Panic Channel

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Panic Channel


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Japan
Instruments =
Genre = Visual Kei
Oshare kei
Years_active = 2003 - current
Label = Mission Music Factory
URL = |Current_members = MEGURU, Kana, MAYO, kiri, KYO~YA
Past_members = Yuusuke, Tara, Tsubasa, Takumi

:"This article is about the Japanese band, for the American band, see The Panic Channel.

Panic Channel (written パニックちゃんねる or PANIC☆ch, both pronounced the same way) is an independent Japanese Visual kei band signed to the label Mission Music Factory. They perform under two personas: パニックちゃんねる is their gothy, Visual Kei side, and PANIC☆ch is a light visual boy band side. Some fans consider PANIC☆ch to be Oshare Kei, however, the band itself claims not to be.

Biography

Panic Channel (known in Japanese as panikku channeru) was founded by Meguru (ex- GARASU), Kana, and Tara in November 2002. In January 2003, the line-up of the band consisted of Meguru (Vo), Kana (G), Tsubasa (G), Tara (Ba), and Yuusuke (Dr). After two months, in March 2003 the band decided to show their “second face.” The alterego Panic*CH was born.

Panic Channel gave their debut in May of that year at the Osaka club Vijon where they sold their first video tape Panic Channel Kyouzai Video. After that event, the band started advance; they had one gig after another, always switching between the two egos during the long line of events.

The band had its first oneman at the Urawa Narciss on 21 September, 2003. It was completely sold out. One day later, they sold their first single Debutsen ~minna no chikai hen~ in a limited edition of 2000 copies. The CD was sold out on the same day and it was not printed again. Panic Channel kept on performing, most of the time at the Meguro Rock May Kan. Towards the end of the year, they released their first mini-album Shinjisen ~Yume ni mukatte hen~.

In the beginning of 2004, the Shinjisen ~Yume ni mukatte hen~ tour was listed on Panic Channel’s schedule. It ended on St. Valentine’s Day, 14 February, in the Meguro Rock May Kan.

On March 18, there was another oneman in the same concert hall where both personalities of the band performed. After that concert, the drummer Yuusuke left the band. Takumi (ex- Aile) substituted him at first only as a support member, which changed when he became the official drummer of Panic Channel on April 3.

A lot more concerts and performances followed, and on 29 July, their next maxi-single Iyagasare was released in a limited edition of 3000 copies. One month later on August 29, the boys released their 5th single with the name Freestyle.

In September, Panic Channel’s label Mission Music Factory arranged together with Undercode Productions (Kisaki) a two-man concert with Panic Channel and Undercode-band’s Karen. On September 23 and 26, the bands stood on stage together. The next release followed shortly after that event on September 29: the single Kesshousen.

In the beginning of October, the band took part in the Mad Tea Party Vol. 4 which was sponsored by the band D. Afterwards, Panic Channel had a couple of performances again. From the 13th and 17th of December, 2004, performances at the Meguro Rock May Kan took place, arranged by Panic Channel. On those five days, Panic Channel played together with Iroha, Gift, HenzeL, and Luvie. The event ended with a “panikku channeru” vs. “Panic*Ch” oneman. After those concerts, Tara was brought to the hospital because of ear problems. Panic Channel continued performing and got Saburo of Gift as bassist, However, the recording of their new album was rescheduled.

After more performances in 2005, Tara’s recovery was announced in February. His first performance after a long time took place in Nagoya’s Shinsakae MUJIKA on 10 March. Panic Channel recorded their new album TRICK, which was released 26 March.

But the peace did not last for long. After the UnderCode 3 Day event final on 22 March, 2005, in Osaka, Meguru announced that Tara had to go to the hospital again because of new ear problems. During the time in hospital, Tara announced that he would leave the band because of his ear, just as the fans suspected. The true reason is apparently that Tara already did not see himself as member of the band anymore because in the end of 2005 he started the new band project Betty with Yuu (ex-Never Crazy).

After Tara’s departure, Panic Channel had a couple more concerts. On 28 August, the band announced after a concert that Tsubasa and Takumi were going to leave the band. Their farewell concert was on 30 October. Meguru and Kana remained.

In the beginning of January 2006, Meguru announced that positions in the band would be replaced by MAYO (G), kiri (Ba), and KYO～YA (Dr). In February and March, the band had a nation-wide tour, seven secret concerts included, where they switched constantly between their alter-egos. In April 2006 and released two new singles, Plow~forward movement~ and Ishin.

Members

Current

*MEGURU - Vocals
*Kana (華那) - Guitar
*MAYO - Guitar
*Kiri - Bass
*KYO~YA - Drums

Former

*Yuusuke - Drums
*Tara (たら) - Bass [now ex-176BIZ]
*Tsubasa (翼) - Guitar [Now known as "Toki" (時) in 176BIZ]
*Takumi (たくみ) - Drums [Now in Elia]

Discography

Albums

* "Shinjinsen"～yume ni mukatte hen～" (December 25, 2003) [Mini-Album]
* "TRICK" (March 26, 2005)
* "Invisible Line" (February 2, 2007) [Mini-Album]
* "Ray" (August 29,2008) [Mini-Album]

ingles

*"Debut sen"～minna no chikai hen～ (Sep. 22, 2003)
#SPARKING
#Kodoku Mousou

*Zenkoku taikai sanbon sen～Iyagarase～ (Jul. 29, 2004)
#Kako Wasure…。
#Iyagarase
#Love Letter (Trance Mix)

*Zenkoku taikai sanbon sen～Free Style～ (Aug. 29, 2004)
#Zassou～be awake～
#Lovely☆
#829 Service (Euro Mix)

*Zenkoku taikai sanbon sen～Kesshousen～ (Sep. 29, 2004)
#Rouge～love loan a rouge～
#Kataomohi
#Kodoku Mousou (Live Style)

*Plow～forward movement～ (Apr. 19, 2006)
#together
#Departures

*Ishin (Apr. 19, 2006)
#Zangai
#Mujou Mayaku

*Father's Expression (Jan. 25, 2008)
#829 Partners
#Unfiction

*Mother's Expression (Jan. 25, 2008) [Live Sold]
#THE LAST TEAR
#Gemini

Videos

*PV (PANIC☆VIDEO)～otameshi gentei hen～ (Apr. 24, 2004)
*PV (PANIC☆VIDEO)～tsuujou hen～ (May 1, 2004)

External links

* [http://www.panic-ch.com Official website]