Again another great band and no thread so im gonna start one 1991–1996: Early Career In February 1991, bassist Tetsuya Ogawa, later band leader, recruited vocalist Hyde along with guitarist Hiro and drummer Pero, and formed a band under the name of L'Arc-en-Ciel. After a year of gaining notoriety in their hometown of Osaka, Hiro left the band on June 12, 1992. Tetsu convinced his friend Ken Kitamura to quit his university studies (he was an architecture major at The Nagoya Institute of Technology) and join the band as the guitarist. Pero soon left the band on December 30, 1992. In 1993, a new drummer, Yasunori Sakurazawa, joined the band. On April 1, 1993, the band released their debut album Dune under the indie label Danger Crue. The album was a success and rose to number one on the Oricon indies charts, catching the attention of some major labels. In 1994, L'Arc-en-Ciel signed on with Sony's Ki/oon division, releasing their second album, Tierra that same year. Heavenly followed in 1995. True, released in 1996, became their first number-one, million selling album. 1997: Sakura's departure In February 1997, drummer Sakura was arrested for illegal drug possession (heroin). He officially quit the band on October 4, 1997. This proved to be the lowest point in the band's history. When news of Sakura's arrest became public, there was an immediate official response and CDs were removed from the shelves. "The Fourth Avenue Cafe" for Rurouni Kenshin was immediately replaced with former theme "Heart of the Sword" after only six episodes of running time. Their next single "The Fourth Avenue Cafe" was postponed. It was eventually released in 2006. Self-copy band The Zombies Over the next few months the group continued to be featured in magazines, but only as a trio. "The Zombies", which was notionally recorded as the "copy band", sang their songs. They also covered Marilyn Manson's "Irresponsible Hate Anthem". The return from the break was marked by the appropriately named Reincarnation 97 Live in Tokyo Dome, with their new drummer, Yukihiro Awaji (former drummer with Zi:Kill and Die in Cries). The first concert in Tokyo Dome had an attendance of 56,000, which sold out in four minutes, a record at that time. In 1997, "Niji", the first single after Sakura's departure, was released with Yukihiro listed as a supporting member. Not long after the release of the single, Yukihiro was signed on as the official drummer for L'Arc-en-Ciel. 1998–2000: Blockbuster success Their 1998 single "Winter Fall", became their first number-one single on the oricon charts. They released the album Heart in February 1998. Ark and Ray were released simultaneously on July 1, 1999, and became the first Japanese albums to be released simultaneously in many other Asian countries. Both topped the Oricon music charts, with Ark occupying number one and Ray at number two. The release of ark and ray marked the high point of the band's career, with each selling over two million copies. Real followed in 2000, which was the last CD of new material for some time, although many more compilation and remix albums would follow. "Stay Away" from the album Real was featured in Drummania 4th Mix, making the song playable on the machine. 2001–2003: Go to solo projects The compilation Clicked Singles Best 13 was released in 2001, with twelve songs chosen by fans online in Asia and an additional thirteenth song, "Anemone". L'Arc-en-Ciel's last new song before their hiatus, "Spirit Dreams Inside -Another Dream-", was released on September 5, 2001. The song was adopted for the closing theme song to the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. After "Spirit Dreams Inside", the band went on a hiatus as the members began working on various solo projects. Hyde released two solo albums (Roentgen and 666) and starred in the movie Moon Child with the popular Japanese soloist Gackt. Hyde also played the part of Adam in the movie Kagen no Tsuki (Last Quarter), based on the manga by the same title. Ken founded Sons of All Pussys with L'Arc-en-Ciel's former drummer Sakura. Tetsu started Tetsu69 and Yukihiro sang with Acid Android. 2004: Comeback and U.S. concert debut In June 2003, L'Arc-en-Ciel performed a series of seven concerts in Tokyo called the Shibuya Seven Days, during which they announced a new album for release the following year. The band released "Ready Steady Go" in February 2004, its first single in more than three years. The song was used as an opening for a popular anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist.[14] It topped Oricon weekly single charts. A cover of the song is used in a video game for the Nintendo DS called Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. The single was followed by "Hitomi no Juunin", in early March. The album, Smile, was released on March 31. Shortly afterwards, on June 2, 2004, the single "Jiyuu e no Shoutai" introduced P'unk-en-Ciel, a partial change, for the first time on CD with "Milky Way". A flyer for the band's 2004 performance at Otakon On July 31, 2004, L'Arc-en-Ciel made their North American concert debut at the anime convention Otakon, held annually in Baltimore, Maryland. Approximately 12,000 people attended the concert, which was held at an outside venue for the first time in Otakon's musical guest history, at 1st Mariner Arena. They were also the first Japanese act (and to date, the only) to perform at the Arena. On May 31, 2005, Tofu Records, Sony Music Japan's U.S. label, released the much-anticipated DVD of the Otakon 2004 concert Live in U.S.A. On June 25, 2007, L'Arc-en-Ciel signed a deal with HMV America. 2005–2006: Asia live tour and solo projects In 2005, the band released various singles, including "Killing Me", "New World", and "Jojoushi". These were later featured on their album, Awake, which was released on June 22 with twelve tracks, including "Lost Heaven", the closing theme of the Fullmetal Alchemist movie. The band's single, "Link", released on July 20, 2005, was also featured in the movie as the opening theme, which was included by their next album Kiss. Hyde singing "Revelation" during the 2005 Awake tour In August 2005, the band went on their Awake tour, which was limited to Japan. The tour featured displays of anti-war sentiment, reflecting similar lyrics of the songs of the album. The Japanese Awake tour was followed by the Asia Live 2005 tour, with performances in Seoul and Shanghai, closing with concerts in Japan. Japan's two concerts took place at the Tokyo Dome. Following the Awake and Asia Live tours, L'Arc-en-Ciel's members turned their attention back to their solo projects. Tetsu began recording with a new band called Creature Creature. Yukihiro rejoined Acid Android, which released its newest single, "Let's Dance", on April 5, 2006. Acid Android joined Mucc, another Japanese rock band, to perform two concerts in Shanghai, China in April of 2006. Hyde composed "Glamorous Sky", the theme song to the film adaption of the manga Nana starring pop singer Mika Nakashima. It was the first time Hyde composed music for another vocalist. Hyde's latest solo album, Faith, was released in Japan on April 26, 2006, accompanied by a five month tour throughout Japan between April and August of 2006. After signing on with Tofu Records, four small concerts were scheduled in San Francisco and Anaheim, California in the United States. Hyde made his U.S. debut in July of 2006, the first of L'Arc-en-Ciel's solo projects to extend internationally. On August 23, Ken released a solo single entitled "Speed". 2006–2008: 15th anniversary and Europe concert debut On November 25th and 26th, 2006, L'Arc-en-Ciel played two shows at the Tokyo Dome to celebrate their 15th anniversary, entitled L'Anniversary. It sold out in two minutes, breaking their former record. A poll was created on the official website during the weeks before the concert which allowed fans to pick which songs they would like to hear at the event. The concert was later shown on the WOWOW channel on December 23, 2006. It was also broadcast on February 8, 2007 on Korea MTV. L'Arc-en-Ciel later recorded the song "Shine" to be used as the opening song for the NHK anime, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. They kicked-off their Mata Heart Ni Hi Wo Tsukero 2007 tour in Japan. L'Arc-en-Ciel released the single Seventh Heaven on May 30, 2007, which topped the Oricon charts. The song My Heart Draws a Dream, used in a Subaru commercial, was released as a single on August 29, 2007, and made the #1 spot on the Oricon charts. The song Daybreak's Bell was used as the first opening for the anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00. It was released as a single on October 10, 2007, topping the Oricon weekly charts as well. From November 14 to December 25, 2007, there was a limited edition single titled Hurry Xmas, along with two new DVDs coming out in September and December, titled 15th L'Anniversary Live and Chronicle 3 respectively. Their new studio album Kiss, released on November 21, 2007, debuted at the number-one position on the Oricon charts. L'Arc-en-Ciel performed the Theater of Kiss tour, which was held from December 22, 2007 to February 17, 2008. The song Drink It Down, used as the Japanese opening song for the PS3/Xbox360 game Devil May Cry 4, was released as a single on April 2, 2008, and topped the Oricon weekly charts. The band went on the Tour 2008 L'7 ~Trans Asia via Paris~ which covered several major Asian cities, as well as Paris, France. On this tour a definite live show hiatus until 2011 was announced. L'Arc-en-Ciel media continue to be released, a double A-side single, "Nexus 4 / Shine" and a DVD, Tour 2007-2008 Theater of Kiss were released on August 27, 2008. SOURCE: Wikipedia.org Members * Hyde – vocals, guitar * Tetsu – bass, backing vocals * Ken – guitar, backing vocals * Yukihiro – drums Albums * DUNE (April 27, 1993) * Tierra (July 14, 1994) * heavenly (September 1, 1995) * True (December 12, 1996) * HEART (February 25, 1998) * ark (July 1, 1999) * ray (July 1, 1999) * REAL (August 30, 2000) * SMILE (March 31, 2004) * DUNE 10th Anniversary Edition (April 21, 2004) * AWAKE (June 22, 2005) * KISS (November 21, 2007) well here is a gift from me Driver's High From their latest DVD L'Ar-en-Ciel Live In Paris http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=2bb8 ... f6e8ebb871
I'm a big L'arc fan, I've grabbed everything (Concerts, PV's, Singles, etc.) I could find about them after discovering their music last year. And yes, I also play their songs. I've seem the Live in Paris concert its amazing! I'm glad they did that Stay Away shuffle again. But my favorite performance is still My Dear and Winter Fall.
yeah me too i listened to them 6 years ago when a friendm showed them to me i also play their songs my favorite song is Driver's High i bought the live in paris DVD but it hasnt arrived yet i cant wait lol
^ driver high is nice i love it and new world but the most concert i like is 2005 when they go around the asia bst song complication , anyway where can i found best quality of L'Arc~en~Ciel PV i'm difficult to find it
Kira also love the asia tour and about the pvs here is website where i download l'arc-en-ciel PVS i hope you lke it and enjoy it http://visualyume-rin.blogspot.com/2008 ... rafia.html
Kira you're welcome, my pleasure to help other members out if i can and tora yeah lar'c is a great band
My favorite L'arc concert is still the Mata Haato ni Tsukero in Okinawa, Are You Ready 2007? Its a hall concert so the lighting was superb and effects they put on the editing of the DVD were amazing. I never get tired of watching it. and btw, I'm a big P'unk-en-Ciel fan too!
of course that DVD is great too the first time i watched it i was like WOW P'unk-en-Ciel is also good tetsu sings very good
Yesyes!! My sis showed me a pic of Yuki's drum set some time ago...and o-o!! it was so nice...Yuki's got nice arms from playing the drums :3
I discover them with the opening of Serei no Moribito (Shine), and i must admit they are good, really good. I won't go to see them in concert (unless someone give me a free ticket ^^), but i still like to listen some of their songs from times to times. I didnt know the brand was that old That's amazing to see that they still have so many fans today (maybe even more and more i think).
anyway i hear interesting news and is that true hyde is akb wota and he say wanna be their producer [wonder] anyone has the article about the news
I don't know if he's an AKB48 wota , but it's true that in an interview he says that he wants/likes to produce AKB48. If I don't remember badly this interview was in 2008 Seriously I think that Hyde saw AKB48 in TV or similiar and this was a Joke