[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (Mar. 4, 2013)
#9   Etsu to Utsu / Kiryu
#21 Ahead of the Light / Miyavi
#30 Memeshikute / Golden Bomber
#32 BALLAD / lynch.
#35 Dance My Generation / Golden Bomber

CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (Mar. 4, 2013)
#17 Kabuki Desuko / D=OUT
#45 jen:ga / Moran

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 25, 2013)
#4   Sotaisei Riron / HERO
#6   Memeshikute / Golden Bomber
#8   Dance My Generation/ Golden Bomber
#10 Loveless / Crack6
#18 DT Suteru/Let's Go -ED / Golden Ixion Bomber DT

CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 25, 2013)
#7   The Golden Best ~Pressure/ Golden Bomber
#10 Golden Album/ Golden Bomber
#16 The Golden Best ~Brassiere / Golden Bomber


ORICON STYLE Rankings here

Black Gene for the Next Scene PV Promo Available

Black Gene for the Next Scene has updated their OHP to include a new promotional video ad for their upcoming "Sakuran Trance Destiny" maxi single. That maxi single, the band's third, will be released in three types on March 20. Also check out the band's new dance and furitsuke videos for "Grow Test Kraken."

Black Gene for the Next Scene OHP here

T.M.Revolution Album Available to Download

T.M.Revolution announced today that his self-cover best album titled "Under:Cover 2" is now available to download in many countries via iTunes and Amazon MP3 stores. The album features 15 of the artist's prior releases, including "Invoke," "Burnin' X'mas," and "Albireo." Check your local digital store for prices and availability.

T.M.Revolution Facebook here

Utahiroba Jun Program Airs 3/6

Golden Bomber's Utahiroba Jun broadcast the eighth episode of his web talk show on February 27. The program called "Junko's Room" aired on the Zany Zap Official YouTube Channel, and the featured guest for the show was Dancho, vocalist from NoGoD.

The next episode of "Junko's Room" will air on March 6, with a featured guest of Tohya, drummer from vistlip.

"Junko's Room" Part 1 airs on YouTube here
"Junko's Room" Part 2 airs on YouTube here

ViViD Nico Nico Show Airs 3/27

ViViD will appear in their Nico Nico show, "THE ViViD STYLE," on March 27. The show will air at 21:00 JST (convert time here). Registered Nico Nico members may use the time shift function if they are not able to watch the live show.

The ViViD Style to air here

J-MELO Song Project with Alice Nine

J-MELO, a program from the NHK WORLD TV network, often works in collaboration with Japanese artists to allow fans the opportunity to help their favorite musicians create songs. J-MELO is currently collaborating with Alice Nine, allowing fans to write messages and/or send photographs to be the band's inspiration for a new song and lyrics. The deadline for message submissions is 6:00 PM JST on March 22. Check out the full details on the J-MELO website.

J-MELO/Alice Nine Song Project here

Nico the vistlip Show Airs 3/13

vistlip will appear in their monthly web show on the Nico Nico Live website on March 13. The show titled "'nico the vistlip' supported by dwangya Live" will air at 21:00 JST (convert time here). Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the program as it airs.

"nico the vistlip" airs here

D=OUT Nico Show Airs 2/26

The sixteenth edition of D=OUT's web show, "D=OUT's Noraneko TV," will air on February 26. The show will air at 21:30 JST (convert time here) on the Nico Nico Live website. Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the show as it airs.

D=OUT TV airs here

Versailles Tour Final DVD Release 4/10

Versailles will be releasing a final tour DVD on April 10. The new DVD will feature the "Chateau De Versailles -Final-" performance held at Tokyo NHK Hall on December 20, 2012, and it will be issued in two types. This was the last live performance of the band before their hiatus.

Versailles OHP here
Limited Edition DVD at CD Japan here
Regular Edition DVD at CD Japan here

L'Arc-en-Ciel New DVD Release 3/20

L'Arc-en-Ciel will be releasing a new live DVD set on March 20. The DVD will be released in 13 different versions, each featuring a performance from the band's "20th L'Anniversary WORLD TOUR 2012 THE FINAL LIVE at Kokuritsu Kyogijyo" show. Various versions also include a "WORLD'S BEST SELECTION" CD, and a CD from various venues along the tour. Check out the band's OHP for more details about versions and tracklists.

L'Arc-en-Ciel OHP here
L'Arc-en-Ciel listings at CD Japan here

BORN 3 Consecutive Months of Releases!

BORN Staff just broke some big news on their official BORN Staff Twitter. BORN has planned three consecutive months of releases, starting in May. On May 29, the band will be releasing a live DVD titled "'BORN THIS WAY～LIVE & DOCUMENT from TOUR 2013「Devilish of the PUNK」～". This will be the band's second DVD release. Then on June 12, BORN will release a new single titled "HONESTY." Finally on July 7, the band will release the last single, "MOTHER." Check out the new release informational video clip on the band's OHP.

Also on June 12, the band begins their next one-man tour titled "BORN LIVE TOUR 2013 BREAK BASTARD CITY".

BORN Staff Twitter here
BORN OHP here

Kra Comment on Vif Music YouTube

Vif has uploaded a new comment from Kra on their official YouTube channel. Sporting the fashion from their upcoming tour, the band discusses their album "Joker's KINGDOM," to be released February 27, and the related tour.

Kra comment on Vif Music here

ViSULOG TV Airs 3/6

The next episode of ViSULOG TV will air on March 6 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). Guests will be RYO:SUKE (WING WORKS), Ryohei (Megamasso), and Soan and Ivy (Moran). The show is hosted by Pockoon (with Ongakusenkasha publishing) and Takaya (ViSULOG editor-in-chief, and drummer from Romance for~).

ViSULOG TV airs here

VAMPS New Live DVD 4/24

VAMPS will be releasing a new live DVD on April 24. The DVD titled "VAMPS LIVE 2012" will feature the final show of their 49-stop concert tour of the same name. The DVD will be released in three types.

VAMPS OHP here
Limited Type A DVD at CD Japan here
Limited Type B Blu-ray at CD Japan here
Regular Type C DVD at CD Japan here

Viju☆Love☆Cafe #21 Airs 3/3

Viju☆Love☆Cafe #21 will have its next webcast on Sunday, March 3at 14:00 JST (convert time here). This month, Akemi Oshima and Biju-tan will host interviews and comments from:  MSTR (Crack6), NINJAMAN JAPAN, Rei & Mayu (DaizyStripper), yuhsuke & HIRO (RUVISH), FEST VAINQUEUR, Matenrou Opera, GOTCHAROCKA, Awake, Velbet, GHOSE, and Jenlayn (from Finland).

Viju☆Love☆Cafe airs here

New Comment Video on BORNTube

BORN has added a new comment video to their official "BORNTube" YouTube channel. The 1:20 minute video features comments from vocalist Ryoga regarding their current tour, "Devilish of the PUNK."

Ryoga comment video here

Latest SHOXX and RR Hit Stores Soon

The latest issues of popular visual-kei themed magazines SHOXX and ROCK AND READ will be hitting stores soon.

SHOXX Vol. 242 (April 2013) is set to be released today. The featured cover artist for this issue will be Plastic Tree, and the magazine will include a gift poster of the band. Other musicians scheduled to be included will be RUKA (Nightmare), the GazettE, An Cafe, D=OUT, Kiryu, LM.C, MUCC, Kra, vistlip, v[NEU], BugLug, WING WORKS (feat. RYO:SUKE), Moran, Matenrou Opera, Sadie, lynch., and DIAURA.

ROCK AND READ 046 will hit stores on February 27. The cover artist will be Mitsuru Matsuoka of SOPHIA. Also included in this issue are Takeru (SuG), Aiji (LM.C), Miku (An Cafe), Reo (lynch.), Reika (D=OUT), Rui (vistlip), Yugiri (DaizyStripper), Wataru Miyawaki (12012), Kei (Sadie), Hiro (v[NEU]), and Hiyori Isshiki (Kiryu).

ROCK AND READ BLOG here
SHOXX 242 at JPtoYOU here
ROCK AND READ 046 at JPtoYOU here
SHOXX 242 at CD Japan here
ROCK AND READ 046 at CD Japan here

Utahiroba Jun Program Airs 2/27

Golden Bomber's Utahiroba Jun broadcast the seventh episode of his web talk show on February 20. The program called "Junko's Room" aired on the Zany Zap Official YouTube Channel, and the featured guest for the show was Ryohei from Megamasso.

The next episode of "Junko's Room" will air on February 27, with a featured guest of Dancho, vocalist from NoGoD.

"Junko's Room" Part 1 airs on YouTube here
"Junko's Room" Part 2 airs on YouTube here

[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 25, 2013)
#21 Sotaisei Riron/ HERO
#26 Memeshikute / Golden Bomber
#29 Dance My Generation / Golden Bomber
#45 Loveless/ Crack6

CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 25, 2013)
No entries

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 18, 2013)
#3    Dance My Generation/ Golden Bomber
#4    Memeshikute / Golden Bomber
#5    DIE KUSSE/ MEJIBRAY
#13  DT Suteru/Let's Go -ED / Golden Ixion Bomber DT
#14  Slow Days/ R-shitei
#16  Mata Kimi ni Bango wo Kikenakatta/ Golden Bomber
#19  Devilish of the PUNK/ BORN

CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 18, 2013)
#8   The Golden Best ~Pressure/ Golden Bomber
#9   Golden Album/ Golden Bomber
#16 MATERIALS LEFT ASIDE/ UNDIVIDE

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

D=OUT New DVD Release 4/24

D=OUT has announced that they will be releasing a new live DVD on April 24. The new DVD will be titled "Ko! Haku! Omatsuri Sawagi," and it will be released in "Ko" and "Haku" versions. This video features performances from the band's "The 5th Anniversary year 'THE FINALE'" show on December 30, 2012 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium, and includes 23 songs.

D=OUT OHP here
"Ko" version at CD Japan here
"Haku" version at CD Japan here

D=OUT New Album Nico Special 2/20

D=OUT will appear in a special Nico Nico program on February 20 celebrating their new album release. The program titled "D=OUT New Album 'Kabuki Desuko' on Sale Memorial! Viewing of Selected MV & LIVE Clips" will begin airing at 22:00 JST (convert time here). "Kabuki Desuko" will hit stores the same day.

D=OUT Nico Special airs here

Alice Nine PV Preview Available

UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN has made a PV clip of Alice Nine's upcoming release, "Daybreak," available on their official YouTube channel. The 90-second clip gives fans a taste of what the new March 20 release will be like.

Alice Nine's "Daybreak" PV clip here

Moran on Nico Nico 2/19

Moran will be appearing as the featured guest group on a new web talk show airing on the Nico Nico website. The "'Visual Kei Tsuushin' #04" program, sponsored by Brand X and KSP Entertainment, will air on February 19 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who are not able to watch the show as it airs live.

Moran show airs here

Kiryu & Lycaon on dwangya Live 2/19

Kiryu and Lycaon will be appearing as featured guest artists on the next "dwangya Live" show on the Nico Nico Live website. The program will air on February 19 at 20:00 JST (convert time here). MC Takuya Hoshino will host the show. Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the program as it airs live.

Kiryu & Lycaon show airs here

DaizyStripper Show Airs on Nico Nico 2/18

DaizyStripper will appear in a Nico Nico Live web program on February 18. The program titled "DaizyStripper Yugiri & Kazami's 'Kocchi ni Mosshu!' #9" will air at 21:00 JST (convert time here), and time shifting will be available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the show as it airs.

DaizyStripper on Nico Nico here

D=OUT on Nico Nico 2/24

D=OUT will appear on their Nico Nico web show titled "PS Company presents D=OUT's 'Noraneko Broadcast'" on February 24. This internet radio program will air at 23:00 JST (convert time here) on the Nico Nico Live website. Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot listen to the show as it airs.

D=OUT radio airs here

BORN Nico Nico Show Airs 2/24

BORN will make another appearance on the Nico Nico Live website with their "Black Theory Radio Star" program. The show will air on February 24 at 21:30 JST (convert time here). Time shifting is available for registered Nico Nico members who cannot listen to the program as it airs.

BORN's "Black Theory Radio Star" airs here

Alice9 Channel Airs 3/15

The next air date for Alice Nine's Nico Nico program, "Alice9 Channel," is March 15, 2013. The program airs at 23:00 JST (convert time zones). Registered Nico Nico members may time shift for later viewing if they are not able to watch the live show.

Alice Nine Channel airs here

Utahiroba Jun Program Airs 2/20

Golden Bomber's Utahiroba Jun broadcast the sixth episode of his web talk show on February 13. The program called "Junko's Room" aired on the Zany Zap Official YouTube Channel, and the featured guest for the show was Kujo Takemasa, a guitarist from Kiryu.

The next episode of "Junko's Room" will air at on February 20, with a featured guest of Ryohei from Megamasso.

"Junko's Room" Part 1 airs on YouTube here
"Junko's Room" Part 2 airs on YouTube here

GALEYD New Single Release 3/5

GALEYD will be releasing their fourth single on March 5. The new single, titled "Revolution," will be released in two types. Visit the band's OHP to see a short video trailer for new release.

GALEYD OHP here
"Revolution" Limited Edition at CD Japan here
"Revolution" Regular Edition at CD Japan here

Lin New Album Release 3/20

Lin has announced that they will be releasing a "Best" album on March 20. The new album will be titled "Reflect of Killing Fleur," and it will include 12 songs from the bands past releases.

Lin OHP here
"Reflect of Killing Fleur" at CD Japan here

Kameleo New Releases

Kameleo has announced that they will be releasing a new single and a new album. The band's new single, "Sandwich LOVE," will be released in two types on March 6. Check out the OHP for a short promotional video clip featuring the title track.

Then on May 8, Kameleo will release their first full album. The new album will be titled "Nau!" and it also will be released in two types.

Kameleo OHP here
"Sandwich LOVE" Type A at CD Japan here
"Sandwich LOVE" Type B at CD Japan here

Celebrate Valentine's Day at musicJAPANplus

musicJAPANplus is celebrating Valentine's Day by offering comment videos from several visual kei bands on their official YouTube channel. Fans can view comments from exist†trace, DIV, DIAURA, and GRIEVA, all conveniently subtitled in English. Be sure to check them out.

musicJAPANplus YouTube here

[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 18, 2013)
#20 Teardrop/ SCREW
#27 Dance My Generation / Golden Bomber
#29 Fukurou/ MERRY
#31 Memeshikute / Golden Bomber
#36 DIE KUSSE/ MEJIBRAY

CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 18, 2013)
#38  SID -10th Anniversary BEST / SID
#41  JUSTICE/ GLAY
#42  GUILTY/ GLAY

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 11, 2013)
#3    Dance My Generation/ Golden Bomber
#5    Memeshikute / Golden Bomber
#9    DT Suteru/Let's Go -ED / Golden Ixion Bomber DT
#11  Dokusai Lovers/ Glam Grammar
#15  Slow Days/ R-shitei
#16  Medicine/ Velbet
#18  Mata Kimi ni Bango wo Kikenakatta/ Golden Bomber
#19  This World/ LANDZ

CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 11, 2013)
#2   The Golden Best ~Pressure/ Golden Bomber
#5   Golden Album/ Golden Bomber
#14 The Golden Best ~Brassiere/ Golden Bomber
#18 Golden Hour -Kamihanki Best 2010/ Golden Bomber
#20 Golden Hour -Shimohanki Best 2010/ Golden Bomber

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

Nico the vistlip Airs 2/19

vistlip will appear on the Nico Nico Live website on February 19. The show titled "'nico the vistlip' supported by dwangya Live" will air at 21:30 JST (convert time here). Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the program as it airs.

"nico the vistlip" airs here

Blu-BiLLioN New Single Release 3/6

Blu-BiLLioN will be releasing a new single on March 6. The new single titled "Heart Fractale," will be released in two types. Check out their look on the band's OHP.

Blu-BiLLioN OHP here
"Heart Fractale" Limited Edition at CD Japan here
"Heart Fractale" Regular Edition at CD Japan here

v[NEU] New Single Release 2/27

v[NEU] will be releasing a new single on February 27. The new single will be called "The 25th Century Love," and it will be released in five types. Check out the short PV sample clip available on the band's OHP.

v[NEU] OHP here
"The 25th Century Love" Type A at CD Japan here
"The 25th Century Love" Type B at CD Japan here
"The 25th Century Love" Type C at CD Japan here
"The 25th Century Love" Type D at CD Japan here
"The 25th Century Love" Type E at CD Japan here

Yeti 1st Mini Album Release

New band Yeti has announced that they will release their first mini album on February 20. The new album will be called "Katei no Jijou," and it will include six tracks. Check out their OHP for song sample clips.

Yeti OHP here

vistlip New Releases & Anniversary Live

Earlier in the year, vistlip announced plans to release a new single titled "CHIMERA" on April 3. Recently, the band updated their OHP to announce that in addition to a new single, they would also release a new live DVD and album. The live DVD is scheduled for release at the end of May and promises to cover the band's February 1 live show at Tokyo International Hall Forum. This summer, they also plan to release their third full as-yet-untitled album.

vistlip will be celebrating their sixth year together with an anniversary live show at Zepp Tokyo. The show will occur on the band's anniversary date, July 7.

vistlip OHP news here

DuelJewel Show Airs 2/13

DuelJewel will be airing their show titled "DuelJewel's Ginga Kokudou 348 ~Watashi wa Neji ni Naritai~" on the Visualand TV website on February 13. The hour-long program will begin at 21:00 JST (convert time here).

DuelJewel show airs here

Utahiroba Jun YouTube Program Airs 2/13

Golden Bomber's Utahiroba Jun broadcast the fifth episode of his web talk show on February 6. The program called "Junko's Room" aired on the Zany Zap Official YouTube Channel, and the featured guest for the show was Kohichi, the drummer from GUILD.

The next episode of "Junko's Room" will air at on February 13, with a featured guest of Kujo Takemasa, a guitarist from Kiryu.

"Junko's Room" Part 1 airs on YouTube here
"Junko's Room" Part 2 airs on YouTube here

Moran Special Airs 2/19

Moran will be appearing as the fourth guest group on a regular web talk show airing on the Nico Nico website. The "'Visual Kei Tsuushin' #04" program, sponsored by Brand X and KSP Entertainment, will air on February 19 at 21:00 JST (convert time here). Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who are not able to watch the show as it airs live.

Moran show airs here

N@H Show Airs 2/21

N@H will appear in a Nico Nico Live web program on February 21. The K-Station program titled "Habatake!! N@H no Mokuyoubi do Naishi yo? ~Budoukan e no Michi~" will air at 22:00 JST (convert time here), and time shifting will be available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the show as it airs.

N@H on Nico Nico here

DIV Nico Nico Show Airs 2/15

DIV will appear in the third volume of their "DIV's Nico Nico Live 'DIVERS&GEEKS TV'" program on the Nico Nico Live website. The show will air on February 15 at 21:00 JST (convert time here), and time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the program as it airs live.

DIV TV airs here

THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S Cancel Tour Dates

THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S have regretfully posted an announcement to their official Facebook page stating that they will be canceling several stops on their upcoming European tour. In a statement from the B7KLAN group sponsoring and promoting the show, they cite poor ticket sales as the reason for cancelling the last three shows of the tour--affecting Milan, London, and Paris.

Contact info@torpedo-productions.com for information about receiving reimbursement for tickets already purchased for those shows.

THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S Facebook here

BORN Live Special Airs 2/23

BORN will have a special show airing on the Nico Nico Live website on February 23. The "VK Band BORN LIVE TOUR 2013 'Devilish of the PUNK'" exclusive live show will begin airing at 17:30 JST (convert time here), and promises to broadcast the group's tour final show at Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO. This show will be special for both the band and fans as the final performance of bassist Kifumi before he takes a temporary leave from activity.

Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the show as it airs.

BORN special airs here

Kra's "Meruhen Radio" Airs 2/13

Kra's next "Meruhen Radio" broadcast will air on February 13. The show will air on the Nico Nico Live website at 18:00 JST (convert time here). Time shifting will be available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot listen to the show as it airs live.

Kra radio show airs here

SCREW Radio Airs 2/13

SCREW will appear once again in their "PS COMPANY presents 'SCREW RADIO'" program on the Nico Nico Live website. "SCREW RADIO" will air on February 13 at 20:00 JST (convert time here), and time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the program as it airs live.

SCREW RADIO airs here

D=OUT & Kra on dwangya Live 2/12

D=OUT and Kra will be appearing as featured guest artists on the next "dwangya Live" show on the Nico Nico Live website. The program will air on February 12 at 20:00 JST (convert time here). MC Takuya Hoshino will host the show. Time shifting is available for Nico Nico registered users who cannot watch the program as it airs live.

D=OUT & Kra show airs here

"Suggestive" New Session Band

Several visual kei musicians have come together to form a new session band called "Suggestive," and the group has already begun selling tickets for a performance scheduled at Takadanobaba AREA on March 20. The special session called "Re:unity" will celebrate the birthday of ex-SuG drummer Shinpei.

The band lineup is as follows:

Vocalist:  Yugiri (DaizyStripper)
Guitar:  TERU (Versailles)
Guitar:  xxx Gojitsu Kaikin
Bass:  Yo (Matenrou Opera)
Drums: Shinpei (ex-SuG)

Session and Ticket information here
Versailles announcement on Facebook here
Announcement on Shinpei's blog here

[ORICON RANKINGS] Visual Kei Bands

Here's how some visual kei bands are holding out on the charts this week.

CD SINGLE -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 4, 2013)
#10 Tatoeba Kimi to Boku/ baroque
#16 Dance My Generation / Golden Bomber

#24 Memeshikute / Golden Bomber

CD Album -Weekly Ranking- (Feb. 4, 2013)
#1  JUSTICE/ GLAY
#2  GUILTY/ GLAY
#9  SID -10th Anniversary BEST / SID

CD Indies Single -Weekly Ranking- (Jan. 28, 2013)
#1    Dance My Generation/ Golden Bomber
#3    Memeshikute / Golden Bomber
#7    DT Suteru/Let's Go -ED / Golden Ixion Bomber DT
#8    Slow Days/ R-shitei
#9    Deep Labyrinth/ Blitz
#14  Mata Kimi ni Bango wo Kikenakatta/ Golden Bomber
#16  Kuro Amedama x Suicide (CODE xEx.)/ Awake
#17  Yowasete Mojito/ Golden Bomber
#18  HALLOWEEN PARTY / HALLOWEEN JUNKY ORCHESTRA
#19  Boku Quest/ Golden Bomber
#20  Counter Shock (Heisei B-Type/Main)/ Jackman

CD Indies Album -Weekly Ranking- (January 28, 2013)
#6   The Golden Best ~Pressure/ Golden Bomber
#9   Golden Album/ Golden Bomber
#14 The Golden Best ~Brassiere/ Golden Bomber

ORICON STYLE Rankings here

Golden Bomber Show Airs 2/26

Golden Bomber members will appear in their monthly Nico Nico show on February 26. The show begins at 24:00 JST (convert time here). Registered Nico Nico members may time shift for later viewing if they are not able to watch the show as it airs.

Golden Bomber Show airs here

Esprit D'Air to Lose Vocalist

London-based visual band Esprit D'Air announced today via their official Facebook page that vocalist Yoshi has left the band. The announcement cites personal reasons as the leading factor in the parting, but the band does assure fans that they plan to resume activity as soon as they get a new lineup. This announcement comes after the band announced an indefinite hiatus in September 2012.

The announcement also notes that Yoshi is involved in a new project called VOSΛ. Check out the Facebook page for more details.

Esprit D'Air OHP here
Esprit D'Air Facebook here
VOSΛ Facebook here

Chou Alice9 Channel Airs 2/27

The next air date for Alice Nine's Nico Nico paid channel program, "Chou Alice9 Channel," is February 27, 2013. The program airs at 21:00 JST (convert time zones). Registered Nico Nico members who have paid for access to the channel may time shift for later viewing if they are not able to watch the live show.

Chou Alice Nine Channel airs here

T.M.Revolution & Home Made Kazoku Attend Otakon

T.M.Revolution and Home Made Kazoku have been announced as the special musical guests for the upcoming Otakon convention in Baltimore, Maryland. The convention will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center from August 9-11, and the musical guests will participate in a special Saturday concert on August 10.

This event will mark the 10th anniversary of T.M.Revolution's U.S. debut performance at Otakon in 2003. Home Made Kazoku is a hip-hop group that debuted in 2004. Some of their songs have been featured in anime like Eureka Seven, NARUTO, and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN the Movie: Bonds.

Otakon News here

BORN Official YouTube

BORN has created their own official YouTube channel. Nicknamed "BORNTube," the site already features comment videos from members Ryoga and K, as well as a short live concert clip of "Radical Hysteria" from the current "BORN LIVE TOUR 2013 'Devilish of the PUNK'" show on January 24.

BORNTube OFFICIAL here
BORN's OHP link to BORNTube here

New Accounts for SuG Members

Since PS Company officially terminated all web services for SuG, the members have created their own pages for fans to follow. SuG announced last year that they would be leaving their management company and taking a hiatus from activities while they regroup.

Vocalist Takeru announced on his prior Twitter account that fans can now follow him @butterflyboy69. He has not yet posted to his account.

Guitarist Masato created a new Twitter account @526Masato. He has already posted several tweets to other members, as well as photos.
 
Bassist Chiyu created a new Twitter account @chiyu1227chiyu. He has not yet posted to his account.

Drummer Shinpei created a new Twitter account @Drums_Shinpei. He has also listed other contact information, including a fan mail e-mail address of shinpei.fanmail@gmail.com and a new Ameba blog at ameblo.jp/drums-shinpei. He has made several blog entries already.

No new accounts or blogs have been found yet for guitarist Yuji.

The band's manager, known by his nickname of Nomu, has also created a new Twitter @sug_nom39.





 

the GazettE to Perform at Festival in Russia

the GazettE has announced that they will be performing overseas at the Kubana international music festival in Russia. The Kubana Festival takes place between August 1 and 7 in the Krasnodar Region on the Black Sea coast, near Taman, Temrjuk, Anapa, and Krasnodar. This will be the band's first ever performance in Russia, and their first trip overseas since 2007.

the GazettE OHP here
Kubana details here

SCREW New PV Spot Released 1/31

Tokuma Japan Communications has released a new PV spot for SCREW's upcoming "Teardrop" single on their official YouTube channel. The short 30 second video clip features a more provocative image from vocalist Byou than the previous clips. "Teardrop" hits stores on Feburary 6.

SCREW PV spot on YouTube here