Artist News
- Potentially an April Fool on 01/04/2012 but happily not, AN CAFE will resume actitives this summer with a new release and a 2-day performance at Yoyogi National Stadium in September. This band was one of my first introductions to Japanese music, so I’m very happy they’re back together.
- Front man of BLOOD Hayato will be leaving the band for new opportunities.
- On 08/04/2012, the duo CHEMISTRY disbanded to focus on solo activities.
- Record label Dear Dolce will close on 05/06/2012, affecting the future of many bands.
- Golden Bomber members have been incorporated into the Square Enix online game TorisetsuIXA. By completing quests players can view videos from the band as rewards.
- Ikimonogakari will be arranging the theme song for NHK’s broadcasting of the London Olympics.
- NightingeiL will disband after their final performance at Harajuku ASTRO HALL on 03/06/2012.
- On 07/04/2012 and 08/04/2012 Perfume had a promotional music box at Shibuya 109 playing their new single Spring of Life. The 4 metre box had 40 earphone plugs to listen to the song, with 3 of those having special messages from the band members.
- After previously being hospitalised, Plastic Tree’s drummer Sato Kenken has been discharged and will perform with the band at Nippon Budokan on 14/04/2012.
- After the rumor shared here on Neo Kei on 04/03/2012, it has been confirmed that Raphael will be reuniting. They will host 2 lives on 31/10/2012 and 01/11/2012 to commemorate the death of their guitarist Kazuki.
- X-JAPAN have been nominated in the “Best International Artist” catergory at GOLDEN GODS AWARD 2012, Americas biggest award for hard rock. This is the first time that a Japanese act has been nominated in this catergory.
- There are a number of releases due from YUKI on 02/05/2012. First there’s double-A single Play Ball / Sakamichi no melody, the live DVD YUKI tour “MEGAPHONIC” 2011 featuring her Yokohama Arena performance from November, and the PV collection YUKI Video 3.
Music News
- Even though announced on 01/04/2012, A (エース) will have their album Tales For The Abyss available on 06/06/2012.
- AA= will be releasing his third album, creatively titled #3 will be released and available for download on 10/04/2012 through GANSHIN.
- The only other multiple A act I know, AAA will release their yet-to-be-titled single on 09/05/2012.
- Applicat Spectra made their major debut with their album Spectacle Orchestra on 04/04/2012.
- Counteraction -V-Rock covered Visual Anime songs Compilation- is visual kei artists covering anime themes. Artists either covered or recorded include GACKT, X JAPAN, Golden Bomber, SID, DaizyStripper and Nightmare. Great stuff.
- Visual kei band D will release a new single titled Dying message on May 30th.
- The new single from Dolly will be Niji Iro no Canaria , out on 25/04/2012.
- EAT YOU ALIVE will release their new single Lily on 25/04/2012.
- Singer-songwriter Fukuhara Miho will be collaborating with Miura Daichi (I love his track ‘The Answer’) on the single Dream On on 16/05/2012.
- GLAY will release their single Bible, with B-side Ano hi no shounen and chairty song Thank you for your love on 23/05/2012.
- Kaya has a single due on 20/06/2012 called SALOME, based on the Oscar Wilde play of the same name.
- Kyary PamyuPamyu will have her first album PamyuPamyu Revolution, out on 23/05/2012. She will also make her acting debut as herself on the TV drama Kazoku no Uta.
- Leda (ex-DELUHI guitarist) has announced plans for his debut solo album due in the autumn, although no title yet.
- mihimaru GT will release their latest best-of album THE BEST of mihimaru GT 2 on 30/05/2012.
- As part of Mr.Children‘s 20th anniversary, they will release 2 best-of albums on 10/05/2012, entitled Mr. Children2001‐2005 [micro] and Mr. Children2005‐2010 [macro]. Before then, they’ll release a triple A-side single of Inori -Namida no Kinou- / End of the day / pieces on 18/04/2012.
- Sadie have their new mini-album Red Line is available now (released on 04/04/2012).
- Tokami will release best-of album on 06/06/2012, featuring songs re-recorded and re-mastered versions of songs released pre Starwave Records and tracks only available from their lives.
Concert News
- As part of their 25th anniversary, BUCK-TICK will be holding their own open-air festival BUCK-TICK FEST 2012 ON PARADE in September.
- Whilst DIR EN GREY are on hiatus due to injury, they’ll be releasing 2 documentaries in June/July, called TOUR2011 AGE QUOD AGIS Vol.1 (Europe&Japan) and TOUR2011 AGE QUOD AGIS Vol.2 (US&Japan).
- Already making their Christmas plans, Princess Princess will be hosting lives at the end of the year, including 2 days at Tokyo Dome on 23/12/2012 and 24/12/2012.
- MISIA performed on 25/03/2012 as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington. http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/04/moriyama-naotaro-sings-sakura-at-ueno-park-surrounded-by-cherry-blossoms/
- Yesterday (06/04/2012) MIYAVI was the opening act for Lenny Kravitz during his BLACK AND WHITE JAPAN TOUR 2012.
- On 28/03/2012 SCANDAL hosted SCANDAL JAPAN TITLE MATCH LIVE 2012 -SCANDAL vs BUDOKAN-, their first performance at Nippon Budokan.
Neo Kei 