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Alice Nine

All info from wikipedia
Alice Nine (アリス九號.?, or alicenine. is a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in 2004 and originally signed to PS Company, a sub-division of Free-Will. They were formerly signed to King Records until 2010. As of 2010, the band is signed to both PS Company and Tokuma Japan Communications in Japan, as well as to German label CLJ Records in Europeand has released three full-length records, along with several EPs, singles and DVDs.
Origin
Tokyo, Japan
Genres
Rock
Years active
2004–present
Labels
PS Company, King (2005-2010), Tokuma Japan Communications (2010-present) (JP)
CLJ (DE)
Website
pscompany.co.jp/alicenine

History

2004-2005: Conception and early work In August 2004, Alice Nine formed after the disbandment of the band Givuss, and the band's vocalist, Shou, and guitarist Tora continued on to search for members to form a new band. Saga, the bassist for the band Delta Ark, and Nao, drummer for the bands Fatima and RusH, were also seeking bandmates as well, and the four members eventually joined together. Hiroto was the last member to join after Shou, Tora, Saga, and Nao spotted him at a performance with his band at the time, Baquepia. Shou explains that the "Alice" in the band's name was something that they believed sounded "very visual kei" to them, while the "Nine" is written in kanji and represents their origins as a Japanese band.

Their first concert was held at the Ikebukuro Cyber on May 11, 2004 and soon after they released their first single, Namae wa, Mada Nai in July, and they soon toured with fellow PS Company band BIS. In November, their first EP, Gion Shouja no Kane ga Naru, was released, and later that month, they did a nation-wide tour with the band Karen from Under Code Productions.

In 2005, the pace of CD releases increased; the band released the singles "Gin no Tsuki Kuroi Hoshi," "Yami ni Chiru Sakura," and "Yuri wa Aoku Saite" consecutively for three months. These singles were eventually compiled onto their first major EP, Kasou Musou Shi, through a joint deal with PS Company and King Records. Alice Nine also went on tour with several bands throughout the year, including Ayabie, Kra, and Kagrra. Following these events, the band had its first solo tour, Alice in Wonder Tour, in August that year.

2006: Zekkeishoku In a short span of time after beginning the year, Alice Nine released several maxi singles, including "Kowloon -Nine Heads Rodeo Show-," "Fantasy", and the double A-side release, "Akatsuki/Ikuoku no Chandelier." The songs "Akatsuki" and "Ikuoku no Chandelier" were used as opening and closing themes in the second season of the anime series Meine Liebe. With the exception of these two songs, the singles were added onto the group's first full-length album, Zekkeishoku, which debuted on the Oricon daily charts at #4. The group completed the Kacho Fugetsu Vol. 1 tour in support of the album.

The band continued with a string of solo tours throughout the rest of the year, such as the tour Kimi no Hitomi ni Utsuru wa Zekkeishoku in May and the Hello, New Super View tour in the fall. The latter ended with the final venue at Shibuya Kokaido on October 6; footage of the event was later released the following January on the live DVD Hello, Dear Numbers. Around the same time, the band's first DVD single, "Number Six," saw release. Directed by guitarist Tora, the DVD combined the music video with a short film.

2007: Alpha and mainstream success A turning point for the band came when the single "Jewels" was released in March. The single allowed the band to land their first magazine cover and feature article with volume 171 of Shoxx Magazine. Later that month on April 28, the band released "Dive into the Sun," a photobook that included an exclusive CD containing the song "Gekkou Yoku." Another landmark was Alice Nine's first performance outside of Japan at the JRock Revolution festival in Los Angeles, California on May 25, 2007. They joined with several other Japanese bands and became the closing performance of the Friday that weekend.

The release of the "White Prayer" single in June marked another milestone for the band's development; vocalist Shou explained in an interview with Shoxx Magazine that the song defined the style that the band was aiming for and hoped to maintain in the future. The process of the song's creation also came about more naturally than usual, as many songs until then were made through trial and error. Later that year, on October 24, the group's single "Tsubasa" was released and peaked at number six on the Oricon charts, making it one of their successful singles to date and landing the band a guest appearance on the Fuji Television variety show Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ for the first time.

On November 28, 2007, their second full-length album, Alpha, was released. The title for the album originated as a means to describe the band's return to their roots and beginning anew. The uppercase first letter of the Greek alphabet, Α, was chosen to symbolize this idea. Aside from the singles to be compiled onto the album, recording for songs began in September and lasted for approximately one month.The album reached the ninth position on the Oricon weekly chart, selling over 17,000 copies in its first week.

 2008: Vandalize Alice Nine started off the year with another tour, alice nine. 2008 standing tour "A to U". However, complications arose when guitarist Tora was diagnosed with a spinal disc hernia, which had worsened over time to the point of numbness throughout the left side of his body. Finally seeking medical help, the tour had to be postponed until Tora recovered enough for the band to resume activities in Tokyo.

The band released a new single, titled "Mirror Ball" on March 26, 2008. The title song of the single was used in the live-action movie adaptation of the manga Aquarian Age.

Two compilations of the band's music videos, "Alice in Pictures I" and "Alice in Pictures II", were released on July 2, 2008. The DVDs contain approximately 8 music videos in chronological order of their original release, with "Alice in Pictures I" including the videos from "Gin no Tsuki Kuroi Hoshi" to "Number Six". "Alice in Pictures II" contains videos from "Jewels" to "Eraser -Memoire d'une fleur-", and also includes a new music video for "Gekkou Yoku", a song which was exclusively included with the "Dive into the Sun" photobook.

On August 6, the band released their latest single, "Rainbows." The single reached a peak mark of #3 on the Japanese Oricon daily charts which is currently the band's current top position on mainstream Japanese charts. The band also started their tour called "Discotheque play like 'A' Rainbows" which coincided with the new single. The tour lasted the entire month, and the concert footage was released on their live DVD, Discotheque play like "A" Rainbows -enter&exit-, on October 29, 2008.

The band's fourteenth maxi-single, "Cross Game," was released on December 10, 2008. The title song was used as the ending theme song for the second season of the anime Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D'S and was released in two versions On December 19, 2008, the band's tour at the time culminated in the grand final, named "Crossing the Supernova", at NHK Hall.

A blog entry by vocalist Shou announced that the band was in recording sessions for a third album named Vandalize, which was released on January 14, 2009. "Cross Game" is the third single to be featured on the album, along with "Mirror Ball" and "Rainbows" for a total of 11 tracks. The album's title comes from the theme of "the destruction of culture."

2009: Fifth anniversary In the following weeks of the release of Vandalize, the band started their tour for the year, Untitled Vandal(ism). The first half of the tour ran from February to April, while its second half ran throughout the month of July. The tour's finale, "Graced the Beautiful Day," occurred on August 23, 2009 at the Tokyo International Forum Hall. Footage from the finale, as well as live studio performance footage, is set to be released on the live DVD, "Untitled Vandal(ism) #Finale 'Graced the Beautiful Day,'" on November 11, 2009.

On June 2, 2009, a blog entry by vocalist Shou announced the changing of their name from "アリス九號." or "alice nine." to "Alice Nine" for media reasons. He explained that the Japanese transcription was beginning to lose its purpose as a means to "represent aesthetics" and that the English transcription was closest to the band's original intention. The Japanese transcription could also not be read as the band's proper name without the use of furigana or other means of alternative text. The entry also announced new work for the band's fifth anniversary—a new single and a new book, which would use the new English transcription upon release. Alice Nine's fifteenth maxi-single, "Hana," was released on August 5, 2009. Shou describes the titular track as a "danceable song with a sweet and oriental feeling." "Piece of 5ive Elements 'The Book' ~Alice Nine 5th~" is a book containing interviews, reports on the band's concert activities during 2009, photography, and more, and was released on August 24, 2009.

On December 16, Alice Nine held their last concert for 2009. During the three-hour-long event, they performed a variety of songs from their entire career. For the very first song of the night, the band also performed a cover of The Beatles' hit song, "All You Need Is Love."

2010-present The band began its activities in 2010 with the announcement of a compilation album, Alice Nine Complete Collection 2006-2009, which contains the title songs from each of the band's maxi-singles released since 2006. The compilation album was released on March 24, 2010. The band also finished their first tour of the year, Kikagaku no Kotowari (幾何学ノ理), that same month.

On April 4, 2010, during the final live of the Kikagaku no Kotowari tour, the band announced the release of a new single on August 4, 2010. However, the official website stated a slight delay of the single's release, pushing the release date to August 25, 2010. In the same announcement, the single was officially titled "Senkou." Filming of the music video for "Senkou" began in May 2010.

The band's official 2010 tour, Flash Light from the past, begun on July 5, 2010. The tour will span over the next four months with 30 performances in 27 live houses across Japan. The tour finale, Tokyo Galaxy, will be on January 6, 2011 at the Nippon Budokan

Style

Alice Nine's musical style can mainly be described as rock, with touches of metal, and a few instances of dance music. Their works range diversely, including heavier songs that were more prevalent in their early career, emotional ballads and medium tempo songs, and the lighter rock sound marked with more melodic instrumentation and synthesizers that is present on their 2007 album, Alpha. Like some other Visual Kei bands, as they progressed through the years, the band experimented and released songs that focus more on the mainstream public.

The band's appearance and shift from a heavy visual kei look also took place over the length of their career. In early work, Alice Nine's clothing in promotional footage and live concerts was a sort of stylized take on traditional Japanese clothing, along with moderate makeup, piercings, and bright hair colors such as red and pale blonde. However, in 2006, the look began to fade out and essentially disappeared the year after, having been replaced with leather and the onset of street fashion. Music videos for "Blue Planet" and "Gekkou Yoku" show off a relaxed and casual look, while videos such as those for "Cosmic World" and "Rainbows" are examples of forays into street fashion.

Kohara Kazamasa AKA Shou

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  • Birth name: Kohara Kazamasa
  • Stage name: Shou
  • Age: 29
  • Date of birth: July 5th, 1981
  • Position: Lead vocals
  • Trivia: His stage name Shou, means general or officer.

Fun Facts about Shou

Favorite color: Blue
Favorite food: Potatoes
Favorite drink: Soy Milk
Favorite karaoke songs: Shiina Ringo and Boowy
Pets: 3 cats
Fist musical instrument he learned to play: Guitar
Childhood hero: Dancouga
Sports he's engaged in: BaseBall
Greatest influence: Toshi-low

His real name means military officer.
He knows how to cut hair.
Mixed up his words in a live when he came out and said "Hello Super New View" (when it was supposed to be "Hello New Super View"), but everyone thought that what it was supposed to be.
Doesn't go anywhere without his ipod and/or Game Boy Advance (it might be his PSP now).
Loves video games
"Always plays" with his bandmates hair
He responses a lot to the word "adult"
Can't stand waiting for others
Hates people who don't give up their seats to those who need it more on the train.
Hates girls who put make up on in the train.
His tonsils were removed.


Ogata Hiroto AKA Hiroto

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  • Birth name: Ogata Hiroto
  • Stage Name: Hiroto
  • Age: 25
  • Date of birth: May 4th, 1985
  • Position: Rhythm guitarist
  • Trivia: Nicknamed Pon, he is the youngest and shortest member in Alice Nine. Hiroto is the only member who uses his birth name.

Fun Facts about Hiroto


Favorite color: Red and gold
Favorite bands: Red Hot Chilly Peppers, Clammbon, and NINE INCH NAILS
Favorite manga: Dragon Ball Z
Favorite drink: Green Tea, Healthya, 100% Peach Juice
Favorite Karaoke songs: Songs from Kinki Kids and Hide
Favorite phrase: Ikeru darou? (Shall we go?)

He started off as back up guitar and worked he's way up to lead guitar.
He's the main programer for Alice Nine.
First musical intrument he learned to play: Acoustic Guitar
Past band: BAQUEPIA
Loves everything about stars
Has grown up the most in Alice Nine
He heard once that a teacher didn't care about his/her students, and that broke his heart totally.
Doesn't plan to get married in the next 10 years.
Keeps the energy in the band
He's the type of person that will do a lot if he can.
He says if he shouts something in the microphone he's teeth always hits hard on the mic.
Ripped off his T-shirt in a live (I don't know which one).
Did the sound affects in Zekkeishoku

Amano Shinji AKA Tora

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  • Birth name: Amano Shinji
  • Stage name: Tora
  • Age: 30
  • Date of birth: September 17, 1980
  • Position: Lead guitarist

Fun Facts about Tora

Favorites:
Color- white and black
Manga- Kyo Kara Ore wa
Drink- Oolong Tea
Karaoke song- Shiina Ringo and Boowy
Subject in school: PE

Pet: Cat
First musical instrument he learned to play: Bass guitar
Greatest influence: Dimebag Darell
Tora means Tiger
He's the one that adds the English to songs
He's the one who put the backwards R in ALICE IN WONDEЯLAND (he got the idea from KoЯn)
He has a heartagram tattoo on his right forefinger
He plays piano (for example: Fantasy)
He's 1/4 American from his grandma or grandpa

Sakamoto Takashi AKA Saga

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  • Birth name: Sakamoto Takashi
  • Stage name: Saga
  • Age: 28
  • Date of birth: June 24th, 1982
  • Position: Bassist
  • Trivia: Sang in the band's song 'Q' along with Shou.

Fun Facts about Saga

Favorite color: White, Black, Sliver, Red, and Purple
Favorite drink: Water
Favorite manga: Doraemon
Favorite karaoke song: Shiina Ringo and Boowy
Pets: Dog his name Chiko (means fries)
Childhood hero: His father
First musical instrument he learned to play: Guitar
Sports engaged in: Baseball
Nicknames: Saga-sama, Daikon-san (means Radish-san, Shou made it up)

He claims he knows more about Gundam than Nao
Nao and Saga are very good friends
He says Nao looks like a Pooh Bear when he sleeps
When they finished their first album "Zekkishoku", Saga picked up a guitar and started to sing, "Heeeey, we finished the aaaaaalbum".
"Slept with Nao"
He keeps claiming he has a dead body in his closet.
He's the one who wrote the song "Number Six".



Murai Naoyuki AKA Nao

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  • Birth name: Murai Naoyuki
  • Stage Name: Nao
  • Age: 30
  • Date of birth: July 31st 1980
  • Position: Drummer
  • Trivia: Nao is the oldest member in the band. He is also the band's leader.

Fun Facts about Nao

Favorite color: Pink
Favorite music: Orutana/Alternative/Jazz/Soul
Favorite manga: 3X3 Eyes
Favorite drink: Coffee= Starbuck's caramel macchiato
First musical instrument he learned to play: Bass (stills know how to play too)
Childhood hero: Ultraman
Sports engaged in: Soccer and Baseball

Got left behind 2 times on a tour when they stopped for gas.
Always has to use the bathroom at the wrong time, like before an interview.
Mostly write about food in his blog.
Doesn't sing when Alice Nine goes out for Karaoke.
Was the lead singer in a band he was in high school
Loves Gundam
Right now he's obsessed with Monster Hunter.
He's good friends with Saga.
"Slept together with Saga"
Loves to tease his bandmates.
Hates fish
Has an action figure of himself.
Feels safe behind his drums.
Played the bass in his former band Rush.

Discography

Studio albums Extended plays Compilation albums
  • [2010.03.24] Alice Nine Complete Collection 2006-2009
Singles Home video Bibliography
  • [2007.04.28] "Dive into the Sun" (photo book)
  • [2007.12.25] "Shiny Summer X'mas 2007" (photo book)
  • [2008.02.29] "Alpha" (band score and tablature)
  • [2008.03.27] "Zekkeishoku" (band score and tablature)
  • [2008.09.13] "alice nine. first piano collection" (piano solo tablature)
  • [2009.]"[Untitled Vandali(ism)#1]"
  • [2009.]"[Untitled Vandali(ism)#2]"
  • [2009.07.07] "Vandalize" (band score and tablature)
  • [2009.08.24] "Piece of 5ive Elements 'The Book' ~Alice Nine 5th~"
Well there it is! Hope you got your fill all Alice Nine fans, and hope it informed and maybe got all of you who aren't fans into the band ^.^