Oricon posted the following article on their website.

DIR EN GREY cancels their North American tour due to vocalist Kyo’s throat condition

The five member rock band, DIR EN GREY’s vocalist stated that his throat felt off, and they therefore they canceled their North American tour that was planned for next month. The doctor’s examination found a polyp on his vocal chords, as well as a sound impediment, resulting in the cancellation of their tour.

The polyop on Kyo’s vocal chords is severe, and therefore he will need to have surgery as soon as possible. The band’s management commented, “more tests will still need to be done”, and at this moment they are unsure when DIR EN GREY will be able to continue their activities.

In 2009, Kyo was hospitalized for chorditis and laryngeal edema, and they postponed both their Sendai and Sapporo shows. According to the staff, “Kyo does not have a strong throat, and due to the band’s extreme schedule since last summer, his tiredness accumulated, so he needs rest”.

This year DIR EN GREY, who are also famous in both Europe and Asia and were planning to have a tour from March 7th in Seattle to April 7th in Lousivlle, covering 14 North American cities (1000 ~ 3000 person capcity per show), will be celebrating their 15th anniversary. Among the live shows, in Dallas they had planned to perform at a venue that could house 10000 people.

Source: Oricon

It’s not the same as seeing them live, but you can still support the band by purchasing their new artist book that’s coming out on April 28th!

The artist book, currently titled “DIR EN GREY ARTIST BOOK” (creative, I know), 2500 yen. It’s an A5 sized book with around 200 pages.

The contents include a “super long” interview focusing on their overseas activities from 2005 to 2011, personal interviews with each of the members, documentary, live and photoshoot photos from their lives in Mexico and Houston.

The artist book is available for pre-ordering on CDJapan, but do note that there is an extra charge of a domestic shipping cost and service fee, making the total 4380 yen.

Source: CDJapan, CD & DL Data.com

According to the Showbox at the Market’s twitter, the entire Dir en grey tour starting in March of 2012 has been canceled.

“showboxsea showboxsea .@DIRENGREY_web has regretfully cancelled their tour, including the 3/7 date @showboxsea. A formal statement will be released shortly.”

Nothing has been posted on the Dir en grey twitter or facebook as of yet, but we will keep you updated.

Source:  Twitter

Dir En Grey just announced that they will be kicking off the USA tour with a headline show in Seattle on March 7th at the Showbox. Tickets go on sale the 21st of this month! And so far they have not announced any new dates except the Seattle show, so keep in tune for more dates!

Source: Showbox, Dir en Grey official twitter

Dir En Grey is touring North America with five other bands: Asking Alexandria, Trivium, I See Stars, and Motionless in White!

Here are the dates and venues:

3/09- Chico, CA @ Senator Theatre
3/10- San Diego, CA @ SOMA
3/11- Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
3/13- Mission, TX @ Never Say Never Festival – Las Palmas Racepark
3/15- Austin, TX – SXSW
3/16- San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
3/17- Dallas, TX @ South By So What Festival – QuikTrip Park
3/21- South Carolina @ TBA
3/23- Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend
3/24- Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
3/25- Richmond, VA @ The National
3/27- Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
4/07- Louisville, KY @ Expo Five

Apparently there are more dates and venues to be announced…so don’t feel down if your city isn’t here! There’s still hope!

Interesting that they’re touring with so many other bands! I haven’t heard of any of them before. What about you guys, have you heard of them? Anyone planning on going?

Source: Dir En Grey official twitter&FB page

On November 23rd, they’ll be releasing a second compilation album of the same name and concept!

The title is 『CRUSH!2-90’s V-Rock best hit cover songs-』 and it will cost 3000 yen for sixteen tracks.

Artist and covers featured on the album are as follows:

01. Aoi – Mizerable by GACKT
02. Anne’s Black – ゴキゲン鳥〜crawler is crazy〜 (Gokigen Tori~crawler is crazy~) by SOPHIA
03. ADAPTER。 – FLOWERS OF ROMANCE by CASCADE
04. R指定 (R-Shitei) – ゆらめき (Yurameki) by Dir en Grey
05. amber gris – SHINE by LUNA SEA
06. OZ – 白い闇 by Rouage
07. ギルド (Guild) – グレイシャルLOVE Glacial LOVE) by SIAM SHADE
08. ケミカルピクチャーズ (Chemical Pictures) – JAM by THE YELLOW MONKEY
09. ZUCK – BEAT by 河村隆一 (Kawamura Ryuichi)
10. 9GOATS BLACK OUT – スピード (Speed) by BUCK-TICK
11. ν[NEU] – HOT LIMIT by T.M.Revolution
12. 花少年バディーズ (Hana Shounen Baddies) – 蜘蛛の意図 (Kumo no Ito) by PIERROT
13. HERO – 誘惑 (Yuuwaku) by GLAY
14. Blu-BiLLioN – 未来航路 (Mirai Kouro) by La’cryma Christi
15. メガマソ (Megamasso) – ROCKET DIVE by hide with Spread Beaver
16. Moran – ILLUMINATI by MALICE MIZER

The album is currently available for pre-ordering at CDJapan!

Which cover do you think sounds most interesting? Personally, I’d like to hear Moran’s ILLUMINATI.

Source: Brand-x, CDJapan

1. Kyoukotsu No Nari
2. THE BLOSSOMING BEELZEBUB
3. DIFFERENT SENSE
4. AMON
5. “Yokusou Ni DREAMBOX” Aruiwa Seijuku No Rinen To Tsumetai Ame
6. Juuyoku
7. Shitataru Mourou
8. LOTUS
9. DIABOLOS
10. Akatsuki
11. DECAYED CROW
12. Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami
13. VANITAS
14. Ruten No Tou

Thoughts on the cover art, or track listing?

Source: Dir en grey facebook

A groundbreaking 70-min world extending beyond madness
DIR EN GREY will release their 8th studio album “DUM SPIRO SPERO” 2 years and 9 months after “UROBOROS” which garnered overwhelming support as the strongest and the maddest record resonating across the globe.
In our time when heavy rock music has become diversified, the band’s deep and extensive, unique perspective is once again borderless, uncategorized.

There are 14 tracks including “Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami” (featured on ‘SAW 3D’ soundtrack), “LOTUS”, “DIFFERENT SENSE” as single-cut tracks in this album.

With the combination of world-noted engineers and the individuality of a Japanese born and bred band.
After all, DIR EN GREY is the only artist that can surpass themselves.

Although the tracklist and album covers are not up yet, but album will be available in 2 types and it will be released on August 3rd.

You may preorder your copy by clicking on the links below:
→8th Album [Regular Edition] @ 3150 yen
→8th Album [2CD+DVD+2LP] [Limited Edition] @ 12600 yen

Source: Dir en Grey’s Official Facebook

Tourdates

August.06 → Wacken Open Air (Wacken) – Germany
August 07 → Tivoli (Utrecht) – Netherlands
August 09 → Divan du Monde (Paris) – France
August 10 → Divan du Monde (Paris) – France
August 12 → Koko (London) – UK
August 13 → Zeche (Bochum) – Germany
August 16 → Velvet (Rimini) – Italy
August 18 → Club 202 (Budapest) – Hungary
August 20 → Klub Studio (Krakow) – Poland
August 21 → Columbia Club (Berlin) – Germany
August 23 → Nosturi (Helsinki) – Finland
August 25 → Milk Club (Moscow) – Russia

Source: Neo Tokyo newsletter

For more details please check the official homepage!

Source: OHP

2 for 1 for JAPAN!

Special sale from 25th of March 2011 until 4th of April 2011! Gan-Shin, Okami Records and Neo Tokyo have teamed up for a special CD and DVD sale! Order two Gan-Shin or Okami Records products at the Neo Tokyo website and receive the cheaper one for free! All profit will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. FREE shipping to all countries part of the European Union!

If you order 4 products you will receive 2 for free, if you order 6 you will get 3 for free…

The following CDs and DVDs are part of the special:

Abingdon Boys School – Teaching Materials CD
An Cafe – BB Parallel World CD/DVD
An Cafe – Goku Tama Rock Cafe CD
An Cafe – Goku Tama Rock Cafe LTD CD/DVD
An Cafe – Harajuku Dance Rock CD/DVD
An Cafe – LIVE CAFE 2010 KING OF HARAJUKU DANCE ROCK DVD Box
An Cafe – Magnya Carta CD
An Cafe – NYAPPY GO AROUND THE WORLD DVD
Asian Kung Fu Generation – Fan Club CD
BALZAC – HATRED: Destruction=Construction CD
BALZAC – JUDGEMENT DAY CD
BALZAC – Paradox CD
BALZAC – Paranoid Dream of the Zodiac CD
Crossfaith – The Artificial Theory for The Dramatic Beauty CD
D’espairsRay – Coll:Set CD
D’espairsRay – IMMORTAL CD/DVD
D’espairsRay – Mirror CD
DIR EN GREY – UROBOROS CD
DIR EN GREY – UROBOROS Budokan CD/DVD
DIR EN GREY – A KNOT OF DVD
DIR EN GREY – AVERAGE BLASPHEMY DVD
DIR EN GREY – THE MARROW OF A BONE CD
DIR EN GREY – TOUR05 THE ROSE TRIMS AGAIN DVD
DIR EN GREY – TOUR08 THE ROSE TRIMS AGAIN DVD
DIR EN GREY – VULGAR CD
DIR EN GREY – Withering to death. CD
Duel Jewel – We will melt you CD
Gackt – Diabolos CD
GaGaaling – Royal Stranger CD
girugämesh – NOW CD
girugämesh – MUSIC CD
girugämesh – GO CD
girugämesh – CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY DVD
girugämesh – girugämesh CD
GUITAR WOLF – DEAD ROCK CD
HANGRY&ANGRY – Sadistic Dance CD
heidi. – Panorama CD
HYDE – FAITH CD
HYDE – Best of CD
L’Arc~en~Ciel – KISS CD
LM.C – Wonderful Wonderholic CD/DVD
Merry – M.E.R.R.Y. CD
Merry – nu Chemical Rhetoric CD
Merry – Peep Show CD
Merry – under-world CD
Mix Speaker’s,Inc. – BIG BANG MUSIC! CD
Mix Speaker’s,Inc. – MONSTERS ~JUNK STORY in my pocket~ CD/DVD
MUCC – Karma CD/DVD
MUCC – 6 CD
MUCC – Gokusai CD
MUCC – Homurauta CD
MUCC – Kuchiki no Tou CD
MUCC – KYUTAI -Sphere- CD/DVD
Nightmare – Anima CD
Nightmare – the WORLD Ruler CD
Onmyo-za – Inyo-Shugyoku CD
POLYSICS – We ate the machine CD
RENTRER EN SOI – THE BOTTOM OF CHAOS CD
The Back Horn – Taiyo No Naka No Seikatsu CD
the studs – and hate CD
the studs – studs CD
VAMPS – BEAST CD
VAMPS – VAMPS CD
Vidoll – Bastard CD
XodiacK – Shinra Bansho-Setsuri CD
Zoro – Core CD

Pretty cool, hu?

Source: Neo Tokyo Facebook

What are your thoughts on the new pv and release?

Source: youtube

Do you like it?

Source: official youtube channel

[CD]
01. Lotus
02. Obscure
03. 冷血なりせば (REIKETSU NARISEBA) (Live take at SHINKIBA STUDIO COAST on July 20, 2010)

[DVD] (Limited Edition)
01. Zan
02. LIE BURIED WITH A VENGEANCE
03. 逆上堪能ケロイドミルク (Gyakujyo Tannou Keloido Milk)
(from their live at SHINKIBA STUDIO COAST on July 21, 2010)

Source: OHP , CDJapan

For profile pictures, please check their official homepage.

Besides that, we’d like to inform you that their new single is up for preorder @ CDJapan

Limited Edition CD+DVD
Regular Edition CD only

It’s been a while since their last release but we have good news for all Dir en grey fans. The band is going to release a new single which is called [LOTUS] on January 26th 2011.

According to their homepage the single will be released in two types.

【Initial Limited Version】 comes with CD＋DVD　and will cost 1890 Yen and
【Original Version】 is CD only　and will cost 1260 Yen.

For more information please stay tuned.

Source: OHP

Have you guys seen the new pv Dir en grey put out for SAW 3D? Take a look over here. What do you think of the song, pv etc???

Source: youtube

1. Saving Abel, ‘Never’
2. Dead By Sunrise (Chester Bennington), ‘Condemned’
3. Hinder, ‘Waking Up the Devil’
4. Karnivool, ‘Goliath’
5. Nitzer Ebb, ‘Promises’
6. Kopek, ‘Love Is Dead’
7. Saliva, ‘Badass’
8. My Darkest Day, ‘The World Belongs to Me’
9. Default, ‘Turn It On’
10. I-Exist, ‘Firefly’
11. Boom Boom Satellites, ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’
12. Adelitas Way, ‘Scream’
13. Krokus, ‘Hoodoo Woman’
14. Lordi, ‘This Is Heavy Metal’
15. Wagdug Futuristic Unity, ‘Ram the Crush’
16. Dir en grey, ‘Hageshisa to, Kono Mune no Naka de Karamitsuita Shakunetsu no Yami’

To get a peek at the song go ahead and head over to the soundtrack’s website. What do you think about bands crossing over and working with overseas companies/productions?

Source: soundtrack site

(July 14, 2010) – DIR EN GREY announces a co-headlining tour with Apocalyptica that begins in Toronto on August 23 and concludes September 12 in Seattle, Washington. A fan pre-sale will begin here this Friday, July 16, and tickets will go on sale to the general public the following Friday, July 23.

Dir En Grey is considered the biggest Japanese rock band ever, and their intense live shows are the perfect way to experience their global appeal. With seven studio albums and tours on nearly every continent under their belt, the band continues to win over new fans with their extreme, unclassifiable sound and mesmerizing performances.

As Billboard noted around the band’s first US appearances in 2006, “Dir en grey has transcended the language barrier in the United States through its music — which mixes pop elements with metal, incorporating lyrics that vocalist Kyo sings and screams — and its appearance.“

Dir En Grey – vocalist KYO, guitarists KAORU and DIE, bassist TOSHIYA and drummer SHINYA – became extremely popular almost immediately upon forming ten years ago and have steadily garnered international critical acclaim and a devoted fan base worldwide. The Los Angeles Times wrote that frontman “Kyo is a staggering vocalist” and “has stockpiled an extreme range of vocal inflections, from a guttural mutter to a tonsil-ripping scream—no electronic effects needed.”

In January 2010, the band wrapped up two years of touring in support of 2008′s UROBOROS by playing two sold out shows at Tokyo’s legendary Nippon Budokan arena and on June 22 Dir En Grey released a CD & DVD set from these shows, titled UROBOROS -with the proof in the name of living…- AT NIPPON BUDOKAN. While many trends come and go Dir En Grey’s music crosses borders and transcends the language barrier worldwide.

Dir En Grey and Apocalyptica dates:

08/23 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy

08/24 – New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre

08/26 – Boston, MA @ Royale

08/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory

08/28 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live

08/30 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage

08/31 – St. Louis, MO@ Pageant

09/01 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

09/02 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave.

09/04 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre

09/05 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre

09/07 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues

09/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern

09/10 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency

09/12 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo

Source: DIR EN GREY Official MySpace