Dir en grey

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/Caroline-san/untitled-8.jpg" border="0"><!--center--></div> Dir en grey is a Japanese band formed in 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As of 2008, they have released six full-length records and while the group's lineup has remained consistent since its inception, numerous stylistic changes have made its music's genre difficult to determine (though it is generally considered to be a form of rock music). Originally part of Japan's visual kei movement, the band has opted for less flamboyant attire in recent years. Dir en grey was preceded by the independent band La:Sadie's which included four of Dir en grey's later members before it disbanded. After parting ways with La:Sadie's bassist Kisaki, Kyo, Kaoru, Die and Shinya along with newly recruited bassist Toshiya regrouped as a new band on February 2, 1997 and released a first EP, Missa, a few months later. According to guitarist Kaoru, the name "Dir en grey" was chosen because it "sounded right," and is comprised of words from several languages, so that people would not be able to attach a specific meaning to it other than the band's name itself. They first attracted mainstream attention in 1998, by entering the top ten on the Oricon music charts with the still independently produced songs "Jealous" and "-I'll-". Five subsequent singles, arranged and produced by X Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi, were published during the first half of 1999, the band's first full-length record, Gauze, followed. One of the shows in support for the album (filmed at the Osaka-jo Hall) would later become the first of several live concerts to be released on VHS and DVD. <!--link--><a href="http://www.direngrey.co.jp/">Dir en grey Offical website</a> <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/Caroline-san/Kyo.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/Caroline-san/Shinya.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/Caroline-san/Kaour.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/Caroline-san/Toshiya.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/Caroline-san/Die.jpg" border="0"><!--center--></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2295/direngreywg6.jpg" border="0"><!--center--></div> <img src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/Caroline-san/Direngreyuserbar.png" border="0"> By milky-manga!