Lareine was a Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese visual kei

Visual Kei

is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...

 rock band formed in 1994. The bands name is reported to have come from the French Queen Marie Antoinette. In 1999 the group signed to Sony

Sony Music Entertainment Japan

is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....

, later in 2000 when all other members left, Kamijo created Applause Records. After a number of line-up changes and the release of several albums, EP

Extended play

An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...

s and singles, the group disbanded in 2007.

Laleine (1994–1996)

Lareine was initially formed in November 1994 under the name Laleine (typeset as LALEINE), by vocalist Kamijo (then known as Shoki) and guitarist Mayu (then known as Kaito), who met while roadies for Malice Mizer

Malice Mizer

Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...

. They were joined by Sakureu and Hirono on guitar and Kyouka on drums, later Emiru was recruited on bass. But before their first performance in March 1995 Mayu left, Sakureu left a short while later and Mayu returned to replace him. In October however Kyouka and Hirono both left. They recruited Machi, also a former Malice Mizer roadie, on drums. On March 26, 1996 they held their first anniversary live and changed their name to Lareine.

Lareine (1996–2000)

In August 1996 Akira joined as second guitarist. In December they released their first EP, Blue Romance. In August 1997 Akira left the group. In January 1999 Lareine signed with Sony Music Entertainment Japan

Sony Music Entertainment Japan

is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....

 and in February 2000 released their second album, Fierte no Umi to Tomo ni Kiyu ~The Last of Romance~. However soon after Emiru announced that he was leaving the group, and Mayu and Machi decided to leave as well. So in August 2000 Lareine held their last concert for fan club members only.

Kamijo's Lareine (2000–2002)

Although all other member's left, Kamijo decided to continue Lareine alone and created his own record label, Applause Records. This "solo project" continued until 2001 when he ceased Lareine activity and formed New Sodmy with Mayu. But New Sodmy only lasted a year up to 2002 and so Lareine resumed activity.

Reunited (2003–2007)

On March 26, 2003 Emiru announced he was rejoining Lareine, as was new drummer Kazumi. On May 17, at a concert, Mayu also rejoined the group. On September 5, 2004 the album Never Cage was released.

On March 1, 2006 Kazumi left the band and quit the music business. They recruited their roadie, Kazami, as support drummer and continued to perform. But Mayu started to blow off gigs and lose touch with the rest of the group, so in October Lareine announced they would disband in February 2007. Their last official performance was on October 31, 2006 with Hizaki

Hizaki

Hizaki is a Japanese visual kei musician, best known as guitarist for the symphonic metal band Versailles. Before forming Versailles he was in several independent bands and had a solo career.- Biography :...

 filling in on guitar. Vocalist Kamijo, has since formed Versailles

Versailles (Japanese band)

Versailles is a Japanese visual kei metal band formed in 2007. Their key characteristics are their rococo-esque costumes, dueling guitars and heavy but melodic arrangements....

, with Hizaki. Emiru is now called Run and is the bassist for Anubis.

Members

• Kamijo/Shoki – vocals
  Singing
  Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
  
   1994–2007 (New Sodmy, Versailles
  Versailles (Japanese band)
  Versailles is a Japanese visual kei metal band formed in 2007. Their key characteristics are their rococo-esque costumes, dueling guitars and heavy but melodic arrangements....
  
  )
• Emiru – bass
  Bass guitar
  The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
  
   1995–2000, 2003–2007 (Ribbon, Anubis)

Former members

• Mayu/Kaito – guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
   1994–1995, 1995–2000, 2003–2006 (New Sodmy)
• Kazumi – drums
  Drum kit
  A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
  
  2003–2006 (Ribbon)
• Machi – drums 1995–2000 (Chanton L'amour)
• Akira – guitar 1996–1997 (D+L)
• Hirono – guitar 1994–1995
• Kyouka – drums 1994–1995 (Eliphas Levi, Cupid)
• Sakureu – guitar 1994–1995

Albums

• Blue Romance: Yasashii Hanatachi no Kyousou
• Fierte no Umi to Tomo ni Kiyu: The Last of Romance Oricon Style Weekly Albums Chart Top Position: 20
• 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)

EPs

• Blue Romance (December 24, 1996)
• Lillie Charlotte (October 1, 1998) Oricon Style Weekly Albums Chart Top Position: 70
• Etude (December 25, 2002)
• Majesty (September 30, 2003)
• Knight (November 28, 2003)
• Etude: Platinum White (December 25, 2003)
• Princess (March 24, 2004)
• Winter Romantic (March 18, 2006)

Singles

• "Saikai no Hana" (再会の花, March 26, 1996)
• "Romancia" (April 26, 1997)
• "Fleur" (March 14, 1998)
• "Metamorphose" (December 18, 1998) Oricon Style Weekly Singles Chart Top Position: 50
• "Fiancailles" (May 26, 1999) Oricon Style Weekly Singles Chart Top Position: 21
• "Billet (Osanaki Natsu no Binsen)" Oricon Style Weekly Singles Chart Top Position: 30
• "Fuyu Tokyo" (冬東京, December 15, 1999) Oricon Style Weekly Singles Chart Top Position: 29
• "Bara wa Utsukushiku Chiru/Ano Hito no Aishita Hito Nara" (薔薇は美しく散る/あの人の愛した人なら, February 9, 2000) Oricon Style Weekly Singles Chart Top Position: 40
• "Grand Pain" (October 12, 2000) Oricon Style Weekly Singles Chart Top Position: 64
• "Chou no Hana/Lesson" (蝶の花/レッスン, November 27, 2002)
• "Saikai no Hana" (re-release, March 26, 2003)
• "Scarlet Majesty" (July 30, 2003)
• "With Present Letos" (November 14, 2003)
• "Trailer" (July 19, 2004)
• "Doukeshi no Bukyoku" (道化師の舞曲, November 27, 2005)
• "Setsurenka" (雪恋詩, November 27, 2005)
• "Cinderella Fantasy" (November 27, 2005)
• "Sakura" (さくら, March 18, 2006)
• "Drama" (March 18, 2006)
• "Last Song" (May 9, 2007)

Demo tapes

• "Laliene-ru Cheri" (March 29, 1995)
• "Laliene" (July 27, 1995, tour distributed)
• "Tsukiyo no Kageko"
• "Mist" (April 28, 1997)

Videos

• Chantons L'amour: Lillie Kara no Tegami
• Fierte no Umi to Tomo ni Kiyu: Film Tracks"'