Luna Sea

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Luna Sea
From left to right: J, Shinya, Ryuichi, Inoran, Sugizo.
From left to right: J, Shinya, Ryuichi, Inoran, Sugizo.
Background information
Origin Kanagawa, Japan
Genre(s) Hard rock, heavy metal
Years active 1989–2000, 2007 & 2008 (reunions)
Label(s) Extasy, Sweet Child, Universal
Website www.lunasea.co.jp
Former members
Ryuichi
Sugizo
Inoran
J
Shinya

Luna Sea is a Japanese rock band. It was formed in 1989 by Ryuichi Kawamura, Yasuhiro "Sugizo" Sugihara, Shinobu "Inoran" Inoue, Jun "J" Onose and Shinya Yamada, a lineup that remained consistent until the band's breakup in 2000. They released seven studio albums and several singles and VHS/DVD releases throughout the 90s.

Contents

[edit] History

Discovered by the late Hideto Matsumoto (then lead guitarist of X Japan), Luna Sea were signed by X Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi to his independent label Extasy Records, on which they released their self-titled debut album in 1991.[1] Originally a visual kei band, they held the "Luna Sea First Year Anniversary One Man - Kurofuku Restricted" concert, which earned them the label "Kurofuku Kei" which was later applied to other bands.[2][3] Kurofuku (黒服) means black suit or mourning clothing.[4]

By 1995 the group's popularity had reached the point at which it would headline the Tokyo Dome, Japan's largest indoor live venue. The release of their album 'Mother' led the band into a more progressive rock approach with songs like 'Genesis of Mind', 'Face to Face', and 'Mother'. Five years later, the stadium would also host the band's farewell concerts. Having already been on a year-long hiatus between releases of the albums Shine and Lunacy, Luna Sea decided to "drop the curtain" after two more performances on December 26 and 27, 2000. To this day Luna Sea use the word shumaku meaning drop curtain in japanese in every interview in order to let everyone know that they have not "disbanded" they just drop the curtain.

Since then, the members have either pursued solo careers (like Ryuichi and J), new bands (like Inoran with Fake?) or collaborations with other musicians (such as the short-lived The Flare by Sugizo and Lazy Knack vocalist Yuna). Shinya, marrying Aya Ishiguro of the pop girl group Morning Musume, has been playing drums for other musicians such as Nanase Aikawa, Maki Oguro, and Miyavi. More recently, Inoran has left Fake? and reunited with Ryuichi to form Tourbillon in 2005, while Sugizo has joined the supergroup Skin in 2007, which also features pop/rock artists Gackt and Miyavi, as well as Yoshiki.[5]

Luna Sea reunited for a concert on December 24, 2007.[6] The concert was aired live on Japan's NHK BS Hi-vision Satellite channel, with a few songs cut from the track list. The full-length DVD of the concert will be available on March 26, 2008 and is already available for order.[7]

Luna Sea performed at the "Hide Memorial Summit" on May 4, 2008.

[edit] Members

As with numerous other Japanese bands, the members of Luna Sea were usually credited with their given or stage name.

  • Ryuichi Kawamura (河村隆一 Kawamura Ryuichi?) – Vocals
  • Yasuhiro "Sugizo" Sugihara (杉原有音 Sugihara Yuune) – Lead guitar and violin
  • Shinobu "Inoran" Inoue (井上清信 Inoue Shinobu) – Rhythm guitar
  • Jun "J" Onose (小野瀬潤 Onose Jun) – Bass
  • Shinya Yamada (山田真矢 Yamada Shinya) – Drums

[edit] Discography

Albums
Singles
Compilations

[edit] References

  1. ^ Extasy Records company history. extasyrecords.co.jp. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  2. ^ Bark's Luna Sea Biography Retrieved on Sep 12 2007 (Japanese)
  3. ^ "Popular visual-kei rock band Luna Sea are to get back together for a one-off concert, the first since the Christmas of 2000. ... They had two million-selling albums and, with their well-regarded musical skills, were considered the leaders of the visual kei scene." Japan Zone Entertainment News August 28, 2007
  4. ^ Monash Universary Japanese-English Dictionary Retrieved Sep 12 2007
  5. ^ Anime Expo 2007 announcement of Skin. anime-expo.org. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  6. ^ "Luna Sea to reunite for Christmas Eve concert". tokyograph.com (2007-08-27). Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  7. ^ "Luna Sea God Bless You ~One Night Dejavu~ DVD available on March 26, 2008". cdjapan.co.jp. Retrieved on 2008-01-17.

[edit] External links