Posted By : Arie Putra Lahatta

L'Arc-En-Ciel In February 1991, tetsu and hyde, along with Hiro (guitar) and pero (drums), formed the band and named it after a film that tetsu had seen. After a year of gaining notoriety in their hometown of Osaka, Hiro left the band on June 12, 1992. pero soon followed on December 30 of that same year, supposedly to join up with his friend Hiro again. tetsu convinced his friend ken to quit his studies in architectural design and join the band. A new drummer, sakura, was recruited after tetsu saw him play. In 1993, the band released their debut album, Dune under the indies label Danger Crue, which was met with plenty of success and rose to number one on the Oricon indies charts.

This caught the attention of some major labels, so in 1994, they signed for Sony's Ki/oon division, releasing their second album, Tierra (Spanish for "Earth") that same year. Heavenly followed in 1995, and True, their first million seller, in 1996.

In 1997, sakura was arrested for heroin possession and quit the band. This became lowest point in the band's history. When news of sakura's arrest became public every ounce of Laruku's popularity was stripped. Just as they had reached a peak in their career, CDs were being pulled off the shelves, and any songs that were used as theme songs were quickly replaced. There was no evidence of the band's existence, and their next single "The Fourth Avenue Cafe" was indefinitely postponed and has never been released. Many believe that the whole incident was blown tremendously out of proportion.

L'Arc-en-Ciel was quiet for a little while, but they were not ready to give up. They continued to be featured on magazines, but as a three-man band L'Arc-en-Ciel. They then created a "L'Arc-en-Ciel cover band", "The Zombies", which was the three-man band L'Arc-en-Ciel themselves covering and making fun of their own songs. They also covered artists such as Marilyn Manson.

In 1998, they released their first single since sakura left 「虹」 (Niji — Rainbow). yukihiro was the drummer for this release, but was only listed as a support member. However, the band members were quickly impressed with his drumming skills and made him the official drummer not long after niji's release. L'Arc-en-Ciel was back, and what better way to prove themselves then by organizing a concert, aptly titled "Reincarnation"; this was the reincarnation of L'Arc-en-Ciel.

The first concert date of the new tour in Tokyo Dome had an attendance of 56,000 and sold out in four minutes, a Tokyo Dome record as well as a testament to their popularity. Their next album was Heart, in 1998, which, like their second major album "Heavenly" is seen as a transitional album: trying to forget the past, but also trying to maintain their originality and success.

L'Arc-en-Ciel released three more albums of new material during the next few years. Ark and Ray which were released simultaneously in 1999, and were the first Japanese albums to be released the same day in many different Asian countries. The release of Ark and Ray marked the high point of their career, with each selling over two million copies (no other release from the band managed to reach two million). Real followed in 2000, which was the last CD of new material for some time, although many more compilation and remix albums would follow. L'Arc-en-Ciel also composed several theme songs for various anime series, including DNA², Rurouni Kenshin, Great Teacher Onizuka, and Fullmetal Alchemist. They also created the ending theme song to the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.

After a while, however, the various members began working on various solo projects. hyde released several solo albums (as HYDE), ken founded Sons of All Pussys, tetsu started Tetsu69 and yukihiro played with Acid Android. The band seemed close to calling it quits.

In June 2003, Laruku came back to play a series of seven concerts in Tokyo called the "Shibuya Seven Days", and announced a new album for release in the following year. So, in February 2004, their first single in more than three years came out, followed by another one in early March. Finally, their long-awaited new album, Smile, was released on March 31.

Shortly afterwards, on June 2, 2004, the single 自由への招待　 ("Jiyuu e no Shoutai") introduced "P'unk-en-Ciel", a partial change, for the first time on CD with "Milky Way". In the past, the band also played a P'unk version of "Round and Round" live.

On July 31, 2004, L'Arc-en-Ciel made their U.S. concert debut at Otakon 2004. Approximately 12,000 people attended the concert, which was held at a outside venue for the first time in Otakon's musical guests history, the 1st Mariner Arena located near the Baltimore Convention Center.

In 2005, the band released various singles, including "Killing Me" , "New World", and "Jojoushi", which appeared in their last album, Awake, released on June 22 with twelve tracks, including "Lost Heaven", the end theme for the Fullmetal Alchemist film.

In addition, the band will go on their "Asialive 2005" tour, and as the name suggests, the band will be performing in Korea and China as well as Japan. Japan's two concerts will take place at the Tokyo Dome. More information about "Asialive 2005" can be found at their official website at the bottom of this page.

On May 31, 2005, Tofu Records, Sony Music Japan's U.S. label, released the DVD of the Otakon 2004 concert.

On July 20, 2005 "Link" was released; also known as the opening theme of the film Fullmetal Alchemist, it was the first Laruku single after "Awake". This single also includes a new version of "Promised Land".

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It’s not always recognized in today’s “I want it all now” world, but patience is a virtue. And Huntington Beach, California rockers Avenged Sevenfold are being rewarded for remembering that golden rule. After releasing two highly successful albums on an indie label (Sounding The Seventh Trumpet and Waking The Fallen), the quintet is set to unleash its major label debut, City Of Evil, on Warner Bros. Records. City Of Evil, co-produced by Avenged Sevenfold, reunites the group with producer Mudrock (Waking The Fall).

“We’re at the point now where we’ve come into our own,” vocalist M. Shadows says of the ambitious City Of Evil, an 11-song collection that gives a middle finger to the idea of categorization, bridging the sonic guitar assault of Iron Maiden with the frenetic pace of Bad Religion and the musicianship of Dream Theater. “In Southern California you’re really brought up in the whole punk world. At the same time, we were growing up listening to Pantera, Megadeath, Metallica and Slayer records,” Shadows recalls. “So then you think, ‘I want to play in that kind of band, but I want to play in this kind of band.’ Then you pass that point and all of a sudden you’re just writing music and it comes out naturally. But that’s what happens cause of all the different influences we have. And we’re definitely not afraid to put anything in our songs if we think it calls for it.”

Yes, Avenged Sevenfold can rock, as the band recently did at a sold-out show at Hollywood’s Music Box Theater, where they turned the intensity of the new tunes up from 11 to about a 20, but these are musicians as well. However, as the group evidenced during the orchestral interlude in “The Wicked End,” a perfect metal moment live complemented by a boys choir and 14-piece string section, Avenged Sevenfold, in the tradition of Zeppelin, Queen, and Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “November Rain,” meld their intensity with a musical daring their hard rock forefathers would be proud of.

Those looking primarily for a cathartic release live, as so many of the kids moshing their brains out at the Music Box were, need only turn to the ferocious energy of “Bat Country,” a song written for Hunter S. Thompson about the band’s own adventures in Vegas, and the Maiden-esque guitar and Shadows’ perfect caterwaul of the line “city of evil” (where the album’s title stems from) in the opening “Beast & The Harlot.”

And while Avenged, whose influences range from Maiden, Pantera, and Guns ‘N’ Roses (Shadows calls Use Your Illusions 1 and 2 his favorite albums of all time) to Billy Joel, Queen, and Elvis Costello, may not be your typical hard rock band musically, they can hang with the best of them. Epic nights of late night fun have followed this band around the country, and it’s something all of the members freely acknowledge. They like to party, and they like to drink: and plenty. Additionally, and fitting with their chosen lifestyle, the members of Avenged could write the A7X equivalent of the Zagut guide to strip clubs in America.

“Strippers and bands have this bond,” Vengeance says. “They totally do. The band walks in and it’s like special treatment,” Shadows adds. So, what makes a good strip club? “I like strip clubs that are out of control,” he says, citing Vegas, New York and New Orleans (“It’s fucking Bourbon Street. It better be crazy,” he says) as home to some of the better establishments they’ve frequented.

Reflecting the complex personalities though that can lead a hard rock band to throw in a beautiful Flamenco guitar solo near the end of the new album’s savage “Sidewinder,” Avenged Sevenfold is far from just a party band, and it shows on City Of Evil. The album is bursting with displays of their virtuoso musicianship, from the intricate tempo changes of “Burn It Down” to the tender acoustic intro into a Spaghetti Western mixed with classical melody that provides the calm before the storm in the savage “Strength Of The World.”

The group has learned a great deal having spent the last three summers as part of the Warped tour. Shadows got some valuable advice from Fat Mike of NOFX, besides how to play Texas Hold ‘Em. “He’s like, ‘You know what, if you do this stuff long enough, you gotta fucking have fun. If you can’t have fun on tour then you’ll never last,’” Shadows recalls. “I think that’s a really important thing.”

Additionally, the quintet, which started on a Warped side stage, graduated to the second stage, and then made the move last year to main stage, a spot they’ll be returning to this year, learned a lot by the gradual progression. “We’ve seen bands that we started out with that got a little bit of a head start or an early break and they’re done. We’ve learned so much more doing it from the ground up. We’ve got so many more stories than other bands will have; so many more good times, bad times. It has made us stronger as a band too,” Vengeance says.

Hard work is what also accounts for the band’s fiercely loyal following, according to Shadows. “It’s rewarding ‘cause you know you have this really solid core fan base that has been through a lot and they believe in the band now as more than a band, it’s like a lifestyle,” he says. “If anything happens we don’t ever fall, it’s like they’re holding us up. We’re not on the radio, but everywhere we go we always have this rabid group of fans. We would’ve never had that if we had some lucky break and just jumped to the point we’re at now. I hope it gradually keeps going up. The slower you go the more I think it builds underneath you and we’re grateful for that. They can’t just get pulled out from underneath us. There’s nothing you can grab to pull; it’s fans that love that band. So, it’s very gratifying to be at this place now.”

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FORT MINOR is the hip-hop side-project of Mike Shinoda, the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of the alternative rock band Linkin Park. Shinoda's first solo album as Fort Minor, The Rising Tied, was released in 2005 with the singles "Where'd You Go" featuring Holly Brook and Jonah Matranga and "Remember the Name" featuring Styles of Beyond. Fort Minor Militia is the official fan club of the project, similar to Linkin Park Underground. Though it is technically a project by Shinoda alone, Styles of Beyond is heavily featured on "The Rising Tied" and appeared with Shinoda at photo shoots and live concerts.

History

Shinoda had been studying piano since 1993. Soon after graduating from high school in the mid-1990s, Shinoda joined drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell, and DJ Joe Hahn to form the band Xero, renamed Hybrid Theory in 1998. The next year, singer Chester Bennington joined the musicians, who finally renamed the group Linkin Park. The band was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1999 and released its debut album Hybrid Theory in 2000. In Linkin Park, Shinoda provided rap vocals in its hit singles "In the End", "Crawling", and "Papercut", and additionally keyboards for numerous other tracks. He also designed cover artwork for the band's albums. Hybrid Theory was nominated for three Grammy Awards and sold over 24 million copies. Around late 2004, Shinoda began recording his side project. The Rising Tied, the debut album of Fort Minor, was released in November 2005. Robert Hales directed its first video "Petrified", which was released the previous month. Jay-Z, who had previously collaborated with Linkin Park on the 2004 album Collision Course, was the executive producer for The Rising Tied. Shinoda told Corey Moss of MTV News that he imposed himself with a requirement to play all instruments and write all lyrics to his album except for strings, percussion, or choir parts. "Where'd You Go", its first single, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; following was "Remember the Name" at #66. Another track, "Kenji" describes the experiences of Shinoda's family during the Japanese American internment of World War II. Due to the success of "Where'd You Go", on the week of April 26, 2006, sales of The Rising Tied increased by 45 percent, and the album chart position went up 89 positions to #104 on the Billboard 200."Where'd You Go" was awarded Ringtone of the Year at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. In mid August 2006 Fort Minor performed at the Summer Sonic 2006 alongside Linkin Park. The third track on the album, "Right Now", is featured in the trailer of The Family That Preys by Tyler Perry. In November 2006, Fort Minor released a video for "Remember the Name", which features a montage of various amazing feats. Shinoda has stated he felt the video was a nice wrap-up for Fort Minor. Also in November, Shinoda stated that Fort Minor is on hiatus, because of his dedication to Linkin Park. In 2006, Holly Brook released an exclusive version of "Where'd You Go" to radio stations, made completely by Holly Brook. Mike does not appear on this version, which can be heard by request on various American radio stations.

Related Tracks

Move On (featuring Mr. Hahn)
Do What We Did (featuring Styles of Beyond)
Tools of the Trade (featuring Styles of Beyond & Celph Titled)
Start It All Up
Strange Things

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The Black Eyed Peas are an American hip hop crew from Los Angeles, who have lately enjoyed massive international pop success. As Atban Klann, they signed to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E), but their album was never released because the positive and peaceful lyrics were too unusual for Ruthless. The group is composed of Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, and Fergie.

After Eazy-E died of AIDS in 1995 (see 1995 in music), Atban Klann reformed as the Black Eyed Peas and released a debut, Behind the Front (1998, 1998 in music) that earned the group (and their accompanying live band) critical acclaim. Their other album is 2000's Bridging the Gap (2000 in music). Their breakthrough album Elephunk was released in 2003, featuring a new female vocalist, called Fergie, born as Stacy Ferguson who used to be in a teen pop band named Wild Orchid. She is the replacement of background singer Kim Hill who departed the band during 2000.

From 'Elephunk' came the anti-war anthem 'Where Is The Love?', which became their first major hit, peaking at #8 on the US Hot 100, but topping the charts practically everywhere else, including six weeks at #1 in the UK where it became the biggest-selling single of 2003. The album subsequently spawned 'Shut Up', which failed in the US but peaked at UK #2 (despite being referred to by one reviewer as 'The single most vacuous, pointless, vile and generally loathsome song in a generation') and topped the charts in many other European countries including France and Germany. Indeed the band have enjoyed greater mainstream success in Europe than in the US with 'Elephunk' going Top 10, gold and (sometimes multi-)platinum in the UK, Germany and many other European markets, yet ultimately failing to break the US Top 10, although it did go platinum there. The third single from the album, 'Hey Mama' hit the Top 10 in the UK, Germany and several other European countries, and reached the Top 30 of the US Hot 100. Controversially, a reference to 'dropping bombs like we in the Middle East' was edited out of some versions of 'Hey Mama'.

The current line-up of the Black Eyed Peas as of 2004 (not including supporting band members) is: will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, and newcomer Fergie­.

During Black Eyed Peas' concert tour in Asia in 2004, Apl.de.ap's life story was featured in a weekly Filipino TV drama special called Maalaala Mo Kaya (Will You Remember), which explained his childhood with his poor family in Pampanga, Philippines, before sadly parting with them to live a better life in the US at the age of 14. The Apl Song, with the chorus written in Tagalog, from their album Elephunk, tells the story of Apl.de.ap. The Tagalog lyrics and backing melody were based on the the song Balita, an original composition of the 1970s Filipino folk rock group Asin.

The BEP's song 'Let's Get Retarded' was restyled as 'Let's Get it Started' for an NBA finals worldwide commerical. New lyrics gave the tune a basketball theme, and the spot featured Carlos Santana. The revised song had great success as a single, especially popular on the iTunes music download service.

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