Rouage Explained

Rouage
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Label:Universal Music Japan
Current Members:Kazushi
Rayzi
Shono
Past Members:Kaiki
Yuki
Rika

Rouage (stylized as ROUAGE) was a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in Nagoya in 1993, active until 2001. They were an important band to the visual kei scene of the 90s, being credited as one of the founders of the subgenre Nagoya kei.[1] [2]

History

Rouage, whose name means gear in French, was formed in December 1993 in Nagoya by vocalist Kazushi, guitarists Rika and Rayzi and drummer Shono. In 1994, the bassist Kaiki left the band Silver Rose and joined Rouage.[2] Their debut release was the single "Silk", in February.[3] Rouage released a self-titled debut album in March, limited to 5000 copies. A reprint with more 5000 copies went on sale in July.[3]

In 1995, Kaiki left the band and the group considered breaking up, even playing a farewell show.[4] That didn't happen and in a twist Rouage debuted on a major label in April with the single "Queen" released by Universal Music Japan.[3] In June, they released Bible, their best-selling album.

In 1996, their second major single "insomnia" was used as the theme song for the ANB television show mew.[5] The band Lin covered it for the album CRUSH!3-90's V-Rock best hit cover LOVE songs, which features newer visual kei bands covering love songs by important visual kei bands from the 90s.[6] After the release of "insomnia" in August, bassist Yuki joined the band.[3]

In March 1997 Rouage released the album Mind. Soon after, Yuki disappeared from the band and since then, Rouage has worked only with support bass musicians. After embarking on a big tour, they released the album Children on December 3.[4] "Endless Loop" was used as opening theme of Legend of Basara animation. Diaura covered the song for the album Counteraction -V-Rock covered Visual Anime songs Compilation-, which features newer visual kei bands covering anime songs by older visual kei bands.[7] Early on the following year they embarked on Children's Room tour, with fifteen shows across the country.[3] On July 16 they played at the Shock Wave Illusion festival with bands like Dir En Grey and Pierrot.[4] In 2000, Rika left the band.

After Shono left the band in February 2001, Rouage officially broke up.[3] In 2006, the albums Bible, Children, Lab, Mind and Soup were re-released. They also considered re-releasing their live albums, but Rika didn't approve.[8]

Members

Former

Discography

Title Release Oricon chart[9] [10]
Rouage July 20, 1994 -
Bible June 6, 1996 14
Mind March 5, 1997 15
Children December 3, 1997 25
Soup November 11, 1998 16
Culture March 17, 1999 29
Lab May 24, 2000 33

Notes and References

  1. Web site: April 16, 2018. アルルカン、"次世代名古屋系"という新たな個性 90年代以降シーンの変遷から考える. October 12, 2021. Real Sound|リアルサウンド. ja.
  2. Web site: April 27, 2020. オールドスクールヴィジュアル名盤解放地帯 #6「ROUAGE - ROUAGE」. October 12, 2021. GALLERY OF VISUAL SHOCK. ja.
  3. Web site: January 11, 2009. ROUAGE. October 12, 2021. JaME.
  4. Web site: Rouage Biography & History. October 12, 2021. AllMusic.
  5. insomnia/pa・ra・no・i・a. October 12, 2021. Billboard. ja.
  6. Web site: V系バンドの90年代カバー集、第3弾に特別編成バンド参加. 2021-07-27. Natalie. ja.
  7. Web site: 名曲満載!V系アニソンカバー集にギルド、AYABIE、νら. October 12, 2021. Natalie. ja.
  8. Web site: December 18, 2006. Reeditions of Rouage's Albums. October 12, 2021. JaME.
  9. Web site: ROUAGE on Oricon . October 12, 2021 . Oricon . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20121111022110/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/20745/ . November 11, 2012.
  10. Web site: Rouage sales and positions . October 12, 2021 . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20101225084511/http://oriconv.seesaa.net/article/158631150.html . December 25, 2010 . dead.