Dir en grey

Infobox musical artist
Name = Dir en grey


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Osaka, Japan
Genre = Rock/metal
Various
Years_active = 1997–present
Label = Firewall Div./SMEJ (JP)
Gan-Shin (EU)
The End Records (2008) (US) Warcon (2006-2007) (US)
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.direngrey.co.jp www.direngrey.co.jp]
Current_members = Kyo
Kaoru
Die
Toshiya
Shinya

Dir en grey is a Japanese band formed in 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As of 2008, they have recorded seven full-length records and while the group's lineup has remained consistent since its inception, numerous stylistic changes have made its music's genre difficult to determine (though it is generally considered to be a form of rock music). Originally part of Japan's visual kei movement, the band has opted for less flamboyant attire in recent years.cite web
last = Mascia
first = Mike
title = Dir en grey feature interview
work = blistering.com
url = http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/12842/tempidx/5/menuid/3
accessdate = 2007-08-07]

Dir en grey has toured through Asia, Europe and North America;cite web
last = Jurek
first = Thom
title = "The Marrow of a Bone" review
work = allmusic.com
url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ehjw7iang75r~T1
accessdate = 2007-08-07] cite web
last = Reesman
first = Brian
title = "Kabuki Rock"
work = grammy.com
date = 2006-11-30
url = http://www.grammylive.com/Latin/News/Default.aspx?newsID=2278
accessdate = 2007-09-24] "Billboard" commenting on the group's international fanbase, that the band "has transcended the language barrier in the United States through its music" and "gained its audience without singing in English".cite journal
last = Titus
first = Christa
title = Underground Support Brings Dir En Grey to Forefront
publisher = "Billboard"
date = 2006-04-17
url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/feature/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002345276
accessdate = 2007-11-05]

History

1997–1999: Early career

Dir en grey was preceded by the independent band La:Sadie's which included four of Dir en grey's later members before it disbanded.Fact|date=May 2008 After parting ways with La:Sadie's bassist Kisaki, Kyo, Kaoru, Die and Shinya along with newly recruited bassist Toshiya regrouped as a new band on February 2, 1997cite web
title = 1997 timeline
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://www.direngrey.co.jp/english/e-timeline/1997.html
accessdate = 2007-08-07] Citation
title = All about Dir en grey
newspaper = Yarouze
publisher = TJ Mook
pages = p. 23
date = 1999-10-02
isbn = 978-4796616133] and released a first EP, "Missa", a few months later. According to guitarist Kaoru, the name "Dir en grey" was chosen because it "sounded right," and is comprised of words from several languages, so that people would not be able to attach a specific meaning to it other than the band's name itself.Citation
last = Smith
first = Steven
title = Steven's Untitled Rock Show
publisher = Fuse TV
date = 1999-10-02]

They first attracted mainstream attention in 1998, by entering the top ten on the Oricon music charts with the still independently produced songs "Jealous" and "-I'll-".cite web
title = Single chart positions
work = oricon.co.jp
url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/artists/s/6902/
accessdate = 2007-08-07] Five subsequent singles, arranged and produced by X Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi, were published during the first half of 1999, the band's first full-length record, "Gauze", followed. One of the shows in support for the album (filmed at the Osaka-jo Hall) would later become the first of several live concerts to be released on VHS and DVD.

2000–2004: From "Macabre" to "Vulgar"

In 2000 vocalist Kyo was hospitalized with hearing trouble and several dates of the tour in support of Dir en grey's then upcoming album, "Macabre", had to be postponed. "Tour 00 >> 01 Macabre" eventually took off later the same year and was concluded at Nippon Budokan, shortly after the release of the single "Ain't Afraid to Die" in April 2001.

In the following year, along with the release of a third full-length album, "Kisou", Dir en grey gave their first performances abroad, touring China, Taiwan, and South Korea.cite web
title = 2002 timeline
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://www.direngrey.co.jp/english/e-timeline/2002.html
accessdate = 2007-08-07] Back in Japan, the last dates of the lengthy "Rettou Gekishin Angya" tour were already in support for the band's second EP, "Six Ugly". In summer 2003, Dir en grey performed at the Akasaka Blitz for five evenings in one week. Each show (except the first) was themed after a certain album, the last featuring songs from the then yet to be released "Vulgar". A DVD set, titled "Blitz 5 Days", was later released exclusively for members of the band's official fan club, A Knot. "Vulgar" released in September 2003, tours in support for the record would last well into 2004.cite web
title = 2003 timeline
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://www.direngrey.co.jp/english/e-timeline/2003.html
accessdate = 2007-08-07] cite web
title = 2004 timeline
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://www.direngrey.co.jp/english/e-timeline/2004.html
accessdate = 2007-08-07]

2005–2006: Early non-Asian touring

In 2005, Dir en grey performed in Europe for the first time. Their concerts in Berlin and Paris (as part of the "It Withers and Withers" tour) sold out without promotion, save for newsletters by import record stores and internet-based word of mouth. The band also performed at two major festivals, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. Becoming more involved with the international music scene, they had French band Eths open for them at the Paris concert and invited American musician Wednesday 13 and his band to play at a show in Japan. Dir en grey also appeared at the Japanese leg of the "Taste of Chaos" tour.cite web
title = 2005 timeline
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://direngrey.co.jp/english/e-timeline/2007.html
accessdate = 2008-07-07]

2005 saw the first official European releases as well, in the form of that year's album "Withering to Death." The band's music had previously been available to fans not living in Asia through means of import and Internet file-sharing only. The album also managed to achieve Dir en grey's first non-Asian chart position, reaching #31 in the Finnish album charts. The subsequent single, "Clever Sleazoid", later climbed to #15 on the singles charts in the same country.cite web
title = Finnish chart positions
work = finnishcharts.com
url = http://finnishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dir+en+Grey
accessdate = 2008-07-07] Several Dir en grey songs were also featured in the soundtrack of the 2005 film "Death Trance".cite web
title = Credits for "Death Trance"
work = imdb.com
url = http://imdb.com/title/tt0443737/fullcredits
accessdate = 2007-08-07]

In early 2006 touring was expanded to the United States. The band performed in Austin, Texas (South by Southwest festival), New York City (Avalon Club) and Los Angeles, California (Wiltern Theatre), followed by the North American release of "Withering to Death." Again, all shows sold out within days.cite web
last = La Franco
first = Robert
title = "Japanese Invasion"
work = wired.com
url = http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.08/posts.html?pg=2
accessdate = 2007-08-07] and "Billboard Magazine" commented that Dir en grey "ignited frenzied response with its first three U.S. shows"." After more concerts and festival appearances in Germany during the summer, singer Kyo was again hospitalized, due to inflamed vocal cords. While two concert dates in Japan had to be postponed, Dir en grey was still able to join Korn's Family Values Tour.cite web
title = Family Values Tour 2006 lineup announcement
work = blabbermouth.net
date = 2006-04-18
url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=51141
accessdate = 2007-08-07] In October, the band was back in Japan to perform at the Loudpark Festival, along with bands such as Megadeth, Slayer and Children of Bodom.cite web
title = Loud Park 2006 lineup
work = loudpark.com
url = http://www.loudpark.com/06/index.html
accessdate = 2007-08-07] Their 22nd single, "Agitated Screams of Maggots" was released on November 15, during the Japanese leg of the Inward Scream tour. On December 30, the music video for "Saku" was voted the #1 video of the year on the MTV2 show Headbanger's Ball.cite web
last = Bowar
first = Chad
title = "The Marrow of a Bone" review
work = about.com
url = http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/direngreymarrow.htm
accessdate = 2007-08-07]

2007-present: "The Marrow of a Bone" and "Uroboros"

In February, Dir en grey went on its first North American headlining tour, visiting seventeen citiescite web
title = Inward Scream U.S. leg announcement
work = blabbermouth.net
date = 2006-11-11
url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=62008
accessdate = 2007-08-07] while its sixth full-length album, "The Marrow of a Bone", was released on February 7 in Japan, and in the United States and Europe in the following months. From May to July, the group opened during a United States tour of Deftonescite web
title = Deftones tour dates announcement
work = blabbermouth.net
date = 2006-02-20
url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=69086
accessdate = 2007-08-07] and afterwards did another European tour, which included their debut shows in Denmark, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as several festival performances across the continent, including Ankkarock, M'era Luna Festival and Wacken Open Air.cite web
title = 2007 timeline
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://direngrey.co.jp/english/e-timeline/2007.html
accessdate = 2008-02-06]

The group went on another international tour in September, titled after its most recent single "Dozing Green", beginning in Japan, and continuing in Europe, including their first performance in The Netherlands and Switzerland. In late November, Dir en grey opened two shows for Linkin Park at Saitama Super Arena and in December performed another Japan tour with 10 Years as support act. Commemorating Dir en grey's tenth anniversary as a band, two greatest hits compilations, titled "Decade 1998-2002" and "Decade 2003-2007" respectively, were released on December 19.

At the beginning of 2008, Dir en grey announced plans to begin recording a new studio album.cite web
title = Planet-Loud interview
work = planet-loud.com
url = http://www.planet-loud.com/v6/interview.php?interview_id=1078&bandname=Dir%20En%20Grey
accessdate = 2007-12-03] Their first touring of the year, in May, was another Japan tour with a conclusion of three shows at Shinkiba Studio Coast, titled Death over Blindness. [cite web
title = Death over Blindness tour information
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://direngrey.co.jp/tour.html
accessdate = 2008-02-06
language = Japanese] Between touring, Dir en grey performed on one night of the two-night Hide Memorial Summit on May 4, alongside X Japan, Luna Sea, and others. [cite web
title = Hide Memorial Summit information
work = hide-city.com
url = http://www.hide-city.com/mcontents/special/080407_summit/
accessdate = 2008-04-29
language = Japanese] A second Japanese tour, titled Tour 08 The Rose Trims Again is also expected for September 10, the same day as the release of their recently announced single "Glass Skin". [cite web
title = Tour 08 The Rose Trims Again announcement
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://www.direngrey.co.jp/english/e-information.html
accessdate = 2008-06-12]

On August 1, Dir en grey announced the release of their seventh studio album, "Uroboros", [cite web
title = Uroboros announcement
work = direngrey.co.jp
url = http://direngrey.co.jp/uroboros.html
accessdate = 2008-08-01] which is now set for release on November 11, 2008 in the United States. The band have planned a tour of the United States and Canada in support of the albumcite web
url= http://music.yahoo.co.jp/music_news/d/20080801-00000000-cdj-musi
title= DIR EN GREY、シングル「GLASS SKIN」に続き、約2年ぶりとなるニュー・アルバム『UROBOROS』が発売決定！
accessdate= 2008-08-01
date= 2008-08-01
format= News update
work= music.yahoo.co.jp
publisher= Yahoo Japan Corporation
pages= 1
language= Japanese] cite web
url= http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000042249
title= DIR EN GREY、「GLASS SKIN」に続き、新アルバム『UROBOROS』
accessdate= 2008-08-05
date= 2008-08-02
format= News article
work= barks.jp
publisher= Aitimedia, Inc.
pages= 1
language= Japanese] with dates scheduled for November and December, overlapping the release of "Uroboros".cite web
url= http://jame-world.com/us/news.php?archive=08/2008#34536
title= Dir en grey North America Tour
accessdate= 2008-08-12
format= News archive
work= jame-world.com
author= Jacob
publisher= Asian Music Entertainment
pages= 1
language= English] Their opening act for the tour will be The Human Abstract. A second touring announcement this fall was for a single show on December 29, under the moniker "Uroboros -Breathing-", at the famous Osaka-jo Hall, where Dir en grey have not performed since December 18, 1999 (as seen on "1999.12.18 Osakajo Hall").

tyle and subject matter

listeninbrowser
filename = Deg_cage.ogg
title = "Cage"
description = from the album "Gauze"listeninbrowser
filename = Deg_bottom_of_the_death_valley.ogg
title = "Bottom of the Death Valley"
description = from the album "Kisou"listeninbrowser
filename = Deg_obscure.ogg
title = "Obscure"
description = from the album "Vulgar"listeninbrowser
filename = Deg_clever_sleazoid.ogg
title = "Clever Sleazoid"
description = from the album "The Marrow of a Bone"

Dir en grey's format has been subject to change throughout their career, initially being a rather experimental form of hard rock. Some tracks of their debut album "Gauze" also demonstrated a distinct pop appeal, which was largely dropped in favor of a more progressive sound on the following albums, "Macabre" and "Kisou". While up to that point some songs had already been more fast-paced, raw and aggressive than others, the band's music took a decisive turn with the release of the EP "Six Ugly", from then on sporting more metal influences in general. Dir en grey's style has since been gravitating towards riffs and song structures more along the lines of contemporary North American fusion genres, such as nu metal and metalcore.

All lyrics are written by vocalist Kyo and deal with subjects such as society, mass media as well as sexual obsessions and love, usually with negative implications. The vocabulary varies from subtle to explicit and several songs rely heavily on double entendres and other wordplay, often involving the multiple meanings of a kanji character.cite web
last = Stewart
first = Brian
coauthors = Sakuma, Takako
title = Lyrics translations with notes
work = centigrade-j.com
url = http://web.archive.org/web/20070324061146/www.centigrade-j.com/translations/direngrey.htm
accessdate = 2007-08-07]

Members

As with numerous other Japanese bands, the members of Dir en grey are credited with their given or stage name, the names of nihongo|Kyo|京 and Kaoru (薫) usually being written in kanji.
* Kyo – vocals
* Kaoru – guitar,° backing vocals
* Die – guitar,° backing vocals
* Toshiya – bass guitar, backing vocals
* Shinya – drums

°Both Kaoru and Die perform on acoustic and electric guitars.

Discography

* "Gauze" (1999)
* "Macabre" (2000)
* "Kisou" (2002)
* "Vulgar" (2003)
* "Withering to Death." (2005)
* "The Marrow of a Bone" (2007)
* "Uroboros" (2008)

References

External links

* [http://www.direngrey.co.jp Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/direngrey Official MySpace]