Raphael was formed in March 1997 and had to disband after the death of the leader, Kazuki. Kazuki was the one who named the band, "Raphael", as he remembered "the healing angel" as raphael at his Catholic School. It was because Kazuki wanted his music to be able to heal the hearts of the listeners.
Kazuki ran away from home, because of his father had disapproved of Kazuki's dream of being a singer and putting all his efforts into music. Kazuki was only 15 years old. He became a guitarist and formed the band with his classmate Yukito. Later joined the band Yuki and Hiro too. Kazuki met with Yuki in a Karaoke Bar, when he searched a singer. Their first live was on 24th December 1997. Their indies debut was on 7th April 1998, with their mini-album Lilac. Successes accumulated and barely one year later they released their major debut single 'Hana saku inochi aru kagiri'.
Being the leader of Raphael at such a young age, Kazuki had to face lots of problems and had great responsibilities. Thus, Kazuki started to take Tranquilizers to relieve the stress he was feeling.
On top of being the leader of Raphael, he was also planning on his solo career Yuri Juujidan, which added stress too. That was how Kazuki sadly passed away unexpectedly.
On 31.10.2000 at 9a.m. Kazuki died from an over dosage of Tranquilizers. A medicine to reduce stress... After his death Raphael had to disband in 2001. In 2001 Yuki and Hiro fomed rice. Yukito being the singer and bassist of Black Love.
Name: Yuki
Real Name: Sakurai Yuki
Gender: Male
Role: Vocalist
Bithday Date: 11 July 1981
Blood type: B
Height: 176
Hometown: Kanagawa
Name: Kazuki
Real Name: Watanabe Kazuki
Gender: Male
Role: Guitarist, Leader of the band, Song & Lyrics writer
Birthday: 7 April 1981
Blood type: B
Height: 175
Hometown: Tokyo
Name: Yukito
Real Name: Honda Yukito
Gender: Male
Role: Bassist
Birthday: 23 May 1981
Blood type: A
Height: 170
Hometown: Hama
Name: Hiro
Real Name: Kazuhiro Murata
Gender: Male
Role: Drummer
Birthday: 17 November 1981
Blood type: B
Hometown: Kanagawa
Discography:
1997,
--> 1st Live in CLUB24 at Yokohama, 24.12.1997
1998,
--> 1st Mini-Album "Lilac", 07.04.1998
--> 1st Video "~LILAC~ ~VISION OF EXTREMES~" (1st press with an illustration sticker drawn by Kazuki), 01.08.1998
--> 1st Single "White Love Story" (30,000 copies limited), 01.11.1998
1999,
--> 1st Maxi Single "SICK", 20.02.1999
--> 2nd Single "Yume Yori Sutekina" (1st press with a photo card), 29.04.1999
--> 3rd Single "Sweet Romace" (1st press with a photo card), 29.04.1999
--> 4th Single "Hana Saku Inochi Aru Kagiri" (Raphael's past singles)(1st press with a photo card & special packaging), 23.07.1999
--> 2nd Video "VISION OF EXTREMES II" (1st press with a mini sticker collection), 22.09.1999
--> 5th Single "eternal wish ~Todokanu Kimie~" (1st press with a special postcard), 01.10.1999
--> 1st Major Album "Mind Soap", 01.12.1999
2000,
--> 1st Major Mini-Album "Sotsugyou", 23.03.2000
--> 3rd Video "Pictoral Poem", 24.05.2000
--> 6th Single "evergreen" (1st press with a photo card), 23.08.2000
--> 4th Video "Raphael Special LIVE "graduation" 200.3.4 Nippon Budokan", 23.08.2000
--> 7th Single "Akikaze no Rhapsody" (1st press with an A4 size poster), 01.11.2000
2001,
--> 2nd Album "Fumetsuka" (1st press with Kazuki poster), 21.02.2001
--> 1st Photo Book "Daisuki, Kajurin" (Mainly on Kazuki)(7000 copies limited), 17.02.2001
--> 2nd Photo Book "Kagetsu Tei-neiji" (All about Kazuki), 22.03.2001
--> 5th Video "forever and ever" (Raphael Singles)(1st press with art poster of Kazuki in "Tenshi nanka jyanai" drawn by mangaka Ai Yazawa), 25.04.2001
--> 3rd Photo Book "Evergreen" (All about Kazuki)(2800 copies limited), 20.06.2001
--> 8th Single "lost graduation" (1st press with postcard), 01.08.2001
--> 3rd Album "N/A" (All of Raphael's Singles), 01.08.2001
You can download stuffs from here
They are my favorite band. I love Kazuki so much!! :$
