Phantasmagoria was a Japanese visual kei band formed in November 2004 in Osaka by Kisaki, the Executive of Under Code Production, a Visual Kei indies label located in Osaka, Japan. Previously, he was the Executive of the indies label Matina.
History
Phantasmagoria was formed in November 2004 and their first single "Material Pain" was released in "Shoxx Magazine" on December 21 of the same year. The following day the group released its first Maxi-single, "Moonlight Revival".
Phantasmagoria was featured on the cover of a well-known visual kei magazine, "Cure", one month after their formation, becoming one of the fastest-rising indies bands to appear on the cover of a magazine.
Rame (bassist of Vidoll) teasingly began referring to the band as "Mago" (Mago means "grandchildren" and was taken from Phantas-mago-ria). The name "Mago" is now used by fans as well.
Phantasmagoria played their first concerts in the United States on October 21 and 22nd, 2005 at Oni-con in Houston, Texas. On March 26th, the band played their first Japanese one-man.
On February 23rd, 2007, guitarist Iori and drummer Matoi left the band. The reason given for Iori's departure was that he did not feel comfortable being in a major band; Matoi stated in Japanese interviews that he left due to a foot injury, but in English interviews, KISAKI stated that he also did not feel comfortable being in a major band. On April 5th, KISAKI announced that he was retiring and Iori and Matoi had returned to the band, but the band would be "sealing." He followed up on the announcement on a live radio show on April 8th, where the band's first and last fan trip was revealed, as well as the final event tour and final oneman tour. KISAKI officially retired from the active visual kei scene on August 31, 2007 but continued to run his label and produce music.
Riku is in a band called "chariots". His new band features members of Pashya, the Pumpkin Head, and Jaguar, and has released 3 singles and one song on an omnibus album.
Jun has his solo project, called "attic", in which he sings and writes music.
Matoi is in a band called Jill Christ and their first single, "Chrism...Code46358," was released on April 18, 2008.
Phantasmagoria is releasing an album of rerecorded songs over the summer of 2008 and a photobook of their costumes. Also, a new single was revealed that would be sold at live performances, with a new song called "Vanish....".
