Baiser
Encyclopedia
Baiser was a Japan
ese visual kei
rock band formed in 1990 by vocalist Yukari. They played concerts in the Tokyo area before debuting on an independent label in 1994.
) was their support drummer until 1993, when he was replaced by Akihiro. In 1993 they released their first demo tape "Daraku", distributing only 100 copies. Their second demo tape, "Fleurs des Fleurs", was released a year later. In 1994 they released their first album, Seppun Kuchizuke.
In 1995, Akihiro was replaced by Toshimi. Following this change, Baiser recorded their second album, Ash. It reached number two on Oricon
's independent album chart. They also released the video Pictures, which they did everything by themselves, such as; filming, scripting, editing and mixing. That year, a few of their songs appeared on compilation albums such as Sacred Seed, Turn Over Eagle Vision and Turn Over Crow Vision.
In 1996, Toshimi left the band and the other members decided to split up. However, Yukari began to recruiting members for a new Baiser. The band reformed in September 1997 with Shaisuke on bass (former Penicillin
), Katsura on drums (former Shazna
), and Mizuki and Rei on guitar (both former Iris).
In 1998 Baiser released two singles, three mini-albums, a full album, and three videos. In May 1999 Baiser signed with the major label Fortune Records Japan (a division of Sony Music Entertainment
and released their debut single "Prism". "Prism" was used as the opening theme for the anime Gokudo
. and was produced by Hakuei of Penicillin
.
They released two more maxi-singles, "Angel" and "Doku", and their first and final major album, Hana. That same year they also had their first major tour, Prismatic Colors.
In May 2000 they released their last maxi-single, "Pegasus". Following a period of no releases, Baiser announced that they were going to disband on January 5, 2001.
Rei, Shaisuke and Katsura stayed together as well, forming the band Swallowtail. Rei, who adopted the name Sin, became the vocalist, and former Baiser member Hiderou joined as their support guitarist. The group disbanded shortly thereafter. Katsura started the band Vinett in 2002, which disbanded in 2005.
Shaisuke died on July 16, 2001. The cause of death was not released to the public. He had been checked into the hospital some 3 or 4 days prior.
Yukari has remained active in the music scene and produced some of Rentrer en Soi
's releases. Katsura had supported Rentrer en Soi as a session drummer in their beginnings too, before Mika joined. He appears on Rentrer en Soi's few first singles.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese visual kei
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
rock band formed in 1990 by vocalist Yukari. They played concerts in the Tokyo area before debuting on an independent label in 1994.
History
The original line-up for Baiser featured Hiderou and Akane on guitar, and Haiji on bass. Gaz (former drummer of Malice MizerMalice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
) was their support drummer until 1993, when he was replaced by Akihiro. In 1993 they released their first demo tape "Daraku", distributing only 100 copies. Their second demo tape, "Fleurs des Fleurs", was released a year later. In 1994 they released their first album, Seppun Kuchizuke.
In 1995, Akihiro was replaced by Toshimi. Following this change, Baiser recorded their second album, Ash. It reached number two on Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
's independent album chart. They also released the video Pictures, which they did everything by themselves, such as; filming, scripting, editing and mixing. That year, a few of their songs appeared on compilation albums such as Sacred Seed, Turn Over Eagle Vision and Turn Over Crow Vision.
In 1996, Toshimi left the band and the other members decided to split up. However, Yukari began to recruiting members for a new Baiser. The band reformed in September 1997 with Shaisuke on bass (former Penicillin
Penicillin (band)
Penicillin is a visual kei alternative rock band formed in Tokyo, Japan in 1992.-History:Formed by friends at Tokai University in Kanagawa, Japan on February 14, 1992 Penicillin went on to become one of the largest acts in the visual kei scene and is still thriving today...
), Katsura on drums (former Shazna
Shazna
Shazna was a Japanese visual kei rock band originally active from 1993 to 2000. The band started on the relatively harder side of rock, but upon signing to a major label switched to a softer more pop sound. They became one of the most popular visual kei bands of the 1990s, together with Malice...
), and Mizuki and Rei on guitar (both former Iris).
In 1998 Baiser released two singles, three mini-albums, a full album, and three videos. In May 1999 Baiser signed with the major label Fortune Records Japan (a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
and released their debut single "Prism". "Prism" was used as the opening theme for the anime Gokudo
Gokudo
is a light novel series created by Usagi Nakamura. The light novel was first serialized by Kadokawa Shoten in their light novel magazine Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko. It was later adapted into a manga in 1995 and is released in Dengeki Daioh magazine...
. and was produced by Hakuei of Penicillin
Penicillin (band)
Penicillin is a visual kei alternative rock band formed in Tokyo, Japan in 1992.-History:Formed by friends at Tokai University in Kanagawa, Japan on February 14, 1992 Penicillin went on to become one of the largest acts in the visual kei scene and is still thriving today...
.
They released two more maxi-singles, "Angel" and "Doku", and their first and final major album, Hana. That same year they also had their first major tour, Prismatic Colors.
In May 2000 they released their last maxi-single, "Pegasus". Following a period of no releases, Baiser announced that they were going to disband on January 5, 2001.
After Baiser
Yukari and Mizuki formed the band Endorphine with two other members, but they disbanded after three releases in 2001.Rei, Shaisuke and Katsura stayed together as well, forming the band Swallowtail. Rei, who adopted the name Sin, became the vocalist, and former Baiser member Hiderou joined as their support guitarist. The group disbanded shortly thereafter. Katsura started the band Vinett in 2002, which disbanded in 2005.
Shaisuke died on July 16, 2001. The cause of death was not released to the public. He had been checked into the hospital some 3 or 4 days prior.
Yukari has remained active in the music scene and produced some of Rentrer en Soi
Rentrer en Soi
was a visual kei rock band from Japan. In French, the band's name can be literally translated as "to return to oneself," although this is not grammatically correct. The band was composed of five members, and had seen only one member change...
's releases. Katsura had supported Rentrer en Soi as a session drummer in their beginnings too, before Mika joined. He appears on Rentrer en Soi's few first singles.
Single
- "Kuchizuke" (くちづけ) (July 29, 1998) Oricon Single Chart Peak Position: 40
- "Kuchizuke - Lawson special Edit" (Maxi-Single) (September 1998)
- "Psychoballet" (November 26, 1998) Oricon Single Chart Peak Position: 59
- "Paradise Lost ~ The Case of Adam" (Maxi-Single) (April 1999)
- "Prism" (May 21, 1999) Oricon Single Chart Peak Position: 50
- "Angel" (エンジェル) (August 11, 1999) Oricon Single Chart Peak Position: 92
- "Doku" (毒) (October 1, 1999)
- "Pegasus" (ペガサス) (May 3, 2000)
Album
- Kuchizuke (接吻) (June 12, 1994)
- Ash (February 1995)
- Terre (August 1998) Oricon Album Chart Peak Position: 37
- La Luna (October 1998)
- Hana (November 1999)
Videos
- [Pictures-Virtue Style] (video) + CD [PICTURES-Vice Style] (August 1995)
- Kaleidoscope Picture ~Kuchizuke~ (Video) (April 1998)
- Kaleidoscope Picture ~Glass~ (Video) (April 1998)
- Utopia (Video Box) (October 1998)