[Sakura_Genki]

~ayu-cake~ - You lucky person. I wanted to go so bad.

My friend messaged me today, and she told me that Dir en grey had been featured in an edition of Kerrang, which is a rock music magazine. It angered me. She didn't seem to understand why it angered me. I don't particularly want to see Dir en grey go mainstream in the UK, or any other J-Rock band in that case.

The article said:

Japanese Superstars Rock to the Bone

While Dir en grey may not be household names in the UK, in their previous homeland in Japan, their six previous albums have made them megastars.

The band were formed in 1997 in Osaka from the remains of several local scene bands that had no particular aim in sound, just to, "express emotion with our souls. We don't have a specific goal or aim. We just want to express pain, anger and agony," explains guitarist and main song writer Kaoru, via a translator.

Joined by Kyo on vocals, Die on guitar, Toshiya on bass and Shinya on drums, the combined noise of this dark collective is an eclectic brew - one that takes in industrial, goth, metal and out and out rock, inspired, says Kaoru, by a desire only to chronicle "human" feelings, such as anger and agony. "In other words, we try to express the shadows in a person's heart via our creations. We are affected by all things in life."

And it means that, in Japan, they're a big deal. The five-piece have played in front of 10,000 near hysterical fans at venues like Nippon Budokan (also played in by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and 80s rockers Cheap Trick to give you some idea of its importance). "But we have never thought 'we've made it'." says Kaoru. "In fact, people hate us here. The scene is not exactly made for bands to play heavy rock."

It means they are not afraid to be playing smaller venues as they head to England, America, and Europe to build a name for themselves across the world. And, though having recently toured with the Deftones, it's actually the smaller venues that Kaoru prefers, admitting, "We are not a band to wish to make it big. We don't want to be a band that everybody likes - just one that can make or emotions real with aggression, sensitivity, and beauty."

And you can also vote for them to win the Best international newcomer award at the Kerrang awards.