Tetsuya (musician)

Tetsuya (テツヤ), formerly known as Tetsu, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as bassist and bandleader of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. Formed in 1991, they have sold over 40 million records, making them one of the best-selling music artists in Japan.

Tetsuya also performs backing vocals in L'Arc-en-Ciel and has composed many of the band's songs, including "Link", "Ready Steady Go", "Finale", "Driver's High", "Stay Away", "Pieces" and "Good Luck My Way". In 2001, he started a solo career under the name Tetsu69. From 2005 to 2006, Tetsuya was a support member of Morrie's solo project Creature Creature. He formed a L'Arc-en-Ciel cover band named Like-an-Angel in 2023.

L'Arc-en-Ciel
In February 1991, bassist Tetsuya (then known as "Tetsu") recruited vocalist Hyde, guitarist Hiro and drummer Pero to form a band named L'Arc-en-Ciel. After gaining popularity in their hometown of Osaka, Hiro left the band in 1992 and Tetsuya convinced his friend Ken to quit his university studies and join the band as their guitarist. However, Pero then left the group on December 30, 1992. The following year, Sakura joined as L'Arc-en-Ciel's new drummer.

On April 1, 1993, the band released their debut album Dune on the well-known independent record label Danger Crue Records. The album was a success and caught the attention of some major labels. In 1994, L'Arc-en-Ciel signed a contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Ki/oon division and released their major debut album Tierra that same year. Their third studio album Heavenly followed in 1995. In 1996, their fourth album, True, became their first number one record on the Oricon Albums Chart and sold over a million copies. However, Sakura was arrested for drug possession in early 1997, and the band took a hiatus.

L'Arc-en-Ciel resumed activities as a trio with the October 1997 release of the single "Niji". It features former Zi:Kill and Die in Cries drummer Yukihiro as a support member. Sakura officially announced his departure from L'Arc-en-Ciel on November 4, and the band held their first concert back at the Tokyo Dome on December 23, 1997, entitled Reincarnation. It was the band's first performance at the venue and had an attendance of 56,000 people, with the tickets sold out in a record-breaking four minutes. Yukihiro officially joined L'Arc-en-Ciel as their drummer on January 1, 1998. The single "Winter Fall", which was released at the end of the month, became the group's first number one on the Oricon Singles Chart.

L'Arc-en-Ciel went on to become one of the best-selling music artists in Japan. Their 1999 simultaneously-released albums Ark and Ray are each one of the best-selling albums of all time in Japan. In 2003, L'Arc-en-Ciel were ranked number 58 on a list of the top 100 Japanese pop musicians by HMV Japan. In 2012, they became the first Japanese act to headline Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Solo career and other work
In 2001, Tetsuya started a solo career under the name "Tetsu69". His solo material was then released under the name Tetsu from 2006 to 2009. On December 1, 2009, he changed his stage name from "Tetsu" to "Tetsuya".

In 2019, Tetsuya started the fashion brand Stealth Stell'a, for which he is the creative director. He explained that he is involved in every aspect of the label and only products that he personally approves are released. A lifestyle brand called Stellage was also launched. The music equipment brand Stella Gear was launched on October 3, 2023.

On April 1, 2023, Tetsuya announced the formation of a L'Arc-en-Ciel cover band called Like-an-Angel (also written as "Like〜an〜Angel" or "Like-ən-Angel"). He explained that L'Arc-en-Ciel is only active once every few years due to the members having other projects. Because his solo activities are mostly vocal, Tetsuya said he does not have the opportunity to play bass live. "If I play L'Arc songs only once every few years, it takes time and rehabilitation to recall them. If I play in a copy band, I can smoothly get into it when L'Arc starts to move." The other members, vocalist Jekyll, Vivid guitarist Reno and Matenrou Opera drummer Hibiki, were not revealed until their first concert at Daikanyama Unit on May 30. Jekyll, who can not speak Japanese, writes the lyrics out in rōmaji in order to memorize them. He also said he has people translate the lyrics so he can understand their meaning and therefore sing them with feeling. Guitarist Saki made her debut with the band at a Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall concert on October 7, 2023, which also saw La'cryma Christi guitarist Hiro stand in for Reno. Like-an-Angel will hold their first tour in September and October 2024.

Equipment
Tetsuya is an avid collector of basses and guitars, owning over 120 basses and more than 20 guitars. In August 1992, he signed a contract with Sheldon Guitars, an ESP Guitars shop in Kita-ku, Osaka. The bassist has continued to endorse ESP for over 30 years and has several signature models with them. However, Tetsuya has also endorsed Lakland and Zon Guitars. His signature models with Lakland are the 55-69, part of their U.S.A. Series, and the SL55-69, part of their Shoreline Series. Although he has used Zon's Legacy Elite series for recording since L'Arc-en-Ciel's first album, he received his first signature model with them in 2011, the Legacy Elite 519 Tetsuya Model. Tetsuya launched his own musical equipment brand Stella Gear in 2023, but retains a relationship with ESP. He described it as how Lexus is a brand of Toyota.

Tetsuya has primarily played 5-string basses since L'Arc-en-Ciel's 15th anniversary, but is known to occasionally use 6-strings. Such as on "Neo Universe", "Time Goes On" and "Get Out of the Shell", where he plays the lead melody. On "Perfect Blue", he used a 6-string baritone guitar (an electric guitar between the range of a bass and a standard electric guitar). Tetsuya also uses a guitar/bass double neck for the song "Trust".

Discography

 * Singles


 * EPs


 * Albums


 * Home video


 * Other releases