Gackt

From Virtual Japan

Jump to: navigation, search

Gackt (Gackt Camui) is a singer, actor and songwriter in Japan. Born on July 4th, Gackt has long maintained that he is a vampire and was born in 1540, though it is estimated that he was likely born in 1973. His real name is also considered a mystery. Gackt claims it is “Camui M. S. Gackt” but many rumors believe it is actually “Satoru Okabe.”

Gackt is a widely known Japanese celebrity, best known as the vocalist for “Malice Mizer” before departing on a solo career and acting in several television shows and movies.

Contents

Biography

Early Life

Gackt has actively tried to hide the majority of his past, and his mysterious history is one of the reasons he has become such a famous individual in not only Japan but around the world. His father and mother were both teachers. Gackt is the middle child, with an older sister and a younger brother.

His autobiography tells of several childhood illnesses and near death experiences in his life, but much like his own claimed history, the truth of these is still in question. At one point in his life, Gackt claimed he was able to speak with deceased family members, a claim that has helped him become somewhat of a hero in many underground youth circles.

Adult Gack

By 1995, Gackt joined a group known as Malice Mizer. His popularity instantly skyrocketed and he became one of the most well known singers in Japan. Upon leaving the group he took on a variety of other tasks as a solo musician and actor. He was the also voice of Genesis Rhapsodos in the original Japanese version of Final Fantasy VII.

Musical Life

Malice Mizer

Malice Mizer was a popular Japanese rock band from 1992 to 2001. In 1995, Gackt joined the band as their new vocalist and pianist after meeting with the group members and appreciating their diversity.

The group was well known for their inventive outfits and over the top shows, which fit in perfectly with Gackt’s personality. He instantly became a fan favorite, elevating him to stardom quickly. He continued with the group for three years before departing in 1999 because of “musical differences.”

That same year, he began his career as a solo artist.

Solo Career

Gackt began his solo career on May 12, 1999 with the single “Mizerable.” Since then, he has created 7 solo albums (with Singles albums and live albums excluded):

  • Mizerable (1999 – Mini Album)
  • Mars (2000)
  • Rebirth (2001)
  • Moon (2002)
  • Crescent (2003)
  • Love Letter (2005)
  • Diabalos (2005)

He has also been a vocalist for dozens of theme songs on both anime and video games.

On May 25th, 2007, Gackt announced that he is going to be a part of the Japanese Supergroup called “Skin” which features other famous Japanese musical artists including Miyazi, Sugizo and Yoshiki.

Other Endeavors

Besides music, Gackt has also been in several movies. He wrote and starred in the movie “Moon Child” and also had appearances (either as a voice actor or a live actor) in "Fûrin kazan" (as Uesugi Kenshin), “Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII,” “Bujingai,” “Hero’s Hero,” and “Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII.” There are also plans for him to costar with Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson in the upcoming movie “Bunraku” which is set to be released in 2009.

External Links

Pop culture / Travel / Forum / Gallery / FAQ/Help / Submit

Copyright 2008, VirtualJapan.com. All Rights Reserved.