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.
 
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).
 

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.
 

Breaking the law
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...
 

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.... ^^

Note
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