Artist Q&A File63-MALICE MIZER || Translation In English

MALICE MIZER - M-Gazette - November 1998 Vol.21

“Merveilles” Tour Final 98.7.22 Yokohama Arena

There was a castle, on stage, as if time was flowing backward only there… A scene encountered in the distant memories of a faraway past, evoking such an illusion… Is that place truly a part of the real world?

Does MALICE MIZER truly exist in reality?

In the world of collective imagination, where the unreliable five senses of humans mistakenly perceive, is it all a dream? Standing by the seaside where a gentle breeze flows or walking cautiously through a dark forest with no lights, always aware of what’s behind… In that instant a stage existed that could transform the scenery dramatically like the lighting that thundered fiercely in the dark night. And from above, no, as if sent from a different dimension their figures appeared in that space. And through sound, vibration, and light… everything about MALICE MIZER began to flow into our brains through every sensory organ.

“An integrated arts group,” MALICE MIZER.

Artists have their limits, musicians have their limits, directors have their limits. However, what need is there for “chic” in conveying things, events, emotions, and the world to people? “Is this a false space created by them? Are they false on stage?” Such trivial thoughts almost arise, but there is a world there. Yet, it is perhaps just showing what they can express. They have the authority over the “time” of this world.

And the lights in the castle began to fade, revealing a night sky adorned with countless stars… And the door to that space closed, while outside, the rain poured down heavily. Too many things unfolded in that brief moment and remained.

On the way back. “There’s no rain like this in a storm… maybe it’s still continuing from that place earlier.” I thought about such things as if I were running over a river in the car.

Text: Nobue Ishibashi

M GAZETTE Original MALICE MIZER Card-Type Calendar

50 readers will receive a gift.

50 readers will receive a 6-piece set of the M GAZETTE Original “MALICE MIZER Card-Type Calendar.” For details, please refer to the “Treasure Release” section on page 112.

“merveilles” — The End and Return ~TOUR-98 7.22 Yokohama Arena SET LIST

S.E. Bois de merveilles (instrumental)

M1. S-concious

M2. ILLUMINATI

M3. Np.s Ngs

M4. mana közi/Solo

M5. Gackt kami/Solo

M6. Syunikiss ~ The Second Mourning ~

M7. Nocturne Under the Moon

M8. Vel Air ~ In the Moment of Emptiness ~

M9. Dance of Death

M10. Aegean ~ With the Wind that Passed ~

M11. yu-ki/Solo

M12. Je te veux

M13. Madorigal

M14. Brise

M15. au revoir

M16. ma cherie

en. Le ciel

MALICE MIZER

“Merveilles” The End and the Return TOUR '98 / 7.22 Yokohama Arena

A dangerous drug that captivates those who see it

Text: Roku Ono

Photo: Miwa Oya

"Starting around 4 PM i t began to drizzle which soon turned into a downpour. Even with umbrellas it was only a slight comfort against the incredible intensity of the rain. In the midst of it, girls, filled with thoughts of Malice Mizer and a desire to get as close to them as possible, gathered while desperately lifting the hems of their dresses and cloaks.

On July 2nd at Yokohama Arena. Fans gathered for the final of Malice Mizer’s concert tour “merveilles" The End and the Return~TOUR '98," forming a long line from Shin Yokohama Station. Commuters completely unaware of what was happening, passed by with looks of sympathy and curiosity at the girls dressed in the most inappropriate outfits for the rain. But they didn’t care about that. Ignoring the rain, the fans gathered..."

“People used to say we were heretical or something.”

“Rock is freedom.”

“Maybe Malice Mizer is pure rock in the sense that it breaks definitions.”

— So, you guys really got criticized a lot, huh?

Közi: Oh yeah, it was intense.

Mana: I often heard rumors like, “He hasn’t played guitar recently? Isn’t that kind of dangerous?”

Közi: And I’d be like, what exactly is so dangerous about that?

Mana: Rock is supposed to be about freedom, right? I mean, as long as it's for the sake of expression, I think it's fine to do anything. So the fact that people even think that’s “dangerous” I find that mentality itself kind of dangerous.

Közi: Exactly. So in that sense, what people call “rock” sometimes isn’t rock at all. Even if there’s something out there saying “this is what rock is,” I think real rock is about breaking that definition. That’s why I think Malice Mizer might actually be pure rock.

— Yeah, definitely in spirit.

Mana: Seriously, the feedback from live show surveys used to be so harsh. Like, “He doesn’t even play guitar anymore, he’s just happy wearing dresses, right?” I got told stuff like that. A lot.

— Whoa, that’s really rude.

Közi: Yeah, and when people who thought like that left, we didn’t try to stop them. But it was sad to be judged on just that one thing.

Mana: But who knows, maybe that same person who left back then is re-evaluating things now (lol).

Közi: Honestly, people tend to have such a narrow view of things , not just with music, but with everything.

— But at the time, you were desperately trying to express something through music. Still very much musicians then (lol). So, was the concept Mana had in mind back then already the foundation for Malice Mizer?

Közi: Yeah, it was. And that concept hasn’t really changed, even now. The name “Malice Mizer” comes from the idea of “malice and misery” , expressing the malice that lies deep within humans, theatricality, and the unpredictability of life.

Back then, we hadn’t developed the kind of staging we do now. We were closer to a traditional band, really. The music had classical influences, and we had twin guitars. Gradually we added in more theatrical elements. Even now, we’re still experimental , but back then, it was all trial and error.

— Were there any other bands at the time expressing themselves in such a comprehensive, theatrical way?

Mana: Well, we were part of the visual kei scene, sure, but I don’t think there were any others doing it quite like us. Probably not. There’s often this idea of “this is what a band should be,” but we really wanted to break that and create something new.

— So that was your youth…

Mana: Then I moved to Tokyo and became a madam (laughs).

— And that’s when you met Közi, during your “madam era.”

Közi: Yeah, Mana already had a well-defined style. I just kind of slipped into it. I thought, “Hey maybe we can create something really intricate together.”

— Did you listen to demo tapes back then?

Közi: Yeah. I also saw a video of Mana’s old band in Osaka. He was playing guitar like a rock , totally still (laughs).

Mana: Back then, it was all about the playing. I was still pretty inexperienced. I didn’t have any concept of staging or performance , it was just about the sound.

ESP Jeune Fille J:F-450

The model name is French for “young girl.” Its striking see-through blue finish matched beautifully with the elegant dresses it was paired with. From the logo on the headstock to the detailed position markers, every element reflects thoughtful design.

ESP Aka-Uzu-kun AW-550

With a see-through red finish that evokes the passion of youthful blood, this model features intricate inlays that seem to wrap around the body, and a swirling motif that gives it a sense of refined elegance. The name “Aka-Uzu-kun” carries a distinctly Japanese charm.

GIGS 1998

When and how did you first start playing the guitar? How did you feel at that time?

I was captivated by the heavy distortion sound of 44MAGNUM and Mötley Crüe.

Why did you decide to become a guitarist?

When I strummed the guitar through a beat-up 10W amp with an Arion distortion pedal, the cool sound made me think, "This is it!"

Have you liked music since you were young? How were your grades in music class during your school days?

I liked music, but I hated music classes.

Have you ever played any other instruments besides the guitar? If yes, which ones?

Yes, I’ve played vocals, bass, and drums—just kind of ended up doing it.

If you were to play another part besides guitar, what would it be and why?

Vocals. I'd like to express myself through singing.

Do you think there are any advantages or disadvantages of playing guitar compared to other parts?

None.

Which guitarists have influenced you?

Yngwie Malmsteen, Carcassi, and Sor.

Are there any guitarists you respect or aspire to be like?

I’m a guitarist, but I’m not aiming to be someone else.

Who do you consider your rival guitarist?

Sanzo.

What sets you apart from other guitarists?

I don't limit myself to expressing myself through just the guitar.

What do you always do before going on stage?

Think and imagine.

What do you focus on when it comes to your stage performance?

How to bring the best out of the songs.

What inspires you in your musical activities?

Everything, it’s too hard to sum up in a word.

What's the most important thing for a guitarist?

Feeling. Also, treating the guitar as if it were my lover.

What do you currently need as a guitarist?

More finger technique.

Do you want to keep playing guitar for your entire life?

No, I don’t really feel tied to the guitar.

What does playing guitar mean to you?

It has no specific meaning.

LIVE Schedule: 1/6 ON AIR WEST

Bucket list

Real name: Mana

Date of birth: March 19

Height/Weight: 173 cm, 49 kg

Hobbies/Special skills: Cooking, night walks

Albums I’m listening to lately: None in particular

Recent events/news that caught my attention: —

Things I want as a present: Treatment bags, spring water, toys

Message to the fans: Be afraid.

Mana

MALICE MIZER

II Circo Strano booklet, 1998

I remember someone saying in the formus that Il Circo Strano was among the first recordings Malice Mizer ever released with Gackt, prior to "Voyage."

II Circo Strano~奇妙なサーカス〜

II Circo Strano is a 10-minute long track about a strange circus and its bizarre members. It was published as a special issue of Zappy Magazine that came with a CD. You can listen to an excerpt in the last slide.

Zappy Magazine, Novemeber 1998

-As usual when i interview MALICE MIZER my mind starts to dry up a bit (laughs).

Gackt: If you don’t get caught up in rigid notions or long held beliefs i think a lot can be understood. People attach years to the concept of time for clarity but that’s just a human made record for our convenience, not a true representation of time itself.

- Is it that before crossing or not crossing the sky, it was never something that was defined in the first place?

Gackt: I wonder? Also, within this album, various characters and shapes come to light but i believe it’s important to note that everything is linked in some form.

-However, this album really delves deeply into everything from the concepts to the sounds.

Gackt: The sound is so rich that we didn’t have enough channels. Even in parts of the songs we didn’t touch on in this interview there're various mechanisms woven into the fabric.

Gackt: Rather than mechanisms everything is inevitably included.

-It’s quite a niche no, a freaky endeavor, isn’t it?

Kozi: That’s MALICE MIZER’s characteristic after all.

Gackt: It can’t be helped. The people creating this are all quite freaky. After working on this album i realized something: discussions about MALICE MIZER often tend to concentrate on visual performances.

Mana: That might be true. But it’s more than that. It’s not limited to visual aspects; we aim to enhance our world in every way possible through all the elements we can use to create. This album made that very clear.

Gackt: Absolutely. Well, since our appearance is what it is i can understand why people would focus on visuals whether they say it’s impressive or over the top. However for MALICE MIZER we want to express our thoughts through sound and stage in all aspects, so if they can understand that it’s great. Of course i believe that in this album the individual growth and evolution as a collective are clearly represented. Given that it’s natural for the quality to rise.

-By the way, will there be any continued performances of "Bois de merveilles" in the future?

Mana: Who knows? (laughs)

Kozi: It’s too precious to just give away (laughs). I think there might be a performance around the next show though.

Gackt: I can’t say anything just yet.

Kozi: Plus performing the songs from this album live requires extensive preparation. They’re so intricate!

Gackt: Regardless MALICE MIZER inherently has the characteristic of deliberately taking a perplexing path.

- I think this has been discussed many times before but can you share your thoughts heading toward the final performance?

Gackt: Just remember that beginnings and endings are always back to back.

Mana: That’s right, everyone, please give it your all and feel it.

Yu~ki: Look forward to it.

Kozi: Absolutely!

Mana: What’s that in reference to?

Kozi: Well...

Gackt: What should I do? If it’s to myself (laughs).

It comes back around. That way we discover and grow together. We are also a mirror, and so are the people who come to watch. When you send out a signal, it doesn’t become one way.

The live tour "Ville de merveilles - Transparent Spiral" by MALICE MIZER at the end of last year had many surprising aspects. Among them fans who had previously associated them with a medieval image were amazed by the futuristic stage set and costumes, as well as the band's new side and the wide range of their concepts.

In this page we focus on the first half of the live show featuring a photo session with the debut of the futuristic costumes and move on to discussions about their vision of the near future from the live performance.

From the opening the two songs featuring synchronized dance by all the members were eye catching. Gackt, Mana and Közi stepped in a regular pattern while Kami and Yu~ki played the percussion wildly behind them.

Kami and Yu~ki joked, “We can do anything so it’s okay.”

It was a moment that reaffirmed that they are a group that can use any means of expression. First let’s discuss the concept behind each of their costumes.

Mana: “It was designed with the awareness of a near future era with something easy to move in.”

Közi: “Surreal and inorganic. I added a slit on the side to make it easier to move.”

Yu~ki: “I tried to incorporate my previous image with the top hat and tailcoat while adding a more inorganic feel.”

Kami: “...I forgot.”

Gackt: “I wanted to make sure it didn’t reflect too much light and liked the color scheme so i chose that material. I aimed for something androgynous that isn’t distinctly male or female and that’s how it turned out.”

Next, we’ll introduce their individual visions of the near future, not just as a band.

Gackt: “When asked what I would be like in 10 years i always give the same answer. It’s too bright to see. Some people might see it as positive others negative but in any case it’s too bright to see.”

Mana: “It’s a fine line between rosy and worst case scenarios.”

Közi: “I’ll swim. While scattering salt in the sulfur.”

Kami: “I’ll spread my wings. The end.”

Yu~ki: “I haven’t thought about it. I want to feel my current self and the thoughts of people so i want to live without worrying about it.”

Now, let’s talk about the concept of the stage. Mana explains:

“The stage set was a little different from the initial design. 'Ville de merveilles' means a mysterious city. To put it concretely, it’s a futuristic and mysterious city. The transparent spiral is a keyword. You remember the mark that was projected onto the stage at the opening, right? There’s a mystery hidden in that, but I can’t tell you its meaning. Actually there is an 'aha' moment.”

M (Mana): I really want to wear blue jeans, a T-shirt and no makeup but the other members don’t allow it so i have no choice but to dress like this.

T (Tetsu): That’s awful~ (laughs). But I think it suits the songs. Since we’re playing a European sound you have to dress accordingly. I’m casual but i try to give off a noble vibe...

Y (Yuki): I try to express as much individuality as I can, but there’s a limit to makeup and clothes so that’s my biggest concern right now.

K (Közi): For me it’s divine inspiration.

T: Apparently it arrives in the mail while he’s sleeping. “Wear this today!!” (laughs).

K&T: “From God!!” (laughs).

– Future goals?

T: I want to improve my expressive abilities during live shows. Also, I want to get better and write more songs.

M: Let’s speak seriously! Through the sound we create, I want to bring sorrow to as many people as possible.

T: To all of humanity, with this sound...

M:We’ll move people through music.

K: Feel the craziness of the song and dance with drunkenness! (laughs).

– What is your ideal as Malice Mizer?

M: To pursue music that moves everyone!!

K: And wait for the day we become gods!! (laughs).

– Regarding the fans, what’s the demographic like?

T: A lot of them seem really young, don’t they?

M: As for me, I’d like people from kindergarten to grandmothers to listen widely.

K: Men and women of all ages!!

M: Our music has no age limit, whether you’re young or old, it can move you. That’s the kind of music we aim to create, and I want all kinds of people to come to our shows.

– What do you expect from your fans?

M: Listen to our music!! Right now, come back to this thrilling sound (laughs).

T: Yeah, I’d like them to stick with us and not get tired of the current state because things will keep changing.

M: Ladies, listen with your whole body. Gentlemen, come to our live shows first and listen to our music. And then copy us by ear!

K: Don’t look at the fretboard during the live shows. Don’t copy by sight (laughs).

T: Listen with your ears... You see, we were rock kids ourselves (laughs). When guys come to the shows, I’d like to win them over with sound, not looks.

M: One day, I’d like them to form a cover band.

T: The other day when we went to Osaka, there was a survey where someone said they wanted to start a band like Malice Mizer (laughs).

Y: Fans crushing each other!!

– What do you want fans to stop doing?

K: Ah, it seems like there are cliques.

M: Everyone, please get along.

T: Please stop taking photos during the afterparties. If we’re photographed during the afterparty, we’re done for.

MALICE MIZER

After leaving the audience in suspense, Kami took the microphone and in a surprise twist the members reappeared, intensifying the final moments. In response to the huge cheers the encore saw the five members take the stage in military uniforms, waving a naval ensign. It’s rare to see a band that can pull off such a wide variety of costumes... I couldn’t help but think how much fun they must be having as I was completely overwhelmed by their high energy stage presence and performance.

The following day, on the 11th, they performed on a stage titled The Door of the Blank Moment. The show began explosively, with special effects firing off immediately at the start, and the band, dressed in glossy enamel costumes, launched into an aggressive and high-energy performance, reminiscent of the later half of a set. I was once again stunned, realizing that this was yet another way to kick off a show. I had heard that the two days would be completely different... but I didn’t expect them to be this different.

The second song, ILLUMINATI, began with a shout of "Come at me!" and during the song, Gackt shoved Mana onto a sofa? The sight of Mana and Közi's suspiciously close interactions elicited screams, leaving everyone fixated on their movements.

While Yu~ki didn’t display any flashy movements, his intricate rhythms and occasional melodies shone through. In the fourth song, Le Ciel, he descended from the stage set to perform front and center. Every little movement from them was captivating, and during the middle of the set, each member had their own moment to shine, pulling the audience into their individual worlds.

Just like the previous day, Gackt’s highly charged MC led the show into its second half. Sweet, yet somehow melancholic melodies... these enchanting songs brought color to the latter part of the concert.

The encore that day was especially memorable. The members appeared one by one, dressed as the characters from the video Bel Air, each stepping out in their respective roles. It was a surreal sensation, as if the fictional story in the video and the real-life story unfolding on stage were blending together. The five of them gathered on stage in those costumes and, as a parting gift to the audience, performed the final number, of course, Bel Air.

Their stage was a world filled with countless elements: beautiful things, grotesque things, pure things, mysterious things, frightening things, nostalgic things, new things... an endless variety of wonders. It was a world that transcended conventional concepts and couldn’t be confined within the usual boundaries of a live performance. For those two days, we were able to fully immerse ourselves in their unique world.

ARENA 37°C (アリーナサーティーセブン) Vol.181 1997年10月

Even for those who pride themselves on being Malice Mizer experts there might still be a lot you don’t know... So we’ve come up with these questions.

This survey painstakingly created overnight by this magazine’s Malice Mizer correspondent was so well received by the members that they even said, “What an interesting set of questions!” (lol). Now what kind of answers did the members of Malice Mizer give?

Gackt (vo)

Q. Favorite food:

Anything spicy.

Q. Least favorite food:

All sweet foods in general.

Q. Favorite drink:

Volvic (water), vodka, wine.

Q. Least favorite drink:

Sweet drinks that feel sugary in the throat.

Q. Favorite scent:

A faintly sweet shampoo fragrance.

Q. Least favorite scent:

The body odor of someone with armpit odor.

Q. Favorite scenery:

The sea at night.

Q. You are allowed to cry only three times in your life. The first time is when you are born. What are the other two occasions?

When I meet someone I can truly love, and when I lose that person I love.

Q. If you could use a time machine, where would you go, to what era, and what would you do (past or future is OK)?

I would go back to the past to atone for all of humanity’s sins by erasing the existence of humans from this world by exterminating the creatures that would become human ancestors.

Q. If you were a hitman, what weapon would you use and why?

Since I’m still an active hitman, I’d prefer not to talk about work...

Q. You have an unlimited budget. If you were to direct a movie, what kind of film would you make?

A story about my birth 457 years ago and all the women I’ve met since then.

Q. What is the ultimate “moment” for you?

When I’m naked and sharing love.

Kami (ds)

Q. Favorite food:

Meat-based dishes.

Q. Least favorite food:

Tofu and potatoes.

Q. Favorite drink:

Melon milk.

Q. Least favorite drink:

Sake, whiskey, etc.

Q. Favorite scent:

Sweet scents.

Q. Least favorite scent:

Anything generally considered a bad smell.

Q. Favorite scenery:

Not night views, but the view from a high place during the day, looking down.

Q. You are allowed to cry only three times in your life. The first time is when you are born. What are the other two occasions?

When someone important to me dies and tears of deep emotion.

Q. If you could use a time machine, where would you go, to what era, and what would you do (past or future is OK)?

Since this is hypothetical, I can’t answer.

Q. If you were a hitman, what weapon would you use and why?

A ray gun that goes “pew pew...”

Q. You have an unlimited budget. If you were to direct a movie, what kind of film would you make?

A movie about a person who rises to power in the Warring States period, with an actual castle built for the production.

Q. What is the ultimate “moment” for you?

Probably when I’ve given my best at a live performance.

MALICE MIZER

● Special Supplement ●

Personal Imagination