Luna Sea | Profile Luna Sea was one of the biggest ever “visual kei” bands, active between 1989 and 2000. The band first formed in May 1989 as Lunacy but changed their name to Luna Sea in November 1990. The band played in and around Tokyo and built up a substantial following. Their debut album Luna Sea was released in April 1991 on Extasy Records, an indie label owned by X band leader Yoshiki, who also produced the album. The band tour nationally almost non-stop and by year’s end were playing halls rather than clubs. In 1992 they released their major label debut Image on MCA Victor, and the album reached the Oricon top 10. The band also released their first video. The band was well marketed, a portion of which was forming their official fan club Slave in 1993. That same year the band released their third album Eden. The band’s tour Search For Eden ended with two shows at Tokyo’s famed Budokan. They also played an event with two other popular visual kei bands, Soft Ballet and Buck Tick, called LSB. The band’s fourth album Mother in 1994 was their most successful yet, and culminated in their playing their first ever show at the 50,000 seat Tokyo Dome. In 1996 the band’s success continued with their fifth album Style, which resulted in more shows and more videos. However having reached a certain saturation point, the band announced at a year end show in Yokohama that they would take 1997 off, as the individual members rested and/or pursued solo projects. They returned in 1998 with a double best-of called Singles and in the summer played outdoor shows. In 1999 the band made their first overseas shows, playing in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Shanghai. In May 1999, marking their ten year anniversary as a band, Luna Sea released the live album Never Sold Out. In 2000 the Luna Sea song was placed on the soundtrack of the movie World Is Not Enough. The band also released a new album titled Lunacy, but on Nov. 8, 2000 they announced that they would break-up. Marking the end of Luna Sea the band released the best of Period, and played two shows at Tokyo Dome, Dec. 26 and 27, Luna Sea The Final Act. Following the break up of the band, the individual members, vocalist Ryuichi Kawamura , guitarist Sugizo, second guitar Inoran, bassist J, and drummer Shinya all went their separate ways. Handsome frontman Kawamura has thus far faired the best, maintaining a strong solo career, doing films and commercials, as well as writing for the likes of Hideki Saijo and former Speed member Takako Uehara. Sugizo has also remained quite visible, producing young artists, including Miyu Sakamoto (daughter of Ryuichi Sakamoto), performing in side projects and doing film related work. Inoran formed a band called Fake? with Ken Lloyd of the briefly popular group Oblivion Dust, which did not catch on. J has produced, including work with an artist from Korea, and also released solo material, sometimes working with members of the British band the Cult. Shinya married Aya Ishiguro from the immensely popular idol group Morning Musume, and they now have three children. He has become a TV celebrity,often appears on music related shows and also still works as a drummer, most notably with Kyosuke Himuro, the former singer of Boowy. by Keith Cahoon
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