DEAD END
major - active (1984 - )
© DEAD END - Mote Sinabel
profile
DEAD END was a band that appeared and disappeared again before the phenomenon visual kei came into existence. However, they did influence various bands like LUNA SEA when the visual kei scene began.
Their music sounds like hard rock and heavy metal. With MORRIE on vocals and the talented You on guitar, their songs were often very melodious with wild solos.
Their producer was Hajime Okano, who also produced several releases from famous artists such as Magic Theater by La'Cryma Christi, Ray, Ark and Real by L'arc en ciel and CELL FRESH by Transtic Nerve.
Their look was the typical heavy metal and hard rock bands from the 80's with big hair and striking make-up. Later in their career, their look changed and became plainer, except for MORRIE, who stood out with his long black hair and his dark and remarkable behaviour.
Their music sounds like hard rock and heavy metal. With MORRIE on vocals and the talented You on guitar, their songs were often very melodious with wild solos.
Their producer was Hajime Okano, who also produced several releases from famous artists such as Magic Theater by La'Cryma Christi, Ray, Ark and Real by L'arc en ciel and CELL FRESH by Transtic Nerve.
Their look was the typical heavy metal and hard rock bands from the 80's with big hair and striking make-up. Later in their career, their look changed and became plainer, except for MORRIE, who stood out with his long black hair and his dark and remarkable behaviour.
biography
DEAD END originates from Osaka and Nagoya. The band was formed in 1984 by MORRIE and CRAZY COOL JOE and the line-up was soon completed by TANO and TAKAHIRO. In this early period they were quite unknown but they finally had their breakthrough when You replaced TAKAHIRO on guitar. To give you an impression from their look around that period; it was rather similar to that of X JAPAN when they began their career.
Their very first release appeared in 1986 (30,000 copies) by the name Dead line, and the design of the cover was clearly a homage to Iron Maiden, and the creepy figure on the picture resembled Eddie (the mascot of Iron Maiden).
The next year, Minato replaced TANO on drums and on September 8th the band released its second album, Ghost of Romance, which ranked 14th on the Oricon Charts.
The life of the band continued with more recordings and concerts. On May 21st, 1988 the album Shambara (Zambara by La'Cryma Christi is a tribute to this album) was released, one of their biggest albums, followed by the single Blue vices in December. In the same month they also released Psychoscape, a live video from their concert at Shibuya Kokaido.
In 1989 they released their last album Zero, which was recorded in London. There were many difficulties during recording, mainly because of the language barrier. During their stay they were joined by YOSHIKI (X JAPAN), who was in Europe to work on the recording of a PV in Paris.
After some more releases and a tour, DEAD END disbanded. Their last concert was on January 21st, 1990 at the Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo. Even though the band didn't exist anymore, the single Good morning satellite and a live CD was released.
BMG, the band's label, released several DVDs, CDs, re-releases and such of DEAD END. Amongst them was the INFINITY compilation album which also contained a DVD. The booklet contained texts by artists which were influenced by DEAD END, among them for example Kiyoharu (ex. Kuroyume, ex. Sads), SUGIZO (LUNA SEA), Yuana (ex. Kagerou) and Hiro (ex. La'Cryma Christi).
After they disbanded, all the members continued their music career, some more successful than others.
MORRIE, the charismatic vocalist of the band started a solo career and released three albums. However, since 1995 it was quiet around him, until 2004, when he participated as guitarist on Kiyoharu's solo album Poetry. It then turned quiet around him again, and it seemed he was living in the United States. In 2005 returned again with the project Creature Creature, together with Tetsu of L’arc~en~Ciel though their activities were infrequent.
You also started a band, called Goat Core and also started a solo career. CRAZY COOL JOE also played in various bands, amongst them machine, and worked together with Pata (ex. X JAPAN) in P.A.F. Also Minato started numerous new bands, but none of them became as successful as DEAD END once was.
Their very first release appeared in 1986 (30,000 copies) by the name Dead line, and the design of the cover was clearly a homage to Iron Maiden, and the creepy figure on the picture resembled Eddie (the mascot of Iron Maiden).
The next year, Minato replaced TANO on drums and on September 8th the band released its second album, Ghost of Romance, which ranked 14th on the Oricon Charts.
The life of the band continued with more recordings and concerts. On May 21st, 1988 the album Shambara (Zambara by La'Cryma Christi is a tribute to this album) was released, one of their biggest albums, followed by the single Blue vices in December. In the same month they also released Psychoscape, a live video from their concert at Shibuya Kokaido.
In 1989 they released their last album Zero, which was recorded in London. There were many difficulties during recording, mainly because of the language barrier. During their stay they were joined by YOSHIKI (X JAPAN), who was in Europe to work on the recording of a PV in Paris.
After some more releases and a tour, DEAD END disbanded. Their last concert was on January 21st, 1990 at the Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo. Even though the band didn't exist anymore, the single Good morning satellite and a live CD was released.
BMG, the band's label, released several DVDs, CDs, re-releases and such of DEAD END. Amongst them was the INFINITY compilation album which also contained a DVD. The booklet contained texts by artists which were influenced by DEAD END, among them for example Kiyoharu (ex. Kuroyume, ex. Sads), SUGIZO (LUNA SEA), Yuana (ex. Kagerou) and Hiro (ex. La'Cryma Christi).
After they disbanded, all the members continued their music career, some more successful than others.
MORRIE, the charismatic vocalist of the band started a solo career and released three albums. However, since 1995 it was quiet around him, until 2004, when he participated as guitarist on Kiyoharu's solo album Poetry. It then turned quiet around him again, and it seemed he was living in the United States. In 2005 returned again with the project Creature Creature, together with Tetsu of L’arc~en~Ciel though their activities were infrequent.
You also started a band, called Goat Core and also started a solo career. CRAZY COOL JOE also played in various bands, amongst them machine, and worked together with Pata (ex. X JAPAN) in P.A.F. Also Minato started numerous new bands, but none of them became as successful as DEAD END once was.
