Made up of five members, The GazettE is one of the most popular bands on the PS Company label, home to such other bands as Kagrra and alice nine. Although rock music is definitely the soul of this group, they're not afraid to experiment with their sound and their songs range widely from soft ballads to punk rock to even some songs with hip-hop elements. The GazettE is a visual band, their look varying wildly from single to single and album to album, but their sound is always unmistakably 'Gazette' and rock.
Members:
Ruki (Vocals)
Uruha( Guitar)
Aoi (Guitar)
Reita (Bass)
Kai (Drums)
the GazettE was founded on March 10th 2002 by guitarist Uruha, bassist Reita (both formerly of Karasu, Ma'die Kuss?, L'ie:Chris, and Kar+te=zyAnose), vocalist Ruki (formerly of Mikoto, Ma'die Kuss?, L'ie:Chris, and Kar+te=zyAnose), guitarist Aoi (former Mervilles and Artia guitarist), and former drummer Yune (formerly of La'DeathtopiA, Mervilles, Artia, and Vall'na racill), and current drummer, Kai.
It has now been confirmed that Kai is, indeed, the bandleader.
In April 2002 they released their first single Wakaremichi, and two videotapes, released again two months later in a second press. During August and September, they released two singles and a VHS. At the time, they were signed to the record label Matina. They gave their first one-man in the October 2002. In early 2003, Yune decided to leave the band. Kai, the former drummer of Mareydi†Creia, replaced him. In March 2003 they joined the PS Company label.
In May they released their first mini-album, Cockayne Soup, as well as starting their first tour, together with Hanamuke. Apart from their tour collaboration, the band also made two songs with Hanamuke. They managed the second tour together with Vidoll. The music magazine Cure published an edition with Vidoll and Gazette together on the cover picture.
In early December they played a Two-Man-Show beside deadman. December 28 they performed on the Beauti-fool's Fest '03. The event, organized by the music magazine Fool's Mate, included Kra, lab., Gullet, Pink Halleluja, Gazette, deadman, -miyavi-, D'espairsRay, DAIGO STARDUST, Merry and MUCC in their line-up. On January 16, 2004 they produced their first One-Man-Show, recorded and afterwards released as the Tokyo Saipan JUDGMENT DAY 2004.1.16 SHIBUYA-AX LIVE DVD. The day of the DVD release (28.04.2004) created a foundation for the official Gazette fanclub. March 30, 2004 they released the MADARA, reaching to #2 on the Oricon Indie Charts. On August 25 they released the Heiseibanka concert DVD, previously recorded on the April 23.
In May they released their first MADARA, which contained the 6 PVs including the Making ofs..... of the MADARA mini-album. During September and October they set another tour together with fellow PS Company bands Kra and bis (bis later left PS Company in 2005 and joined FREE-WILL).
On October 13, 2004 they released their first full-length album Disorder, listed in the top 5 of the Oricon Daily Charts.
In early August of 2005, Gazette released the GAMA mini-album. The maxi-single Cassis was released later in the year.
Their second full album, NIL, was released on February 8, 2006, and included a special first-press edition and a regular-press edition. the GazettE's latest standing tour, Standing Live Tour 2006 [Nameless Liberty. Six Guns...] Tour Final, started in February of 2006.
the GazettE performed their first 2 live concerts out of Asia between July 28-30, 2006. Performing to around 800 people, the concerts were arranged in conjunction with German Anime & Manga Convention, AnimagiC, and took place at the Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Germany.
the GazettE's Decomposition Beauty Tour ran from November 28th to December 24th, 2006. The tour began in Sapporo, Japan and ended in Osaka, Japan. They have also released three new singles, REGRET, Filth in the beauty and Hyena.
Their third full-length, Stacked Rubbish, was released on July 4th, to be followed by a promotional tour from July 15th to September 9th. A song from Stacked Rubbish and Hyena, Chizuru, is to be included on the soundtrack for the film Apartment.
By 2006 they changed their name to The GazettE, released Nil, their second full length album, and started yet another tour. At the beginning of the tour they performed for the first time out of Asia, the performance was in conjunction with German Anime and Manga, and AnimagiC. The GazettE released their third full length album, Stacked Rubbish in 2007, it will be followed by a promotional tour, which started on July 15th 2008.
The GazettE won several awards for the Jrock Choice Awards including: Best Album: Stacked Rubbish, Best Song: Burial Applicant, Best Artist, Best B-Side or Album Track: Chizuru, Craziest English Title: Art Drawn By Vomit, and more. Their new single, Guren, is on sale starting Feb 13th 2008.