(hi kristen, thought i’d send you a message here since i didn’t know yr email. excuse the intrusion – but it was good seeing you on sat; i mention it in my post to john davidson’s b.t.blog. later.)

very controversial reading, thanks for the thoughts john. please elaborate / clarify soon. anyway, i just came from a conference at nyu (they gave us jack rabid!), info at www.stayfreemagazine.org & click the ‘blog’ (or go to host, www.nyu.edu/fas/nyih). and this u.s.circuit court judge closed the session, & 1 thing he said was that he was looking for vid of PORGY AND BESS (not avail due to a GERSHWIN estate issue), and a certain SHEL SILVERSTEIN song wherein he redid his “boy named sue”, but from dad’s perspective. he was able to purchase online (former at $50, a serviceable editon – i think it was done with a vidcamera aimed at tv) and said he had no issue with this, since they were not available otherwise. so, that was kinda-related, fyi.

that’s all – plus, fellow b.t.blogger kristen was there (she’s a stay free! person)

take care, herb

— herb    2006-05-01 18:50    #

Hiya Herb!
Good to see you on Sat. too, however brief. Hope you enjoyed the conference – I quite enjoyed the part I saw…

— Kristen Sollee    2006-05-04 01:44    #

I’ve been a fan of dir en grey for four years . And it’s about damn time they got some spotlight in the u.s . By the ways great article and do you know when tickets for the tour are going on sale

— atlierboz    2006-05-11 21:13    #

I love Dir en grey!!! For all their fans out there I wanted to let you know you can preoder their cd right now for cheaper and earlier than when it comes out!!! Do it, it’s worth it!!!!

Preorder Here:

Pre Order Here

Have fun!!!! I did!!!!

— lizzie    2006-05-15 20:35    #

yah really, i cant wait for withering’s english release, although i really wish /hope that theyll put out a greatest hits CD or somethign that has alot of their old stuff on it, cause withering doesnt really show all of dirus ability, kai or vulgar, or even gauze (which would strike out more to the mainstream then alot of their heavier stuff) would give people a better perspective on dir, but i think once kodou hits the radio if it does, diru is just gonna take off

— Squeelly    2006-05-16 02:07    #

Yay I’m psyched some Dir En Grey fans have found their way over here! (Just out of curiosity, how did you find the site?) As far as I know, tix aren’t on sale yet since all the dates have yet to be confirmed…And I totally agree that they need a mix of their older stuff. Gauze and Vulgar are too good not too promote in the US!

— Kristen Sollee    2006-05-16 02:39    #

Dir en grey is most definately one of the best bands in music today.

Ok, they’re probably not the next Led Zepplin or Queen, but they definately have the potential to get up there with Guns n Roses or The Red Hot Chili Peppers if they keep pushing hard enough.

It’s been almost 10 years since this band’s debut, and a lot has happened since then and they’ve come a long way as a whole. I have no doubt that they’ll continue to do well here, as long as the band and their management can hold it together.

And believe me, I’m not just blowing hot air here. I spent over $500 and traveled all the way to NYC alone (I was 16 back in March) just to see them live in the US. This band is the real deal.

— Kigan    2006-05-16 23:14    #

Hey people,
I have a really stupid question but anyways…my friend and I are having a fight on how to pronounce Dir En Grey…can someone pleas tell me???

— Hollow    2006-05-18 21:02    #

I’m no expert, but with my decent background in Japanese (and having heard Japanese fans say the name) I believe it is- Deer Ahn Gurei- with the Gurei running together a bit to be more like Grey…

— Kristen Sollee    2006-05-19 04:29    #

thanks alot…i really aprreciate it.

— Hollow    2006-05-20 00:57    #

Hello Kristen! Your review of Dir en grey made me quite happy. :)

I’ve been a fan of Dir en grey for a while, and let me tell you—they are an explosive amount of energy. Any person watching them perform is bound to get overwhelmed fairly quickly. No other artists (and my taste in music is broad) have ever captured me the way Dir en grey has. Kyo’s voice and his heartwrenching lyrics have a unique ability to get under one’s skin, rip and tear at every emotion possible all at once.

I’m looking forward to the Family Values Tour! I hope everyone purchases Withering to death., and their older albums such as VULGAR, and Kisou. If you want some truly old school gold, purchase GAUZE and MACABRE. Every song has a different flare, and is definitely worth checking out!

— Ryou    2006-05-25 20:26    #

UGGHHHHHHHH!!!! Dir en grey not Dir En Grey! Makes me sad. D:

— Gwynn    2006-05-26 18:55    #

Sorry Gwynn,
BTO is into capitalization for clarity, even when it’s not the technical correct spelling. Wouldn’t readers unfamiliar with the band think I’m just a lazy writer if I didn’t capitalize? I’m sure the guys wouldn’t mind- I love ‘em to death and just wanna give ‘em press. Thanks anyways for the nitpicking, however = )

— Kristen Sollee    2006-05-27 13:29    #

I only hear of Dir En Grey recently and fell in love with their music. They are one of my favourite groups. It’s the way the music flows I think. But when I found out they our going on tour in the US and are going to across the river in Detroit I became so happy. I hope more Japanese bands come over it would be awesome.^_

— Jocelyn    2006-05-29 19:17    #

ahh yay, finally Diru are hitting America! It’s about time one jrock band stood up and shown America that japan isn’t all pop…

Diru aren’t the only band however, Moi Dix Mois, DespairsRay, HYDE, The Pillows, Noodles,and MUCC etc are all bands going to America soon!

— Alastair    2006-05-31 09:27    #

Hi, I’ve been a fan of Dir en grey for…well not very long, only about a year or so. Anyway, I’m very happy that I found this article while searching…ironically enough about Dir en grey coming to America again and American interviews. I had heard about them touring with Korn a while back and I was really excited about it…to the point where I stalked the Family Vales Tour website until I found out the dates of the concerts. Yay! West Palm Beach!! o.o;; Anyway, even though I haven’t been a fan that long I still believe that they will make it big over here. Rammstien (sp?) did well over here so can they. A friend of mine and I are hoping for an American takeover caused by Jrock Especially Dir en grey, Gazette, and D’espairs Ray. Support the music people, it’ll happen one day!!

— Thorn    2006-06-05 11:27    #

OYEAH DIR~EN~GREY THERE THE THE SH*T
THEY ARE REAL MUSIC I LISTEN THEN EVERYDAY I HAVE ALL THERE CDS AND WAITTING FOR THE NEWONE IVE BEEN A FAN FROM 97 TO NOW O YEAH

— RAVEN    2006-06-06 20:10    #

Yeah, dir en grey are f***in awsome, and well i just wanna know, i heard rumours of dir en grey touring in Australia (where i live) does anyone know if this is true?

— dont_call_me_cute    2006-06-12 07:54    #

Dir en grey is the GREATEST band ever . I just bought my tickets for their stop in toronto , but ticketmaster screwed me over , so now i’m in 300 section instead of the 200 section . And it won’t let me get a refund and change it because it’s an idiot [Personifying an internet website ? Yes , yes I am .] . Anyways , I love Dir en grey with all my heart , and will forever , and i’m glad they are finally getting the recognition they deserve over here in North America .. hopefully that recognition will come on over here to Canada soon .. I listen to them everyday . Dir en grey forever !!

— megan    2006-06-16 17:30    #

Dir En Grey is really a good band. I’m 13 live in Belgium and I NEVER EVER heard such a good band as them.Though i’m not the scream Kyo fan i must say hes a really good singer:)and the lyrics are just soo realistic(no one of my friends know what kyo says because if i would tell them they would freak out and they are in peoples eyes VERY openminded people:p). I hope they’ll come to Belgium one day especially Die(such a cutie):p.Anyways i’m glad they are coming to America and i really hope that they are going to be discovered by many people.

— Melissa    2006-06-19 15:36    #

I’m so psyched about Family Values now that Diru’s on the bill. They have to be one of the best and most versitile bands ever. Kyo’s voice is amazing and the playing from everyone. Its an amazing mind trip with everyone one of their songs. Lyric’s and melody are a great blend. I can’t wait to see them live.

— Victoria    2006-06-26 04:08    #

Okay, I love Dir En Grey.
And Please Tell me if they will be playing the Toronto show with Korn or not.
Because the main reason for me to get tickets would be to see Dir En Grey, And Flyleaf.
But Mainly the band I fell in love with after hearing one song {Dir en Grey obviously}

— Kaylen    2006-06-30 04:48    #

I love Dir En Grey…
Please tell me if they will be in Toronto and when!!
Dir En Grey is awsome!!

anyways please get back to me!!
thanx
alex

— Alex    2006-07-03 23:56    #

Hey Alex,
Looks like Canada dates haven’t been posted yet. That doesn’t mean they won’t tour there though, I just don’t know yet!

— Kristen Sollee    2006-07-04 00:40    #

This is a really nice article, thank you so much for an accurate review :D most articles I’ve read usually compared them to bands that didn’t even sound like them, or used very false information to base their articles on. At least we know you actually listened to them, and thanksx23 for recommending more of their albums(mitsu to tsuba(tsumi to batsu) and Cage are two of my favorite songs by Diru)! And I really don’t like when people spell it Dir En Grey, but I understand where you’re coming from with the proper grammar..at least you don’t spell it Dir En GrAy. x_x’

And for pronounciation, it would be accurately ‘diru an gureii’..that’s exactly how you write it in Japanese X3’ I can’t wait to see them in WI! Only 34 days and counting :DD

Once again, thanks a million!

— Tori    2006-07-23 01:57    #

Rammstein only got on the radio in the USA because someone got paid off.Once they were on the radio,they were the new darlings .Ozzfest wanted them and all of this .
But Dir has done it all on the steam of just their own engines .
No payola ,(MTV and K Rock told us years ago ,point blank,that they would not EVER play an Asian band) ,no hugely $$ backed P/R campaigns .
No big record label sinking tons of $$$$$$ into them .

Just Dir en grey .
So the talent ,speaks for itself .
がんばって

— M    2006-07-25 03:55    #

wow, this article makes my hair stand on end i’m so excited. I get to see them in sept. ‘06…and i’m so freakin PSYCHED!!! hell yeah!
great article!!

— Jennifer Dutton    2006-07-25 23:19    #

I’m sorry but i had to comment on this…

“Ok, they’re probably not the next Led Zepplin or Queen, but they definately have the potential to get up there with Guns n Roses or The Red Hot Chili Peppers if they keep pushing hard enough.”

This comment really annoyed me because one… they are original and not trying to be the trendy, copy cat band that you want to make them out to be. Come on give them some credit and respect for showing true talent and not just being another man made industry band.

Two… who needs another led FRICKIN zepplin or the red hot chilli peppers. They are going to be big and the best fact of all is that its all based on something solid and real to the nature of the songs and the way Kyo expresses his most personal thoughts on this shallow-minded, ignorant, high and mighty world we live in.

JROCK FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— Lucy    2006-08-09 13:49    #

HELL YEAH DIR EN GREY IS COMEING TO MY TOWN I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!!

— mandy    2006-08-23 15:19    #

Today is my concert! Yeah! Let’s go Dir en grey!

— Scarebabyfordie    2006-09-08 11:19    #

omg i had the pleasure of going to the family values concert here in phoenix az and i must say i thought i liked Dir en grey a lot before that but that concert really made me love them so much more!!! they are so awesome live and i hope anyone who loves them gets a chance to see their awesome live performance!

— boya chan    2006-10-02 17:50    #

I went to the concert of september 15th I think…... it was soooo awesome! We shook hands with Die and Totchi and then we saw Kyo unsupervised!... but he ran away from us….

— Melissa    2006-10-26 19:47    #

i cant stop listening to saku i love that song it is awesome cant wait to see u again

— casey    2006-11-22 13:14    #

I’ve been a fan of Dir en grey for about three years now and I love them just as much as when I first heard them ^^, their music really introduced me to j-rock and and visual kei. Anyway, I’m so happy for them that they are having success out of their native country. But I live in Canada and because I’m a little younger than most of you peoples (lol) my Mom would never in a million years let me go see them down in the U.S. so does anybody know if the Family Values Tour ever comes to Canada? Like Toronto or somethin?? Just one little chance?? I would die to see them live, I’ve watched videos and I get very jealous lol, but I’m happy that they have so many loyal fans here.

— Kiyomi    2006-11-29 18:49    #

you know there a concert or however you spell it in New York in feb something o.o i think the tickets are sold out

— KyuZin    2006-12-08 11:34    #

Why can’t Dir En Grey come to the UK =[

— Sam    2006-12-21 20:12    #

diru are awesome theyve got a whole new perspective on writing music its like nothing ive ever heard they really show an amazing aray of flexability i wonder if theyll ever come to new zealand doubt it but doesnt hurt to dream haha

— conor    2007-01-02 02:28    #

cool

— crisoel    2007-01-21 00:17    #

cool i love the videos

— crisoel    2007-01-21 00:18    #

MY FAVORITE GROUP!
A LOVE SHINYA AND KYO.
I’M CHILEAN GIRL. BYE

— YUKA    2007-01-22 21:39    #