Merry (band): Difference between revisions

| name = MERRY

| image = Merry 2007.jpg

| label = Gekiyaku, Fullface, FRocks, [[Victor Entertainment]], [[Free-Will#Sub-divisions|Firewall Div.]]/[[Sony Music Entertainment Japan|SMEJ]]

| website = [http://merryweb.jp/ Official site]

 

 

==History==

 

===2000~2004===

 

Regular "serious" activities only began in 2002. Following more live shows, the band created their own [[independent record labels|independent label]] Gekiyaku records and released their first [[maxi-single]] titled "Haikarasan ga tooru" in February. There were three versions of this single – gold, silver and bronze – each one limited to 1000 copies. Gold and bronze versions were only available through [[mail order]] through the rock magazine ''Fool's Mate'', while the silver version was available in stores. All were sold out at [[pre-order]]. In March, the band had their first one-man live at Meguro Rockmaykan. A second press of ''Haikarasan ga tooru'', which included a new song "Tokyo Telephone", was then later released in May.

In mid to late 2002, a pair of maxi-singles were released, "Koseiha Blend ~Tasogare-hen~" and "Koseiha Blend ~Junjou Jounetsu-hen~", containing three new tracks each and packaged in [[Gramophone record|LP]]-sized sleeves illustrated by infamous [[EroGuro]] comic artist [[Suehiro Maruo]]. Both were limited to 3000 copies and were once again sold out at pre-order. The band also contributed to two omnibus compilations. These releases were accompanied by numerous live events.

 

 

 

===2005~2008===

March 2005 saw the release of "Sakashima End Roll ~The Phantom of the Gallery~", a brand new maxi-single and DVD on reverse sides of single disc – it was to be one of Japan's first titles on the new [[DualDisc]] formAt. First press was sold out at pre-order, and the release itself quickly made it to the 2nd spot on the [[Oricon]] indies chart.

 

 

The transition to a major label prompted the release of a [[best-of]] album – ''Koseiha Blend Classic ~Oldies Tracks~'' – which contained re-recorded and remastered tracks off the older releases, together with two new songs; first press came with a new PV of "Tick-tock" and second press with the rare "Violet Harenchi" video previously released only at a live show. ''Fool's Mate'' published a pair of history books documenting the band's appearances in the magazine, coupled with long interviews and a special CD and DVD. From July to August, Merry set out on their "Last Indies Tour", which finally culminated at the Hibiya outdoors music hall on 10 September – their first major one-man show.

 

On 26 May, Merry performed at the ''J-Rock Revolution Festival'' held in Los Angeles, America, alongside artists such as [[Mucc]], [[Girugamesh]] and [[D'espairsRay]]. Another tour went through the late summer of 2007.

 

===2009~Present===

MERRY released the single "Identity" on 7 November 2009. The release marked the band's return to an independent label.

 

 

 

| title = '90s Visual Kei Cover Album

| work=jame-world.com

On 24 December 2014, MERRY released its new studio-album titled "NOnsenSe MARkeT". For the first time in the band's history, frontman Gara wrote all the lyrics before writing the music, as he confessed in an [http://www.verdammnis.com/interviews.php?id=115 interview for VerdamMnis Magazine]. As the name of the album suggests, the [http://mandah.media/merry/ concept of the album]<ref>{{Cite web|title = MERRY|url = http://mandah.media/merry/|website = mandah.media|accessdate = 2015-11-18|language = fr-FR}}</ref> is based on the criticism of Japan and more generally modern societies. Singer Gara discusses Japan's politics and societal issues with French reporter Mandah Frenot in an [http://www.verdammnis.com/interviews.php?id=115 in-depth interview for VerdamMnis Magazine].

 

 

 

 

 

On 5 May, the band performed at the Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo. During the encore, Tetsu performed without a neck brace or stand. Since this, Tetsu has begun to occasionally perform encores in the same way.

They released a new studio album titled "M-ology" on 6 September. They also covered "[[Basilisk (D'erlanger album)|So...]]" by [[D'erlanger]] for the ''D'erlanger Tribute Album ~Stairway to Heaven~''.<ref>{{cite web| title = D'ERLANGER Tribute Album| url = http://www.jame-world.com/us/news-126079-d-erlanger-tribute-album.html| work = jame-world.com| accessdate = 2017-10-01}}</ref>

 

 

==Members==

**Ex-Visage (as Makoto); Ex-[[Dir en grey]] roadie; Ex-After effect (as Makoto); Born 6 July in Gunma prefecture

*{{nihongo|Yuu|結生|}} – guitar

*{{nihongo|Tetsu|テツ|}} – bass

*{{nihongo|Nero|ネロ|}} – drums

**Ex-Smoky Flavor (as Kuni); Ex-After effect (as Kuni); Born 11 February in Saitama prefecture

 

==Musical style==

 

Like many others, the members themselves were influenced by Japanese pioneer rock bands of the 80s and early 90s such as [[Buck-Tick]], [[D'erlanger]], [[Luna Sea]], [[Kuroyume]], [[The Blue Hearts]] and [[Boøwy]]. The main songwriters are the two guitarists Yuu and Kenichi, the former writing majority of the slower, groovier songs and the latter composing faster, catchier melodies. Not afraid to experiment with their musical ability, Merry delivers a full spectrum of brand new tunes with the release of every anticipated album.

*25 February 2009 – ''[[Under-World]]''

*27 July 2011 – ''[[Beautiful Freaks]]''

 

===EPs===

*16 April 2008 – Tozasareta rakuen

*27 August 2008 – Gekisei

*4 August 2010 – The Cry Against... / Monochrome

*6 October 2010 – Crisis Moment

*10 August 2013 – Mado -replay-

*6 November 2013 – Zero

 

===Compilations===

*22 April 2009 – VIC -VIDEO ID COLLECTION-

*26 August 2009 – TOUR09 under-world [GI・GO] (Regular/CORE Limited Edition)

 

===MDs===

 

==External links==

 

{{Authority control}}