Hizaki

Hizaki
Background information
Also known as	HIZAKI
Born	February 17, 1979 (1979-02-17) (age 32) Shiga
Origin	Kyoto, Japan
Genres	Neo-classical metal, symphonic metal, power metal, hard rock
Occupations	Musician, guitarist, songwriter, record producer, model, actor
Instruments	Guitar, bass
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Kappa, Sequence, Sherow Artist Society
Associated acts	Versailles, Node of Scherzo, Sulfuric Acid, Schwardix Marvally, Crack Brain, Garnet Grave
Website	Hizaki official site
Notable instruments
ESP Maiden, ESP Horizon III

Hizaki (stylized as HIZAKI) is a Japanese visual kei musician, best known as guitarist for the symphonic metal band Versailles. Before forming Versailles he was in several independent bands and had a solo career.^[1]

Biography

Hizaki debuted as guitarist for the Kyoto based independent band Garnet Grave in 1997. After two years, Hizaki and bassist Hizumi departed from Garnet Grave to form Crack Brain with guitarist Airi (Madeth Gray'll).

In 2002, Crack Brain disbanded and Hizaki and Airi formed the band グロテスクロマンティッカー (Gurotesuku Romantikkaa), who in May 2003 changed their name to Schwardix Marvally.^[2] They released two EPs, one composed of cover songs from various bands. Soon after releasing the two EPs, Schwardix Marvally disbanded in 2004.

Hizaki then proceeded to start a solo career that same year and released Maiden Ritual.^[1] He published two more EPs: Dance with Grace and Maiden Ritual -Experiment Edition- with a variety of musicians in the visual kei scene. In 2005 he put his solo work on hold and joined Sulfuric Acid, staying until they disbanded in October 2006.^[1]

He then restarted solo activities and formed his solo group, Hizaki Grace Project, with Hikaru (Izabel Varosa) on vocals, Yuu (Jakura) on bass and support drummer Seiji (Sulfuric Acid). After recruiting Mikage (Babylon) on drums, Teru (Aikaryu) on guitar and Juka (Moi dix Mois) on vocals, they released the album Dignity of Crest. Hizaki Grace Project's latest album, Curse of Virgo, was released on December 26, 2007, two days after their latest live performance.

In the beginning of 2007, he became support for Node of Scherzo, a project fronted by Kamijo, Juka and Kaya (Schwarz Stein), and also supported by Jasmine You and Asagi. At Node of Scherzo's first live performance on March 14, Kamijo and Hizaki announced they were forming a band together.

On March 30 the details of the band were announced, it would be named Versailles and also included drummer Yuki (Sugar Trip) and Hizaki Grace Project's Jasmine You and Teru. Currently Hizaki's solo work in on hold while he is focused on Versailles.

On July 15, 2010, Hizaki partook in the one-night only revival of Crack Brain, at a concert for their old record label, Crow Music.

In January 2011, he and the rest of Versailles started starring in their own TV mini drama called Onegai Kanaete Versailles (おねがいかなえてヴェルサイユ "Fulfill My Wish Versailles"). The show also starred Rina Koike and aired on Mainichi Broadcasting System and TV Kanagawa until March.^[3] In response to the March 11, 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Hizaki composed and dedicated the song "Prayer" to its victims.^[4][5]

Hizaki Grace Project members

Last line-up

• Hizaki – guitar
• Yuu/Jasmine You – bass
• Teru – guitar
• Mikage – drums
• Juka – vocals

Former members

• Hikaru – vocals
• Seiji – drums (support member)

Discography

Albums and EPs

• Maiden Ritual (September 29, 2004)
• Dance with grace (April 27, 2005, two editions: regular was instrumental)
• Maiden Ritual -Experiment Edition- (May 11, 2005)
  • The song "Tragic Serenade" was replaced by the instrumental "Scarlet", while "Ritual" has been replaced by its instrumental version.
• Grace Special Package I (2005)
  • Three disc box set: includes Dance with grace, Maiden Ritual -Experiment Edition- and bonus CD-R with "Members Comment" and instrumental version of "Tragic Serenade".

With Hizaki Grace Project

Albums

• Dignity of Crest (January 1, 2007)
• Ruined Kingdom (September 19, 2007)
• Curse of Virgo (December 26, 2007)

DVD

• Eien no Kokuin (永遠の刻印, February 17, 2007, distributed at concert)
• Monshou (紋章, May 9, 2007)

Omnibuses

• Graceful Playboys (Auguzt 5, 2006, with "Race Wish")
• -Unique- (August 9, 2006, split EP with +Isolation, with "Solitude" and "Cradle")
• Summit 03 (November 29, 2009, with "Cradle")
• Final Summit 2000~2010: Sequence Records (February 16, 2011, with "Philosopher")

With Garnet Grave

• "Haitoku no Savior" (背徳のSavior, 1998, demo tape)

With Crack Brain

• "Crack Diary" (July 24, 1999, demo tape)
• "Sokubaku Izonshou" (緊縛依存症, April 18, 2000, demo tape)
• "Sunadokei" (砂時計, June 27, 2000, demo tape)
• "Kankinshitsu no Tobira" (監禁室の扉です, April 14, 2001)
• -Reset- (March 23, 2002)
• "-Speed･R-" (May 11, 2002, freely distributed at concert at Meguro Rock-May-Kan)

With Schwardix Marvally

• Kairoroku ~Dai san Shou~ (回顧録～第三章～, August 20, 2003)
  • Four track EP with covers of Gargoyle, Luna Sea and Madeth gray’ll and one original song, track one credited to グロテスクロマンティッカー (Gurotesuku Romantikkaa).
• Heaven's Romance (January 28, 2004)
  • Released in two versions, each with a different bonus disc.
• Schwardix Marvally ~Tenkuu e no Monogatari~ (Schwardix Marvally～天空への物語～, January 1, 2007, compilation album)

With Sulfuric Acid

• "Vanilla Sky" (September 19, 2005, freely distributed at concert at Meguro Rock-May-Kan)
• "Aka Hebi -Kimi to Mita aka no Kioku-" (赤蛇 -君と見た赤の記憶-, December 28, 2005)
• "Ao Hebi -Boku no Naka no Aoi Yami-" (青蛇 -僕の中の青い闇-, December 28, 2005)
• 【s∧lfj'urik 'aesid】 (April 27, 2006)
• Kyousei Inyou [03-06] Ongenshuu (強制引用【03-06】音源集, November 29, 2006, compilation album)
• Final Summit 2000~2010: Sequence Records (February 16, 2011, omnibus with "Acid Trip")

With Versailles

Main article: Versailles discography

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Hizaki JaME Profile". jame-world.com. http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-biography-417-hizaki-grace-project.html. Retrieved 2011-04-03. 
2. ^ "Crack Brain JaME Profile". jame-world.com. http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-biography-24-crack-brain.html. Retrieved 2011-04-03. 
3. ^ "Versailles to act in a drama". shattered-tranquility.net. http://shattered-tranquility.net/index.php/01/03/versailles-to-act-in-a-drama/. Retrieved 2011-05-21. 
4. ^ "Versailles – short EU tour and special song from HIZAKI". shattered-tranquility.net. http://shattered-tranquility.net/index.php/04/17/versailles-short-eu-tour-and-special-song-from-hizaki/. Retrieved 2011-05-02. 
5. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjELqkYP6t4

External links

• Official website
• Hizaki at Kappa Records

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 17, 1979
Place of birth	Shiga
Date of death
Place of death