Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer in the Klaha Era (Left to right: Yu~Ki, Mana, Klaha, and Közi)
Background information
Origin	Japan
Genre(s)	Visual Kei Art rock Progressive rock Gothic rock
Years active	1992–2001
Label(s)	Nippon Columbia, Midi:Nette
Associated acts	Eve of Destiny, Moi dix Mois, Nil, Zigzo
Website	www.malice-mizer.co.jp
Members
Klaha Mana Közi Yu~ki Kami (deceased)
Former members
Gaz Tetsu Gackt

Malice Mizer (マリス・ミゼル; Marisu Mizeru) is a Japanese rock band and part of the country's visual kei movement. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from, "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?". Their earlier music and themes were characterized by their strong French and classical influences, later moving away from deliberate French romanticism and incorporating Gothic-Victorian aspects after several tragedies befell the band. Despite the stated archetypes, Malice Mizer is best recognized as a thoroughly original entity. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Malice Mizer, an example of visual kei during the 1990s. ... Art rock is a term used to describe a subgenre of rock music with experimental or avant-garde influences that emphasizes novel sonic texture. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Gothic rock (sometimes called goth rock or simply goth) is a genre of alternative rock that originated during the late 1970s. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... Eve of Destiny is a Japanese industrial rock band founded in 1999 by Haruhiko Ash (formerly of Goth/Punk band the Zolge). ... Moi dix Mois is a Japanese band, and the solo project of Mana, formerly the leader and guitarist of the influential Japanese Visual Kei band Malice Mizer. ... nil is a rock trio that started in 1998 by Takano Tetsu (ex-Malice Mizer, ex-Mega8Ball, ex-Zigzo), Hiroyuki Kashimoto and Kyoshii Moro. ... ZIGZO (ジグズ) is a Japanese Rock band that started activities in 1999 and disbanded in 2002. ... Masaki Haruna, aka Klaha, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. ... Mana is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, famed for his role as a leader and guitarist of the influential visual kei band Malice Mizer. ... Közi ) (Pronounced Koji) is a Japanese visual kei artist who plays guitar, piano, keyboard and synthesizer. ... Yu~Ki is a Japanese rock musician who played the bass guitar in the bang Malice Mizer, he also wrote a song that was proformed by the band. ... Kami was the drummer for the Japanese band Malice Mizer. ... Gackt Camui ) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and actor. ... Malice Mizer, an example of visual kei during the 1990s. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... Mana is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, famed for his role as a leader and guitarist of the influential visual kei band Malice Mizer. ... Közi ) (Pronounced Koji) is a Japanese visual kei artist who plays guitar, piano, keyboard and synthesizer. ...

Malice Mizer are as famous for their music as for their live shows, featuring lavish historical costumes and stage sets, short silent theatre pieces preluding various songs, whimsical dance routines, and even a particularly notable instance of the vocalist descending to Earth (the stage) as a fallen angel, only to ascend again at the end of the concert. Throughout their history, the band has gone through several different lineups and three drastic image changes.

On December 11, 2001, it was announced that Malice Mizer would go on an indefinite hiatus. is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

History

Tetsu era; The Indie era of Malice Mizer(1992–1994)

Malice Mizer was formed in 1992 by Mana and Közi with Tetsu on vocals, both Mana and Közi on guitars/synthesizers, Yu~ki on bass and Gaz on drums. From the outset, the band established their trademark "twin guitar"' sound, whereby two guitars play different melodies creating polyphony. Malice Mizer's sound during the Tetsu era was a mixture of rock, early 1980s goth, and strong classical influences. Their first official release was the song "Speed of Desperate" on the 1993 compilation Brain Trash. Before this, they had released a demo tape called Sans Logique which contained no vocals. Shortly after the release of Brain Trash, Gaz left the band to join Kneuklid Romance, while Kneuklid Romance's drummer Kami in turn joined Malice Mizer. In 1994, the band released their first album, Memoire, on Mana's newly founded independent record label Midi:Nette, and shortly after re-released it with an additional bonus track, "Baroque" under the title Memoire DX. Only days later, singer Tetsu left the band. While the exact reasons are unknown, Tetsu went on to take a different direction in his work and some say it was because he disliked the flamboyant image of the band. The band's continued use of his lyrics in songs they continued to perform with later vocalists suggest an amicable split. [1] Mana is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, famed for his role as a leader and guitarist of the influential visual kei band Malice Mizer. ... Közi ) (Pronounced Koji) is a Japanese visual kei artist who plays guitar, piano, keyboard and synthesizer. ... Two different electric guitars. ... The term synthesiser is also used to mean frequency synthesiser, an electronic system found in communications. ... Yu~Ki is a Japanese rock musician who played the bass guitar in the bang Malice Mizer, he also wrote a song that was proformed by the band. ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... Polyphony is a musical texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice (monophony) or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords (homophony). ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Gothic rock (sometimes called goth rock or simply goth) is a genre of alternative rock that originated during the late 1970s. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Kami was the drummer for the Japanese band Malice Mizer. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... memoire is Malice Mizers first album. ... In popular music, indie music (from independent) is any of a number of genres, scenes, subcultures and stylistic and cultural attributes, characterised by perceived independence from commercial pop music and mainstream culture and an autonomous, do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ...

Gackt era; Voyage and Merveilles (1995–1999)

Malice Mizer during the Gackt era (from left to right: Mana, Gackt, Kami, Közi and Yu~ki).

In 1995, after a year of inactivity, Malice Mizer recruited Gackt as their new vocalist. With a new concept created by Mana, the band's music became more Progressive rock and complex, incorporating even stronger classical and electronic elements. Visually, the band abandoned their 1980s goth look for colourful historical costumes always with a gothic feel. In 1996, Malice Mizer released their second album, Voyage ~Sans Retour~. The band became increasingly popular and in 1997 signed with Columbia Records, where they released a number of successful singles, a short film (Bel Air ~Kuuhaku no Shunkan no Naka De~ de L'Image), and, in 1998, their third album, Merveilles. The band even had their own radio show around this time and played a two day live at the Nippon Budokan which involved a large building as a stage prop and amazing theatrics; each member performing a skit with another member on their own. It was a massive sucess and was released on Video as Merveilles L'Espace. In January 1999, at the height of Malice Mizer's success, Gackt suddenly left the band, and after just four months he released his first solo album. There are many rumors circulating as to why he left, but none of them have yet been confirmed. Malice Mizer left Columbia shortly after and returned to Midi:Nette. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 501 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (699 × 837 pixel, file size: 109 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Malice Mizer in the promotional video for the song Gekka No Yasoukyoku in 1998. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 501 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (699 × 837 pixel, file size: 109 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Malice Mizer in the promotional video for the song Gekka No Yasoukyoku in 1998. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Gackt Camui ) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and actor. ... For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Voyage ～sans retour～ is Malice Mizers second album and first to feature singer Gackt. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... merveilles is Malice Mizers third album and the first (and only) to be released on the Columbia label. ... For the computer game Budokan, see Budokan: The Martial Spirit For the style of Karate, see Budokan Karate-do The Nippon Budokan ), often shortened to just Budokan, is an arena in central Tokyo. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ...

A few months after Gackt's departure, drummer Kami died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage on June 21, 1999, leaving behind a handful of songs, which the band eventually released as part of the EP/video boxset Shinwa, which consisted of 2 songs composed by Kami and short track 'Saikai' which was written by the band. Kami was never replaced; from that point on, Malice Mizer would only use support drummers (namely Shue, who is not shown in the band's later and final music videos, nor credited) and Kami would be credited as "eternal blood relative" on all their future releases. [2] Because of Kami's untimely death and other factors, the Band decided to shift their image and music. Kami was the drummer for the Japanese band Malice Mizer. ... Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is bleeding into the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain, i. ... // Extended play (EP) is the name typically given to vinyl records or CDs which contain more than one single but are too short to qualify as albums. ...

Klaha era; Bara no Seidou (2000–2001)

In the second half of 1999 and the beginning of 2000, Malice Mizer — still without an official vocalist — released a number of singles and began to work on a new album. Eventually, they recruited Klaha (real name Masaki Haruna), vocalist of darkwave band Pride of Mind. By then the band had abandoned the lighter pop music sound of the Gackt era for a dramatic mixture of classical music, gothic/goth and heavy metal music, and adopted an elaborate funeral Goth look. In the summer of 2000, they released what would be their last album, Bara no Seidou, followed by a very spectacular and theatrical live show, featuring pyrotechnics, a choir of veiled nuns and a scaled-down cathedral as stage prop. In 2001, Malice Mizer starred in a feature length vampire movie (Bara no Konrei ~Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku~), and released three more singles: "Gardenia", "Beast of Blood", and "Garnet ~Kindan no Sono E~", "Gardenia" and "Garnet" being of a considerably lighter tone than their previous album, signifying the start of a new era for the band. Unfortunately, those few singles were all the world would see of the yet again reborn Malice Mizer, as the band members decided to go their own separate ways in 2001, leaving disband messages on their official website, Miroir, which can still be viewed today. The split was spoken of as a "hiatus", however, so as not to exclude the possibility of a future reformation. [3] Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Masaki Haruna, aka Klaha, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. ... Darkwave, also written as dark wave, is an umbrella term which refers to a movement that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of new wave. ... This article is about the genre of popular music. ... Gackt Camui ) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and actor. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... For other uses, see Funeral (disambiguation). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Bara no Seidou ) is an album released by Malice Mizer on August 23, 2000. ... This article is about the year. ... Philip Burne-Jones, The Vampire, 1897 Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings that subsist on human and/or animal lifeforce. ... Bara no Konrei ~Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku~ ) is a movie released by Malice Mizer on March 22, 2002. ... Gardenia is a single released by Malice Mizer on May 30, 2001. ... Beast of Blood is Malice Mizers 12th single, released on June 21st, 2001. ... Garnet ~Kindan no Sono E~ ) is a single released by Malice Mizer on November 30, 2001. ... Look up hiatus in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Post projects

After his departure in 1994, Tetsu has subsequently taken part in a series of bands such as Zigzo and Mega 8 Ball and has released one solo album; his most recent being the independently released band Nil. ZIGZO (ジグズ) is a Japanese Rock band that started activities in 1999 and disbanded in 2002. ... nil is a rock trio that started in 1998 by Takano Tetsu (ex-Malice Mizer, ex-Mega8Ball, ex-Zigzo), Hiroyuki Kashimoto and Kyoshii Moro. ...

After his departure in the beginning of 1999, Gackt started a solo career almost after a year which has been enormously successful; he is now one of Japan's top entertainers and TV personalities. Gackt Camui ) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and actor. ...

Klaha started a solo career as well in December 2002, but in the middle of 2004 it was announced that his fanclub would be closing down, and after that there have been long periods with silence, only broken by rare updates on his site. Due to health problems he has been taking a break from creating music, but last year he stated on his site that he would resume musical activity in 2007. Further details haven't been announced.

Mana has formed his own solo project, Moi dix Mois, performing live concerts across Europe. In addition to the successful solo project, Mana simultaneously pursues a career as fashion designer for his fashion label, Moi-même-Moitié, which focuses on the styles Elegant Gothic Aristocrat (EGA) and Elegant Gothic Lolita (EGL). He continues to also run his Indie record label, Midi:Nette, and is looking for bands to sign and produce. Moi dix Mois is a Japanese band, and the solo project of Mana, formerly the leader and guitarist of the influential Japanese Visual Kei band Malice Mizer. ... Moi-même-Moitié is a Gothic Lolita fashion label by Mana (the former leader and guitarist of the Visual Kei band Malice Mizer and now has a solo project called Moi dix Mois) which features the specific styles of Elegant Gothic Lolita (EGL) and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat (EGA). ... Elegant Gothic Aristocrat (EGA) is a fashion style created by Japanese visual kei idol Mana, former guitarist of Malice Mizer and current producer and leader of cult band Moi Dix Mois. ... Two gothic lolitas in Takeshita Street, Tokyo Gothic Lolita or GothLoli (ゴスロリ, gosurori) is a fashion somewhat rare, but very highly visible, among Japanese teenagers and young women. ...

Közi has joined Haruhiko Ash's Industrial band Eve of Destiny and also has a solo project. Közi ) (Pronounced Koji) is a Japanese visual kei artist who plays guitar, piano, keyboard and synthesizer. ... Eve of Destiny is a Japanese industrial rock band founded in 1999 by Haruhiko Ash (formerly of Goth/Punk band the Zolge). ...

Discography

Main article: Malice Mizer discography

The discography for the band Malice Mizer. ...

References

• Malice Mizer's official website
• Klaha's official website
• Mana's official website
• Közi's official website
• Tetsu's official website
• Gackt's official website