| Girugämesh | |
|---|---|
Girugämesh at JRock Revolution (2007) |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Girugämesh |
| Origin | Chiba, Japan |
| Genres | Alternative metal, nu metal, industrial metal, metalcore, alternative rock |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Danger Crue Gan-Shin (EU) |
| Website | girugamesh.jp |
| Members | |
| Satoshi Nii Shū Ryo |
|
| Past members | |
| Cyrien Hotaru |
|
Girugamesh (ギルガメッシュ Girugamesshu) is a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in 2003.[1] The name is derived from the ancient king Gilgamesh, and is sometimes typeset with a metal umlaut as girugämesh.[2][3]
Contents |
Formed in 2004 in Chiba, Shuu and Nii had been friends since elementary school,[4] the earliest incarnation of the band made its first performance while the members were still in high school.[5] Girugamesh began playing gigs with their current lineup in 2004,[4] until they were signed to record label Gaina-Japan. Their first single, "Kaisen Sengen" was ranked #10 on the Oricon Indies chart.[3] In 2005, Girugamesh embarked on a nation-wide tour, after which they released their first live DVD, featuring footage from the tour, and after more touring, released an EP, Goku -Shohankei Enban-.
In 2007, Girugamesh was signed to the European label Gan-Shin. The band then was part of a 9-band Japanese rock festival in Los Angeles, California called "J-Rock Revolution". They were part of the second night alongside Merry, D'espairsRay, and Mucc.[6] Around the time of J-Rock Revolution, some of the performing bands released material on the iTunes Music Store, including Girugamesh. On this, Ryo has commented that "if you really like the band after the initial listen, you will buy the original CD."[7]
In the summer of 2007, Girugamesh released an EP entitled Reason of Crying, and in December released their eponymous album, Girugamesh.
In 2008, in support of Girugamesh, the band toured in both Japan[8][9] and Europe,[10] under the tour title "Stupid Tour '08". The Japanese leg had Girugamesh performing throughout Japan,[8] and later in January, the band toured Europe for the first time, visiting Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland.[10] Following their European tour, Girugamesh continued the "Stupid Tour '08 in Japan".[8] In March, Girugamesh returned to touring visiting venues all over Japan including Okinawa.[9]
Following a performance at Wacken Open Air,[11] a support tour for Girugamesh will occur, entitled "Shining Tour '08".[12] The first performances will endure through July, visiting Osaka and Nagoya, with one finale performance in August at the Liquidroom in Tokyo.[12] Concerts in July will feature second acts, including Gelugugu, Tr. Dan, Sel'm, Dogma, and Deathgaze, while the tour finale show will be a one-man performance, with only Girugamesh.[12]
In July 2008, an English version of their website was activated; shortly after this, the band announced they would release their debut American album, with Girugamesh being sold exclusively through Hot Topic stores.
The band's third full-length album, titled Music, was released on November 5, 2008. After a lengthy Japan tour throughout the first quarter of 2009, the band made its second appearance in the United States, showcased at Sakura Con in Seattle, Washington. Not long after the end of "Crazy Tour 2009" they released the live DVD "Crazy Crazy Crazy" on June 3. Another release was announced to be out on July 10 but this time it was a single named "Alive" which they had been playing for the audiences during the end of their "Crazy Tour". Just a month later on August 5 the single "Border" came out along with "Crying Rain" on October 7. On December 16 they released the fourth album with the name Now and this will be the name of their tour in 2010.
The band had a live entitled New Album Release "Premium Oneman Show 2010" on January 31, 2010 at Shinkiba Studio Coast, and at the same time, the members tweeted in real time through musicJAPANplus before the live began.[13]
Girugamesh released the single "Color" on July 6, 2010. On October 7 they released the single "Inochi no Ki". On September 19, 2010, the band performed at D'erlanger's "Abstinence's Door #005" with Head Phones President and Defspiral. The concert was streamed worldwide live on Ustream.tv.[14]
On January 26, 2011, Girugamesh released their album Go which includes their recent singles, "Color" and "Inochi no Ki",[15] one of the songs, "Destiny", leaked out a few days before. Go will be released in Europe on February 2, 2012. On April 22, 2011, Girugamesh played a concert at Anime Boston 2011.
The band became an internet meme after a 2009 Sakura-Con commercial, wherein several people discussing their love of Japan-related material are interrupted by a man who shouts "Girugamesh!"[16] This image-and-text macro soon became a meme on the imageboard 4chan.