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Gackt Camui (ガクト; but most often written in Latin alphabet) is a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. He began his rise to fame fronting the band Malice Mizer.

Life

Childhood


Gackt Camui was born in Okinawa, Japan, on July 4th (year unknown, although there is speculation he was born in the year 1973). He has an older sister and a younger brother. Although his mother's vocation is unknown, Gackt has stated on more than one occasion that his father was a jazz musician that played the trumpet. [1]
Gackt was a rambunctious child and enjoyed doing dangerous things. At seven years of age while swimming off the coast of Okinawa, he nearly drowned. After his near-death experience, Gackt claimed the ability to see the dead and speak with deceased family members. His family didn't take it seriously but as three years passed, Gackt began to feel uncomfortable with the dismissive treatment and perceived himself as an outsider.
Contrary to popular belief, Gackt has not been institutionalized for claiming to possess a sixth sense. When he was ten, however, he collapsed and was hospitalized for an unknown gastrointestinal problem. [2] According to his autobiography, he was isolated for an extensive amount of time in a pediatric ward of a hospital for extremely sick children. This was a very difficult time for him, as what few friends he had the opportunity to make died soon afterwards from terminal illnesses. He became mentally imbalanced and was denied release. Desperate to escape what he felt was a prison, Gackt imitated his doctors until he was released.

Musical education


When Gackt was three, his parents initiated his classical piano education.[1] By age seven, he had grown tired of the piano lessons his parents forced him to attend and rebelled. Gackt fought with his teacher until when he was finally allowed to quit at eleven years of age.
Gackt's competitive streak drove him back to the piano at 14 when he realized how skilled one of his friends was. As a result, he began learning to play instruments that deviated from the classical standards of music, eventually focusing on contemporary rock. After many years of having no real interest in his parent's classical lessons, his competitive nature made him want to master the piano.

Malice Mizer


Gackt's musical career started when he became the drummer for Cains:Feel. He had started singing when Cains:Feel's guitarist YOU (who later became the guitarist for GacktJOB) jokingly put him up to it. He took on the task and continued with voice lessons. He was approached by Mana, who asked him to join the visual kei band Malice Mizer in 1995 as vocalist and pianist. His style at that point was considerably darker and more gothic than that of his work during his solo career.
His induction into Malice Mizer marked a new period for the band's musical and visual style, which became brighter, more romantic, and began to incorporate elaborate costumes and scenary onstage. Along with a change in style, the band's popularity also increased and they managed to secure a major record label contract. Along with this increase in popularity however, the differences between the bandmembers became greater. Gackt mentioned in his autobiography that he wanted to participate in creating music for the band, rather than just singing and writing song lyrics. There were other rumors involving affairs with the management that have, as of yet, been unsubstantiated. Gackt left Malice Mizer shortly after their last major single, "Le Ciel," was released and disappeared completely from the media for about 8 months.

Solo career


After leaving Malice Mizer, Gackt started his solo career in 1999 backed by "GacktJOB," initially consisting of You (violin/rhythm guitar), Yukihiro "Chachamaru" Fujimura (lead guitar/effects), Masa (rhythm guitar), Ren (bass), Toshi (drums), Yosh (choreographer/dancer), and Igao (keyboards). GacktJOB later added Ryuichi Ryu Nishida and Ju-ken.
Masa parted abruptly with GacktJOB accompanied by Toshi in early 2002 to pursue solo activities following the release of "Another World," the first single for Gackt's "Moon" Album. Although Masa has continued his own career, Toshi still occasionally provides percussion for Gackt in the studio. For live appearances and the majority of studio recordings, Ryuichi Ryu Nishida has otherwise taken Toshi's place.
Bassist Ren announced during Gackt's "Jougen no Tsuki" tour during the summer of 2003 that he would be taking a break. Later that year, Ren posted assurences to fans on his blog that he would not be leaving GacktJOB permanently but wanted to return less inundating indies scene with his own band, LiN Clover for a while.
Throughout the first and second quarters of 2004, magazine shoots were conducted only with the remaining four members until a TV appearance in March which featured a new bassist. This was later revealed to be Ju-ken, who has been GacktJOB's bassist since then.
Despite often being labeled as "pop", few of his songs can be clearly said to belong to that genre. Gackt's music is characterized by a wide variety in musical styles which can range from heavy rock to romantic ballad. Traditional instruments are often used to accentuate electric guitar, piano, and other modern instruments. For these reasons, it is difficult to clearly assign Gackt's music to a specific genre.

Other media


Rarely seen sporting the same look in any appearance he makes, Gackt is considered by many to be the epitome of change. Furthermore, he is known for his often androgynous image.
In addition to music, Gackt has been involved as an actor in various TV commercials (usually playing himself), and in the Japanese documentary, Hero's Hero. He also co-wrote and co-starred in the vampire-themed movie Moon Child with HYDE, vocalist of L'Arc~en~Ciel.
Gackt is also an author, having written Moonchild: Requiem, and several as-yet unpublished short stories. In 2003, he published his autobiography titled Jihaku, in which he displayed deep thoughts and described events that had a profound impact on his life. Gackt has worked as a runway model for his favorite designer, Yoshiyuki Konishi; designed his own stage-wear and clothing line; and opened his own private, members-only restaurant and bar, Tamaly Bar, complete with his own personal and family recipes.
Gackt was also involved in the PlayStation 2 game Bujingai, for which he performed the voice as well as doing motion capture for the game's protagonist, Lau Wong, who is a redheaded vision of Gackt himself. He has also appeared in Japanese commercials for the game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and his name appeared on a dog tag in the game. Other voice-over work of Gackt's included the character 'Seiji' from the anime Shin Hokuto no Ken (New Fist of the North Star), as well as singing the opening and ending theme songs. He also performed the ending theme 「月の詩」, ("Tsuki no Uta") for the anime Texhnolyze.
Rumors on the internet cited Gackt as the model for the Final Fantasy VIII lead character Squall Leonhart. In the game, Squall is wearing a jacket similar to one Gackt wore in his Malice Mizer days. Said rumors stated that the designer of Squall Leonhart, Tetsuya Nomura, was a fan, but Gackt has never been officially credited. Manga artist Yuu Watase has also mentioned a connection between Gackt and Squall as confirmed to be true by one of her 'connections' and Enix, mentioned in a side panel in her manga "Imadoki!". Although he is a fan of Gackt, Tetsuya Nomura, the character designer for Squall Leonhart, has stated that American actor River Phoenix was the basis for Squall, and that the jacket was intended to test the Playstation's capabilities. Such internet rumours have also used Nomura's status as a fan, and Gackt's frequent change of appearance, to claim he was also the basis for other characters, such as Cloud Strife in Advent Children, Tidus in Final Fantasy X and even Shuyin in Final Fantasy X-2, despite G in Dirge of Cerberus being the only true character based on Gackt. However it's also likely that Gackt fashions himself after the characters as he's been seen dressed as Alucard from Castlevania during his performances on stage.
In early 2005 he was asked to write and perform the theme songs for the Gundam movie , a movie eagerly anticipated by the anime community. The songs were 'Metamorphoze' and a rearrangement of a previously released song, 「君が待っているから」 ("Kimi ga Matteiru kara").
Gackt will also be used for the forthcoming PSP-based Final Fantasy VII prequel, Crisis Core, using Gackt as a model for the motion-capture process. Clues in Cerberus revealed that the character's name is Genesis and that he was the prototype for Shin-Ra's super-soldier, Sephiroth (or codename S).
On January 25, 2006 Gackt released his 23rd single, Redemption, which he composed and performed as the theme for Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-, and was released alongside the game (and its soundtrack).
On August 5th, 2006, Yoshiki (formerly of X Japan) announced he will be forming a band with Gackt in 2007.
Starting in January 2007, Gackt will be acting in the NHK drama 風林火山 (romaji: Fuurin Kazan) as the warlord Uesugi Kenshin, with fellow actor Uchino Masaaki and kabuki actor Ichikawa Kamejiro.
On February 7th, 2007, Gackt will be releasing his new single "No ni Saku Hana no Yo Ni," which was first sung at the graduation ceremony of Maiko High School in the Hyogo Prefecture on February 28, 2006.

Gackt Job


Gackt Job is Gackt's group of support members. Current members include:
You (violin, guitar)
Chachamaru (茶々丸) (bandleader, backing vocals, & guitar)
Ju-ken (bass)
Ryu (drums)
Igao (keyboard)
Yosh (choreographer)
Former members include:
Ren (bass) currently in band LinClover
Masa (rhythm guitar) who was in the band Spiky and Dizzy Drive. Dizzy Drive changed their image and name to Marmarsa-mu (マァマァサ・ムゥ).
Toshi (drums) currently the drummer for Spiky.

GACKT ERA MALICE MIZER DISCOGRAPHY

[For Gackt's Solo Career Discography, go here: J-pop Subforum- Gackt ]

Singles

麗しき仮面の招待状 [Uruwashiki kamen no shoutaijou] (10 December 1995)
ma chérie ～愛しい君へ～ [ma chérie ~itoshii kimi e~] (10 October 1996)
ヴェル・エール ～空白の瞬間の中で～ [Bel Air ~Kuuhaku no shunkan (toki) no naka de~] (19 July 1997)
au revoir (3 December 1997)
月下の夜想曲 [Gekka no yasoukyoku] (21 February 199 cool
ILLUMINATI (20 April 199 cool
Le ciel ～空白の彼方へ～ [Le ciel ~Kuuhaku no kanata e~] (30 September 199 cool

Albums

Voyage ～sans retour～ (7 June 1996)
merveilles (18 March 199 cool


VHS
Sans retour Voyage "derniere" ～encoure une fois～ (30 June 1997)
ヴェル・エール ～空白の瞬間の中で～ de l'image [Bel Air ~Kuuhaku no shunkan (toki) no naka de~ de l'image] (13 July 1997)
ヴェル・エール ～空白の瞬間の中で～ de l'image [Bel Air-Verte Aile ~Kuuhaku no shunkan (toki) no naka de~ de l'image] (3 September 1997) - a short film
merveilles ～終焉と帰趨～ l'espace [merveilles ~Shuuen to kisuu~ l'espace] (28 October 199 cool
merveilles -cinq parallele- (24 February 1999)


DVD's
[Included Even though they were released after Gackt left... he was still in them . XP]
Sans retour Voyage "derniere" ～encoure une fois～ (18 April 2001)
merveilles ～終焉と帰趨～l'espace [merveilles ~Shuuen to kisuu~ l'espace] (30 March 2002)
merveilles -cinq parallele- (30 March 2002)