Vocals: Kyo.
Lead Guitar/Leader: Kaoru.
Rhythm and Acoustic Guitar: Die.
Bass: Toshiya.
Drums: Shinya.
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Preceding Dir en grey was an independent band formed in late 1995- early 1996 that consisted of four of the future Dir en grey members [ Die, Shinya, Kyo and Kaoru ] called La:Sadie's. After parting ways with then bassist, KISAKI, the remainder of the band recruited Toshiya, whom they had met while he was still playing in D+L at a small venue in Nagano but had since then moved on to GOSICK. They took on the guise of DEATHMASK to play their first small live together in Nagano before Dir en grey was officially formed. Their first release was not a demo, or a single like with most bands but a mini-album MISSA in 1997. This was followed by GAUZE in 1999. MACABRE in 2000. And Kisou in 2002. Each of these releases possessed a strong visual theme, and despite their easily noted anabasis of the individual pneuma scribbled across each track, they seemed settled with their style. Until 2002 when their came a shock with the release of a second mini-album six UGLY which featured tracks with a westernized touch and yet not without the typical vocal stylings in the choruses and bridges. In 2003 Dir en grey released their fourth full album Vulgar. Leading track OBSCURE seemed to show that the band was reverting to their old style. In 2004 a new single THE FINAL was released featuring three tracks: one title track and three live tracks [ Increase Blue, RED...[em], The IIID Empire ] from the 2003 Osaka Kouseinenkin Kaikan live. Despite their choice to leave the visual scene and sport clothes more down to earth, they managed to continue surprising fans with their releases, varying from hard tracks such as Pink Killer and Filth to rock ballads like Mushi and 24ko Cylinder. On March 9th in the year of 2005 a fifth album Withering to death was released that featured fourteen tracks which contained a more westernized metal sound while Kyo mostly barked his way through each track accompanied by a harder sound produced by his four bandmates on their respective instruments. This album left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans, making them wonder if Dir en grey was straying away from their old sound for a more commercial sound while others embraced the evolutionary step the band was taking. During the later months in 2005, Dir en grey took another evolutionary step in the way that they started touring outside of Japan in European countries such as German, France and Belgium where they managed to make a name for themselves. In October of the same year it was announced by Free-Will that they would be releasing Dir en grey's most recent album Withering to death in France and the United States. It was a non-Japanese version of the CD, of course, but a special version which featured full lyrical translations and a bonus PV [ Kodou, -saku- or The Final depending on country ]. This lead to promises of seeing Dir en grey finally touring in the United States. Five months later in March of 2006 it was announced that Dir en grey would be joining KOßN in their Family Values Tour. It would be their first actual tour [ without including the showcase in New York, California and Texas ], soon afterwards returning to Europe to perform for festivals in Germany. In February they returned to the United States for a headlining tour to promote their newly released CD The Marrow of a Bone which was released in Japan on February 7th and then in the United States on the 20th of that same month. Like with the European countries, Dir en grey has managed to make a name for themselves in America; gaining fans of all ages.
2007
+ October 24th, 2007 they released DOZING GREEN.
+ November 23rd and 24th they opened for Linkin Park during their shows at the SAITAMA SUPER ARENA.
2008
+ Early May of 2008 they had the Death Over Blindness tour.
+ May fourth they performed at the hide Memorial Summit alongside bands such as X JAPAN and LUNA SEA.
+ September 10th they not only released a single called GLASS SKIN, but they also toured. This tour was called TOUR08 THE ROSE TRIMS AGAIN.
+ In November they plan to perform an American/Canadian leg of TOUR08 THE ROSE TRIMS AGAIN. They also have plans to release a new album they called UROBOROS. It will be released in Japan on the 12th and America on the 11th through The End records.
+ On December 29th they will hold a special show called UROBOROS -Breathing-, and it will be held at Osaka-jo Hall. They have not played there since their last performance in 1999.
2009
+ Starting January 13th, Dir en grey will be heading over to the UK/Ireland to take part in the Kerrang! Relentless Drink Energy Tour, playing alongside bands such as Mindless Self Indulgence, Bring me the Horizon, Black Tide and In Case of Fire.
+ On February 4th the band will be releasing a new DVD A KNOT OF. It will have footage from numerous tours from 2005 to 2007 as well as fan-club only DVD material.
+ On April 29th a new DVD by the title of TOUR08 THE ROSE TRIMS AGAIN will be released. It will feature footage not only from the shows the band performed here in the US but footage from the shows at Shinkiba STUDIO COAST and Osaka-jo Hall.