Originally a visual kei band, the band dropped that style around 2005 with the release of their fifth full-length album, Withering to death., however as of recently they have reacquired their visual kei aesthetic. Their musical style is difficult to determine; throughout their releases, they have played styles ranging from pop rock to extreme metal. Today, their style can be considered generally a version of alternative metal and avant-garde metal.
The band has been signed to FIREWALL DIV., a subdivision of Free-Will under Sony Music, for their entire career so far. However, their fifth full-length album, Withering to death., was the band's first to see distribution outside of Japan. It was released in Europe by GAN-SHIN and the United States by Warcon Enterprises. They're currently signed to Okami Records for European distribution and The End for United States distribution.
DIR EN GREY, in its earliest form, began as the band of vocalist 京 and drummer Shinya - 廃人黒薔薇族 (Haijin Kurobarazoku, "Invalid Black Rose Family"). Members and associates of this band formed La:Sadie's, which eventually included four of the band's five current members. La:Sadie's disbanded in January 1997. All but the bassist came back together to form Dir en grey. They recruited Toshiya, a bassist from Nagano and previously in the band D†L, and officially formed Dir en grey in February 1997.
In 1998, the band gained major attention by becoming the first indies band to have a single place in the top ten on Japan's Oricon music charts. After making their major debut in early 1999, they played a sold-out performance at Osakajo Hall on December 18, 1999. This remains one of the band's most memorable solo performances to date.
In 2002, the band's THE JAPANESE FXXKER FAMILY tour brought the band their first international performances. The tour took them to several countries in Asia, including China and South Korea. In Shanghai, fans became so excited that authorities attempted to cancel a planned second concert. The band and their management resisted, and the concert was played as scheduled.
The year 2005 was a very significant year in the band's history. Dir en grey played their first non-Asian shows in the spring and summer of that year. TOUR05 It withers and withers was the one that brought the band from Japan to Europe. The band played shows in three European countries - Belgium, France, and Germany. Two of these performances were MTV's Rock im Park and Rock am Ring festivals. Dir en grey also played a solo live concert in Germany on May 28 which sold 3,500 standing-room tickets to Berlin's Columbia Hall in approximately 6 weeks (also rumored as 3 days). The band's album Withering to death. reached #31 on the Official Finnish Album Chart, and the single "CLEVER SLEAZOID" reached #15 on its Singles Chart. These were the first times Dir en grey had placed on a non-Asian music chart.
Throughout 2009 and 2011, the band released a total of three singles that would later be added onto their 8th album (DUM SPIRO SPERO). These singles included 激しさと、この胸の中で絡み付いた灼熱の闇 (December 2nd, 2009), LOTUS (January 26, 2011), and DIFFERENT SENSE (June 22nd, 2011). On August 1st, the band had made an open letter on their Facebook page accusing the Japanese government of lying about the levels of radiation caused from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. This led to the creation of the band's "Scream for the Truth" movement, which hoped to result in the correct numbers and truth from the government.
On August 3rd, 2011 the band released their 8th studio album DUM SPIRO SPERO (Latin; "While I breathe, I hope"). The material of this album was showcased on the tour of Age Quod Agis throughout Japan, and the Americas. In February of 2012, 京 (Kyo) was diagnosed with vocal nodule dysphonia. This lead to the withdrawal of the band's participation in the Still Reckless tour, and Kyo was required to have surgery performed on his throat.
The band celebrated their first album's (GAUZE) 15th anniversary of August 2014 with the Tour14 Psychonnect: Mode of "Gauze"? Japanese tour. The tour included their live performances of the songs featured on Gauze. On August 5th, Dir En Grey announced their 9th studio album, ARCHE, to be released December 10th, 2014. After its release, the band performed two tours: By the Grace of God and The Unstoppable life, which brought the band back to North America; the first time since 2011.
On 6 February 2016, it is officially announced that the band will release their new single, 詩踏み, on July 27, 2016. They performed tours called Tour16-17 From Depression To ________ mode of Vulgar, Tour16-17 From Depression To ________ mode of Dum Spiro Spero, and Tour16-17 From Depression To ________ mode of 鬼葬 from June to November 2016.
In 2017, the band did further tours themed around previous albums. They also covered Easy Make,Easy Mark by D'erlanger for the D'ERLANGER TRIBUTE ALBUM ～Stairway to Heaven～.
Another compilation album, VESTIGE OF SCRATCHES, was released on January 2, 2018. DIR EN GREY's twenty-ninth single 人間を被る was released on April 25, 2018. One of its B-sides is a remake of Ash, a song with origins as far back as 1997.
On June 29, 2018, DIR EN GREY announced that their tenth studio album The Insulated World was to be released on September 26, 2018. After its release, the band went on a European tour in October 2018, under the title "Wearing Human Skin".
DIR EN GREY's eleventh studio album, "Phalaris", was released on June 15th 2022. The band embarked on a Japanese tour in promotion called "TOUR22 PHALARIS -Vol.I.-".
Visit www.direngrey.co.jp for more information, and news.
JESSICA
DIR EN GREY Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
唾吐き付け
壊しても 今が何一つ
変えられずに
思い出せば
頑なに自分を閉ざしていた
歌う事が唯一の支えで
Edward H. Gein にはなりたくはないのさ
Sid Vicious and Nancy 何処で出逢うだろう?
心には声は無く
心にも歌を無くし
静かに君を待つ
届かない 君までは
届かない
君の声を見つけ出せず
Edward H. Gein にはなりたくはないのさ
Sid Vicious and Nancy 何処で出逢うだろう?
そっと君が手を差し延べると
素直になれず
心には声は無く
心にも歌を無くし
静かに君を待つ
恋焦がれ 夢を見て 恋をして
恋に恋して
夢は終わる Sid の夢
The first verse of DIR EN GREY's song "Jessica" describes a young person spitting on the Berlin Wall, desperate to break it down and yet feeling powerless to change their present circumstances. Looking back, they realize that they had been shutting themselves off from the world, only finding solace in singing. In the second verse, the lyrics reference three famous figures: Edward H. Gein, Sid Vicious, and Nancy Spungen. The person singing expresses a desire to not become like Gein, a well-known murderer and grave robber. They also wonder where Sid and Nancy, two famous punk rock icons who were in a tumultuous and controversial relationship, may have met. The chorus of the song laments the singer's inability to find their own voice and to hear the voice of the one they love. Despite waiting quietly and longing for love, they cannot seem to connect with the person they desire.
In the bridge of the song, the singer describes their inability to be open and vulnerable to the person they love, despite that person reaching out to them. The final repetition of the chorus speaks to the singer's yearning for love, where they dream of loved ones and their desires, but are ultimately brought back to reality.
Line by Line Meaning
少年は ベルリンの壁に 唾吐き付け 壊しても 今が何一つ 変えられずに
A boy spat on the Berlin Wall, hoping to bring about change, but despite destroying it, he failed to make any real difference.
思い出せば 頑なに自分を閉ざしていた 歌う事が唯一の支えで
Looking back, he recalls how he used to be so closed off from the world, with singing being the only thing that gave him a sense of support.
Edward H. Gein にはなりたくはないのさ Sid Vicious and Nancy 何処で出逢うだろう?
He doesn't want to become like Edward H. Gein, but wonders where Sid Vicious and Nancy met.
心には声は無く 心にも歌を無くし 静かに君を待つ 届かない 君までは 届かない 君の声を見つけ出せず
Although he waits quietly for you, he cannot hear your voice or find the song in his heart that leads to you.
そっと君が手を差し延べると 素直になれず
When you reach out to him, he struggles to be honest with himself.
恋焦がれ 夢を見て 恋をして 恋に恋して 夢は終わる Sid の夢
Longing for love, he dreams of it and becomes infatuated with it, but eventually all dreams end, even Sid's dreams.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kyou, Kaoru
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-uj6uw2kl5f
dirの中でもトップレベルにポップな曲。学校登校時によく聴いてお世話になってます〜
@user-re3yc7nu7g
この時の京さんの表情好き
@bay-corn
このPVの京くんがすげー好きだった。
ヤンチャな感じ可愛い。
@user-dt2qe8lk6b
今日の羽田が忘れられなくて来ました笑
なんかこうして改めて聴くと何となくhideが好きそうな曲だなって思いますね
@happycapy47
The backup vocals are saying "let's live" , for anyone curious.
@KurenaiDeyama
Thank you so much for uploading "Jessica"! I'm getting so nostalgic for those days where my best friend & I would hang out at her house & listen to "Kisou" for a couple of hours.
@user-ym4iz6ho3z
非常に懐かしいです！
マカブで独自のヴィジュアル系を極め、ツアー途中での京さんの突発性難聴から一気に変わっての時代でしたね！
FILTHとかみんな顔見えないし京さんはぶっといドレッドだし薫さんもとんでもなかったので、Jessicaは本当凄いインパクトでした。
@nachannachle2706
Lol, I remember having a laugh when this PV came out back in the mid 2000s.
It proved that DEG DO have an interesting sense of humour! ;)
@user-nz7ql7rk1u
20대 젊었던 시절 많이들었던 제시카가 생각나 오랜만에 들으러 왔습니다. 디르형님들 참 젊었었네요 저도 그랬겠지만
@TheTrinityWOLF
this is amazing to watch again. Nostalgia just smacked me in the face