Nil (Japanese band)
Encyclopedia
Nil is a Japan
ese rock band that was formed in 1998 by Tetsu Takano
(ex-Malice Mizer
, ex-Mega8Ball, ex-Zigzo
, The JuneJulyAugust), Hiroyuki Kashimoto and Kyoshi Moro. The original intent of Nil was to become Tetsu's solo unit and even though it has become a full fledged band, all lyrics and songwriting has been solely handled by Tetsu. The band only lasted briefly during its first incarnation and went on hiatus by the end of 1998. It would not resurface until the middle of 2002 when they would start recording again and Tetsu formed his own record label, Afro Skull Records. The name "Nil" literally means "absolute zero" and as an acronym refers to "native irreligious language".
In 2005, Nil had many setbacks which resulted in the departure of founding members Kashimoto and Moro who both left the band on January 10, 2005, the last day of the "Touring Inferno" tour. Eventually replacement drummer Furuton (ex-Oblivion Dust
, ex-Mega8Ball support) left the band after only 6 months. By the end of 2005 Nil finally settled down with the addition of Masaru Kobayashi (ex-Soy Sauce Sonix, ex-Sads
, The Cro-Magnons
) on bass and Kazama Hiroyuki (ex-Fantastic Designs) on drums.
In the years since resuming activities, Nil has recorded and released 5 full albums, 7 mini albums, 1 cover album, 1 live album, 1 compilation album, 3 singles, 2 fan-club only CDs and 8 DVDs. Tetsu has claimed that Nil is his life's work and despite some bumps in the road he has showed no signs of slowing down with his music and the band Nil.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese rock band that was formed in 1998 by Tetsu Takano
Tetsu Takano
is a Japanese musician, probably best known as the first vocalist of the visual kei band Malice Mizer. After leaving Malice Mizer, he joined Mega8Ball from 1995 to 1997. He then started the band Zigzo with other formerly popular musicians, they were active from 1999 to 2002...
(ex-Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer
Malice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
, ex-Mega8Ball, ex-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...
, The JuneJulyAugust), Hiroyuki Kashimoto and Kyoshi Moro. The original intent of Nil was to become Tetsu's solo unit and even though it has become a full fledged band, all lyrics and songwriting has been solely handled by Tetsu. The band only lasted briefly during its first incarnation and went on hiatus by the end of 1998. It would not resurface until the middle of 2002 when they would start recording again and Tetsu formed his own record label, Afro Skull Records. The name "Nil" literally means "absolute zero" and as an acronym refers to "native irreligious language".
In 2005, Nil had many setbacks which resulted in the departure of founding members Kashimoto and Moro who both left the band on January 10, 2005, the last day of the "Touring Inferno" tour. Eventually replacement drummer Furuton (ex-Oblivion Dust
Oblivion Dust
Oblivion Dust is a Japanese post-grunge/alternative rock band very influenced by early 90’s American rock bands, but with a trademark sonority that makes the band unique...
, ex-Mega8Ball support) left the band after only 6 months. By the end of 2005 Nil finally settled down with the addition of Masaru Kobayashi (ex-Soy Sauce Sonix, ex-Sads
SADS (band)
Sads is a post-punk and glam rock band formed in Japan in 1999. The band made its debut with the single "Tokyo". They released nine singles and four albums before their disbandment in 2003. In 2010, Sads reformed with a more metal sound and signed to the Avex label...
, The Cro-Magnons
The Cro-Magnons
is a Japanese rock band founded in July 2006 by Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima , previously of The Blue Hearts and The High-Lows, with Masaru Kobayashi and Katsuji Kirita .- History :...
) on bass and Kazama Hiroyuki (ex-Fantastic Designs) on drums.
In the years since resuming activities, Nil has recorded and released 5 full albums, 7 mini albums, 1 cover album, 1 live album, 1 compilation album, 3 singles, 2 fan-club only CDs and 8 DVDs. Tetsu has claimed that Nil is his life's work and despite some bumps in the road he has showed no signs of slowing down with his music and the band Nil.
Members
- Tetsu TakanoTetsu Takanois a Japanese musician, probably best known as the first vocalist of the visual kei band Malice Mizer. After leaving Malice Mizer, he joined Mega8Ball from 1995 to 1997. He then started the band Zigzo with other formerly popular musicians, they were active from 1999 to 2002...
(ex-Ner-vous, ex-Malice MizerMalice MizerMalice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
, ex-Mega8Ball, ex-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...
, The JuneJulyAugust) – 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...
, 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...
, songwriter, leader (1998, 2002–present) - Masaru Kobayashi (ex-Soy Sauce Sonix, ex-SadsSADS (band)Sads is a post-punk and glam rock band formed in Japan in 1999. The band made its debut with the single "Tokyo". They released nine singles and four albums before their disbandment in 2003. In 2010, Sads reformed with a more metal sound and signed to the Avex label...
, The Cro-MagnonsThe Cro-Magnonsis a Japanese rock band founded in July 2006 by Hiroto Kōmoto and Masatoshi Mashima , previously of The Blue Hearts and The High-Lows, with Masaru Kobayashi and Katsuji Kirita .- History :...
) – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2005–present) - Hiroyuki Kazama (ex-Fantastic Designs) – 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 ....
(2005–present)
Former
- Hiroyuki "Marawo" Kashimoto – bass (1998, 2002–2005)
- Kyoshi Moro (ex-Ner-vous, Mugiwara Boushi) – drums (1998, 2002–2005)
- Sota "Furuton" Ofuruton (ex-Oblivion DustOblivion DustOblivion Dust is a Japanese post-grunge/alternative rock band very influenced by early 90’s American rock bands, but with a trademark sonority that makes the band unique...
, ex-Mega8Ball support) – drums (2005)
Albums
- 12Inplosion (May 8, 2004)
- The song "Hate Beat!" was used as the ending theme of the TV program Quiz! Hexagon.
- Excalibur (エクスカリバー, April 6, 2005)
- The Painkiller (January 24, 2007)
- The Great Spirits (March 19, 2008, compilation album)
- Multiness (マルチネス, September 10, 2008)
- Scotoma (September 16, 2009)
Mini albums
- Nil from Hell (September 1, 2002)
- Sayonara da Vinci (さよならダヴィンチ, December 1, 2002)
- Down to Dawn (September 18, 2003)
- The Covering Inferno (November 25, 2004, cover album)
- Agape (アガペー, November 2, 2005, limited edition EP available only at live appearances or by mail-order)
- Scherzo (スケルツオ, November 2, 2005)
- Man Woman (マンウーマン, October 25, 2006)
- Guitar and Skirt (ギタートスカート, November 22, 2006)
- Aria (December 13, 2006)
- Geron (ゲロン, September 12, 2007)
- Warp Rock (September 8, 2010)
Singles
- "Drop" (March 16, 2005)
- "Gita to Sukato" (ギタートスカート, November 22, 2006)
- "Aria" (December 13, 2006)
Compilations
- Search Out the Jams: The Pogo Tribute Album (October 8, 2008)
- Contributed a cover of the song "1990 (Machiwabita Toki)" (1990(待ちわびた時))
DVDs
- Stronger Than Paranoid (July 2004, PV collection)
- Tears for Killers (March 4, 2006, limited edition collection of PVs available only at live appearances or by mail-order)
- The Pirates (February 2007)
- Tonight! Revolution! (March 24, 2007, live concert)
- MultinessSpecial (April 11, 2009, live concert)
- Sco-Tomato (September 13, 2009)
- "W.H.M" (January 1, 2010, live concert)
- The Warp Rock Studio (September 20, 2010, PV collection)