inartistic

Rare promo version
 

【EVIDENCE OF EXISTENCE】
Here's the evidence that I could find of these bands being *real*:
-
https://twitter.com/KISAKI_OFFICIAL/status/297370748589338624
KISAKI played recorded versions of songs of Levia~LAYBIAL~SHËY≠DË at his 20th anniversary live. It's not really “proof” of anything, but this was a history live, so there should have been someone who was a fan of the bands that were ripped off (VICE∞RISK, 業, Levia[non-KISAKI]), and who would have noticed if KISAKI was playing those songs...
-
As someone else mentioned, on 2007-11-19 in his HOLIDAY blog, he mentioned meeting ex-Levia member 美憂, who is married and has a child.
-
https://twitter.com/KISAKI_OFFICIAL/status/154273353094537216
On 2012-01-04, he posted in his Ameba (now deleted) that he met Levia members again. Most of them married with children now. He also posted a pciture of 美憂's child this time (also on Twitter ↑), as well as a picture of that guy's shop. (Google/Tineye didn't return any results when I searched the images).
-
http://music3.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/visual/1066131643/
Earliest web mention of these bands that I can find is on 2ch in 2003. So at least we know his *canon* band history included these bands way before BEYOND THE KINGDOM.
-
Again, not proof of anything, but the canon lineup of SHËY≠DË features 紫緒, who was in HISKAREA. I automatically doubt that KISAKI would make up a fake band with a known musician in the lineup, if it weren't real...
-
松本 博, the owner of Wakayama livehouse OLD TIME at which Levia supposedly performed a lot of oneman lives, actually commented in BEYOND THE KINGDOM about seeing KISAKI's junior-high band Levia as regulars who were popular. So that seems to confirm a lot for me, unless they faked that comment (I already checked―the 松本 博 is real.)
---
【REALLY WEIRD STUFF】
This one is sort of reaching, but bear with me. Check out the cover of the Levia “滅びの序章” demotape again (which was copied from the Levia[non-KISAKI] “滅びの序章”, remember?).
Now check out this image by hyura again. The image on the left. I know it's near the LAYBIAL sign, but it's only 3 members (LAYBIAL had 4), and LAYBIAL didn't play a live on 1994-09-21... but Levia had 3 members and did play their first live on 1993-09-21. So could that picture be of KISAKI's Levia?
And if so... looking at that supposed Levia[non-KISAKI] scan, couldn't you see KISAKI on the left and the other two guys on the right (compare the eye-makeup, the hair, the chokers, the suit jackets)...?
-
I can't claim anything from this, but you have to admit that it sort of looks like Levia and Levia[non-KISAKI] are one in the same, at least from comparing those two pictures.
That would be the ultimate mind fuck if that were the case, because the Levia[non-KISAKI] demotape has 5 tracks which, as far as I know, aren't stolen from anything...
---
【CONCLUSIONS】
Personally, I think Levia~LAYBIAL~SHËY≠DË were *real*, since they've been mentioned for so long (at least since 2003), way before there was a book about KISAKI or he had some “legacy” of being a 15-year-old genius who was playing oneman shows. Also, I can't imagine KISAKI and FOOL'S MATE would be so bold as to fake a comment from the owner of a livehouse who knew Levia. And finally, I don't think KISAKI was lying when he posted about meeting ex-Levia members... but if he was, then he's been purposefully sprinking those things throughout his blog for 7 years which just seems to be way beyond his level of thinking IMO.
So like I said, I think the bands are *real*, but I'm not sure if the demotapes ever were... I see a couple of possible scenarios:
1. The *canon* demotapes were *real* but were also fake/stolen (even at the time of their release).
2. It's been so long that KISAKI has no clue what his early bands released, so he just made it up for BEYOND THE KINGDOM. In that case, there are *real* demotapes, but probably completely different from the *canon* ones.
3. There are *canon* demotapes are also *real*, but KISAKI's been seeding the net and auctions with fake copies, while he maniacally holds on to the only real copies that are left. In that case, the titles are still stolen from other releases... (This would fit in nicely with the crazy theory that Levia is the same as Levia[non-KISAKI]!)
-
So I guess my posts didn't really give any clear conlusion, but I hope you've gained some more evidence to make your own (or at least see that the situation is even weirder than some simple lying).

To give some ~expert confirmation~ on a few things:
 
- myth_ceo is KISAKI. He sold UCP limited items, his own personal items, and even sold samples which he got from other bands (eg. in his blog he mentions SID giving him a sample of their new single, and then the next day myth_ceo was selling it). I'm also 100% sure that this was KISAKI himself and not a staff member.
 
- KISAKI closed myth_ceo and now has another account on Y!J, something like iyouxi or something (not on PC and can't remember the name). I know it's him for the same reasons listed above (funnily, some people actually complained on that account about him selling samples).
 
- He also has an mbok account which is something like deho_san (again, can't remember), though he doesn't use it often.
 
- His time in STELLA MARIA is 100% confirmed. In addition to tapes, we have flyers and videos confirming.
 
- His time in garden is 100% confirmed. In addition to the real tape being sold on Y!J a ton of times, there is video of garden somewhere.
 
- I'm actually 90% sure the "Once..." tape is real as well, although probably not released as "KISAKI PROJECT" as his official website calls it. The reason I'm sure it's real is that it features the STELLA MARIA vocalist, and it was mentioned on UNDER CODE's website back in 2003 at least.
 
So really what is in question (well, was in question) are the bands Levia, LAYBIAL, and SHEY=DE. As I mentioned before, I bought some tapes from KISAKI, but basically they are fake. However, I want to give some more complete info on them, if you'll just wait for another post. (And sorry for not posting before, but I was still unsure about certain things. Champ's post about the SHEY=DE tracks is what made the difference for me.)
 
I will go ahead and say this, though: although we now know that these demotapes are fake, there is still more to this plot...! Please wait for my next post.

Hahahah, it's a great theory! But...

Well, besides that there's no point in making up 1 year of band history... Sherlock says simplest explanation is probably right: KISAKI makes up 1 year of band history, or KISAKI copies some song titles? As elias mentions, there's another Levia―well, there's also another LAYBIAL, GARDEN, De=prive, Vice†risk, Of-J (several オブジェ)...

You have these young boys running around in shit-fucking-tiny bands playing terrible copycat music in the no-internet Stone Age wasteland of 1993... My point is: they probably just copied each others' band names/titles/cool phrases, and were so small that no one cared.

As for those DTs not being online, IMO KISAKI is the only one who owns those tapes anymore because he's the only person on the planet who cared enough to save them. Any girl who was into 1993's LAYBIAL got married and threw that shit out before VK even reached the internet, you know? And KISAKI probably doesn't share them because they're embarrassing/he doesn't have the rights.

Also: I own a Levia tape and have seen others, so that definitely ends the theory.

---

That being said, no clue if the songs themselves were copies of those other bands! Would only know if I had rips of all the tapes to compare. So you can still form conspiracy theories about that !

---
 

It was worth buying from there, 'cause the MP3s were from original masters. Unfortunately their credit card system is offline now, BUT you can find almost all of those MP3s on the Matina DEMO TAPE COLLECTIONS CD-R which UNDER CODE released (I think there's a rip up somewhere on MH?)

What are your thoughts on James Charles

What are your thoughts on James Charles

What are your thoughts on James Charles

What are your thoughts on James Charles

What are your thoughts on James Charles

What are your thoughts on James Charles

What are your thoughts on James Charles

I did this over the course of probably four hours, entirely on my phone, so I had to scroll up to bold, italicize, or underline, etc, so I probably scrolled up around 75 times. It was an enjoyable albeit, laborious undertaking, but I write for a living, so this is nothing out of the ordinary. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

A lot can be said, positive and negative about the legacy of MALICE MIZER, whether it's the abrupt departure of Tetsu after just one year, the GACKT years, the untimely death of Kami or the rise and fall in the Klaha years. There's no better way to understand how MALICE MIZER went from unknown to legends of Visual Kei than to start in the beginning.
 
In the Beginning: The Era of Tetsu

 
MALICE MIZER was formed in August of 1992 when former guitarist of Matenrou, Közi joined forces with the support bassist Mana and the two recruited the former Ner-vous vocalist Tetsu, former ZE:RO bassist Yu~ki and former DATURA (not to be confused with DatuRΛ) drummer Gaz to form MALICE MIZER (a postmanteau of Malice and Misery) with a concept based on the darker side of human nature. MALICE MIZER immediately began activities and released their first demo tape SANS LOGIQUE which had foregone vocals and released Speed of Desperate on the compilation album Brain Trash which featured acts such as ALUCARD, DIE=KÜSSE, THE PIASS and Gazelle. Shortly after Brain TRASH, Gaz departed and Kami joined; Kami being the only other drummer for the band until his untimely death. MALICE MIZER released a few more demos before releasing their debut album memoire on Mana's newly founded label Midi:Nette. Tetsu then left the band at the end of 1994 with a live performance titled Cher de memoire II on December 27th.
 
Taking a Different Route: It's Gackt Time

 
MALICE MIZER went into 1995 without a vocalist, but they didn't let it stop their surge as they performed without a vocalist for a sponsored event titled Dai Goya Higeki no Bansan Vol.5 (第五夜 悲劇の晩餐 Vol.5) before Gackt officially joined the band as the new vocalist with his first performance on October 10th Karei naru Fukkatsugeki. The music of MALICE MIZER took a drastic turn and was the catalyst for the rise of Gackt as a performer and set the stage for his continued success after leaving the band as the band went from a Gothic sound to a more upbeat sound; something that became a signature of Gackt's solo career. In 1996 MALICE MIZER released their second album Voyage sans retour and underwent a nationwide one-man tour culminating in a show titled Sans retour Voyage deux 1996. MALICE MIZER continued their stride in 1997 when they signed a contract with major label Nippon Columbia, a subsidiary of Columbia Music Company as well as undergoing a sold-out nationwide tour with STANDING TOUR '97 Pays de merveilles ~空白の瞬間の中で~ and a regularly broadcast radio show MALICE MIZER no Mayonaka no s'il vous plaît on CBC Radio. Merveilles, MALICE MIZER's third album and second featuring Gackt as vocalist is released in March of 1998, the band announced merveilles ~Shuuen to kisuu~ in which the tickets sold out in just two minutes as well as undergoing a new radio show MALICE MIZER no shisetsu hisho no chojutsu on Chiba's renowned bay-fm radio station. However, things would take a turn when in January Gackt decided to leave the band at the peak of their popularity to form own solo project that he continues to this day, simply called GACKT featuring a backing band appropriately titled GACKTJOB. 
 
As if losing their vocalist wasn't bad enough tragedy struck when in June beloved drummer Kami passed away suddenly from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, more commonly referred to as a brain hemorrhage. With the world crashing down around his shoulders, Mana underwent damage control and returned MALICE MIZER to his own label. Malice Mizer went on to release one song after Gackt left, a piano song called Saikai no Chi to Bara. Little did they know that their fortunes were about to change as their savior was right around the corner.
 
From Rebirth to Climax: The Year of Klaha

 
PRIDE OF MIND former vocalist Klaha joined MALICE MIZER on vocals on August 31st and would be the third and final vocalist for the group. MALICE MIZER proceeded to get back to making music right away with the release of their fourth and final album Bara no Seidou and Klaha had his first live performance one week later with Bara ni irodorareta akui to higeki no makuake - Dai icihiya saikai no bara. Sadly, nothing lasts forever and after several singles, a feature length, albeit silent film Bara no Konrei ~Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku~ and even a concert DVD in 2001, MALICE MIZER went on an indefinite hiatus at the end of the year. Each member releasing their own respective personal messages regarding the hiatus on the bands official website.
 
Post Mortem: An Uncertain Future

 
After MALICE MIZER went on an indefinite hiatus the respective members were quick to move on to other projects, except for Yu~ki who's only activity since the hiatus was contributing to a song on Közi's solo project. The aforementioned Közi went on to be in a managare of bands, first with HARUHIKO ASH in Eve of Destiny, then started a solo project as well as XA-VAT, ZIZ, VAMQUET and joined Ryo from 9Goats Black Out to form a nu-goth band called DĂLLE. Mana quickly formed his own solo project that is still running strong today called Moi dix Mois and launched his own fashion label Moi-même-Moitie as well as becoming a producer for the band Schwarz Stein and cellist Kanon Wakeshima. Tetsu formed several bands of varying styles of music after leaving MALICE MIZER with the most notable being ZIGZO and Nil. Gackt has been active as a solo artist since leaving MALICE MIZER and subsequently ventured into film and television while Klaha released a solo mini-album and full length album before disappearing from the scene in 2004, not to be heard from again.
 
MALICE MIZER may be no more, but the pieces have come together several times since the hiatus, Közi joining Mana's Moi dix Mois in 2008 at Dis Inferno Vol.VI ~Last Year Party~ and again in 2009 for a two stop tour Deep Sanctuary; Deep Sanctuary becoming a staple event for Moi dix Mois from then on. Moi dix Mois and Közi went on another, longer tour in 2010, six shows aptly named Deep Sanctuary II which featured the return of Yu~ki on bass; the three reuniting on stage for the first time in nine years. The show featured MALICE MIZER classics such as Saikai no Chi to Bara and Beast of Blood as well as a cover of shock rocker Rob Zombie's What Lurks on Channel X. Moi dix Mois then held a tenth anniversary concert Le dixieme anniversaire Live 2011~2012　~Tetsugaku no Hahen Dainana Shou Shinen naru Seiiki Deep Sanctuary III~ which saw Közi performing with his new band ZIZ with Yu~ki returning on bass. Sadly the original drummer Gaz passed away on December 22nd 2017, one year before the bands 25th anniversary and the subsequent reunion show last year Deep Sanctuary Ⅵ MALICE MIZER 25th Anniversary Special which featured the return of the trio as well as former roadies for the band performing their own renditions of classic songs, such as former LAREINE vocalist KAMIJO joining for his own take on the Gackt era songs APRES MIDI and Bel Air ~Kuuhaku no Shunkan no Naka De~, cali≠gari's Shuuji with a riff on the Tetsu era's Kioku to Sora and ILLUMINATI as well as Moran former vocalist Hitomi with Gackt's Madrigal and N.p.s.N.g.s. The show featured ZIZ and Moi dix Mois performing their own songs and MALICE MIZER covers with the show ended with a tribute to the departed Kami and all of the guest vocalists singing together for Ma chérie ~Itoshii Kimi E~.
 
There have been teases for years and the band have come back in several shapes, but whether they will return with the likes of any of their three former vocalists is unlikely or at best up in the air with all of them seemingly content with their careers and lives and consider MALICE MIZER a part of their past. The future of MALICE MIZER is uncertain, but it's safe to say that the Visual Kei scene would be shaken to the core if the stars aligned and the malice and misery rose like a phoenix for a second time.
 
Member History
Current Lineup
Mana - Guitar (ex-Matenrou, Moi dix Mois) 
Közi - Guitar (ex-GIRL, ex-Matenrou, ZIZ, XA-VAT, DĂLLE, Solo, VAMQUET) 
Yu~ki - Bass (ex-ZE:RO)
Former Members
Gaz - Drums (ex-DATURA, deceased  2017)
Tetsu - Vocals (ex-Ner-vous, ZIGZO, Nil, THE JUNEJULYAUGUST) 
Kami - Drums (deceased 1999)
Klaha - Vocals (ex-PRIDE OF MIND, Solo, retired)
Gackt - Vocals (ex-Cains:Feel, Solo, YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz)
Support Members
Shue Sakai - Drums (ex-JACK BLUE, N.S.D.P., Everlasting-K)
Kazune - Keyboard (Brain Hacker, Art Cube)
Staff Members
Hitomi - Roadie (ex-Moran, UMIYURI) 
MAYU - Roadie (ex-LAREINE, ex-NEW SODMY)
MACHI - Roadie (ex-LAREINE, Chanton L'amour) 
Masanori Yabuki - Roadie (Datenshi Tokyo, Ant1nett) 
KAMIJO - Roadie (ex-LAREINE, ex-NEW SODMY, Versailles, Solo)
Shuuji Ishii - Roadie (cali≠gari, goatbed, EX-ANS)
 
Discography
 
Albums
(1994.07.24) memoire
(1996.06.09)Voyage ~Sans Retour~
(1998.03.18) Merveilles
(2000.08.23) Bara no Seidou (薔薇の聖堂)
Mini-albums
(2000.02.01) Shinwa (神話)
Demos
(1992.10.31) Sans Logique
(1993.04.05) Sadness
(1993.10.12) The 1th Anniversary
(1996.00.00) Après Midi
(1999.11.03) Saikai no Chi to Bara" (再会の血と薔薇)
Singles
(1995.12.10) Uruwashiki Kamen no Shoutaijou
(1996.10.10) Ma Chérie ~Itoshii Kimi E~
(1997.08.06) Bel Air ~Kuuhaku no Shunkan no Naka De~
(1997.12.03) Au Revoir
(1998.02.11) Gekka no Yasoukyoku
(1998.05.20) Illuminati
(1998.09.09) Le Ciel ~Kuuhaku no Kanata E~
(1999.11.03)Saikai no Chi to Bara
(2000.05.31) Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi
(2000.07.26) Shiroi Hada ni Kuruu Ai to Kanashimi no Rondo
(2001.05.30) Gardenia
(2001.06.21) Beast of Blood
(2001.10.30) Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku
(2001.11.30) Garnet ~Kindan no Sono E~
 
OHP
Moi dix Mois 
Közi
Moi-même-Moitie
 
-A huge thanks to @inartisticand the great team over at vk.gy for a wealth of information that without, this would not have been possible.
 

Got some sweet new flyers
 

 

free CD, "置手紙" has been distributed through various stores since April 2...I like the design  
 

basically waiting on another phantasmagoria compilation CD, 『『from beg:inning to re:end』 to drop through his LINE.app account anytime soon now xx

“He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” 1 Cor. 15:4 

I swear Hiro's lips grow exponentially with each band he's in.

hiro when he retires
 

me whenever I think a band is garbage but also secretly bop to them

well Thats happen if you appear on tv, that you show your bling bling stuff on (social media...
 
tax, pay it, or you get busted someday...
 

well I guess he was... レックレス

ex-レクレンズ (Reclens) Vo.みさき (Misaki) (real name 三崎優太 (Misaki Yuuta)) has been arrested for tax evasion of 180,000,000 yen.
 
Since his departure from レクレンズ (Reclens) in 2011, he has been focused on his company メディアハーツ (Media Hearts) which specializes in health food drinks and recently opened the cafe "FABIUS"
 
He became known as "青汁王子 (Green Juice Prince)" and made several TV appearances.
 
a more complete translated summary is at vk.gy written by @inartistic 💕
 

Long time no see!