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Psycho le Cému is a Japanese Visual rock band. Its members are AYA, DAISHI, Lida, seek, and YURAサマ (YURA-sama). Formed in 1999, Psycho le Cému distinguished themselves in the Gothic Lolita-dominated visual kei scene via their cosplay, with its members dressing in colorful, extravagant outfits inspired by anime and video game characters.
Psycho le Cému's cosplay inspired a dedicated niche fanbase, with fans who shared the band's interest in anime and cosplay, and some releases and events were done exclusively for members of Kronos, the band’s fan club. The band creates a new set of costumes for each single. Promotional music videos often have storylines based on anime or literature. The band also performs as an alter-ego band called "Bad Boys, Be Ambitious!"
History
Psycho le Cému formed in early 1999, and released their first maxi-single “Kronos” independently in March of 2002. After playing a sold-out gig at Tokyo's famed visual-kei venue Rock May Kan, the band joined strong indie label Limited Records, who released their November 2000 maxi single “Risokyu Ryokou Guide Disc”. All 15 tour shows supporting this release were sold-out, including the finale at Shibuya’s On Air West.
In September 2001, Psycho le Cému released their first album, Doppelganger, and began to play nationally and in larger venues. The group was managed by visual kei specialists Sweet Heart, who have also managed Luna Sea, Shazuna, La’cryma Christi, Pierrot, and Plastic Tree.
In 2003 Psycho le Cému was signed by major Japanese label Crown, and their next two singles went into the top ten of Oricon's singles chart. In mid-2004 the band made appearances at American anime festivals in Anaheim and Dallas, and documented the trip in the form of a DVD -- Psycho le Cému in USA Live & Document -- released in September 2003. The group also kept active in Japan, amongst other shows, they appeared later that year at a festival sponsored by Japan’s visual-kei oriented magazine Fool’s Mate. The group returned to the States in early 2005 and performed at three anime conventions: Katsucon in Arlington, Virginia, Megacon in Orlando, Florida, and The San Francisco Animation Convention in San Francisco, California.Artist profile at Nippop, by Keith Cahoon.
On May 31, 2005, singer DAISHI underwent a urine analysis that showed up positive for stimulants and was arrested by Kanagawa police. When the story broke in the media, all of the band's merchandise was removed from shelves in Japan. On June 5, the band announced via their official website that they would be on hiatus due to DAISHI's arrest. On September 30th, DAISHI was sentenced for one year and ten months with a suspended sentence of three years by a court in Yokohama.DAISHI timeline, via SuperCosplayBand. URL accessed July 03, 2006.
The members have formed side projects in the meantime; AYA and seek are in the band ISABELLE with three other musicians, and Lida and YURA-sama are in Dacco. They have ended their relationship with their label, Crown Records, as well as with their management, Sweet Child Entertainments, and are pursuing their projects independently. Solo Projects, via SuperCosplayBand. URL accessed July 03, 2006.
Recently, the SYNECTICS and Psycho le Cemu homepages stated that Psycho le Cemu will begin touring in May to support the release of a new album. In addition, all of the merchandise that had been pulled from store shelves has been reinstated, and the Live in the USA II DVD, which was delayed due to DAISHI's arrest, has finally been released. However, at this time there has been no official announcement as to whether or not Psycho le Cému will return with DAISHI on vocals for the upcoming tour and album.
Members
Aya - Guitar, dance
Real name: Naoki Ohkawa
Birthdate: March 17, 1980
Blood type: O
Costume role: the girl
Defining characteristics: pink hair
Daishi - Vocals
Real Name: Daishi Kajinaga
Birthdate: February 5, 1976
Blood Type: B
Costume role: the hero
Defining characteristics: shortest band member
Lida - Lead guitar, composition
Real Name: Tatsuya Akeda
Birthdate: January 16, 1976
Blood Type: A
Costume role: sidekick, "Whatever's left over" panel discussion at Pacific Media Expo 2004, via SuperCosplayBand. URL accessed July 03, 2006.
Defining characteristics: bright orange hair
Seek - Bass
Real Name: Takuma Shiramizu
Birthdate: September 14, 1979
Blood Type: AB
Costume role: monster
Defining characteristics: piercings
Yura-sama - Drums, backing vocals, choreographer
Real Name: Takeshi Kuroiwa
Birthdate: September 12, 1979
Blood Type: AB
Costume role: warrior, mystic
Defining characteristics: Toe (aka white) hair.
Discography
- Doppelganger ~mou hitori no jibun~ (26 September 2000)
- Prism (17 July 2002)
- FRONTIERS (27 August 2003) - An original mini-figure was included with the first pressing
- Beautiful World ~Kono hitomi ni utsuranai mono~ (11 October 2004)
- Psycho le Cemu BEST (Greatest Indies Hits) (26 April 2006)
- ~EPILOGUE~ Kataritsugareru Monogatri - A card signed by all the members was included with the pre-orders between 20 February - 24 April (Only available through mail order in Japan) (15 May 2006)
- Psycho le Cemu Best (Greatest Major Hits) (23 August 2006)
Singles
- -Kronos- (21 March 2000)
- Risoukyou ryokou Guide Disc (22 November 2000)
- A Trip to the Arcadia (18 July 2001) - A double single disk set
- REMEMBRANCE (8 January 2001)
- Ai no uta (2 October 2002)
- Gekiai Merry-Go-Round / Shunkashuutou (16 January 2003)
- Roman hikou (23 April 2003) (1 May 2003) - A limited first print had special packaging.
- Miracle High Tension! (21 May 2003)
- A Trip to the Arcadia (8 October 2003) - Re-Release
- Omoide aruki (18 February 2004)
- Michi no sora (9 June 2004)
- Yume kazaguruma (6 October 2004)
- LOVE IS DEAD A-type and B-type (27 April 2005)
Demo Tapes
DVD
- Psycho le Cému Majikaru BOX (25 December 2003) - In addition to the DVD, it has five character figures of the band, a pen with a LED light, a traveling pouch, a "magical" towel, and a set of twelve post cards.
- Psycho le Cému in USA - LIVE & DOCUMENT - (15 September 2004) - Psycho le Cému's tour of two anime and manga conventions in Anaheim, California and Dallas, Texas.
- ~Risoukyou ryokou Zepp~ (9 March 2005) - Live footage from their January 2003 performance at Zepp Tokyo.
- Psycho le Cému in USA II (19 April 2006) - Psycho le Cému's second DVD of their U.S. tour which took place between February 18, 2005 and March 6, 2005. Includes concert footage and behind-the scenes video.
Books
- Psycho le Cému Magical Party Daihyakka (Magical Party Encyclopedia) (30 November 2003) - A compilation of Party #'s 1-31 that were organized by B-Pass magazine. Includes a bonus DVD of Party 26-31.
- The Magical Photograph Daizenshu (The Magical Photograph Collection) - (25 June 2004) - Psycho le Cemu's first photobook.
- Psycho le Cemu ~The birth of everyting~ (October 2005) - An artbook of original drawings by Lida of all of PLC's indies costumes up to Gobou Hoshi Fantasy. Included with the book was a 2-song CD by Lida titled "CRIMSON." (Yes, they spelled "everything" like that in the book.)
References
External links
- Psycho le Cému Official Website
- SYNECTICS The official site for Dacco (Lida & YURA-sama) and ISABELLE (seek & AYA) since their return to independent status.
"Psycho le Cému"