Biography:

The Gazette (stylized as the GazettE), formerly known as Gazette (Japanese: ガゼット, Hepburn: Gazetto), is a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in Kanagawa in early 2002.[6] The band is currently signed to Sony Music Records.

2002: Conception and early work

The band began in 2002 with Ruki (vocals), Reita (bass) and Uruha (lead guitar) in Kanagawa Prefecture. After being involved with other bands in the visual kei movement, the trio decided that the Gazette would be their last band.[7] They recruited Aoi (rhythm guitar) and Yune (drums) from disbanded visual band Artia and formally became the Gazette in January 2002.[7] The band name is an intentional misspelling of cassette (カセット, Kasetto).[8]

Originally signed to Matina, they released their first single, “Wakaremichi“, and first music video on April 30, 2002. “Wakaremichi” was re-released in June. By September, they had released “Kichiku Kyoushi (32sai Dokushin) no Nousatsu Kouza” and their second PV. In October 2002, they played their first solo live show, and on Christmas 2002, the 5-song compilation Yougenkyou with the song “Okuribi” was released.

2003–2004: New drummer, Cockayne Soup and Disorder

In early 2003, Yune left the band and was replaced by Kai (from visual band Mareydi†Creia) who volunteered to be the leader of the band. Shortly after this, the Gazette signed with the PS Company label and in May, released their first EP, Cockayne Soup. They started their first tour with the band Hanamuke, during which the two bands collaborated on two songs.

A second tour followed with the band Vidoll. The bands were featured together on the November issue of Cure, a magazine focusing on visual kei bands.[9]

In early December 2003, they played a co-headlining show with Deadman. On December 28, they performed at Fool’s Mate magazine’s Beauti-fool’s Fest. The performance was later released on DVD.

On January 16, 2004, the band recorded a solo performance at the Shibuya-AX, released on DVD as Tokyo Saihan -Judgment Day-. On March 30, 2004, they released their fifth EP Madara, which reached No.2 on the Oricon Indie Charts. Madara was followed on May 26 by a companion DVD that included six music videos and an in-the-studio documentary. In the same month, the Gazette was featured in Shoxx magazine’s Expect Rush III, a catalogue of independent visual kei artists.[10]

A second concert DVD, Heisei Banka, was released on August 25, 2004. In September and October, they toured with fellow PS Company bands Kra and BIS. Their first studio album, Disorder, was released on October 13, 2004, and subsequently made it to the top 5 of the indies Oricon Daily Charts.

2005–2006: Nil and Nameless Liberty Six Guns tour

In early 2005, the Gazette embarked on their Japan-wide spring tour called Standing Tour 2005 Maximum Royal Disorder. The final performance of the tour was held at Shibuya Kokaido on April 17, 2005. On March 9, the Gazette released the new single “Reila“.[11]

After the DVD release of their concert on July 6, 2005, the band released their sixth EP, Gama, and embarked on the Standing Tour 2005 (Gama) the Underground Red Cockroach. On October 20, the Gazette released their first photobook, Verwelktes Gedicht, which included an exclusive CD containing the song “Kare Uta” (枯詩; Withered Poem). On December 7, 2005, the band released their first single under a major label, “Cassis“. The promotional video of “Cassis”, was shot in Austria. On December 11, 2005, the Gazette performed alongside other bands signed to the PS Company label to celebrate the record label’s fifth anniversary Peace and Smile Carnival 2005 Tour.

With a name change in 2006 from Japanese characters to a romanization, the Gazette released their second studio album, Nil, on February 8, 2006.[12] Shortly after, they embarked on another Japanese tour called Standing Tour 2006 Nameless Liberty Six Guns. The final performance of the tour was held at Nippon Budokan.[13] In May 2006, they released their first compilation album, Dainihon Itangeishateki Noumiso Gyaku Kaiten Zekkyou Ongenshuu, which included songs that had been released from 2002 through 2004. In the next month, they released their second music video compilation DVD, Film Bug I. On July 29, 2006, the Gazette performed at the Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Germany, their first show outside of Asia. The concerts were arranged in conjunction with the AnimagiC anime and manga convention.[14]

On August 6, 2006, the Gazette held a festival called Gazerock Festival in Summer 06 (Burst into a Blaze) at Tokyo Big Sight West Hall. Later that month, the band released two new singles, “Regret” on October 25, and “Filth in the Beauty” on November 1. To promote the singles, they began another tour, Tour 2006-2007 Decomposition Beauty.[15] In the middle of tour, they announced that the final of the tour would be held at Yokohama Arena.

Credits: