The History of Glay - You've come a long way!
In
the summer of '88, Takuro and Teru decided to form a band and called
it Glay. Reason was Takuro who was then in a band called Guest-apo
wanted to do different kinds of music. Playing only punk music was
not what Takuro intended to do. Music should have many styles and
being able to play both the ballads and hard rock was his idea so
he decide to name his new band Glay[Gray], symbolising the white(ballads)
and black(heavy rock) sides of music.
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But
the band couldn't be call a band if he was the only member (he could
play guitars but what about the bass, drum and vocals?) So he roped
in his classmate, Teru to help him with the drums and the bassist
position was left to a member from his former band.
As they were practising their music together, Takuro who wrote most
of the songs find it comfortable to write poppish music. And then
when the members finished practising, they realised that they forgot
the vocals, but at that time, talented vocals were hard to find.
By accident, Teru passed Takuro a demo one day which made Takuro
realised that he could well be the vocalist! And swish, Teru slide
into the vocal role and someone else was called in to play the drums.
They often play at the school compounds.
Ok
now there is Takuro and Teru, how did Hisashi come into view?
Hisashi was in the same school but an entirely different league.
He was playing the guitar in the band called Ari. His influences
were different from those of Takuro and Teru. But somehow, Takuro
was attracted to this guy. Takuro approached Hisashi hoping that
he could join Glay. But due to the different influences, they
don't go along very well. But they accept these differences and
in 1990, Hisashi joined them as the third member of Glay.
The
three of them started playing in live houses, with another band
Pierrot (not that same Pierrot you know of).
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The road
to Tokyo... |
As
they were very successful in their lives shows, they decided to
go to Tokyo once they finish High school, all 3(Takuro, Teru,
Hisashi) of them agreed with the idea but the other 2 members
didn't as they feel safer in their hometown. Though it was a rough
and difficult journey, they still bear the consequences, many
live houses refused to host them as those live houses were only
interested in visual rock, they were considered too poppish for
their clubs. Life was a hazard during those times and they ran
out of money and have to cope with unstable band members. Takuro
found a job in a construction company and worked part time at
a video shop during the evenings and weekend. Teru also found
work in a construction company. Hisashi worked in a game center
and a convenience store.
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Breaking
the law |
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Tokyo
was different from their hometown. These guys didn't know that if
they aren't joining any agency, they'll be barred from the clubs
and etc. So they joined one and started playing in the clubhouses.
And from little events came the time when they finally had a chance
to appear in a bigger venue. They invited their home band, Pierrot
to join them for their first 'big' live at Shinjuku Loft. |
Jiro
from the band Pierrot
Little did Jiro knew that he was actually plotted by Takuro to join
Glay as the latter knew that Jiro was very popular with the audiences.
And since they lack a full time bassist, he would be the next perfect
member. So Takuro invited him to join them but was rejected several
times. Jiro didn't intend to do visual rock. But he was convinced
by Takuro to do one-live show in the band. Jiro was a very popular
person and he helped Glay to move into bigger live houses. He also
planned a strategy for Glay. During this time, they were winning
over more fans.
Then
finally in 1991, upon the joining of Jiro, Glay was reformed with
4 members. They started to produce demo tapes and performed more
lives. During one of the lives, they were scouted by who in the
world but Yoshiki who wishes to produce albums for them as he
was impressed by their lives and music. At first they hesitated,
fearing that they have to be hit badly before they could produce
cds, but Yoshiki replied that those were just untrue rumours.
So happily they cut their first single Rain in 1994! ^^
Their
cd was produced under Extasy Records, the same company which produced
X-Japan's cds. (At this time, X-Japan was already popular and
Yoshiki had been cleared of washing dishes to support daily life
=p so he started the label with another member, Hide, I think)
They were being promoted frantically and the future of a florishing
Glay begins from here...
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The
future Diary |
After
the Rain single, Glay's popularity had risen very high in the indies
scene. Their concerts were sold out in a matter of hours. Maybe
Yoshiki's participation in Rain played a very big part in getting
them recognised to the whole of Japan. Their nation-wide tour was
met with success. And somewhere along the way they also performed
shared lives with Luna Sea etc. (For your info, Teru found a good
drinking pal in Sugizo ^-~)
So their story goes on, producing more singles, more albums, more
lives with more successes.... ^^ |
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Copyright 1999 JRoCk AreNA by * snoopy *
(snoopy@jrockarena.com) | All Rights Reserved
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