L'Arc~en~Ciel

*Origin : Osaka, Japan
*Genres : Alternative rock, Hard rock, Pop rock, Art rock
*Years active : 1991–present
*Labels : Danger Crue, Ki/oon/SMEJ, Tofu, Gan-Shin
*Website : www.larc-en-ciel.com

1. Band Profile

L'Arc~en~Ciel (ラルク アン シエル, Raruku an Shieru, "The Rainbow" in French) began their career as the visual kei band in Osaka more than 16 years ago. After many years of career, their reputations can be told more and more changed into more mainstream. They created songs by the wider range of music, from catchy pop-rock to ballad. By the variation of these musics they succeed to become one of the most famous rock bands in Japan. Not only L'Arc~en~Ciel's popularity that stronger in Japan, they even also succeed to attract the attention of music lovers in worldwide. This is the real example for music as the universal language.

L'Arc~en~Ciel was formed on February 1991 by the bassist, tetsu (Tetsuya Ogawa) at once as the leader, Hide (currently is known as hyde) as a vocalist, Hiro on Guitar and Pero on drum. The name of L'Arc~en~Ciel, which translated literally is an arch in the sky, was chosen by tetsu based on the film that he watched.

In 1992, a man named ken (tetsu's childhood friend) dropped out from his university to join with this band, by replacing Hiro on the guitar. On December at the same year, Pero left the band. Then, tetsu invited Sakura to join after seeing their play, although he didn't know well. After watching L'Arc~en-Ciel's play, Sakura decided to join this band in 1993. Their debut album titled "Dune" also released in the same year, it peaked at #1 on the Oricon Chart Indies and attracted the attention of Major Labels.

In 1994, L'Arc~en~Ciel signed up with Ki/oon division from Sony and released their second album, titled "Tierra". And then, "Heavenly" was released in 1995, and in 1996 was marked by the releasing of "True", the first release that sold over 1 million copies from this band.

In early 1997 when the band reached the top of success, Sakura was arrested by the charged of having heroin. Then he officially left the band on October 4. When the news reported Sakura's detention spread to the public, L'Arc~en~Ciel's CDs derived from the shelves. And their single titled "the Fourth Avenue Cafe", immediately replaced by "Heart of Sword" from T.M. Revolution that previously was used as ending theme for Rurouni Kenshin anime series. Although it was the low point in the history of the band, the release of "the Fourth Avenue Café" was canceled, but the True album still survived on the chart for 2 years.

For several months the band was in the uncertainly situation to recover from the shocks caused by Sakura's drugs scandals. L'Arc~en~Ciel was idle and then entertained them-selves by forming The Zombies, a band who cover their own songs and song tracks from Marilyn Manson and Nirvana.

They officially reunited by performing a concert called Reincarnation '97 Live at Tokyo Dome. With audiences of 56.000 people, the first show tickets that still have not reached a record unmatched until today, which sold out in just four minutes. The concert was also the first time for Yukihiro (ex-Die in cries, ex-Zi: Kill) appeared as the new drummer of this band.

2. Members Profile

Real name : Takarai Hideto
Nickname : Hyde, Haito, Doi Hachirou
Date of birth : January 29, 1969
Place of birth : Wakayama, Osaka (kansai)
Horoscope : Aquarius
Height : 158cm
Weight : 48kg
Blood Type : O
Family : Only child in the family
Marital status : Married with Oishi Megumi on 25th Dec 2000
Hobbies : Collect blue glass products, Video games, sketching, writing poems, cooking and reading scary novel

Real name : Ogawa Tetsuya
Nickname : Tet-chan
Date of birth : October 3, 1969
Place of birth : Osaka, Japan
Horoscope : Libra
Height : About 168 cm
Weight :
Blood Type : A
Family : 2 younger sisters
Marital status : Married with Ayana Sakai on November 2007
Hobby : Cars,plastic models, Anime (Gundam, Evangelion…he likes Asuka from EVA) and shopping

Real name : Kitamura Ken
Nickname : ken-chan
Date of birth : November 28, 1968
Place of birth : Osaka, Japan
Horoscope : Sagittarius
Height : 178 cm
Weight : 56 kg
Marital status : Married
Hobbies : Shopping, diving…

Real name : Awaji Yukihiro

Nickname : Yukkie
Date of birth : November 24, 1968
Place of birth : Chiba, Japan
Horoscope : Sagittarius
Height : 165 cm
Weight : 48 kg
Blood Type : A
Marital status : Single

Former Members :

Name: Sakurazawa Yasunori
Birthdate: November 20th, 1969
Birthplace: Nerima, Tokyo, Japan
Former Bands: DEAD END's roadie Die+Kusse, HaremQ, L'Arc~en~Ciel, ZIGZO, Lion Heads

* Hiro
* Pero

L'Arc~en~Ciel's Logo

3. Latest News
L'Arc~en~Ciel has released 38 singles, 12 albums, and 5 compilation albums. Their latest single was I Love Rock 'n Roll, but it's just available in Digital download-limited singles. The song was originally created by the Arrows, a three-piece English American band. But L'Arc-en-Ciel covered the song for the commercial of Pepsi Nex in 2010.

And their latest studio album was Kiss which was released on November 21, 2007. The album also reached the #1 spot on the Oricon album chart. There were 12 songs, including 5 singles inside there.

And currently, they released a compilation album titled Quadrinity ~Member's Best Selections~ on March 10, 2010. There are four discs. Each disc has seven songs written by one of the members of the band.

On August 21st, L'Arc-en-Ciel announced their next live show will be 20th L'Anniversary Starting Live "L'A HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The concert will start at midnight on January 1, 2011 at Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex.

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