Deadman (stylized as deadman) is a Japanese
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
band founded in
Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...
in 2000. The group gained notoriety for popularizing the
Nagoya kei
is a subgenre of the Japanese visual kei movement that developed in the early 1990s music scene of Nagoya, Japan. The term actually developed before visual kei was coined, and gradually died out as the latter gained more popularity. Often cons ...
subgenre of
visual kei
, abbreviated , is a category of Japanese musicians that have a strong focus on extravagant stage costumes that originated in Japan during the early 1980s. Koji Dejima of '' Bounce'' wrote that visual kei is not a specific sound, but rather it " ...
, which is a lot "darker" than most and focuses more on musical composition. Deadman also quickly became known for vocalist Mako's heavily
melancholic lyrical themes, with the music itself touching on
alternative rock
Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...
in sound.
The group disbanded in 2006 without explanation. Mako and guitarist Aie reunited as Deadman in 2019.
History
Original run (2000–2006)
Guitarist and leader Aie, vocalist Mako and bassist Yukino (formerly known as "Yuki") were all previously in the band Kein. In 2000 they formed Deadman with drummer Toki, whom Aie previously played with in Lamiel. They played their first concert on January 6, 2001. Shortly after the April release of their first single, "Subliminal Effect", Yukino left the group and was replaced by Takamasa previously of Lady. Yukino went on to the bands Gullet,
lynch., and DimmDivision. In November 2001, Deadman released their first mini-album, ''Site of Scaffold''. After a handful of singles (which had different variants), the band's first full-length studio album ''No Alternative'' was released on March 8, 2003. ''701125'', their second mini-album, was originally sold on tour or by
mail order
Mail order is the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote methods such as:
* Sending an order form in the mail
* Placing an order by telephone call
...
in April 2004. It would later receive a proper release on June 8, 2005 under the title ''701125+2''.
In April 2005, Takamasa left and it was not until July when kazuya replaced him on bass. At the end of the year they released their second full-length album, ''In The Direction of Sunrise and Night Light''. At the beginning of 2006, Deadman played a couple of shows in Europe. But in March they announced they would be disbanding and on May 23, 2006 performed their last concert at
Shibuya O-East.
Mako has stated that he showed "too much of
isinner self" in Deadman and struggled mentally both during its run and after the band broke up.
Aie went on to form the band The Studs in 2007 with ex-bassist Yukino. They went on hiatus in 2009. He then formed both HighFashionParalyze and The God and Death Stars in 2010, all the while performing occasional solo shows. HighFashionParalyze recruited
Sakura
The cherry blossom, or sakura, is the flower of trees in ''Prunus'' subgenus '' Cerasus''. ''Sakura'' usually refers to flowers of ornamental cherry trees, such as cultivars of ''Prunus serrulata'', not trees grown for their fruit (although ...
and kazu (
Kagerou) in 2016 and changed their name to Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy. On May 29, 2008, Mako released a photobook called ''Buried Alive by Words'', which came with a CD of a song called "Buried with the Light" that features
Közi on guitar and bass. kazuya released a solo album, under the name Gift, called ''A Man's Walking is Succession of Falls'' on June 20, 2008.
In October 2021, Mako formed Loa-Roar with former Merry Go Round drummer Kyo. After 22 years, Mako, Yukino (who went back to using the name "Yuki") and Aie reunited Kein in 2022.
Reunion (2019–2024)
After 13 years, Mako and Aie announced a reunion as Deadman in March 2019. Aie said he had been asked by event organizers to reunite the band several times in the past decade, but he just happened to be talking to Mako and
Merry bassist Tetsu about doing something together when the offer came again in 2018 and, to his surprise, Mako agreed.
The vocalist said he turned down previous offers because he did not want to reignite the mental "trauma" he suffered from during and after Deadman, but agreed this time because with just Aie, Tetsu and himself, it would not be the "real" Deadman and he therefore expected it to be fun with a party-like atmosphere.
After a performance on June 22 at Nagoya Bottom Line, where Aie revealed that the reunion would last for a year until September 2020, they played a one-man live at Ebisu Liquidroom on September 9, 2019. The duo were supported both times by Tetsu on bass and Asanao (lynch.) on drums. After two more performances in October and November, Deadman went on a three-date tour throughout December. In February 2020, the duo embarked on a joint tour with Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy. Another joint tour, this time with
Cali Gari, was set to take place in March.
However, those dates and others were first postponed and then cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
The COVID-19 pandemic in Japan has resulted in confirmed cases of COVID-19 and deaths, along with 33,728,878 recoveries.
Government of Japan, The Japanese government confirmed the country's first case of the disease on 16 January 2020 in a ...
. As a result, the duo decided to extend their reunion into 2021, which marked Deadman's 20th anniversary.
They also announced plans to re-record some of their old songs, which were decided by a poll of their fan club.
A concert to mark the anniversary took place at Nagoya Diamond Hall on January 6, 2021, exactly 20 years since Deadman's first-ever performance.
They performed a concert on May 23 at
Tsutaya O-East, which is the same venue where they played their final concert in 2006.
For the performance, the band replicated the lighting from the show 15 years earlier and gathered as much of the same staff as they could.
The joint tour with Cali Gari took place in June, during which the two bands released the collaborative song "Shikeidai no Elevator", and Deadman held their own tour in July.
At a December 4 concert at Shinjuku Loft celebrating the 20th anniversary of David Skull No Records, former Deadman members kazuya and Toki joined Mako and Aie onstage during the encore.
''I am Here'', Deadman's first album in 15 years, was released on January 15, 2022 by Maverick DC Group. Featuring re-recordings of old songs and one new track, it was recorded with kazuya and Toki on bass and drums respectively.
Aie stated that although both work as
salarymen
The term is a Japanese word for salaried workers. In Japanese popular culture, it is portrayed as a white-collar worker who shows unwavering loyalty and commitment to his employer, prioritizing work over anything else, including family. "Salary ...
, they were able to participate by recording only three songs a month for about a year and a half.
The album was supported by a three-date tour from January 22 to February 11.
A special concert was held at
Spotify O-East on May 23 where two different line-ups of Deadman performed; Mako and Aie performed a set with former members kazuya and Toki, and another with current support members kazu and Asanao. Between September and November, Deadman held three two-man lives at Shinjuku Blaze, each with a different young visual kei band; the first with Razor, the second with
Arlequin, and the third with
Dezert.
In 2023, Deadman held the Dead Reminiscence tour exclusively for members of their fanclub between February 21 and 26. The Rabid Dog Walking a Tightrope tour took place between March 20 and April 16, and "Rapid Dog", a new song recorded with kazu and Asanao, was given out for free at the venues. ''Dead Reminiscence'', a six-track album of old songs re-recorded with kazu and Asanao, was sold on the tour before being offered by mail order only. On May 23, they held a two-man live with Kein at Spotify O-East. Another two-man live, this time with
Mucc
is a Japanese visual kei Rock music, rock band, formed in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1997. The classic line up of Tatsuro (singer), Tatsuro on vocals, Miya (musician), Miya on guitar, Yukke on bass, and Satochi on drums was solidified in 1999 foll ...
, was held at the same venue on July 28. The two bands released a
split single at the show, with Deadman's contribution being a song called "Neko to Blanket, Yorisoi-meguri au Ubugoe". Deadman released ''Genealogie der Moral'', their first album of new material in 19 years that was recorded with kazu and Asanao, on March 30, 2024, and supported it with a 15-date nationwide tour. The self-cover album ''Living Hell'', which features
Miya and Aki (
Sid) as guests, was also released on the same day, but sold only at concerts or via mail order.
25th Anniversary (2025–present)
Deadman are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2025. A three-date fan club members-only tour was held in February, followed by the ten-date To Be and Not to Be - Act 1 tour, which took them to five cities between March 29 to May 23. The four-track
EP ''Lepidoptera wa Cyan Blue'', which will only be sold at concerts and through the Maverick online store, will be released to commemorate the anniversary. As will the To Be and Not to Be -Cyan Blue- tour, which will begin the same day and end on August 31.
Musical style
Deadman cites
Buck-Tick
Buck-Tick (stylized as BUCK-TICK) is a Japanese rock band formed in Fujioka, Gunma in 1983. The classic lineup of lead vocalist Atsushi Sakurai, lead guitarist Hisashi Imai, rhythm guitarist Hidehiko Hoshino, bassist Yutaka Higuchi and drum ...
,
Chage and Aska
were a Japanese popular music duo composed of male singer-songwriters from Fukuoka Prefecture: and . To date they have sold over 31 million albums and singles in Japan.
History
They were formed in the late 1970s at the suggestion of the A& ...
and
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – ) was an American musician. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge band Nirvana (band), Nirvana. Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establis ...
as inspiring them.
Their music incorporates several different genres of rock, drawing heavily from
alternative rock
Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...
and
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...
. A style reminiscent of
gothic rock
Gothic rock (also called goth rock or simply goth) is a style of rock music that emerged from post-punk in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The first post-punk bands which shifted toward dark music with gothic overtones include Siouxsie an ...
,
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
and
post-punk
Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of music that emerged in late 1977 in the wake of punk rock. Post-punk musicians departed from punk's fundamental elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a broader, more experiment ...
can also be seen, in what is much of Deadman's musical sporadic-ism. Often incorporated into individual songs are several "
movements
Movement may refer to:
Generic uses
* Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece
* Movement (sign language), a hand movement when signing
* Motion, commonly referred to as movement
* Movement (music), a division of a larger c ...
" that seem to drift back and forth, with erratic vocals and sounds.
Mako's lyrics usually touch on the "psychological instability of mankind, the mortality of humans, and religion", particularly
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
and
Shinto
, also called Shintoism, is a religion originating in Japan. Classified as an East Asian religions, East Asian religion by Religious studies, scholars of religion, it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan's indigenous religion and as ...
ism references are made often.
He said that some of them are based on actual experiences that he had, and feels one should never lie when writing lyrics.
The title of Deadman's album ''701125'' is a reference to the date author
Yukio Mishima
Kimitake Hiraoka ( , ''Hiraoka Kimitake''; 14 January 192525 November 1970), known by his pen name Yukio Mishima ( , ''Mishima Yukio''), was a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor, model, Shintoist, Ultranationalism (Japan), ultranationalis ...
died, November 25, 1970,
while the title of ''Genealogie der Moral'' was taken from
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher. He began his career as a classical philology, classical philologist, turning to philosophy early in his academic career. In 1869, aged 24, Nietzsche bec ...
's ''
On the Genealogy of Morality''.
Members
Current members
* – vocals (2000–2006, 2019–present)
*Aie (stylized as aie) – guitar (2000–2006, 2019–present)
Former members
*Toki – drums (2000–2006)
* – bass (2000–2001)
*Takamasa – bass (2001–2005)
*Kazuya (stylized as kazuya) – bass (2005–2006)
Support members
* – bass
*Kazu (stylized as kazu) – bass
* – drums
* – drums
*Lotto – drums
Discography
Studio albums and mini-albums
* ''Site of Scaffold'' (November 21, 2001)
* ''No Alternative'' (March 8, 2003),
Oricon Albums Chart
The Oricon Albums Chart is the Japanese music industry standard albums popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Oricon originally published LP, CT, Cartridge and CD charts prior to the establishment of the Oricon A ...
Peak Position: No. 160
* ''701125'' (April 2004; sold on tour or by
mail order
Mail order is the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote methods such as:
* Sending an order form in the mail
* Placing an order by telephone call
...
)
* ''701125+2'' (June 8, 2005)
* ''In the Direction of Sunrise and Night Light'' (December 14, 2005) No. 189
[deadmanのアルバム売り上げランキング](_blank)
Retrieved 2011-07-24
* ''Genealogie der Moral'' (March 30, 2024)
*
Other albums
*
* ''No Alternative 2.0'' (November 30, 2009; remix album)
* ''I am Here'' (January 15, 2022; self-cover album) No. 67
* ''Dead Reminiscence'' (March 20, 2023; self-cover album, sold on tour or by mail order)
* ''Living Hell'' (March 30, 2024; self-cover album, sold on tour or by mail order)
Singles
* "Subliminal Effect" (April 25, 2001)
* "In Media" (August 20, 2001)
* "Jekyll and Hyde of Early Afternoon" (White Version, original songs July 27, 2002; split single with Blast)
* "Jekyll and Hyde of Early Afternoon" (Black Version, cover songs July 27, 2002; split single with Blast)
*
* "Family" (Osaka Edition, sold only on April 13, 2003)
* "Family" (Nagoya Edition, sold only on April 23, 2003)
* "Family" (Tokyo Edition, sold only on April 26, 2003)
* ,
Oricon Singles Chart
The Oricon Singles Chart is the Japanese music industry-standard Single (music), singles popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Chart rankings are based on physical singles' sales. Until 2017, Oricon did not track down ...
Peak Position: No. 102
*
* "°C+1" (sold only on March 10, 2004)
* "°C" (October 6, 2004) No. 85
* No. 117
* "Rapid Dog" (distributed for free on tour from March 20 – April 16, 2023)
*
Home videos
* ''2 Clips'' (April 2004; sold only on tour)
* ''0605231830'' (December 27, 2006)
* ''Endroll'' (December 27, 2006)
* ''Endroll 2006/Endroll 2022'' (March 20, 2023; 1 Blu-ray and 2 CD boxset)
* ''Documentary of Genealogie der Moral'' (March 29, 2025; fan club members only)
References
External links
Deadman at David Skull No RecordsOfficial news blog
{{Authority control
Visual kei musical groups
Japanese alternative rock groups
Japanese indie rock groups
Japanese musical quartets
Japanese punk rock groups
Musical groups established in 2000
Musical groups disestablished in 2006
Musical groups reestablished in 2019
Musical groups from Aichi Prefecture