The Dead Pop Stars
Encyclopedia
The Dead Pop Stars is a Japan
ese visual kei
punk band which was started 1992 by ex-Kamaitachi
drummer Kenzi. Current members are Aki on vocals, Hideto and Kentarou on guitar, Ruiji on bass and Kenzi on drums.
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...
punk band which was started 1992 by ex-Kamaitachi
Kamaitachi (band)
was an influential Japanese visual kei punk band formed in October 1985 by drummer Ken-chan and bassist Mogwai. After several member changes, vocalist Sceana and guitarist Kazzy joined completing the final lineup. They signed with Free-Will in 1989 and released their debut album, Itachigokko, in...
drummer Kenzi. Current members are Aki on vocals, Hideto and Kentarou on guitar, Ruiji on bass and Kenzi on drums.
Band history
The Dead Pop Stars was started in 1992. At the beginning of their career numerous appearances at various small clubs was marked by persistent displays of violent behavior. This contributed to the formation of a menacing charisma, making them legendary within the independent visual kei scene. In 1997 they made a deal with major label VAP and released the album D.P.S, but the next year they returned to the independent music scene again. In 2000 they released 2 singles and an album, but when they released those three CDs original guitarist Hiromi and original bassist Seigo left the band. When they left guitarist Taiji joined as support guitarist and next year Seigo returned. Taiji and Hideto became official members in 2003, and the band became a five member band. In 2005 Seigo left the band yet again. Support bassist Ruiji became an official member on September 6, 2007 at the band's 15th anniversary gig. On May 14, 2010 it was announced on the band's official mobile website that Taiji would be leaving the group. He was replaced by Kentarou, who joined on September 6. Despite the frequent, difficult-to-keep-track-of line-up changes The Dead Pop Stars remain a prolific touring act, continuing to be as antisocial as ever.Members
- Drums: Kenzi/Crazy Danger Nancy Ken chan 1992–present (ex-KamaitachiKamaitachi (band)was an influential Japanese visual kei punk band formed in October 1985 by drummer Ken-chan and bassist Mogwai. After several member changes, vocalist Sceana and guitarist Kazzy joined completing the final lineup. They signed with Free-Will in 1989 and released their debut album, Itachigokko, in...
, ∀NTI FEMINISMAnti FeminismAnti Feminism is a solo project started by the vocalist Kenzi in 1991. None of the other members are considered official. The rotating supporting members come from various parts of Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Nagoya...
) - Vocal: Aki 1992–present
- Guitar: Hideto 2003–present
- Bass: Ruiji 2007–present (ex-The PiassThe Piassare a Japanese visual kei band who formed in the early 1990s in Sapporo, the current incarnation of the band features only one original member; Takayuki.-History:...
, ∀NTI FEMINISM) - Guitar: Kentarou 2010–present
Past members
- Guitar: Hiromi 1992–2000 (ex-Rosenfeld)
- Bass: Seigo 1992–2000, 2001–2005 (ex-Girl Tique)
- Guitar: Taiji Fujimoto 2003–2010 (ex-Judy and MaryJudy and MaryJudy and Mary was a Japanese multi-genre band formed in 1991 in Hakodate, Hokkaido by bassist and vocalist , with drummer and guitarist completing the lineup in 1992. Guitarist replaced Taiji the following year...
, ex-Dirty Trashroad)
Albums
- The Dead Pop 4 Drugs (November 21, 1992)
- Self Violence (July 24, 1994)
- Protest 2 Speed Story (May 21, 1995, EP)
- D.P.S (June 1, 1997)
- Heart Break Bandits (July 26, 2000)
- Hybrid☆Best-Dead Side≠Pop Side- (June 29, 2005, compilation album)
- Star☆Ride (August 31, 2005)
- For You Ballade Selection (August 1, 2007, compilation album)
Singles
- "Ever Free ~Niji no Kanatae~/Daydreamday Sanjigen no Hakuchuumu" (EVER FREE ~虹の彼方へ~/DAYDREAMDAY ~三次元の白昼夢~, October 1, 1997)
- "Tic (July 1, 1999)
- "Justice/Reject"
- "...self/The All New Generation"
- "...for you- Special Edition 2000-"
- "Take Off -Kaze ni Kukarete-" (TAKE OFF-風に吹かれて-, July 18, 2000)
- "Star★Lover" (April 27, 2002)
- "Chaos-JP" (December 1, 2002)
- "Judegement×Suspicion" (September 6, 2006)
- "Itoshiki Hito e" (いとしきひとへ, September 6, 2006)