Luna Sea

Infobox musical artist
Name = Luna Sea


Img_capt = From left to right: J, Shinya, Ryuichi, Inoran, SUGIZO.
Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Kanagawa, Japan
Genre = Hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal
Years_active = 1989–2000, 2007 & 2008 (reunions)
Label = Extasy, Sweet Child, Universal
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.lunasea.co.jp/ www.lunasea.co.jp]
Current_members =
Past_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.

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.cite web
title = Extasy Records company history
work = extasyrecords.co.jp
url = http://www.extasyrecords.co.jp/eng/company.html
accessdate = 2007-08-28] 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. [http://www.barks.jp/artist/?id=52000109&m=biography "Bark's Luna Sea Biography"] Retrieved on Sep 12 2007 (Japanese)] "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." [http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2007/08/28/luna_sea_to_make_onenight_stand.shtml Japan Zone Entertainment News August 28, 2007] ] Kurofuku (黒服) means black suit or mourning clothing. [http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C "Monash Universary Japanese-English Dictionary"] Retrieved Sep 12 2007]

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.

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 Ohguro, 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.cite web
title = Anime Expo 2007 announcement of Skin
work = anime-expo.org
url = http://www.anime-expo.org/?q=story/anime_expo_2007_announces_j_rock_concert_of_the_century
accessdate = 2007-08-28]

Luna Sea reunited for a concert on December 24, 2007.cite web
title = "Luna Sea to reunite for Christmas Eve concert"
work = tokyograph.com
date = 2007-08-27
url = http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-1629
accessdate = 2007-08-28] 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. Luna Sea will now only play live shows occasionally because they thought the reunion shouldn't be permanent.cite web
title = "Luna Sea God Bless You ~One Night Dejavu~ DVD available on March 26, 2008"
work = cdjapan.co.jp
url = http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=AVBD-91520
accessdate = 2008-01-17]

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

Members

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

Discography

;Albums
* "Luna Sea" (April 21, 1991)
* "Image" (May 21, 1992)
* "Eden" (April 21, 1993)
* "Mother" (October 26, 1994)
* "Style" (April 22, 1996)
* "Shine" (July 23, 1998)
* "Lunacy" (July 12, 2000)

;Singles
* "Believe" (February 24, 1993)
* "In My Dream (With Shiver)" (July 21, 1993)
* "Rosier" (July 21, 1994)
* "True Blue" (September 21, 1994)
* "Mother" (February 22, 1995)
* "Desire" (November 13, 1995)
* "End of Sorrow" (March 25, 1996)
* "In Silence" (July 15, 1996)
* "Storm" (April 15, 1998)
* "Shine" (June 3, 1998)
* "I For You" (July 1, 1998)
* "Gravity" (March 29, 2000)
* "Tonight" (May 17, 2000)
* "Love Song" (November 8, 2000)

;Compilations
* "Singles" (December 17, 1997)
* "Tribute Spirits" (1 May 1999)
* "Never Sold Out" (May 29, 1999)
* "Period ~The Best Selection~" (December 23, 2000)
* "Guitar Solo Instruments 1 & 2" (December 19, 2001)
* "Piano Solo Instruments 1 - 4" (December 19, 2001)
* "Another Side of "Singles II" (March 6, 2002)
* "Slow" (March 23, 2005)
* "Complete Best" (March 26, 2008)

References

External links

* [http://www.lunasea.co.jp/ Official website] ja icon