L'Arc-en-Ciel and Street punk: Difference between pages

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<!-- BANDMEMBERS USE LOWERCASE NAMES. PLEASE SEE ja: ENTRY FOR VERIFICATION! -->
'''L'Arc-en-Ciel''' (&#12521;&#12523;&#12463; &#12450;&#12531; &#12471;&#12456;&#12523;), also known as '''Laruku''' (&#12521;&#12523;&#12463;) or '''L'Arc''' to their fans, is a popular [[Japan]]ese rock band consisting of four members. The name means "Arc in the Sky", or "[[rainbow]]" in [[French language|French]].
 
==The Definition Of Streetpunk==
[[Image:Laruku.jpg|thumb|300px|L'Arc-en-Ciel: tetsu, hyde, yukihiro, &amp; ken ]]
 
'''Street punk''' (also known as '''gutterpunk''' in several parts of the world) is both a subgenre of [[punk rock]] and a word that describes people, mostly young, who live on the streets. In the latter case, such people may not identify themselves as "punk."
==History==
===Formation===
In February [[1991]], tetsu and hyde, along with hiro (guitar) and pero (drums), formed the band and named it after a French film that tetsu had seen. After a year of gaining notoriety in their hometown of [[Osaka]], hiro left the band on [[June 12]] [[1992]]. pero soon followed on [[December 30]] that same year, supposedly to join up with his friend hiro again. tetsu convinced his friend Ken Kitamura (ken) to quit his studies in architectural design and join the band. A new drummer, sakura, was recruited after tetsu saw him perform in a few shows.
 
People described as "street punks" are mostly [[white]] (or [[Caucasian Race|Caucasian]]) working class, and/or inner city youth who usually have a punk-like appearance. This includes studded leather jackets customised by that individual, torn jeans, plaid [[BDSM fashion|bondage trousers]], bullet belts, studded belts, [[mohawk hairstyle]]s and dyed hair, [[body piercing|piercings]], et cetera. However, many don't have any such appearance, and are sometimes described as "Casuals". The word "punk," in this usage, may have a derogatory intent.
===Debut album and subsequent albums===
On [[April 1]] [[1993]], the band released their debut album, ''[[#Dune (1993)|Dune]]'' under the indies label [[Danger Crue Records|Danger Crue]], which was met with plenty of success and rose to number one on the [[Oricon]] indies charts. This caught the attention of some major labels. In [[1994]], they signed with [[Sony|Sony's]] Ki/oon division, releasing their second album, ''[[#Tierra (1994)|Tierra]]'' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "Earth") that same year. ''[[#Heavenly (1995)|Heavenly]]'' followed in [[1995]], and ''[[#True (1996)|True]]'', their first million seller, in [[1996]].
 
== Streetpunk as a Subculture ==
===Sakura's arrest===
As they were enjoying their success, sakura was arrested for [[heroin]] possession, and officially quit the band on [[October 4]] [[1997]]. This was the lowest point in the band's history. When news of sakura's arrest became public, there was a decline in their popularity. Just as they had reached a peak in their career, CDs were being removed from the shelves and any of their songs that were used as theme songs were quickly replaced. There was no evidence of the band's existence, and their next single "The Fourth Avenue Cafe" was indefinitely postponed and has never been released. Many believe that the whole incident was blown tremendously out of proportion.
 
Streetpunk is also seen as a reaction against middle class art-school type punks like [[Generation X (band)|Generation X]], as well as what some view as mainstream "trendy" people who embrace the punk lifestyle in what is viewed as a superficial way. Some streetpunks, like some skinheads, even operated in [[crew]]s; these crews sometimes have unifying political agendas and beliefs that kept them together. Others simply exist as house-sized inner-city communes who help each other survive. Although this only occurs amongst the most poverty-stricken of the punk rock subculture and has become uncommon in the [[21st century]], it is worth noting. Also, those "streetpunks" who engage in tribalism are less likely ever to "grow out" of the subculture. More often than not [[Marxist]]s and anarchists hold to the streetpunk music genre due to its subject matter, described below.
===Hiatus and comeback===
L'Arc~en~Ciel was on a break for a few months. They continued to be featured in magazines, but only as a three piece band. Then, they created their very own Laruku cover band, "The Zombies", and poked fun of their own songs. They also covered artists such as Marilyn Manson and Nirvana. When they returned from their break, they had the Reincarnation 97 Live in [[Tokyo Dome]], with their new drummer, Yukihiro (former drummer of DIE IN CRIES). The first concert had an attendance of 56,000, which sold out in a world record of four minutes. Their next album was ''[[#Heart (1998)|Heart]]'', in [[1998]], which, like their second major album "Heavenly" is seen as a transitional album: trying to forget the past, but also trying to maintain their originality and success.
 
== Streetpunk Music ==
In 1997, the first single they released since Sakura had left was 「虹」 (Niji &mdash; "Rainbow"). Yukihiro was the drummer for this release, but was only listed as a support member. However, the band members were quickly impressed with his drumming skills and made him the official drummer not long after niji's release. L'Arc~en~Ciel was back, and what better way to prove themselves then by organizing a concert, aptly titled "Reincarnation"; this was the reincarnation of L'Arc-en-Ciel.
 
The street punk music genre started with the [[Oi!]] music scene in the late [[1970s]] and early [[1980s]] in [[Great Britain]], but on early streetpunk acts one can still feel the influence of late 70s British pub rock and cockney glam noize. This form of music was developed by bands such as [[Cock Sparrer]], [[The Business]], [[4-Skins]] and [[The Cockney Rejects]]. It started as a youth music style with songs about tales of the street, [[crew]] or [[gang]] life, police violence, easy girls, and teenage drunk mayhem. Streetpunk bands of the mid '80s include [[The Skeptix]], [[Abrasive Wheels]], and [[Attak]]. Today street punk bands can be found all over the world. Today's street punk is dominated by [[the Casualties]], [[Deadline]], [http://wastekrew.cjb.net USA Waste][[A Global Threat]], [[Career Soldiers]], [[The Unseen]], [[Cheap Sex]], [[Lower Class Brats]], and others. Their lyrics often talk about having fun at shows, unity, police oppression, social problems, anti-establishment and the punk scene itself.
===1999&ndash;2000 projects===
L'Arc-en-Ciel released three more albums of new material during the next few years. ''[[#Ark (1999)|Ark]]'' and ''[[#Ray (1999)|Ray]]'' which were released simultaneously on [[July 1]],[[1999]], and were the first Japanese albums to be released the same day in many different Asian countries. Both were on the Oricon music charts, with ''Ark'' at number one and ''Ray'' at number two. The release of ''Ark'' and ''Ray'' marked the high point of their career, with each selling over two million copies (no other release from the band managed to reach two million). ''[[#Real (2000)|Real]]'' followed in [[2000]], which was the last CD of new material for some time, although many more compilation and remix albums would follow. L'Arc-en-Ciel also composed several theme songs for various [[anime]] series, including ''[[DNA&sup2;]]'', ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'', ''[[Great Teacher Onizuka]]'', and ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''. They also created the ending theme song to the movie ''[[Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within]]''.
 
===SoloStreetpunk projectsBands===
After a while, however, the various members began working on various solo projects. hyde released several solo albums (as HYDE), ken founded [[Sons of All Pussys]] (including sakura as the drummer), tetsu started ''Tetsu69'' and yukihiro played with [[Acid Android]]. The band solo projects seemed to have been fueling speculation that L`arc~en~ciel was going to quit.
 
The following list of musicians and bands are identified with the streetpunk subculture, but not all of them are considered to be of the [[Oi!]] or streetpunk genre of music.
===Second comeback===
In June [[2003]], L'Arc-en-Ciel came back to play a series of seven concerts in [[Tokyo]] called the "Shibuya Seven Days", and announced a new album for release in the following year. So, in February [[2004]], their first single in more than three years came out, followed by another one in early March. Finally, their long-awaited new album, ''[[#Smile (2004)|Smile]]'', was released on [[March 31]].
 
*[[4-Skins]]
Shortly afterwards, on [[June 2]] [[2004]], the single &#33258;&#30001;&#12408;&#12398;&#25307;&#24453;&#12288; ("Jiyuu e no Shoutai") introduced "[[#P'unk-en-Ciel|P'unk-en-Ciel]]", a partial change, for the first time on CD with "Milky Way". In the past, the band also played a P'unk version of "Round and Round" live.
*[[A Global Threat]]
*[[Abrasive Wheels]]
*[[Against All Authority]]
*[[Ann Beretta]]
*[[Anti-Heroes]]
*[[Attak]]
*[[The Brassknuckle Boys]]
*[[The Briggs]]
*[[The Bruisers]]
*[[The Business]]
*[[Career Soldiers]]
*[[The Casualties]]
*[[Cheap Sex]]
*[[Cock Sparrer]]
*[[The Cockney Rejects]]
*[[Clit 45]]
*[[Damage Case]]
*[[Deadline]]
*[[Dissucks]]
*[[The Forgotten]]
*[[The God Awfuls]]
*[[I Farm]]
*[[Kill The Man Who Questions]]
*[[Lifetime (band) | Lifetime]]
*[[Lower Class Brats]]
*[[Oxymoron]]
*[[Pistol Grip]]
*[[Rizzo Machine]]
*[[The Skabs]]
*[[The Skeptix]]
*[[Swingin' Utters]]
*[[The Templars]]
*[[Time bomb 77]]
*[[The Unseen]]
*[[The Varukers]]
*[[Le Fray]]
*[[Circle Jerks]]
 
[[Category:Punk genres]]
===U.S concert debut===
[[de:Streetpunk]]
On [[July 31]] [[2004]], L'Arc-en-Ciel made their U.S. concert debut at [[Otakon]] 2004. Approximately 12,000 people attended the concert, which was held at a outside venue for the first time in Otakon's musical guests history, the [[1st Mariner Arena]] located near the [[Baltimore Convention Center]].
 
===''Awake'', 2005 release===
In 2005, the band released various singles, including "Killing Me" , "New World", and "Jojoushi", which appeared on their last album, ''Awake'', released on [[June 22]] with twelve tracks, including "Lost Heaven", the end theme for the ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' film.
 
===Miscellaneous===
In addition, the band will go on their "Asialive 2005" tour, and as the name suggests, the band will be performing in Korea and China as well as Japan. Japan's two concerts will take place at the [[Tokyo Dome]]. More information about "Asialive 2005" can be found at their official website at the bottom of this page.
 
On [[May 31]] [[2005]], [[Tofu Records]], Sony Music Japan's U.S. label, released the DVD of the Otakon 2004 concert.
 
On [[July 20]] [[2005]] "Link" was released; also known as the opening theme of the film ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', it was the first Laruku single after "Awake". This single also includes a new version of "Promised Land".
 
==Line-up==
===Current===
*[[Hyde (singer)|hyde]] (vocals) (solo [[Hyde (singer)|Hyde]])
*tetsu ([[bassist|bass]], backup vocals) (solo [[Tetsu69]])
*ken ([[guitarist|guitar]]) (solo [[Sons of All Pussys|S.O.A.P.]])
*yukihiro ([[drummer|drums]]) (solo [[Acid Android]])
 
===Former===
* [[Sakura (drummer)|sakura]] (drums 1992-1997)
* hiro (guitar 1991-1992)
* pero (drums 1991-1992)
 
===D'Ark-en-Ciel===
<!-- This part may seem inconsistent and weird, but it's how it was presented on official material (including D'Ark with a K) -->
* DARK TETSU (vocal)
* HYDE Dark (guitar)
* Suck-D'Ark-La (bass)
* Ken D'Ark (drums)
 
===P'unk-en-Ciel===
* Tetsu P'unk (guitar, vocals)
* Hyde P'unk (guitar)
* Yukihiro P'unk (bass)
* Ken P'unk (drums)
 
==Discography==
Highest chart positions and units sold:
 
===Albums===
*[[Dune (album)|Dune]] ([[1993]])
*[[Tierra (debut major album)|Tierra]] ([[1994]]) #7 - 161,000
*[[Heavenly (album)|Heavenly]] ([[1995]]) #3 - 391,000
*[[True (L'Arc-en-Ciel album)|True]] ([[1996]]) #1 - 1,428,000
*[[Heart (album)|Heart]] ([[1998]]) #1 - 1,551,000
*[[Ark and Ray]] ([[1999]]) #1 &amp; #2 - 2,275,000 & 2,138,000
*[[Real (album)|Real]] ([[2000]]) #1 - 1,098,000
*[[Smile (L'Arc-en-Ciel album)|Smile]] ([[2004]]) #2 - 378,748
*[[Awake (Arc-en-Ciel album)|Awake]] ([[2005]]) #1
 
===Compilations &amp; remixes===
*[[Ectomorphed Works]] ([[2000]]) #3 - 228,000
*[[Clicked Singles Best 13]] ([[2001]]) #1 - 1,337,830
* The Best of L'Arc-en-Ciel 1994-1998 ([[2003]]) 195,500
* The Best of L'Arc-en-Ciel 1998-2000 ([[2003]]) 190,800
 
===Singles===
* 1992
** "Floods of Tears" c/w 夜想花 ("Yasouka") (indie single) 1,000 (limited edition)
* 1994
** "Blurry Eyes" c/w "Wind of Gold (Many Kind of Percussion Mix)" (major debut single) #22 - 52,000
* 1995
** "Vivid Colors'' c/w ''Brilliant Years'' #16 - 118,000
<!-- time to say goodbye IS NOT a translation of natsu no yuutsu, but part of the full title. There is another song called natsu no yuutsu which is DIFFERENT from this one-->
** "&#22799;&#12398;&#24962;&#39729; (Time to Say Goodbye)" ("Natsu no yuuutsu") c/w "&#12354;&#12394;&#12383;&#12398;&#12383;&#12417;&#12395;" ("Anata no tame ni") #15 - 67,000
* 1996
** "&#39080;&#12395;&#12365;&#12360;&#12394;&#12356;&#12391;&#12288;" ("Kaze ni kienaide") c/w "I'm So Happy" #4 - 196,000
** "Flower" c/w "&#12373;&#12424;&#12358;&#12394;&#12425;" ("Sayounara") #5 - 320,000
** "Lies and Truth" c/w "&#12288;&#36093;&#12399;&#25237;&#12370;&#12425;&#12428;&#12383;" ("Sai wa nagarareta") #6 - 285,000
* 1997
** "&#34425;" ("Niji") c/w "The Ghost in My Room" #3 - 708,000
* 1998
** "Winter Fall" c/w "Metropolis" #1 - 835,000
** "Dive to Blue" c/w "Peeping Tom" #1 - 845,000
** "Honey" #1 - 1,224,000
** "&#33457;&#33900;" ("Kasou") #4 - 1,036,000
** "&#20405;&#39135; Lose Control" ("Shinshoku")
** "Snow Drop" c/w "A Swell in the Sun" #1 - 1,132,000
** "Forbidden Lover" c/w "&#33457;&#33900; -1014 mix-" ("Kasou") #1 - 826,000
* 1999
** "Heaven's Drive" c/w "Metropolis -Android Goes to Sleep mix-" #1 - 1,124,000
** "Pieces" c/w "Fate -Fake Fate mix-" #1 - 735,000
** "Driver's High" c/w "Cradle-Down to the Earth mix-" #2 - 340,000
** "Love Flies" c/w "真実と幻想と -Out of the Reality mix-" ("Shinjitsu to gensou to") #1 - 514,000
* 2000
** "Neo Universe/Finale" c/w "Hole"/"Trick -New Wave of Japanese Heavy Metal mix-" (double A-side single) #1 - 1,104,000
** "Stay Away" c/w "Get out from the Shell" #2 - 734,000
* 2001
** "Spirit Dreams Inside &mdash; Another Dream" c/w "Spirit Dreams Inside" #1 - 340,770
* 2004
** "Ready Steady Go" #1 - 365,500
** "&#30643;&#12398;&#20303;&#20154;" ("Hitomi no juunin") #1 - 194,600
** &#33258;&#30001;&#12408;&#12398;&#25307;&#24453; ("Jiyuu e no shoutai") c/w "Milky Way" by P'UNK-EN-CIEL #1 - 232,900
* 2005
** "Killing Me" c/w "Round and Round 2005" by P'UNK-EN-CIEL #1 - 120,073
** "New World" c/w "&#33457;&#33900; &#24179;&#25104;&#21313;&#19971;&#24180;" ("Kasou heisei 17 nen") by P'UNK-EN-CIEL #1 - 131,181
** &#21465;&#24773;&#35433; ("Jojoushi") c/w "Heaven's Drive 2005" by P'UNK-EN-CIEL #1 - 110,513
** "Link" c/w "Promised Land 2005" by P'UNK-EN-CIEL #2 -215,999
 
===Videos===
* 1992
** ''L'Arc-en-Ciel'' (VHS/concert)
* 1993
** ''Touch of Dune'' (VHS)
* 1994
** &#30496;&#12426;&#12395;&#12424;&#12379;&#12390; (VHS/video single)
** ''Siesta — Film of Dreams'' (VHS)
* 1995
** ''And She Said'' (VHS/video single)
* 1996
** ''Heavenly –films–'' (VHS/concert)
* 1998
** ''A Piece of Reincarnation'' (VHS/concert)
** &#12495;&#12540;&#12488;&#12395;&#28779;&#12434;&#12388;&#12369;&#12429;&#65281; ''Light My Fire'' (VHS/concert)
* 1999
** ''Chronicle'' (VHS+DVD/PV collection)
** &#12495;&#12540;&#12488;&#12395;&#28779;&#12434;&#12388;&#12369;&#12429;&#65281; ''Light My Fire'' (DVD/concert)
** ''A Piece of Reincarnation'' (DVD/concert)
** ''1999 Grand Cross Conclusion'' (VHS+DVD/concert)
* 2001
** ''Chronicle 2'' (VHS+DVD/PV collection)
** ''Club Circuit 2000 Realive - No Cut -'' (VHS+DVD/concert)
* 2003
** ''Heavenly –films–'' (DVD/concert)
** ''And She Said'' (DVD/video single)
<!-- Off the Laruku Sony page (below), the DVD for Siesta had ~ on both sides, but not VHS -->
** ''Siesta –Film of Dreams–'' (DVD)
** &#30496;&#12426;&#12395;&#12424;&#12379;&#12390; (DVD/video single)
** ''7'' (DVD/concert)
* 2004
** ''Live in USA –at 1st Mariner Arena July 31, 2004–'' (DVD/concert)
* 2005
** ''Smile Tour 2004'' &#65374;&#20840;&#22269;&#32232;&#65374; (DVD/concert)
 
==External links==
===Official Sites===
*[http://www.larc-en-ciel.com/ L'Arc-en-Ciel Official Site] *
*[http://www.larcom.net/ L'Arc-en-Ciel Official Sony Site]
*[http://www.tofurecords.com/ Tofu Records Official Site] *
*[http://www.dangercrue.com/ Danger Crue Records Official Site]
*[http://www.hyde.com/ hyde Official Site]
*[http://www.bubble-star.com/ Sons of All Pussys Official Site (ken solo)]
*[http://www.tetsu69.com/ TETSU69 Official Site (tetsu solo)]
*[http://www.acidandroid.com/ Acid Android Official Site (yukihiro solo)]
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Denotes sites with content available in [[English language | English]]. For the most up-to-date information, the first site (their official site) is suggested. Sony's site has recently removed their English language option and the Tofu Records page, although official, is often out-of-date.
 
===Fan sites===
*[http://www.laruku.com/ Fourth Avenue Cafe] &mdash; an English fan site
*[http://www.afad.nl/larceurope L'Arc Europe] &mdash; European fan base
*[http://www.byebyereality.com/ Bye Bye Reality]
*[http://pieces.deadsunrise.net Pieces] &mdash; A L'Arc-en-Ciel forum
*[http://haruka.vze.com/ Sunrise]
*[http://nippop.com/artist/artist_id-88/artist_name-l___arc_en_ciel/ L’Arc-en-Ciel] &mdash; Nippop profile
*[http://www.j-revolution.com?page=jpop/larc/index J-Revolution.com's Laruku section]
*[http://www.freewebs.com/manga_dancer/ Blurry Eyes] &mdash; A Comprehensive Informational Site That's Fun, Too!
 
[[Category:Japanese musical groups]]
 
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