, then-drummer Sakura left the band after a drug bust and was replaced by Yukihiro. 1998 also saw the band release three singles on one day July 8. One of them, "Shinshoku Lose Control", went to No. 2 on the singles chart. On July 1, 1999, L'Arc-En-Ciel made history by releasing two albums (Ark and Ray) simultaneously in Asia and Japan -- an industry first. Those two albums, plus Neo Universe/finale, were among the 17 winners in the Recording Industry Assn. of Japans Rock Album of the Year category at the 2000 edition of the RIAJs Gold Disc Awards show...to be continue..