Skin (Japanese band)
Encyclopedia
Skin is a music project founded by several Japanese rock
musicians in 2007. They are Yoshiki, Gackt
, Sugizo
and Miyavi
, all being important to the visual kei
movement or closely related to it, but everyone being from a different generation.
Its debut performance was on June 29, 2007, in Long Beach, California
, considered as the "Japanese rock concert of the century". Although they had announced more activities, such as a live tour and releasing a record, all activities were suddenly stopped. So the future of the project still remains unclear.
to his Los Angeles mansion, and later they decided to produce some music together. But due to Gackt's then rising solo career and other aspirations, the project was postponed indefinitely.
The project was publicly announced in July 2006 at an Otakon
conference where Yoshiki as a guest said, he would be starting a band with Gackt. He announced how the group would be composed of five members, and they're going to produce a recording with a live tour in 2007. In December of the same year, it was announced that Sugizo
would be the third member and the first guitarist of the group. And then at the first "JRock Revolution Festival" on May 25, 2007, organized by Yoshiki, he officially announced that Miyavi
would be the fourth member and second guitarist, and that Skin would be having its debut performance on June 29, 2007 at the anime expo
in Long Beach
. Yoshiki confirmed that the group was planning to release an album and that rough recordings of seven or eight songs were made in March 2007. With the well known members the band is considered a supergroup
, causing their concert to be called the "Japanese rock concert of the century". Both Gackt
and Yoshiki said that they want to be the first Asian band to conquer the world charts, beginning with America. Leading a rock revolution and starting a new era of rock and roll, by opening the market for Japanese in the Western music industry.
On Thursday night of June 28, Skin performed for the first time, supported on bass by Ju-ken
, at the time a member of Gackt
's live band. The concert began almost two and a half hours late, for unknown reasons. They performed four songs: "Gei-Sha", "Killing you Softly", "Beneath the Skin", and "Violets", most lyrics were in English. During the performance of "Violets", Gackt
and Yoshiki both played piano, Sugizo
was on violin and Miyavi
played the traditional Japanese shamisen. At the end, Gackt announced that they would meet again.
In a 2008 interview, guitarist Sugizo
was asked about the project. He had said all members wish to continue with the project, but are all too busy to get together at the same time and place, and added maybe next year. But nothing happened the following year, and in another interview he stated don't know what will happen from now on.
During a press conference in June 2010, Miyavi
said he was honored being included in the group, and revealed that he would like to become active with Skin in the near future. In a 2010 interview, Yoshiki said as he is working with X Japan
and his solo project Violet UK, it will be after them. Also, Toshi in a semi-joking context said that he would like to be part of the project since he really appreciates the group’s music, adding, perhaps as a percussionist or trumpeter.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musicians in 2007. They are Yoshiki, Gackt
Gackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
, Sugizo
Sugizo
, born , is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Referred to by his stage name Sugizo, he is best known as lead guitarist of the rock band Luna Sea, who were popular in the 1990s. He started his solo career in 1997 and has since collaborated with many artists...
and Miyavi
Miyavi
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese visual kei musician. His work as guitarist for Dué le Quartz and his successful solo career have established him as an accomplished musician in the Japanese music scene.- Early life :...
, all being important to the 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...
movement or closely related to it, but everyone being from a different generation.
Its debut performance was on June 29, 2007, in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, considered as the "Japanese rock concert of the century". Although they had announced more activities, such as a live tour and releasing a record, all activities were suddenly stopped. So the future of the project still remains unclear.
Beginning and Announcement
The origin of the project dates back to when Yoshiki invited GacktGackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
to his Los Angeles mansion, and later they decided to produce some music together. But due to Gackt's then rising solo career and other aspirations, the project was postponed indefinitely.
The project was publicly announced in July 2006 at an Otakon
Otakon
Otakon is a fan convention in the United States focusing on East Asian popular culture and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku...
conference where Yoshiki as a guest said, he would be starting a band with Gackt. He announced how the group would be composed of five members, and they're going to produce a recording with a live tour in 2007. In December of the same year, it was announced that Sugizo
Sugizo
, born , is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Referred to by his stage name Sugizo, he is best known as lead guitarist of the rock band Luna Sea, who were popular in the 1990s. He started his solo career in 1997 and has since collaborated with many artists...
would be the third member and the first guitarist of the group. And then at the first "JRock Revolution Festival" on May 25, 2007, organized by Yoshiki, he officially announced that Miyavi
Miyavi
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese visual kei musician. His work as guitarist for Dué le Quartz and his successful solo career have established him as an accomplished musician in the Japanese music scene.- Early life :...
would be the fourth member and second guitarist, and that Skin would be having its debut performance on June 29, 2007 at the anime expo
Anime Expo
Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. Yoshiki confirmed that the group was planning to release an album and that rough recordings of seven or eight songs were made in March 2007. With the well known members the band is considered a supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
, causing their concert to be called the "Japanese rock concert of the century". Both Gackt
Gackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
and Yoshiki said that they want to be the first Asian band to conquer the world charts, beginning with America. Leading a rock revolution and starting a new era of rock and roll, by opening the market for Japanese in the Western music industry.
Debut Concert
On June 12, premiere Skin concert tickets started to be released via internet. However, every site's, that sold tickets for the anime expo or the premium concert, servers crashed due to the massive interest, and in a few hours ticket reservations were temporary stopped.On Thursday night of June 28, Skin performed for the first time, supported on bass by Ju-ken
Ju-ken
Ju-ken is a Japanese session bassist. He is a member of GacktJob, The Wanderers and Anna Tsuchiya. He is one of the most in-demand bassists in Japan.- Career :...
, at the time a member of Gackt
Gackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
's live band. The concert began almost two and a half hours late, for unknown reasons. They performed four songs: "Gei-Sha", "Killing you Softly", "Beneath the Skin", and "Violets", most lyrics were in English. During the performance of "Violets", Gackt
Gackt
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
and Yoshiki both played piano, Sugizo
Sugizo
, born , is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Referred to by his stage name Sugizo, he is best known as lead guitarist of the rock band Luna Sea, who were popular in the 1990s. He started his solo career in 1997 and has since collaborated with many artists...
was on violin and Miyavi
Miyavi
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese visual kei musician. His work as guitarist for Dué le Quartz and his successful solo career have established him as an accomplished musician in the Japanese music scene.- Early life :...
played the traditional Japanese shamisen. At the end, Gackt announced that they would meet again.
2007–current
Since their debut performance, Skin has been inactive, neither an album release date nor a full-time bass player has been announced, all activity was suddenly stopped without any information. So the future of the project still remains unclear.In a 2008 interview, guitarist Sugizo
Sugizo
, born , is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Referred to by his stage name Sugizo, he is best known as lead guitarist of the rock band Luna Sea, who were popular in the 1990s. He started his solo career in 1997 and has since collaborated with many artists...
was asked about the project. He had said all members wish to continue with the project, but are all too busy to get together at the same time and place, and added maybe next year. But nothing happened the following year, and in another interview he stated don't know what will happen from now on.
During a press conference in June 2010, Miyavi
Miyavi
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese visual kei musician. His work as guitarist for Dué le Quartz and his successful solo career have established him as an accomplished musician in the Japanese music scene.- Early life :...
said he was honored being included in the group, and revealed that he would like to become active with Skin in the near future. In a 2010 interview, Yoshiki said as he is working with X Japan
X Japan
is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
and his solo project Violet UK, it will be after them. Also, Toshi in a semi-joking context said that he would like to be part of the project since he really appreciates the group’s music, adding, perhaps as a percussionist or trumpeter.
Members
- GacktGacktis a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, voice actor and author. Usually referred to by his mononymous stage name, he is known for his career as a solo artist and as the former vocalist for the defunct visual kei rock band Malice Mizer....
– vocalsSingingSinging 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...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - SugizoSugizo, born , is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Referred to by his stage name Sugizo, he is best known as lead guitarist of the rock band Luna Sea, who were popular in the 1990s. He started his solo career in 1997 and has since collaborated with many artists...
– guitarGuitarThe 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...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello.... - MiyaviMiyavi, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese visual kei musician. His work as guitarist for Dué le Quartz and his successful solo career have established him as an accomplished musician in the Japanese music scene.- Early life :...
– guitarGuitarThe 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...
, shamisenShamisenThe , also called is a three-stringed, Japanese musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi. The Japanese pronunciation is usually "shamisen" but sometimes "jamisen" when used as a suffix . -Construction:The shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument... - Yoshiki – drumsDrum kitA 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 ....
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...