Malice Mizer

Malice Mizer (マリスミゼル) were a Japanese Visual Kei band. The band was formed in 1992 by Mana and Kozi, who had previously played together in the band Matenrou. The band name stands for "Malice and Misery". They were as famous for their fashion and live shows as they were for their music and are still considered one of the most popular Japanese Visual Kei bands in history.

The original Malice Mizer line up included Tetsu on vocals, Mana and Kozi on guitars/synthesizers, Yu~ki on bass and Gaz on drums. From the start, the band established their trademark twin guitar sound with two guitars playing different melodies. In the beginning, the bands music sound mixed rock, goth, classical.

Shortly after their first release, the drummer Gaz left to join Kneuklid Romance while Kneuklid Romance's drummer Kami joined Malice Mizer. In 1994, Malice Mizer released their first album, memoire. Shortly afterwards, Tetsu left the band.

In 1995, Gackt became Malice Mizer’s new vocalist. With Gackt in the band, their sound changed, becoming more complex. The band changed their goth look for more colourful historical-inspired costumes. In 1996, Malice Mizer released their second album, Voyage 〜sans retour〜 and signed to a major label the next year.

Gackt left the band in January 1999 to launch his successful solo career. Around that same time Malice Mizer left Nippon Columbia and returned to their previous record label, Midi:Nette. Also in 1999, the band's drummer Kami died of a brain aneurysm. In 2000, they released their last album and in 2001 they announced that they were ceasing to be an active band.

Malice Mizer Members

• Mana - guitars/synthesizers (1992-2001)
• Kozi - guitars/synthesizers (1992-2001)
• Tetsu Takano - vocals (1992-1994)
• Yu~ki bass (1992-2001)
• Gaz - drums (1992-1993)
• Kami - drums (1993-1999)
• Shue - drums (2000-2001)
• Gackt Camui - vocals (1995-1999)
• Klaha - vocals (2000-2001)

Malice Mizer Discography

Demo tapes

• Sans Logique (1992)
• SADNESS / SPEED OF DESPERATE (1993)
• Sadness (1993)
• The 1th Anniversary (1993)

Singles

• Uruwashiki kamen no shotaijo (1995)
• ma chérie — Itoshii kimi e (1996)
• Bel Air - Kuhaku no toki no naka de (1997)
• au revoir (1997)
• Gekka no yasoukyoku (1998)
• ILLUMINATI [P-type] (1998)
• Le Ciel — Kuhaku no kanata e] (1998)
• Saikai no chi to bara (1999)
• Shinwa (2000)
• Kyomu no naka de no yuugi (2000)
• Shiroi Hada Ni Kuruai To Kanashimi No Wamai (2000)
• Gardenia (2001)
• Beast Of Blood (2001)
• Garnet Kindan no Sono e (2001)

Albums

• Memoire (1994)
• Memoire DX (1994) (reissue)
• Voyage ~sans retour~ (1996)
• Merveilles (1998)
• Bara no Seidou (2000)

Videos and DVDs

• Sans retour Voyage "derniere" encoure une fois (1997)
• Bel Air ~Kuuhaku no shunkan (toki) no naka de~ de l'image (1997)
• Merveilles ~Shuuen to kisuu~ l'espace (1998)
• Merveilles -cinq parallele- (1999)
• Saikai no chi to bara ~de l'image (1999)
• Kyomu no naka de no yuugi ~de l'image~ (2000)
• Bara ni irodorareta akui to higeki no makuake (2000)
• Sans retour Voyage "derniere" (2001)
• Bara no kiseki (2001)
• Beast of Blood (2001)
• Bara no konrei ~Mayonaka ni kawashita yakusoku~ (2002)
• Cardinal (2002)

Where Are They Now

• Gackt - popular singer and actor in Japan and part of the band SKIN.
• Klaha - working on his solo career.
• Mana - solo project Moi dix Mois, runs Visual Kei clothing company Moi-même-Moitié, and runs Midi:Nette.
• Közi - In the band Eve of Destiny.
• Tetsu - various bands and also has worked on a solo career.
• Yu~ki - sang on Kozi's single Memento.
• Tetus - in the band Zigzo.

External Links

• Official site (Japanese)