ギルガメッシュ

ギルガメッシュ (also known as girugamesh or girugämesh) was a Japanese alternative metal Visual kei band from Chiba, formed in 2003 and disbanded in 2016.

Members:

Vocals: 左迅 - Satoshi Ishikawa, born 13 October, 1984 (BENOM → ギルガメッシュ , REDMAN → retired)
Guitar: 弐 - Nii, born 22 July, 1984 (ギルガメッシュ→ retired)
Bass: 愁 - ShuU, born 26 December, 1984 (ギルガメッシュ, KEEL , MR.8 → retired / GAINA JAPAN CEO)
Drums: Яyo, born 20 September, 1986 (ギルガメッシュ→ engineer / sound creator as Яyo Trackmaker)

Former members:

Vocals: Cyrien (ギルガメッシュ as Cyrien → Sel'm → STEREO.C.K)
Support vocals: TOSHIYA (Choco Mint (ちょこみんと) → unknown)
Guitar: 蛍 - Hotaru (ギルガメッシュ→ unknown)
Guitar: 眞緒 - Mao (ギルガメッシュ→ unknown)

2003–2007: Formation
Formed in 2003 in Chiba, Shuu and Nii had been friends since elementary school, and the earliest incarnation of the band made its first performance while the members were still in high school. Girugamesh began playing gigs with their final lineup in 2004 and were later signed to record label Gaina-Japan. Their first single, "Kaisen Sengen" ("Declaration of War"), ranked #10 on the Oricon Indies chart. In 2005, Girugamesh embarked on a nationwide tour, after which they released their first live DVD featuring footage from the tour, followed by the EP Goku -Shohankei Enban-.

In 2007, girugamesh was signed to the European label Gan-Shin. They frequently started to tour Europe including some festivals (J-SHOCK in Cologne 2006 and Asia Pacific Festival in Berlin in 2007). They toured Europe in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2016. The band then was part of a 9-band Japanese rock festival in Los Angeles called “J-Rock Revolution”.

2008–2015: Girugamesh and international success
In 2008, in support of Girugamesh, the band toured in both Japan and Europe, under the tour title "Stupid Tour '08". The Japanese leg had Girugamesh performing throughout Japan, and later in January, the band toured Europe for the first time, visiting Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland. Following their European tour, Girugamesh continued the "Stupid Tour '08 in Japan". In March, Girugamesh returned to touring visiting venues all over Japan including Okinawa.

Following a performance at Wacken Open Air, a support tour for Girugamesh occurred, entitled "Shining Tour '08". The first performances took place through July, visiting Osaka and Nagoya, with one finale performance in August at the Liquidroom in Tokyo. Concerts in July featured second acts, including Gelugugu, Tr. Dan, Sel'm, Dogma, and Deathgaze, while the tour finale show was a one-man performance, with only Girugamesh.

In July 2008, an English version of their website was activated; shortly after this, the band announced they would release their debut American album, with Girugamesh being sold exclusively through Hot Topic stores.

The band's third full-length album, titled Music, was released on November 5, 2008. After a lengthy Japan tour throughout the first quarter of 2009, the band made its second appearance in the United States, showcased at Sakura-Con in Seattle, Washington. Not long after the end of "Crazy Tour 2009" they released the live DVD "Crazy Crazy Crazy" on June 3. Another release was announced for July 10, this time a single named "Alive" which they had been playing for audiences during the end of their "Crazy Tour". Just a month later on August 5 the single "Border" came out along with "Crying Rain" on October 7. On December 16 they released the fourth album with the name Now and this was the name of their tour in 2010.

The band had a live album release, Premium Oneman Show 2010, on January 31, 2010 at Shinkiba Studio Coast, and at the same time, the members tweeted in real time through musicJAPANplus before the live began.

Girugamesh released the single "Color" on July 6, 2010. On October 7 they released the single "Inochi no Ki". On September 19, 2010, the band performed at D'erlanger's "Abstinence's Door #005" with Head Phones President and Defspiral. The concert was streamed worldwide live on Ustream.tv.

On January 26, 2011, Girugamesh released their album Go which includes their recent singles, "Color" and "Inochi no Ki", one of the songs, "Destiny", leaked out a few days before. Go was released in Europe on February 2, 2012. On April 22, 2011, Girugamesh played a concert at Anime Boston 2011.

In November 2013, Girugamesh released an album titled Monster and performed at the Hush!! Full Band Festival in Macau as headlining act.

In September 2014, Girugamesh released a mini-album titled Gravitation.

In February 2016, Girugamesh released a mini-album titled chimera. The title alludes to the band's image as it is today: a chimera being a hybrid creature just like the band's music. Ryo said in a French interview, "The sound of girugmesh is a mixture of different types of music." The artcover was designed by singer Satoshi, who depicted an egg and fire: "The artcover of ‘chimera’ represents an egg from which a hybrid creature, a chimera, comes out. The chimera symbolizes metaphorically the band. The split created when the monster comes out reveals fire. And fire usually alludes to passions, anger and rage. Rage is the key-word of the concept of ‘chimera’. It's Satoshi's idea. He's the one who designed it."

Girugamesh toured in Europe in May 2016.

2016: Final performance and disbandment
On May 2, 2016, Girugamesh announced on their public Facebook page that they would be disbanding following their final show at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo on July 10, 2016. Although no specific reason was given, Girugamesh said they were thankful for the many years they had been together and for all their fan support. For Girugamesh's final concert, the four band members performed for 3 hours and played over 35 songs. During the show, a sneak peek video revealing the release of a DVD box collector was shown on screen as announced on French media VerdamMnis Magazine: the box would include the farewell performance, which was described as outstanding, and span the career of the band from its debut. It would also contain exclusive footage from their final European tour in May 2016. Their last release was "period" which was sold at their last live.

On November 22, 2017, girugamesh appeared on " TRIBUTE OF MUCC - 縁 -" with a cover song titled: 五月雨 which was included as 1 of 2 secret bonus tracks (the other 恋は水色 by ムック(MUCC)). They also released this under the alias 左迅×弐×愁×Яyo.

On November 23, 2020, Satoshi revealed in an Instagram post some specifics leading to Girugamesh's disbandment. He said that the band was once out of action and that there were many reasons, including being unable to communicate or make music. Around the same time, while he had his own band REDMAN, he made his own song "CHALLENGE the GAME". This song was used as the sixth ending of the Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal anime. He created REDMAN because he wanted to "sell a fight to Girugamesh" and thought about wanting to come back. After the song's release, he received negative letters from fans for creating his own music. However, he discarded those letters and ended the post by saying the band was going nowhere and that he wanted to provoke a change in the band's direction.

girugamesh released a new song "engrave" under the indie label Wolves anchor DC on February 2nd 2022 and performed at Nippon Budokan on December 27th 2022 for Maverick DC's 40th anniversary event.

Discography:

Albums
13's Reborn (September 27, 2006)
Girugämesh (December 26, 2007)
Music (November 5, 2008)
Now (December 16, 2009)
Go (January 26, 2011)
Monster (November 27, 2013)

EPs/mini albums
Goku: Shohan Gata Enban (May 25, 2005)
Reason of Crying (July 18, 2007)
Gravitation (September 24, 2014)
Chimera (January 20, 2016)

Singles
"Jelato" (August 3, 2004, distributed single)
"Midnight" (2004, distributed single)
"Kaisen Sengen: Kikaku Kata Enban" (August 15, 2004)
"Sakaurami" (August 24, 2004)
"Kuukyo no Utsuwa: Kyosaku Gata Enban" (December 25, 2004)
"Kosaki Uta: Kaijou Gata Enban" (February 8, 2005)
"Senyuu Kyoutou Uta" (split CD with Marusa, April 20, 2005)
"Kyozetsu Sareta Tsukue: Tandoku Gata Enban" (June 17, 2005)
"Fukai no Yami: Mayosake Gata Enban" (September 14, 2005)
"Honnou Kaihou: Kakusei Gata Enban" (November 30, 2005)
"Risei Kairan: Ranchou Gata Enban" (November 30, 2005)
"Rei: Mukei Gata Enban" (April 5, 2006)
"Omae ni Sasageru Minikui Koe" (April 12, 2006)
"Volcano" (DVD single, March 14, 2007)
"Alive" (June 10, 2009)
"Border" (August 5, 2009)
"Crying Rain" (October 7, 2009)
"Color" (July 7, 2010)
"Inochi no Ki" (イノチノキ)(October 6, 2010)
"Pray" (Japanese and English versions) (April 13, 2011)
"Zetchou Bang!!" (July 4, 2012)
"Zantetsuken" (September 26, 2012)
"Incomplete" (September 11, 2013)
"Period" (July 10, 2016)
"engrave" (February 2, 2022)

Compilations
LIVE BEST (March 26, 2014)
Core Best (2014, Sold only at concerts)

Demos
Dekiai: Shisaku Gata Enban (2003)

DVDs
Crazy Crazy Crazy June 3, 2009
Gaisen Kouen Chiba February 22, 2012