- Közi
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Közi Also known as Közi Born May 29, 1972
NiigataOrigin Tokyo, Japan Genres Synthpop, electronic rock, EBM, ambient, gothic rock, industrial rock, neoclassical dark wave, progressive rock Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter Instruments Vocals, guitar, synthesizer, keyboard Years active 1980s–present Associated acts XA-VAT, My Horror Revue, Dalle, Eve of Destiny, Malice Mizer, Matenrou, Beyond the Reinsight, Girl Website közi-info.com Notable instruments ESP Akauzukun, ESP Shirouzuko, ESP Bizauzu Közi is a Japanese musician who plays guitar, piano, keyboard and synthesizer. Közi is best known as guitarist for the visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. After the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, he joined the industrial rock act Eve of Destiny and also started a solo career. As of 2010, Közi is in the bands Dalle, My Horror Revue and XA-VAT (pronounced "Zabatto"), while still working on his solo work.
During his time in Malice Mizer, Közi often assumed the role of a pierrot doll, dressing in clown-like costumes with large ruffs, always in shades of red, his favourite colour. In music videos and on-stage he would often make movements reminiscent of a marionette (string puppet). Közi has continued this visual style to some extent, but his contemporary stage costumes are more gothic. His work on the Izayoi no Tsuki project was reminiscent of carnival music, and artwork for his projects usually follow a dramatic, theatrical theme. Very few details about his private life are known.
Contents
Biography
Közi's career began at the end of the 1980s in Girl and Beyond The Reinsight. Information about this band is very scarce. In 1991 he joined Matenrou with future Malice Mizer member Mana and released two demo tapes. Mana and Közi left Matenrou after deciding they both had similar ideas about creating music. They formed Malice Mizer in 1992. After Malice Mizer disbanded in 2001, Közi joined Haruhiko Ash (from The Zolge) and created Eve of Destiny, an industrial rock band that toured outside of Japan several times.
In 2002, Közi collaborated with Japanese author Minako, to provided the soundtrack, Izayoi no Tsuki (十六夜の月), for her book of the same name. He then performed a special singing event in Japan, which cemented the fact that he was following a solo career. Közi's first solo release was the two-disc, double-single package, "Khaos/Kinema", released on November 1, 2003. On March 11, 2004, he released his debut album, Catharsis. Közi's second single, "Memento", was released on December 1, 2004. The song is dedicated to the late Malice Mizer drummer, Kami and was written by Malice Mizer's bassist, Yu~ki. On May 17, 2006, Közi released his second album, Loki N' Roll.
On September 22, 2008, Közi joined the band Dalle, which consists of Satoshi on vocals, Atsushi on bass, Fuchi on drums and of course Közi on guitar. The band played its first live on October 18 at Shinjuku Marz during the "Tokyo Dark Castle ~ Halloween Special" event, which also featured Auto-Mod, Aural Vampire, 13th Moon and Seileen, project of DJ SiSeN and Selia.
On December 27, 2008, Közi played on stage with, former Malice Mizer member Mana's solo project, Moi dix Mois for a session gig at their "Dis Inferno Vol.VI ~Last Year Party~" event.
In 2009 he went on a short coupling tour with Moi dix Mois called "Deep Sanctuary", on July 17 in Osaka and the 19th in Tokyo.
A year later in July 2010, Közi went on another tour with Moi dix Mois, titled "Deep Sanctuary II". This tour had six shows, but the gig at Akasaka BLITZ on the 17th was special, as former Malice Mizer bassist Yu~ki, was a special guest.[1] This was the first time in 9 years that the 3 remaining original members played together. They played "Saikai no Chi to Bara" and "Beast of Blood".
Around June 2010, Közi started to perform with a band called My Horror Revue.
Közi, also in 2010, formed the band XA-VAT, with Shuji Ishii (Cali≠gari, Goatbed) on vocals, Takao Koma (Goatbed) on drums, Sadie Pink Galaxy (Speecies) on rhythm guitar and Közi on lead guitar. They held their first performance on November 16, 2010 and released their first self titled single on December 2.[2] They released their debut album Tsuya°C on March 26, 2011 in two limited editions, one with a live DVD, the other with a remix CD, and a regular edition.[3]
Közi performed in Paris, France at Porte de Versailles on April 9 and 10, with guest Miyu from Royal Cabaret.[4]
Discography
Albums
- Izayoi no Tsuki (December 13, 2002, soundtrack)
- Catharsis (カタルシス, March 11, 2004)
- Loki N' Roll (May 17, 2006)
Singles
- "Khaos/Kinema" (November 1, 2003)
- "Memento" (December 1, 2004)
DVD
- Live Collage 2004~2006 (May 29, 2007)
With Malice Mizer
Main article: Malice Mizer discographyWith Eve of Destiny
With XA-VAT
- "XA-VAT" (December 2, 2010)
- Endo (艶°C, March 16, 2011)
References
- ^ "Moi dix Mois tour with Közi and Yu~ki". jame-world.com. http://www.jame-world.com/us/news-59635-moi-dix-mois-album-and-coupling-tour-with-special-guests.html. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ^ "XA-VAT Information". jame-world.com. http://www.jame-world.com/us/news-68636-kozi-s-new-band-xa-vat.html. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ "Details on new XA-VAT’s full album!". shattered-tranquility.net. http://shattered-tranquility.net/index.php/03/05/details-on-new-xa-vats-full-album/. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
- ^ "Paris performance". jame-world.com. http://www.jame-world.com/us/news-73619-kozi-to-perform-in-paris.html. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
External links
Albums and EPs Related articles Categories:- Visual kei musicians
- Malice Mizer members
- Japanese singer-songwriters
- Japanese rock guitarists
- Japanese electronic musicians
- 1972 births
- Living people
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