Luna Sea

[twilighthush]

Who here is into LUNA SEA -- one of the four most important fathers of Japanese rock...?

They were "officially founded" on May 29, 1989 in Kanagawa, though they were together for a while before that as Lunacy, and have rocked the charts with dozens of amazing releases such as "Rosier", "Gravity", and the infamous "I For You".

The members include Ryuichi Kawamura (vox), SUGIZO (lead guitar), INORAN (rhythm guitar), J (bass), and Shinya (drums).

LUNA SEA has a total of 11 album releases which include LUNA SEA (indies, on Extasy Records), Image, Eden, Mother, STYLE, SHINE, Another Side of Singles I + II, Lunacy, Period, and SLOW.

LUNA SEA has STRONGLY inspired (both in image and musically) bands such as Dir en grey (whose early sound and image is almost identical with much of LUNA SEA's); Nightmare (who play covers of LUNA SEA at their lives); Gazette; and Kagrra. It is often argued that without LUNA SEA, these bands wouldn't even exist. Or if they did exist, they would sound and look very different.

A little known fact is that LUNA SEA actually started the entire Elegant Gothic Lolita subculture in Japan -- *NOT* Mana/Malice Mizer, who was inspired by LUNA SEA's earlier looks as well. SUGIZO, INORAN, and Shinya, in particular, had very EGL influenced looks very early in their career, and it was the first Japan had ever seen.

Unfortunately, LUNA SEA disbanded on December 27, 2000. All five members have since gone on to pursue their own projects.

SUGIZO currently has The FLARE, while Ryuichi Kawamura and Inoran have teamed up again to produce the highly anticipated Tourbillon project. J has his solo career, and Shinya drums for various people. He will be drumming for Nanase Aikawa's summer tour.

[Odium: De_Vangelis]

I know about them and heard their 'Shine' album from my friend. I don't really like it. One of my other friends went laughing when he heard their English saying, "Kiss me in the Storm~~" in the Storm track. But that song kinda grow on me for a while. Maybe I should have stayed listening to the album.

But, I definitely love 'I for You' and 'Gravity'. Truly awesome songs. Ones that really unique to JPop scene. I love them to pieces. I haven't listened "Rosier", though. :happy:

And yeah, I heard they also have a Luna Sea Museum somewhere in Japan? :hmm:

[twilighthush]

SHINE is the worst album to start with -- you should've started with either Mother, STYLE, or Period.

I'd say ALL of LS's songs are actually unique to the jpop/jrock scene, considering the fact that they were the seminal band to develop any sound that might be generic these days. xD;

[HarmonyCloud]

O I love Period I love the song "Love song" I think its the greatest (just a bit too long in the end)

[KendoTiger]

I love LunaSea ~ even though I just started with LunaSea:Lunacy. I then managed to get ahold of Period, Style, and Another Side of Singles II.

Really original and enjoyable, definitely one of my favorite bands. Listening to Lunacy with max volume and bass while racing around with friends is a must, at least once.

Never heard Rosier though. hmm...

[twilighthush]

Never heard Rosier? :O *gasp*

You can go to http://www.sugizolove.com/forums and probably request it in the DLs section!

[scarletwillow]

Whoa!
They were "officially founded" on May 29, 1989 in Kanagawa, though they were together for a while before that as Lunacy, and have rocked the charts with dozens of amazing releases such as "Rosier", "Gravity", and the infamous "I For You".
Luna Sea... Lunacy... ooooooh. OOOOOOOOH.
Totally didn't realize that.

Interesting that they inspired DEG *and* Kagrra O_o
They sound very different O_O

[batman]

i found out about Luna Sea because i was browsing some GLAY sites. apparently the members are good friends with each other especially Takuro (Glay) and Suzgizo (LS). my first song i heard was I for You, which i fell in love with after the first listen. i then went on to listen to more of their songs like gravity, storm, love song, shine. then i watched their concert dvd 1995 in Tokyo Dome. Their skills and energy were amazing and i really enjoyed it. Sugizo is very talanted and i love it when he plays the electric violin.

[HarmonyCloud]

Ya they are amazing I wish the members were a lil' more attractive =P But I still love it!

[linny]

^ It's just a testament to how great they are musically. They aren't exactly known for their looks - heck, I'm still fuzzy on what the members look like. To achieve such fame and respect without relying heavily on dashing good looks - now, that is true achievement.

[masterxkae]

MM X Japan is the band that influenced DEG mostly. As they said so themselves ^^. Kagrra, I don't really know, but I absolutely LOVE Kagrra. I think they're so much better than DEG (no offense) And I think X japan is better than Luna sea =)

[ultramanDJ]

well~ it depends... cause LUNA SEA doesnt have such sweeping ballads like "Forever Love" that X Japan has... but LUNA SEA has their own unique sound to their rock.. and they were so huge in HONG KONG around the "i for you" single release era (if i'm not mistaken) that so many rock fans had the SUGIZO look~ haha~

[rie-chan]

luna sea has a very nice soothing sound in some of their slow songs like In Silence and Love Song!. But their music is definitely not as easily likeable as L'arc en Ciel or Glay. Though it's very unique. The music grows on you and then you can't stop! I started from Shine and slowly worked my way backwards *lol* Shine is still my favourite album!!! *grin*

And Sugizo is HOT ^_^V

[tomoe17th]

I like Luna Sea. Their songs, gravity, love song together, sweetest coma again, tonight, love me, in silence, end of sorrow, 4 am, shine and mother were my favorites. The vocalist can really sing, although i don't like his voice that much. The way they broke up, was great imo. they went out not with a whimper, but with a bang, and a loud one at that.

[ichigo fairy]

Ya they are amazing I wish the members were a lil' more attractive =P But I still love it!

LOL ^-^ I thought Kawamura Ryuichi was *very* good-looking. He's one of my first celebrity crushes that I had. :shy: Oh, and if I remembered correctly, Kawamura Ryuichi used to be a troublemaker as a child.

[batman]

Sugizo has cool hair every time i see him....he somehow reminds me of Takuro from Glay...dunno why.

[rie-chan]

*lol* sugizo is cute!!!! And inoran too! J is pretty decent too. *grin* Ryuichi is really not the ONLY cute guy in the band ^___^ Their fan followings are as large as ryuichi's ^^

yeah takuro sorta tries to emulate sugi when he plays the guitar, IMO. THey are really good friends apparently ^^ I used to think they were rather alike too *lol*

[twilighthush]

From SUGIZOLOVE.com:

Sponichi announced December 27 that SUGIZO (ex-Luna Sea) will join forces with YOSHIKI (ex-X JAPAN) and popular singer Gackt as part of a five-member band whose name and details will be revealed in an official announcement early next year.

SUGIZO, who together with Ryuichi Kawamura formed the core of LUNA SEA, was YOSHIKI’s choice for the guitarist. He was raised in a musical household headed by parents who played in an orchestra and is also proficient on the violin. During LUNA SEA’s indies days the band was affiliated with YOSHIKI’s record label and quickly gained renown as talented composers. The two have known each other for twenty years and are very close.

“At first glance, SUGIZO seems like some mysterious visitor from another world. But his feelings about music are really pure,” YOSHIKI said.

SUGIZO described YOSHIKI as “ a great older brother who I can always depend on. I’m honored that he asked me to be a part of his new project.”

SUGIZO and Gackt met for the first time at a music event four years ago. Although they initially saw each other as rivals, they have come to respect each other’s musical ability.

“The first time we met ended on a sour note,” Gackt said, laughing. “We parted fighting and I felt like it was really too bad that we didn’t get along so I’m happy that we get to work together.”

“Gackt has a really strong personality and lots of charisma. It’s hard to imagine what his life is like but when you meet him you really come to trust him,” SUGIZO said.

X JAPAN broke up in 1997, Gackt left MALICE MIZER in 1999 to become a solo artist, and SUGIZO has been constantly working since LUNA SEA’s breakup in 2000. It’s a dream come true for many people to see three members of the most influential bands of the Visual Kei era working together. YOSHIKI will play drums and piano, and Gackt, who is also committed to NHK’s drama “Fuurin Kazan” until Autumn, will hold down vocals.

“I think that we’ll end up having five members,” YOSHIKI said. “It’s great that we’ve got some big names on board and I hope that we’re able to make it big worldwide.”

“Each of us has a strong personality and is somewhat selfish. I’m sure everyone thinks that our band will fall apart, but we really want to become the first Asian band to top the world charts,” said Gackt.

“Look out for high-impact, explosive rock music,” said SUGIZO.

What sort of chemical reaction will result from the mixing of these three intense individuals? They’re definitely going to cause waves in the music world next year.

[Alythria]

I love LUNA SEA. <3 A definite must-listen for jrock fans. It can be a little hard to get their stuff though since they're disbanded. D;

LOL ^-^ I thought Kawamura Ryuichi was *very* good-looking. He's one of my first celebrity crushes that I had. :shy: Oh, and if I remembered correctly, Kawamura Ryuichi used to be a troublemaker as a child.

Really? I didn't think he was attractive at all. ^^; Then again, people tell me I have weird tastes..

[thefreakyfreak]

i love their song 'i for you' it was in a drama ' kamisama mou sukoshi dake' which means 'god, give me more time'. the lyrics r amazing.

[cheekySEEKy]

i have an album by luna sea but i don't know them too well.. but i LOVE LOVE LOVE the song ROSIER <3<3<3 it's such a good song (i'm not talking about the lyric but the music)