versailles adalah sebuah grup musik yang dibentuk oleh Kamijo dan Hizaki pada tahun 2006. Kamijo adalah mantan personil Lareine, sebuah band visual kei yang populer pada tahun ’90-an. Hizaki pernah bergabung dengan band Sulfuric Acid dan pernah membuat sebuah proyek tunggal bernama Hizaki grace project. Mereka kemudian merekrut JasmineYou (mantan personel Jakura), Yuki (mantan personil Sugar Trip), dan Teru (mantan personil Aikaryuu). Mereka semua sempat bekerjasama dalam Hizaki grace project. Semula Teru hanyalah additional player, namun sejak Juli 2007 ia menjadi personil tetap. Versailles secara resmi berdiri pada tahun 2007 (masih berstatus indie). Aliran musik mereka bergenre symphonic metal, power metal, dan neo clasiccal metal. Masing-masing member punya peranan tersendiri. Kamijo dan Hizaki untuk urusan seni dan tampilan mereka, Yuki untuk aransemen band, Jasmine You untuk urusan komunikasi dan Teru yang mengawasi semuanya.
Debut pertama Versailles adalah sebuah single dalam format DVD yaitu “The Revenant Choir” yang hanya dijual pada saat konser berlangsung (23 Juni 2007). Ternyata kehadiran mereka dilirik oleh label record dari luar Jepang, dan berniat untuk merilis album mereka, yang akhirnya jatuh ke tangan CLJ dari Jerman. “Lyrical Sympathy” adalah album indie pertama mereka yang dirilis pada tanggal 31 Oktober 2007 (bertepatan dengan Halloween). Setelah merilis album ini, mereka lalu mengadakan tour nasional pertama mereka. Pertengahan desember mereka lalu merilis DVD Live berjudul “Aesthetic Violence” dalam 5 versi disertai dengan bonus parfum yang disesuaikan dengan karakter masing-masing personil. Kamijo [Louis], Hizaki [Princess Stairs], Teru [B.P.T.], Jasmine You [Elegant Jasmine], dan Yuki [Dark Master].
Awal tahun 2008
lalu kemudian mereka melucurkan single PRINCE, Versailles secara resmi mengumumkan nama barunya, yaitu Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-. Nama ini hanya dikenakan Versailles jika tampil live/konser untuk kawasan Amerika Utara. Mengapa bisa begitu? Sebab nama Versailles sendiri sudah menjadi hak paten dari sebuah grup musik bernama sama yang ada di Amerika Serikat sana. Jadi, supaya tidak terbentur dengan masalah hukum, Versailles pun menambahkan kata -Philharmonic Quintet- pada bagian belakang nama Versailles tersebut. And what do you think? Terlihat makin keren atau malah ribet? Philharmonic sendiri dalam bahasa Indonesia berartikan "orkes simfoni/yang berkaitan dengan orkes simfoni". Sedangkan Quintet, setelah buka kamus online, memiliki arti "kwintet". Kwintet? Maksudnya apa yah..hahaha.
Seperti yang kita ketahui bersama, Versailles di dalamnya berisikan lima orang personil yang kejeniusan dan skill dari individu-nya masing-masing tidak perlu diragukan lagi. Kelima orang ini memiliki selera musik yang sangat beraneka ragam. Namun justru di situlah hebatnya! Dari ke-aneka-ragam-an itu tadi, mereka mampu menyatukannya hingga menjadi satu kesatuan yang utuh dan kuat. Dan aku yakin, beberapa tahun ke depan dari sekarang belum ada band mana-pun yang sanggup mematahkan dominasi Versailles di kancah dunia musik indie Visual-kei. Kembali ke soal ke-anekaragam-an tadi, coba tengok KAMIJO [pentolan LAREINE, NEW SODMY, Node of Scherzo] yang memiliki kharisma vokal nan kuat. Begitu juga dengan HIZAKI [eks GARNET GRAVE, Crack brain, Schwardix Marvally, BURNING FIRE, SULFURIC ACID, HIZAKI grace project, Node of Scherzo], yang selalu memainkan musik khas Visual-kei yang cantik dan symphonic, dilengkapi dengan melodi-melodi yang tidak kalah indahnya. Bagaimana dengan TERU [eks Aikaryu, HIZAKI grace project]? Well, gitaris yang doyan musik kencang ala metal ini juga mampu memberikan sumbangan tebesar ke dalam tubuh Versailles hingga mampu menciptakan nuansa cadas di dalam sebagian besar lagu-lagunya Versailles. Jasmine You [eks HIZAKI grace project, Node of Scherzo] dan YUKI [eks Sugar Trip, alively sanctuary] juga tidak kalah pentingnya. Dua orang ini tetap menampilkan sebuah performance yang memukau dan tentunya memiliki tingkat kesulitan yang lumayan tinggi. Perpaduan dari kelima orang di atas tadi menghasilkan warna musik yang sangat unik, yaitu campuran antara melodic rock, metal, symphony yang ujung-ujungnya menjadi suatu genre yang lazim dikenal dengan symphonic-metal atau ada juga yang menyebutnya neoclassical-metal.
History
2007: Formation
In March 2007, Versailles was formed by Kamijo (ex-
Lareine),
Hizaki (ex-Sulfuric Acid), and
Jasmine You (Yuu, ex-Jakura). Later, Teru (ex-Aikaryu) and Yuki (ex-Sugar Trip), who were recommended by the Rock May Kan venue in Tokyo joined the band.
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”. In March 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".
The band signed a contract with the German CLJ Records label and released its first album,
Lyrical Sympathy on October 31, both in Japan and Europe.
Their song "The Love From A Dead Orchestra" also appears on a compilation album released by
Sony BMG in Germany on November 9, called 'Tokyo Rock City'.
2008: Noble
In 2008, Versailles made their first appearances in Europe and United States. In March and April, the band performed cooperatively with
Matenrou Opera across Europe.
Versailles was later invited by
Tainted Reality to perform shows on May 30 at
Project A-Kon in Dallas, Texas and on June 3 at the
Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, California as their American debut.
The Project A-Kon concert pulled in more than 3,000 people and the latter sold out completely.
On July 9, 2008, Versailles digitally released their first full album,
Noble, exclusively on international iTunes Music Stores. This was followed by its general Japanese CD release on July 16 and its international CD release on July 30.
Versailles' Japanese record label announced on August 19, 2008 that they received notice of a musician in the United States already using the name "Versailles".
The Japanese band was compelled to create a new promotional name in order to proceed with their plans to tour in the United States again, so they called upon their fans to send in ideas.
On September 14, 2008 the band announced on their website that their new name for the US was to be "Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-", whilst keeping their original name in Japan and countries other than United States.
"
Prince" is the title of their first single released under the new name and it was available as a free digital download.
2009: Going Major
Kamijo announced at the December 23rd C.C.Lemon Hall oneman that Versailles would be going major in June 2009, both in Japan and internationally on
Warner Music Japan. Their major debut single, "
Ascendead Master", was released on June 24, 2009.
Versailles played their last nationwide tour as an independent band through March 26 to May 9, entitled "The Fragment Collectors". Further events such as the "Anthology of Revolution" marked their final concerts, finishing with five consecutive nights at Meguro Rock May Kan. Their final independent live took place on June 21, 2009.
Versailles announced that they would not be performing any more lives or releasing new content until their next untitled album. This was due to be released on September 16, 2009 under two flavours: a vanilla CD and a limited edition CD+DVD combo in a tri-fold digipak case with a special booklet.
The Passing of Jasmine You
On August 3, it was announced that
Jasmine You would temporarily suspend all musical activities due to unknown circumstances regarding his health and to recover. It had been announced that Versailles' new album was in the final stages of production and the bass tracks were being recorded. In the early hours of August 9, 2009, it was reported on the official site that
Jasmine You had died. The translated announcement reads as follows:
2009.8.9 「Versailles」 Urgent Announcement: Though Jasmine You had taken time off in order to rest because of poor physical condition, we received a report that early in the morning on August 9, he died. Because of the extreme abruptness of this news, the members and staff are all dumbfounded and trying hard to accept this it. As soon as his family has been notified and updated as to the details and we receive their permission, we will further report to all of the fans. Moreover, with the current announcement, in regards to activity, please allow us to postpone it. [1] 2010: Present
After a canceled performance, Versailles performed at "V-Rock Festival '09" on October 25, 2009. You of
Matenrou Opera played as their support bassist. It was also announced that their upcoming album entitled
Jubilee would be released on January 20, 2010. It was their first major album released internationally. They also announced a world tour which started on February 28, 2010, in Yokohama. Their support bassist for the tour was Masashi, a member of Cosmo and
Közi's live band. The Japanese leg of the tour ended at
JCB Hall on April 30, 2010, and the band traveled to Latin America and Europe before returning to Japan for a special birthday event for Kamijo. The "Grand Final" of the tour was performed on September 4, 2010, at
C.C. Lemon Hall. There they announced that live versions of their two indie albums,
Lyrical Sympathy and
Noble, would be released on September 1, 2010. The songs were recorded on December 23, 2008, at their "Chateau de Versailles" final at C.C. Lemon Hall, the same concert that appears on the
Chateau de Versailles DVD.
Lyrical Sympathy -Live- contains the bonus track "Sforzando -Original Version-" and
Noble -Live- does not include "To The Chaos Inside" or "Episode".
At their world tour's final show at
C.C. Lemon Hall on September 4, 2010, it was announced that Masashi officially joined the band as their new bassist, with
Jasmine You being cited as an "eternal member".
Their next single was released in three types: two different Limited Editions (type A and B) and a Regular Edition (both limited editions will have a DVD with live clips and/or PVs). The single, entitled "Destiny -The Lovers-", was released on October 27, 2010.
In late November,
Panasonic plans to broadcast one of Versailles' concerts on 8,000 Panasonic 3D television sets at retail stores nationwide. The concert is titled "Method of Inheritance" and was recorded at
JCB Hall in Tokyo on April 30, 2010. Some fans caught an early exclusive 3D screening of the concert at the Panasonic Center in Ariake, Japan on November 14th.
Members
As with many other Japanese bands, the members of Versailles are credited by their
stage names.
- Kamijo – vocals (2007–present)
-
- Teru – guitar (2007–present)
- Masashi – bass (2010–present)
- Yuki – drums (2007–present)
Former members
- Jasmine You – bass (2007–2009)†
- Although deceased, the band considers Jasmine You an "eternal member".
Live support
Equipment
- ESP Forest GT Custom
- ESP Horizon III Orange
- ESP Horizon III White
- Boss GT-10
- Ibanez Jemini
- Morley Wha Pedal
- Custom Audio Electronics Cables
- ESP Jerk (Teru Custom)
- ESP Custom Stratocaster (EMG pickups)
- ESP Reindeer Custom
- ESP -Antelope- Black (Original Series)
- Zoom G7.1UT
- Custom Audio Electronics Cables
Discography
- Albums
- Noble (July 9, 2008), Sherow/CLJ/Maru
- Jubilee (January 20, 2010), Warner Japan
- EPs
- Live Albums
- Singles
- "The Revenant Choir" (June 23, 2007), Sherow – sold at concerts only
- "A Noble Was Born In Chaos" (March 19, 2008), Sherow – sold at concerts only
- "Prince" (September 13, 2008) – free mp3 download
- "Prince & Princess" (December 10, 2008), Sherow
- "Ascendead Master" (June 24, 2009), Warner Japan
- "Destiny -The Lovers-" (October 27, 2010), Warner Japan
- Compilations
- Tokyo Rock City (November 9, 2007), Sony BMG
- Cupia Vol.1 (November 14, 2007)
- Cross Gate 2008 -Chaotic Sorrow- (March 26, 2008), Sherow/Under Code
- The Art of Propaganda (September 13, 2008), Sherow/Under Code - distributed at concerts only
- Photobooks
- Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet- (October 22, 2008)
- DVDs
- The Revenant Choir (June 23, 2007)
- Aesthetic Violence (December 12, 2007)
- Urakizoku (裏貴族, December 24, 2007)
- Chateau de Versailles (May 20, 2009)
- History of the Other Side (May 20, 2009)
- Live
- World Tour 2010 @ Yokohama (February 28, 2010)
- Grand Final Tour @ CC Lemon Hall (September 4. 2010)
