By-Sexual
Encyclopedia
By-Sexual was a Japanese visual kei
punk
band from Osaka
. They were active from 1988 to 1995, when vocalist Sho left the band and they went on hiatus. In August 1996, the remaining members restarted the group under the name By-Sex (stylized as BY-SEX) with Ryo changing to vocals and guitar. In February 1998, Nao left and the group disbanded.
On September 3, 2011, By-Sexual reunited for a show at Shinagawa Stellar for the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
. Around the same time, Ryo and Den teamed up with their former Zigzo
bandmate Sakura to formally restart By-Sex.
. That year they released the demo "Bad Boy Blues" on Free-Will records. They signed to Pony Canyon
and in February 1990 they released their major debut, "So Bad Boy". Their first album Culture Shock followed in April. In 1991 their song "Bakumatsu Jyunjou Den" was used as the theme song for the movie of the same name.
In January 1995, vocalist Sho left the band and they went on hiatus. However the remaining members continued to play together under the name Alzheimer. In August 1996, they restarted the group under the name By-Sex with Ryo changing to vocals and guitar. In February 1998, Nao left and the group disbanded.
Sho made an attempt at a solo career, but soon changed to managing bands before retiring from the music industry altogether. Both Ryo and Den went on to form the bands Zigzo
, Pt. (Platinum), and are currently in Test-No.. Nao joined Nitro (who later changed their name to Food), Nakata Band (who later changed their name to The Heavenly Curve) with Zi:Kill
bassist Seiichi, and is currently in Badub. Den and Nao were both support members for Machine (duo of Penicillin
's Hakuei and Spread Beaver's Kiyoshi).
On May 9, 2011, it was announced via Nao's Twitter
and Den's blog that By-Sexual would reunite for one night. All proceeds will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross
for the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
. The concert was held on September 3 at Shinagawa Stellar and was titled "A". Around the same time, Ryo and Den teamed up with their former Zigzo
bandmate Sakura to formally restart By-Sex. They released a mini-album titled Ago on August 17 and had their first show two days later at the 2011 "Chain the Rock Festival".
Visual Kei
is a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. They were active from 1988 to 1995, when vocalist Sho left the band and they went on hiatus. In August 1996, the remaining members restarted the group under the name By-Sex (stylized as BY-SEX) with Ryo changing to vocals and guitar. In February 1998, Nao left and the group disbanded.
On September 3, 2011, By-Sexual reunited for a show at Shinagawa Stellar for the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
. Around the same time, Ryo and Den teamed up with their former Zigzo
Zigzo
Zigzo is a Japanese rock supergroup that originally started activities in 1999 and disbanded in 2002. Each member came from a prominent band and they became very popular in the indies scene...
bandmate Sakura to formally restart By-Sex.
History
By-Sexual was formed in April 1988 in OsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. That year they released the demo "Bad Boy Blues" on Free-Will records. They signed to Pony Canyon
Pony Canyon
is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
and in February 1990 they released their major debut, "So Bad Boy". Their first album Culture Shock followed in April. In 1991 their song "Bakumatsu Jyunjou Den" was used as the theme song for the movie of the same name.
In January 1995, vocalist Sho left the band and they went on hiatus. However the remaining members continued to play together under the name Alzheimer. In August 1996, they restarted the group under the name By-Sex with Ryo changing to vocals and guitar. In February 1998, Nao left and the group disbanded.
Sho made an attempt at a solo career, but soon changed to managing bands before retiring from the music industry altogether. Both Ryo and Den went on to form the bands Zigzo
Zigzo
Zigzo is a Japanese rock supergroup that originally started activities in 1999 and disbanded in 2002. Each member came from a prominent band and they became very popular in the indies scene...
, Pt. (Platinum), and are currently in Test-No.. Nao joined Nitro (who later changed their name to Food), Nakata Band (who later changed their name to The Heavenly Curve) with Zi:Kill
Zi:Kill
Zi:Kill was an influential Japanese visual kei rock band active from 1987 to 1994 . The core members were vocalist Tusk, bassist Seiichi and guitarist Ken. They were featured in a chapter of Karl Taro Greenfeld's novel Speed Tribes...
bassist Seiichi, and is currently in Badub. Den and Nao were both support members for Machine (duo of Penicillin
Penicillin (band)
Penicillin is a visual kei alternative rock band formed in Tokyo, Japan in 1992.-History:Formed by friends at Tokai University in Kanagawa, Japan on February 14, 1992 Penicillin went on to become one of the largest acts in the visual kei scene and is still thriving today...
's Hakuei and Spread Beaver's Kiyoshi).
On May 9, 2011, it was announced via Nao's Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and Den's blog that By-Sexual would reunite for one night. All proceeds will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross
Japanese Red Cross
The ' is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.The Imperial Family of Japan traditionally has supported the society, with Empress as Honorary President and other royal family members as vice-presidents. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo and local chapters are set up in all 47...
for the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
. The concert was held on September 3 at Shinagawa Stellar and was titled "A". Around the same time, Ryo and Den teamed up with their former Zigzo
Zigzo
Zigzo is a Japanese rock supergroup that originally started activities in 1999 and disbanded in 2002. Each member came from a prominent band and they became very popular in the indies scene...
bandmate Sakura to formally restart By-Sex. They released a mini-album titled Ago on August 17 and had their first show two days later at the 2011 "Chain the Rock Festival".
By-Sex
- Ryoji "Ryo" Okamoto – vocals, guitar 1996–1998, 2011–present (ZigzoZigzoZigzo is a Japanese rock supergroup that originally started activities in 1999 and disbanded in 2002. Each member came from a prominent band and they became very popular in the indies scene...
, Pt., Test-No.) - Hiroyuki "Den" Onishi – bass 1996–1998, 2011–present (Sister's No Future, ZigzoZigzoZigzo is a Japanese rock supergroup that originally started activities in 1999 and disbanded in 2002. Each member came from a prominent band and they became very popular in the indies scene...
, Pt., Test-No.) - Yasunori "Sakura" Sakurazawa – drums 2011–present (L'Arc~en~Ciel, ZigzoZigzoZigzo is a Japanese rock supergroup that originally started activities in 1999 and disbanded in 2002. Each member came from a prominent band and they became very popular in the indies scene...
, Sons of All PussysSons of All PussysSons of All Pussys is a Japanese rock band. Formed in 2002 by Ken, his former L'Arc-en-Ciel band mate Sakura, and Germany born model Ein .- Members :* Ken - vocals, guitar * Ein - bass* Sakura - drums Sons of All Pussys (typeset as SONS OF ALL PUSSYS, abbreviated as S.O.A.P.) is a Japanese rock...
, Lion Heads, Rayflower)
Former member
- Naoyuki "Nao" Fujimoto – drums 1996–1998 (Nitro/Food, Nakata Band/The Heavenly Curve, Badub)
By-Sexual
- Sho Yamanoi – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
1988–1995, 2011 (Solo, Retired) - Ryoji "Ryo" Okamoto – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
1988–1995, 2011 - Hiroyuki "Den" Onishi – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
1988–1995, 2011 - Naoyuki "Nao" Fujimoto – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
1988–1995, 2011
Albums
- Culture Shock (April 21, 1990)
- Sexualty (November 14, 1990), OriconOricon, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
Albums Chart Peak Position: #5 - Cracker (October 9, 1991), #5
- 4D Pocket (September 18, 1992), #9
- Coupling Party (November 20, 1992), #14
- Young Sprits (June 2, 1993), #21
- 94 Love (April 6, 1994), #21
- Cool (November 18, 1994), #40
- Album (April 5, 1995, compilation album), #34
- Anthology By-Sexual Best (December 18, 2002, compilation album)
Singles
- "So Bad Boy" (February 21, 1990), Oricon Singles Chart Peak Position: 16
- "Be Free" (March 21, 1990), #14
- "Get, Start, Don't Stop, Go Go!" (July 25, 1990), #12
- "Flapper" (October 24, 1990), #8
- "Dynamite Girl" (April 24, 1991), #14
- "Bakumatsu Jyunjou Den/Okita Sousi wa B Cup" (幕末純情伝／沖田総司はBカップ, June 21, 1991), #12
- "Hysteric" (September 21, 1991), #12
- "Hurry Up! Let It Go!" (January 1, 1992), #20
- "Deep Kiss" (September 18, 1992), #25
- "Thank You for Smile" (May 21, 1993), #56
- "Media Junky" (September 17, 1993), #43
- "Romantic" (March 18, 1994), #56
- "Cool Heart" (October 21, 1994), #66
Videos
- Film By-Sexual 1
- Film By-Sexual 2
- Film By-Sexual 3
- Film By-Sexual 4
- Film By-Sexual 5
- Film By-Sexual 6
Books
- Penalty Area
- In and Out of By-Sexual Kaizoku Ban (In and Out of BY-SEXUAL 海賊版)
- Kongetsu no By-Chan!! (今月のばいちゃん！！)