User:Stargazer004

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Kamijo
Kamijo performing during the Versailles World Tour, 2010
Background information
Birth nameYūji Kamijō
Also known asKamijo, Shoki
Born (1973-07-19) July 19, 1973 (age 50)
Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture
OriginKantō, Japan
Genressymphonic metal, power metal, symphonic rock, pop rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, model, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards
Years active1994–present
LabelsApplause Records, Sony Music Japan, Veletta Records, Sherow Artist Society, Warner Music Japan

Yūji Kamijō (上城 祐之 Kamijō Yūji, born July 19, 1973) best known as Kamijo, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, model, actor and music producer. [1]He is best known for being a former member in the well-known Visual Kei bands LAREINE and Versailles.

Kamijo is by the day one of the most important figures in the Visual Kei scene due to his long and active career through the years in the bands LAREINE and Versailles, both bands counting over thirty productions together. His music style covers many genres, having in LAREINE more of a pop rock style, and Versailles a clearly remarked Symphonic metal and power metal sound. [2]

He has an extense discography with the bands LAREINE, New Sodmy and Versailles consisting in 15 albums as a large ammount of EPs and singles. Now he is starting a solo career for the first time, his first production, the single Louis, will be released on August 28, 2013. His debut album is still about to be announced. [3] [4]

Early Days[edit]

Kamijo was raised in a family of musicians; his mother and grandmother were both piano player, and his grandfather a violinist. His first steps in the Visual Kei are set in the middle 90s, when he worked as roadie with the then-young Visual Kei band Malice Mizer. He shared this work with Mayu, a guitarist with whom years later he formed the band LAREINE. [5] [6]

Career[edit]

1994–1995: Laliene[edit]

In August, 1994, Mayu and Kamiyo meet for the first time while they were working as roadies for Malice Mizer. The same year, in November, they decide to form a band together, which they named Laliene ru cheri, commonly called just Laliene; named that way for the French Queen Marie Antoinette. Along with the guitarist Sakuren and the drummer Kyouka, they begin to play. Later the bass player EMIRU enters the band, completing the first line-up of the band. [7]

1996–2007: LAREINE[edit]

Main article: LAREINE

In March, 1996, Laliene made a live concert with occasion of their first anniversary, and change the name of the band for LAREINE. The same year they released their first recording "Saikai no Hana", distributed freely in the anniversary concert in a limited number of only 100 copies. After many years of releasing many albums, EPs and singles, during a short separation of the band, Kamijo entered the band New Sodmy, and recorded two albums and five singles. [8]

In february , 2007, the band finally came to its end, having played their last live in October 31, 2006. [9]

The last recording of LAREINE consists in a 10 piano versions of LAREINE most popular songs, with Kamijo on vocals.

2007–2012: Versailles[edit]

Main article: Versailles (band)

In March 2007, Kamijo (ex-Lareine, New Sodmy), Hizaki (ex-Sulfuric Acid), and Jasmine You (ex-Jakura), formed the band Versailles. Later, Teru (ex-Aikaryu) and Yuki (ex-Sugar Trip), who were recommended by the Rock May Kan venue in Tokyo, joined the band. Hizaki, Jasmine You and Teru previously played together as part of Hizaki Grace Project.

Versailles performing in Santiago, Chile in 2010.

Kamijo and Hizaki created the concept of Versailles in the autumn of 2006 and spent six months gathering members to express it. Their band concept is "the absolute youshikibi (beauty of form) sound and extremes of aestheticism". On March 30, 2007 the details of the band were announced. They released promotional material through the internet, set up an English language page on MySpace, and had several interviews with foreign press. Versailles made their first appearance with a showcase on June 23, followed by their first performance on June 24. On these dates they also distributed their first single and DVD single, "The Revenant Choir". [10]

The band signed with the German CLJ Records label and released the EP Lyrical Sympathy on October 31, both in Japan and Europe. Their song "The Love From A Dead Orchestra" also appeared on a compilation album released by Sony BMG in Germany on November 9, called Tokyo Rock City. [11]

The band released four albums, one EP, eight singles, two live albums, ten music videos, one compilation albums and many Live DVDs and Promotional Video DVDs. By the end of 2012, the band announced its disolution. [12]

2013: Disolution of Versailles - Start of solo career[edit]

In January 2013, Kamijo announced he would start a solo career. His first release, the single "Louis ~Tsuyachi no La Vie en Rose~" (Louis ～艶血のラヴィアンローズ～), will be released on August 28. On April 1. [13] The other Versailles members, Hizaki, Teru, Yuki and Masashi, announced they had formed a new band named Jupiter. [14]

Discography[edit]

LAREINE[edit]
  • Blue Romance: Yasashii Hanatachi no Kyousou (September 7, 1997)
  • Fierte no Umi to Tomo ni Kiyu: The Last of Romance (February 16, 2000)
  • Scream (November 1, 2000)
  • Vampire Scream (November 1, 2000)
  • Reine de Fleur I (March 26, 2003)
  • Reine de Fleur II (March 26, 2003)
  • Crystal Letos (March 31, 2004)
  • Never Cage (September 5, 2004)
  • Ballad (2007)
New Sodmy[edit]
  • Confess To A Crime (2002)
  • Confess To A Love (2002)
Versailles[edit]
Main article: Versailles discography
Solo Career[edit]
  • Louis (Single) (August 28, 2013)


References[edit]

  1. ^ http://nerimaku.altervista.org/kamijo.htm
  2. ^ http://artist-society.syncl.jp/
  3. ^ http://gyao.yahoo.co.jp/ct/music/
  4. ^ http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/14373/profile/full/
  5. ^ http://www.jpopasia.com/celebrity/kamijo/
  6. ^ http://nerimaku.altervista.org/kamijo.htm
  7. ^ www.visunavi.com
  8. ^ http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-biography-36-lareine.html
  9. ^ http://www.jame-world.com/us/artists-biography-36-lareine.html
  10. ^ http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/700/music_beat.asp
  11. ^ http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/700/music_beat.asp
  12. ^ http://versailles.syncl.jp/?p=info&id=15940
  13. ^ http://www.jame-world.com/us/news-96447-kamijo-s-first-solo-single.html
  14. ^ http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2013/04/versailles-members-create-new-band-jupiter/
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