Girugamesh

Girugamesh (ギルガメッシュ, Girugamesshu) was a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in 2003.[1] The name is sometimes stylized with a metal umlaut as girugämesh[2] and is derived from the Final Fantasy character.[3] They disbanded on July 10, 2016.[4]

Girugamesh
Girugämesh performing in 2007
Background information
Also known asGirugämesh (until 2007)
OriginChiba, Japan
Genres
Years active2004–2016
Labels
Past membersSatoshi
Nii
Shū
Ryo
Cyrien
Hotaru

History

2003–2006: Formation

Formed in 2003 in Chiba, Shuu and Nii had been friends since elementary school,[5] and the earliest incarnation of the band made its first performance while the members were still in high school.[6] Girugamesh began playing gigs with their final lineup in 2004,[5] and were later signed to record label Gaina-Japan. Their first single, "Kaisen Sengen" ("Declaration of War"), ranked #10 on the Oricon Indies chart.[3] In 2005, Girugamesh embarked on a nationwide tour, after which they released their first live DVD featuring footage from the tour, followed by the EP Goku -Shohankei Enban-.

In 2007, Girugamesh was signed to the European label Gan-Shin. The band then participated in the 9-band Japanese rock festival in Los Angeles, California called "J-Rock Revolution". They performed on the second night alongside Merry, D'espairsRay, and Mucc.[7] Around the time of J-Rock Revolution, Girugamesh released their music in the iTunes Store. Ryo commented that "if you really like the band after the initial listen, you will buy the original CD."[8]

2007–2015: Girugamesh and international success

In the summer of 2007, Girugamesh released an EP entitled Reason of Crying, and in December released their eponymous album, Girugamesh.

Main article: Girugamesh touring

In 2008, in support of Girugamesh, the band toured in both Japan[9][10] and Europe,[11] under the tour title "Stupid Tour '08". The Japanese leg had Girugamesh performing throughout Japan,[9] and later in January, the band toured Europe for the first time, visiting Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland.[11] Following their European tour, Girugamesh continued the "Stupid Tour '08 in Japan".[9] In March, Girugamesh returned to touring visiting venues all over Japan including Okinawa.[10]

Following a performance at Wacken Open Air,[12] a support tour for Girugamesh will occur, entitled "Shining Tour '08".[13] The first performances will endure through July, visiting Osaka and Nagoya, with one finale performance in August at the Liquidroom in Tokyo.[13] 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.[13]

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 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.[14]

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.[15]

On January 26, 2011, Girugamesh released their album Go which includes their recent singles, "Color" and "Inochi no Ki",[16] 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.

In November 2013, Girugamesh released an album titled "Monster" and performed at the Hush!! Full Band Festival in Macau as headlining act.[17]

In September 2014, Girugamesh released a mini-album titled "Gravitation".

In February 2016, Girugamesh released a mini-album titled "chimera". The title alludes to the band's image as it is today : a chimera being an hybrid creature just like the band's music as Ryo says in French interview[18] "The sound of girugmesh is a mixture of different types of music." The artcover has been designed by singer Satoshi who depicted an egg and fire : "The artcover of ‘chimera’ represents an egg from which an hybrid creature, a chimera, comes out. The chimera symbolizes metaphorically the band. The split created when the monster comes out reveals fire. And fire usually alludes to passions, anger and rage. Rage is the key-word of the concept of ‘chimera’. It’s Satoshi’s idea. He’s the one who designed it[19]".

Girugamesh toured in Europe in May 2016.

2016: Final Performance and Disbandment

On May 2, 2016, girugamesh announced on their public Facebook page that they would be disbanding following their final show at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo on July 10, 2016.[20] Although no specific reason was given, girugamesh has said that they are thankful for the many years they have been together, and for all their fan support. For girugamesh's final concert, the four band members performed for 3 hours and played over 35 songs.[21] During the show, a sneak peek video revealing the release of a DVD box collector was shown on screen as announced on French media VerdamMnis Magazine : ″The box will include the farewell performance, which at the moment was simply outstanding, it will span the career of the band from its debut and will also contain exclusive footage from its very last tour which occurred in Europe in May of 2016″.[22][23]

Meme

The band became an internet meme after a 2009 Sakura-Con commercial, wherein several people are discussing their love of Japan-related material, and one adds "Girugamesh!"[24]

Former members
  • Satoshi Ishikawa (左迅) – lead vocals, lyricist[6] (2003–2016)
  • Nii (弐) – guitars (2003–2016)
  • Shū (愁) – bass, leader, backing vocals (2003–2016)
  • Яyo (亮) – drums, primary songwriter[6] (2003–2016)
  • Cyrien – vocals (2003, went on to play in Sel'm)
  • Hotaru – guitars (2003-2004)

Discography
Albums
EPs
  • Goku: Shohan Gata Enban (May 25, 2005)
  • Reason of Crying (July 18, 2007)
  • Gravitation (September 24, 2014)
  • Chimera (January 20, 2016)
Singles
  • "Jelato" (August 3, 2004, distributed single)
  • "Midnight" (2004, distributed single)
  • "Kaisen Sengen: Kikaku Kata Enban" (August 15, 2004)
  • "Sakaurami" (August 24, 2004)
  • "Kuukyo no Utsuwa: Kyosaku Gata Enban" (December 25, 2004)
  • "Kosaki Uta: Kaijou Gata Enban" (February 8, 2005)
  • "Senyuu Kyoutou Uta" (split CD with Marusa, April 20, 2005)
  • "Kyozetsu Sareta Tsukue: Tandoku Gata Enban" (June 17, 2005)
  • "Fukai no Yami: Mayosake Gata Enban" (September 14, 2005)
  • "Honnou Kaihou: Kakusei Gata Enban" (November 30, 2005)
  • "Risei Kairan: Ranchou Gata Enban" (November 30, 2005)
  • "Rei: Mukei Gata Enban" (April 5, 2006)
  • "Omae ni Sasageru Minikui Koe" (April 12, 2006)
  • "Volcano" (DVD single, March 14, 2007)
  • "Alive" (June 10, 2009)
  • "Border" (August 5, 2009)
  • "Crying Rain" (October 7, 2009)
  • "Color" (July 7, 2010)
  • "Inochi no Ki" (イノチノキ)(October 6, 2010)
  • "Pray" (Japanese and English versions) (April 13, 2011)
  • "Zetchou Bang!!" (July 4, 2012)
  • "Zantetsuken" (September 26, 2012)
  • "Incomplete" (September 11, 2013)
  • "Period" (July 10, 2016)
Compilations
  • LIVE BEST (March 26, 2014)
  • Core Best (2014, Sold only at concerts)
Demos
  • Dekiai: Shisaku Gata Enban (2003)
DVDs
  • Crazy Crazy Crazy June 3, 2009
  • Gaisen Kouen Chiba February 22, 2012

References
  1. Reason of Crying Review by CD Japan Archived June 2, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved Jun 26, 2010
  2. "Girugämesh J-Shock interview at JaME". jmusiceuropa.com.
  3. "Girugämesh interview".
  4. "ギルガメッシュ、解散ライブをあますことなく映像化". ナタリー. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  5. Christina (2008). "Interview with girugamesh: PART ONE". jrockrevolution.com. Jrock Revolution. p. 1. Archived from the original (Interview) on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  6. "Girugamesh Jrock Revolution interview at JaME". jmusiceuropa.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  7. "Girugamesh at J-Rock Revolution". jrockrevolution.com.
  8. "Interview with Girugämesh in London". jmusiceuropa.com. Archived from the original on 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  9. "Stupid Tour '08 in Japan". jame-world.us. Asian Music Entertainment. p. 1. Archived from the original (Database article) on 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  10. "Stupid Tour '08 Girugamesh Vs Roach". jame-world.us. Asian Music Entertainment. p. 1. Archived from the original (Database article) on 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  11. "Stupid Tour '08 in Euro". jame-world.us. Asian Music Entertainment. p. 1. Archived from the original (Database article) on 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  12. "Wacken Open Air 2008 lineup". wacken.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-12-15.
  13. "Girugamesh live info". girugamesh.jp (in Japanese). p. 1. Archived from the original (Information page) on 2009-07-04. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  14. "Next Event!![girugamesh]". Musicjapanplus. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  15. "Live Stream of Abstinence's Door #005, #006". jame-world.com. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  17. As shown in set of photos: "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2013-12-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "girugamesh". mandah frenot (in French). Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  19. FRENOT, Mandah. "VerdamMnis Music E-Magazine | Interviews | girugamesh : chimera | Février 2016". www.verdammnis.com. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  20. "GANSHIN FB translated announcement". Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2016-07-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2016-07-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. "Report of girugamesh's last live at Zepp DiverCity Tokyo". VerdamMnis Magazine.
  24. Sakura-Con 2009 Commercial, Jan 21, 2009, retrieved November 17, 2011
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