Bis Kaidan
| Company type | Ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Jojo Hiroshige (Hijokaidan), Bis (idol group) |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Japan , Japan |
Area served | Japan |
| Products | Noise rock music, albums, live performances |
| Parent | Avex Trax (label) |
Bis Kaidan (written as BiS階段 and stylized as BiS Kaidan) was a Japanese noise rock ensemble established in 2012, formed through the partnership of the female idol group Bis ("Brand-new idol Society") and the noise collective Hijokaidan.
History
The creation of Bis Kaidan was driven by Jojo Hiroshige, the lead figure of Hijokaidan, who initially intended to collaborate with idol group Momoiro Clover Z. However, he shifted his focus to Bis due to their punk-infused style and intense live performances. Originally conceived as a one-time project in November 2012, they delivered noise reinterpretations of Bis tracks "eat it" and "nerve." Following this, Hiroshige sought to deepen the partnership, culminating in their signing with Bis' label Avex Trax, Japan’s largest major record company, marking the first noise band to join its roster.
In 2013, BiS Kaidan unveiled a self-titled album that included a rendition of Jun Togawa’s popular song "Suki Suki Daisuki." Promoted as the world’s inaugural idol noise band, they also produced a music video for this cover that paid homage to seminal noise and punk groups such as Hanatarash and The Stalin.
The band wrapped up their activities in May 2014 with a farewell concert preceding their disbandment, which aligned with Bis' scheduled dissolution in July. Their final show was distinguished by an extraordinary sequence of thirteen back-to-back performances of their hallmark track "nerve."
Members
The Bis lineup featured leader Pour Lui alongside Saki Kamiya, First Summer Uika, Ten Tenko, Nozomi Hirano, and the newest addition Megumi Koshouji, who joined in early November. Hijokaidan's members comprised Jojo Hiroshige, Junko, and Toshiji Mikawa—who also participates in Incapacitants.
Former Bis participants Yurika Wakisaka, Rio Michibayashi, and Yufu Terashima contributed to Bis Kaidan performances but have since departed. Yukiko Nakayama provided vocals for "eat it" on their album despite having graduated from Bis in late 2011 prior to this collaboration.
Recordings
Their debut album initially appeared on vinyl in June 2013 through Jet Set, followed by a CD release in August under Avex Trax. The vinyl edition features approximately 40% more noise content compared to the CD and included a download card granting access to MP3 files. Both editions contained one of ten collectible trading cards along with a group photograph. The tracklist comprises a Jun Togawa cover, five reimagined Bis songs, and "Bis_kaidan," an abrasive noise composition utilizing reversed vocal samples from Bis’s March 2013 single "BiSimulation."
In May 2014, the French label Specific issued a limited LP edition (500 units) with alternate artwork and laser etching; although sold out physically, it remains accessible for streaming and digital download via their Bandcamp platform.
A self-titled box set limited to 1,000 copies priced at ¥30,000 sold out prior to its September 3, 2014 launch. This comprehensive package includes four CDs (the second album, LP mix of the debut album, Best Live Select compilation, and vocal/instrumental versions of "BiS_kaidan_3"), four DVDs and two Blu-rays featuring eleven live performances—including collaborations with Tokyo Shock Boys, Soul Flower Union, and Genbaku Onanies—a photo book, an official Last T-shirt (size M), and a fragment of a member’s sailor uniform. The second album was also made available separately as a discounted CD paired with a DVD documenting their May 6, 2014 final concert and continues to be offered.
In 2015, Specific licensed the sophomore album for a run of 500 one-sided laser-etched LPs along with digital release under the title BiS Kaidan 2. Concurrently with the box set release date, Jojo's Alchemy Records distributed the recording of their final show as a double CD; the first disc features thirteen consecutive performances of "nerve" that initiated the event.
Performance
Bis Kaidan gained a reputation for their performances characterized by intense chaos and destruction. During an August concert at Shibuya WWW, they hurled a variety of items into the audience, including chicken feet, buckets, their own undergarments, and even a pig’s severed head.
In September 2013, they joined forces with the shock performance group Tokyo Shock Boys (Dengeki Network), performing under the combined name Dengeki Bis Kaidan (電撃BiS階段). Their act featured extreme stunts such as encasing members Toshiji Mikawa and Ten Tenko inside vacuum-sealed plastic bags.
The group has also worked alongside other musical acts, such as Soul Flower Union—collaborating as Soul Flower Bis Kaidan—and punk band The Genbaku Onanies, performing live together as Genbaku Bis Kaidan.
Members First Summer Uika and Nozomi Hirano contributed to Hijokaidan’s performances, with Uika on drums and Hirano handling electronic elements. In April 2014, they established Jazz Bis Kaidan in partnership with Jazz Hijokaidan, a side project of Hijokaidan, merging noise music with free jazz influences. The ongoing collaborations between Jojo Hiroshige and Uika at various events have challenged traditional distinctions between idols and artists within Japanese music culture.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon |
JPN Billboard | ||
| BiS Kaidan (BiS階段) |
|
37 | 33 |
| 2nd Album |
|
— | — |
| "—" indicates a release that did not chart or was unavailable in that market. | |||
Live albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2014.5.6 BiSKaidan Last Gig @ WWW (2014.5.6 BiS階段LAST GIG @ WWW) |
|
Video albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| BiS Kaidan (BiS階段) |
|
57 |