{ ~ Dead - Orchestra ~ } . NET - a Versailles fansite

biography ~ 2007

PRELUDE...

LAREINE, one of the few first generation visual kei bands active at that time, announced that they would disband in February 2007. Vocalist KAMIJO and bassist Emiru were the only members left in the band, and recruited former SULFURIC ACID guitarist HIZAKI for their last concert on Halloween 2006.

At the same time KAMIJO was producing HIZAKI's first solo album "Dignity of Crest" , and the two of them eventually decided to form a new band together.
The first member to be added to the lineup was bassist Jasmine You, who was already playing as a support member for HIZAKI's solo project. Shortly after that drummer YUKI (ex-Sugar Trip) was asked to join the band after being recommended by the owners of Meguro Rokumeikan (a well-known live house in the indies visual kei scene).

The band concept told by KAMIJO's lyrics is "the story of the descendants of the rose". Sound-wise, he and HIZAKI wanted the band to convey the "extremes of aesthetics" through the "youshikibi sound".
"Youshikibi Saundo 様式美サウンド" is a term often used in Japan to define melodic metal influenced by classical music and Middle Age Europe-alike aesthetics. Famous musicians and bands often associated to the youshikibi sound are Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Rainbow, Dio, Symphony X and Statovarius.

According to some interviews, the name Versailles was chosen by HIZAKI. He always wanted to call one of his bands that way, but it seems that his bandmates never liked the idea. This time "Versailles" was considered the perfect choice to sum up the band sound and aesthetics.

KAMIJO, HIZAKI and Jasmine You played together with the solo artists Juka and Kaya at the first night of the theatrical rock show Node of scherzo, held at Takadanobaba AREA on March 14th 2007. At the end of the concert KAMIJO officially announced that he was going to form a new band with HIZAKI, but no details were given.

On March 30th KAMIJO announced the band name and lineup in a long series of posts on his personal blog. The debut concert was planned for June 24th at the LIQUID ROOM in Ebisu, Tokyo.

act i: the red carpet day

On May 2nd 2007, the official website was established and Sherow Artist Society uploaded a short preview clip introducing Versailles on Youtube. According to the clip, one more guitarist was added to the lineup: TERU. He was asked to join Versailles while he was still playing with HIZAKI grace project in late 2006, but decided to be just a support member until his main band 藍華柳～Aikaryu～ would disband in July 2007.

Due to the popularity of the Youtube videoclip, Versailles received several requests for interviews and concerts both in Japan and overseas. The band was interviewed for the first time by the crew of a German TV channel for a documentary, and in early June "Versailles Band" was the fifth most searched keyword on YAHOO! Japan.

Versailles debut took place at Meguro Rokumeikan on June 23th 2007 with a showcase limited to male fans and press. The promotional single The Revenant Choir was put on sale only at that concert.

The following day the band had its first live at Ebisu LIQUID ROOM, as the main act of an event titled "Chateau de Versailles~Descendant de Rose~". The event was commemorated by the exclusive sale of the The Revenant Choir DVD single.

On July 19th Versailles took part to a live event celebrating KAMIJO's birthday, and TERU finally joined the band as an official member.
As the only chance to buy the first single The Revenant Choir was the male-only showcase held in June, a special deluxe press of the CD was manufactured and put on sale only at the female-only concert that took place at HOLIDAY SHINJUKU on June 25th.

In July and August Versailles performed at several live events in the Tokyo area and also arranged a self-sponsored event titled "The Red Carpet Day" on August 31st. As suggested by name, the band members arrived at the live house riding a limousine and walked a red carpet among the fans who were waiting outside. During the concert KAMIJO signed a contract with the German label CLJ Records for the distribution of the band's future releases in Europe. According to the official biography, Versailles had received offers from four different European labels.
The event is considered as the end of the "prologue" of Versailles' activities.

act ii: aesthetic revolution

Versailles debut mini-album Lyrical Sympathy was released in Japan and Europe on October 31st 2007. The EP ranked #4 in the ORICON indies album chart on its first week of release, and also managed to enter the general chart at #76. The release was part of a campaign promoting the "aesthetic revolution" wanted by Versailles with the collaboration of Juka and Kaya.

This aesthetic revolution was also the theme of the "Nihon Tanbi Kakumei" event tour that took place in November with both Kaya and Juka. It was Versailles first national tour, and was commemorated with the release of a documentary DVD titled Urakizoku 裏貴族. This two DVD set was available for preorder only at the concerts of the Tanbi Kakumei tour and is now one of the rarest Versailles items.

→continues...

Contents by Loire. Layout by Lucifer.