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Pierrot (band)

From Alfawiki
Pierrot
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
PredecessorDizy-Lizy
Founded1994 in Nagano, Japan
FounderKirito, Jun
Defunct2006
FateDisbanded
Headquarters
Nagano
,
Japan
Area served
Japan
Key people
Kirito (vocals), Jun (guitar), Aiji (guitar), Kohta (bass), Takeo (drums)
ProductsMusic albums, singles
Number of employees
5 (band members)

Pierrot (presented as PIERROT) was a Japanese visual kei rock ensemble established in 1994 in Nagano. Initially known as Dizy-Lizy, the band underwent lineup adjustments before settling on their definitive roster in 1995: Kirito (vocals), Jun and Aiji (guitars), Kohta (bass), and Takeo (drums). After a ten-year run, Pierrot disbanded in 2006. Their concluding single, "Hello," was released following their major-label debut album Finale.

Following the group's dissolution, Kirito embarked on a solo path and later formed Angelo alongside Kohta and Takeo. Meanwhile, Aiji became part of LM.C in 2006 with maya, and Jun co-founded ALvino with guitarist Koji (formerly of La'cryma Christi) and vocalist Shouta (formerly of NIOI). The band briefly reunited for live performances in 2014 and again in 2017.

History

In 1994, guitarists Kirito (then known as Shinya) and Jun created Dizy-Lizy in Nagano, assembling vocalist Hidelow, bassist Kohta (Kirito’s brother), and drummer Luka. After changing their name to Pierrot, Luka exited the group in November and was succeeded by Takeo. Their debut album, Kichigai Pierrot, was released in December, featuring recordings with Luka. By February 1995, Hidelow had left, and Aiji joined as a guitarist, establishing the lineup of Kirito (vocals), Jun and Aiji (guitars), Kohta (bass), and Takeo (drums). Around this period, Toshiya—who would later become bassist for Dir En Grey—served as their roadie.

Their sophomore album, Pandora's Box, came out in July prior to their contract with Sweet Child Management. This release was subsequently acknowledged by Band Yarouze magazine as one of the best albums from 1989 to 1998.

In 1998, Pierrot inked a deal with Toshiba-EMI, marking their major label debut with the single "Clear Sky," which climbed to number six on the Oricon charts. Their first major album, Finale, followed in July 1999. In April of that year, they achieved the notable feat of selling out the esteemed Nippon Budokan, an uncommon accomplishment for a newly debuted band.

In 2001, Pierrot transitioned from Toshiba-EMI to Universal. Their most commercially successful album, a self-cover titled Dictators Circus: Kijutsuteki Senritsu, was released in December 2003. After issuing two compilation albums in 2005—Dictators Circus: A Variant Bud and Dictators Circus: A Deformed Bud—the band declared their impending breakup. The official disbandment took place on April 12, 2006; their final single "Hello" was released that June.

Pierrot’s legacy endures: their track "Kumo no Ito" was interpreted by Hana Shounen Baddies on the compilation Crush! 2 -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-, which debuted in November 2011 featuring contemporary visual kei artists covering iconic ’90s tunes. Another song, "Haruka...," was covered by -Oz- on the compilation Counteraction - V-Rock covered Visual Anime songs Compilation-, released in May 2012.

On April 12, 2014—exactly eight years after disbanding—Pierrot announced a reunion for two concerts at Saitama Super Arena scheduled for October 24–25. They reunited once more in 2017 for a two-night event titled Androgynos alongside Dir En Grey at Yokohama Arena. Planned for October 11–12, 2024, Pierrot and Dir En Grey will stage another two-day concert series called Androgynos - The Final War - at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.

Members

  • Position: Lead vocals and band leader (initially guitarist)
  • Full Name: Shinya Murata
  • Date of Birth: February 24, 1972
  • Place of Birth: Sapporo, Hokkaido
  • Currently active in the band Angelo with Kohta and Takeo; also engaged in solo musical projects.
  • Position: Guitarist
  • Full Name: Shinji Mizui
  • Date of Birth: November 17, 1974
  • Place of Birth: Nagano, Japan
  • Presently a member of LM.C alongside Maya, who formerly supported Miyavi as a guitarist.
  • Position: Guitarist and synth guitar player
  • Full Name: Junichi Yamaura
  • Date of Birth: May 4, 1973
  • Place of Birth: Nagano, Japan
  • Currently performs with ALvino together with Koji (ex-La'cryma Christi) and Shouta.
Kohta
  • Position: Bassist and backing vocals
  • Full Name: Kohta Murata
  • Date of Birth: June 3, 1975
  • Place of Birth: Sapporo, Hokkaido
  • Also involved with Angelo alongside Kirito and Takeo.
Takeo
  • Position: Drummer and percussionist
  • Full Name: Takeo Ishikawa
  • Date of Birth: July 11, 1972
  • Place of Birth: Koriyama, Fukushima
  • A member of Angelo with Kirito and Kohta.
Former members
  • Hidelow – vocals
  • Luka – drums
    • Subsequently joined D≒sire and Jils under the name Hide Hommure -Hideyoshi-.

Studio albums

  • Celluloid (mini-album released on September 3, 1997) Reached number 63 on the Oricon Albums Chart
  • Finale (released July 7, 1999) Achieved peak chart position of 5
  • Private Enemy (November 22, 2000) Peaked at number 14
  • Heaven: The Customized Landscape (May 24, 2002) Reached number 7 on the charts
  • ID Attack (July 23, 2003) Attained position number 6
  • Freeze (December 1, 2004) Charted at number 12

Singles

  • "Haken Kreuz" (October 20, 1996)
  • "Screen" (April 22, 1998) Reached number 36 on the Oricon Singles Chart
  • Reached peak position number 6
  • Peaked at number 5
  • Achieved chart position number 10
  • Reached position number 5
  • "Creatures" (December 22, 1999) Charted at number 7
  • "Agitator" (June 7, 2000) Peaked at number 5
  • Reached position number 10
  • "Paradox" (May 6, 2001)
  • "Dramatic Neo Anniversary" (August 29, 2001) Peaked at number 5
  • "Cocoon" (November 21, 2001) Charted at number 10
  • Reached peak position number 5
  • "Psychedelic Lover" (August 28, 2002) Achieved position number 7
  • Peaked at number 9
  • Attained chart position number 4
    • The track "A Rose-Colored World" was featured as the second opening theme for the Getbackers anime.
  • Reached position number16
  • "Smiley Skeleton" (June 30, 2004) Peaked at number8
  • "Mycloud" (October20,2004) Charted at number7
  • "Hello" (June21,2006) Achieved position number8

Other albums

  • 16[1]
  • Dictators Circus: A Variant Bud (April6,2005; a singles compilation) Peaked at number6[1]
  • Dictators Circus: A Deformed Bud (June8,2005; compilation of singles' B-sides) Reached number15[1]
  • Hello Complete Singles and PV Collection (March2009; includes two CDs and one DVD)
  • Dictators Circus Final (April1,2015; live album)

Demo tapes

  • Famme (1994)
  • Homme (1994)

Home videos

  • Prototype (December20,1998)
  • "Film" Rising a Mad Sky at Nippon Budokan (September8,1999)
  • Tour1999 Foreteller's Mutation Final: The Genome Control (March15,2000)
  • Dictators Circus V Vols.1 &2 (December20,2000)
  • Prototype II & III (December2000 – December19,2001)
  • Tour Paradoxical Genesis "Anniversary" Yokohama Arena (April23,2003)
  • Dictators Circus VI at Saitama Super Arena (April23,2003) Reached chart position86[2]
  • Fanclub exclusive releases include Attack [to] the Freedom (2004), Dictators Circus VII: A Variant Bud/A Deformed Bud: [Saitama Super Arena] (2005)
  • Prototype IV (December14,2005) Peaked at position46[2]
  • Dictators Circus Final2014 – Saitama Super Arena (November25,2014)
  • Androgynos (December12,2017; split home video shared with Dir En Grey)

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Oricon albums
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Oricon DVDs
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