L'Arc-en-Ciel

For other uses, see L'Arc-en-Ciel (disambiguation).
L'Arc-en-Ciel
L'Arc-en-Ciel performing at Madison Square Garden on March 25, 2012.
L'Arc-en-Ciel performing at Madison Square Garden on March 25, 2012.
Background information
Also known asP'unk-en-Ciel, The Zombies, D'ark-en-Ciel
OriginOsaka, Japan
Genres
DiscographyL'Arc-en-Ciel discography
Years active1991–present
Labels
MembersTetsuya
Hyde
Ken
Yukihiro
Past membersHiro
Pero
Sakura
Websitewww.larc-en-ciel.com

L'Arc-en-Ciel (Japanese: ラルク アン シエル, Hepburn: Raruku an Shieru, French for "The Rainbow"[1]), stylized as L'Arc〜en〜Ciel and abbreviated as Laruku, is a Japanese rock band formed in Osaka in 1991 by bassist Tetsuya and vocalist Hyde. Following the departure of original members Hiro and Pero, guitarist Ken and drummer Sakura were recruited to replace them in 1992 and 1993, respectively. While they first got their start as a visual kei band, L'Arc-en-Ciel have not had any association with the movement since their major label debut in 1994.[2][3] Sakura left the band in 1997 and was replaced by Yukihiro in January 1998, completing the current line-up.

With a reported 40 million records sold, L'Arc-en-Ciel are one of the best-selling music artists in Japan. Their 1999 simultaneously-released albums Ark and Ray are each one of the best-selling albums of all time in Japan. L'Arc-en-Ciel have had seven number one studio albums and 21 number one singles. They were ranked number 58 on a 2003 list of the top 100 Japanese pop musicians by HMV Japan, and were the first Japanese act to headline Madison Square Garden in New York City.

  1. ^ "L'Arc-En-Ciel: The Richest Rock Band You've Never Heard Of". Forbes. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2014-09-10.
  2. ^ "L'Arc-en-Ciel, Japanese Visual Kei Band, To Play Madison Square Garden This Weekend". Billboard. 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  3. ^ "20 Years of L'Arc-en-Ciel". The Wall Street Journal. 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-05-20.