I'm sure some of you have already looked back at some good and bad visual kei related news and events, and even though a lot of bands disbanded and went on hiatus this year, there've also been many interesting and promising band formations with former members of well-known bands, who made their comeback.
Here is a little summary with the most important news of 2012 (no chronological order!):
Disappointments of the year:
- In April, a list with disbandments of 2012 has been published. Some bands that sadly made it on the list were Aicle., Administrator, VII-Sense, Luzmelt, Ap(r)il, NEXX, Para:noir, DOREMIdan and ASTRO BOY.
- Later, Gackt's band YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz, Paradeis, Dali, the fool, Velvet Eden, 9GOATS BLACK OUT, Chemical Pictures, nega and many more followed. Some are still active and will disband next year.
- Lolita23q, Versailles, Lin and GOLDEN BOMBER announced to go on hiatus.
- Band SuG left their label PSC and are on hiatus now, too.
- BLOOD STAIN CHILD lost their Vocalist Sophia.
- Label Dear Dolce closed down and some of the label's bands disbanded shortly after or are on hiatus now.
- Also label UNDER CODE PRODUCTION announced to close down next year.
- Popular japanese music download site HearJapan shut down in summer 2012.
- With the disbandment of VII-Sense, Vocalist Shaura/Juka retired from all musical activities.
- Baroque's Bassist Bansaku suddenly disappeared in June and couldn't be found.
- Rumors that ex.Irokui Vocalist Yuuri changed his gender and offers sexual services appeared on the net.
Best of the year:
- Band An Cafe made their comeback and toured the world in November.
- Billy made a short comeback at the beginning of this year and released one Single. The members now continue in band Hana Shounen Baddies.
- X Japan won a Golden Gods Award for best international band.
- Közi forms new band ZIZ.
- SaTaN made their comeback.
- Danger☆Gang resumed activities.
- Former Vidoll Vocalist Jui and former spiv states and Phantasmagoria Guitarist Jun have formed a new band, GOTCHAROCKA.
- Three former Para:noir members formed band D.I.D..
- Visu☆ (ex.V-Last Vocalist Shyena's new band) started their activities.
- Ex.Edogawa Paradox Vocalist Kiyoto and Drummer Fujimaru's new band Tokyo Quartet formed.
- Ex.Canzel Vocalist Icchi and ex.the Riotts. Bassist Tara formed ★NO House.
- Three former ClearVeil members started a new band: Carat.
- Former DELUHI Guitarist Leda made his comeback with his new band UNDIVIDE.
- VAMPS made their comeback.
- xTRiPx resumed activities.
- Seremedy released their very 1st full album.
- The GazettE's album "DIVISION" has been released and reached 4th in the ORICON charts within the first week. It has been sold in 62 different countries.
- Ethnic Legist's female opera Vocalist Myla announced that she's pregnant.
- Band Raphael returns after 12 years of inactivity.
- Dolce.'s Guitarist Hixro and DeLeTE's Guitarist Koki have been found after they suddenly disappeared within the year.
- New band Yeti announced to start their activities in March 2013. Their Vocalist is former Aicle member Satoshi Suzuki (old stage name: Emiru).
- PLUNKLOCK, A(ACE), Anli Pollicino, Black Line, INORAN, SCREW, BLOOD, HITT, Megaromania, ZIZ and Satsuki x Kaya toured in Europe.
- D toured in Europe and South America, the fool toured in Russia & Belarus and LM.C and L'arc en ciel toured the world.
Funny/shocking/weird news of the year:
- Yoshiki is composing the theme song for Hello Kitty
- VizeL fired their Vocalist, because he took all the band's money and used it for private things like gambling.
- Cu[be] have been kicked out of their record label UNDER CODE PRODUCTION due to their Drummer's unacceptable behaviour.
Please comment and add important events if I forgot some.
Some of VKH's authors sumed up their three favorite bands, favorite new bands, favorite releases, favorite songs and favorite looks of the year for you!
Please check it out and let us know what your favorites of the year are!
Mangamaniac's Favorites:
Bands of the year:
1. Kiryu
2. BORN
3. Versailles
New Bands of the year:
1. Grieva
2. REXT
3. RoNo☆Cro
Releases of the year:
1. The Gazette - DIVISION
2. DOGinthePWO - 101
3. MUCC - 哀愁のアンティーク (Aishuu no Antique)
Songs of the year:
1. Depain - Doll
2. The Gazette - Derangement
3. Art Cube - Yume Byousha
Looks of the year:
1. LANDZ
2. Gakido
3. D'ual
Akumu's Favorites:
Band of the year:
1. Deathgaze
2. Matenrou Opera
3. Dir en grey
Release of the year:
1. Deathgaze - Creature
2. Plastic Tree - Shion
3. Dir en grey - Rinkaku
Ran's Favorites:
Bands of the year:
1. MATENROU OPERA
2. Omega Dripp
3. Mix Speaker's,Inc.
New Bands of the year
1. [MU:]
2. RENS
3. ZIZ
Release Of The year:
1. MUCC - Shangri-La
2. Raphael-starring Kazuki- - Eternal wish ~Todokanu Kimi E
3. MEJIBRAY - Emotional KARMA
Songs Of The year:
1. Raphael - Eternal Wish ~Todokanu Kimi E~
2. MEJIBRAY - Emily
3. KAYA - Salome
Looks of the year:
1. NIGHTMARE
2. MATENROU OPERA
3. Moi dix Mois
James Favorites:
Bands of the year:
1. 12012
2. Golden Bomber
3. Plastic Tree
Releases of the year:
1. 12012 - 12012
2. ADAMS - NEO SEXUAL
3. SUICIDE ALI - Tainted Gallery
Songs of the year:
1. PLUNKLOCK - World is mine
2. Plastic Tree - Piano Black
3. 12012 - SUICIDE
Looks of the year:
1. Kra
2. 12012
3. SuG
Leo's Favorites:
Bands of the year:
1. Dir En Grey
2. Nega
3. DEATHGAZE
Releases of the year:
1. Dir En Grey - Rinkaku
2. DATHGAZE -Creature
3. -OZ- - Crunk
Songs of the year:
1. Dir En Grey - Juuyoku
2. Buck-Tick - Heroin
3. 9GOATS BLACK OUT - Sink
Sonii's Favorites:
Bands of the year:
1. LIPHLICH
2. SUICIDE ALI
3. Imitation PoPs uchuu sentai NOIZ
New Bands of the year:
1. Ray℃
2. GOTCHAROCKA
3. LOCUS
Releases of the year:
1. LIPHLICH - LOST ICON’s PRICE
2. LIPHLICH - SOMETHING WICKED COMES HERE AGAINST YOU
3. Ray℃ - Kimi Ni Real Ha Todoki Masuka
Songs of the year:
1. LIPHLICH - My Name Was
2. LIPHLICH - Guruguru Jii Koui (2nd Version)
3. Ray℃ -卍～MANJI～
Looks of the year:
1. Scarlett
2. And
3. Dolly
2012 was definitely an interesting year, and 2013 will be just as interesting :)
ReplyDeleteI wish all admins a great year and happiness ^~^