Közi

Közi (born May 29, 1972 in Niigata, Japan) is a Japanese musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, DJ, and solo artist. He is best known as the guitarist and former member of MALICE MIZER. Közi's career began in 1989, when he went to Tokyo, with the band Beyond The Reinsight. Information about this band is very scarce. In 1991 he joined 摩天楼(Matenrou) with future Malice Mizer member Mana and released two demo tapes. Mana and Közi left Matenrou after deciding they both had similar ideas about creating music. They formed Malice Mizer in 1992. After Malice Mizer disbanded in 2001, Közi joined Haruhiko Ash and created Eve of Destiny, an industrial rock band that toured outside of Japan, performing at various festivals in Europe. In 2002, Közi collaborated with Japanese author Minako for the book Izayoi No Tsuki (十六夜の月), which Közi provided the eerie soundtrack for. He then performed a special singing event in Japan which cemented the fact that he was following a solo career. Közi's first solo release was the double-disc, double-single package KHAOS/KINEMA, which included "Promenade". The track was re-released several months later on his debut album "カタルシス" (Catharsis). Közi's "MEMENTO" single is dedicated to the late Malice Mizer drummer, Kami. During his time in MALICE MIZER, Közi often assumed the role of a pierrot doll, dressing in clown-like costumes with large ruffs, always in shades of red, his favourite colour. In music videos and on-stage he would often make movements reminiscent of a marionette (string puppet). Közi has continued this visual style to some extent, but his contemporary stage costumes are more gothic. His work on the Izayoi No Tsuki project was reminiscent of carnival music, and artwork for his projects usually follow a dramatic, theatrical theme. Details about his private life are sketchy. On May 2007, Közi released a live DVD, featuring a collage of his lives from 2004-2006. In 2008, Közi embarked on a project with ex-deadman's vocalist Mako. He'll be the bassist and guitarist for the single track CD that will be included with Mako's book "buried alive by words". The song will be called "buried with the light", released in May. In 2010, Közi joined the new wave-styled Visual-kei band XA-VAT with the former vocalist and drummer of goatbed. Now he is currently in a band called ZIZ, composed of his backing band from his solo career; with himself as vocalist and guitarist, bassist Sugiya (Moi dix Mois), guitarist Jiro (Bioactive), keyboardist Yugami (Yugami Hakase) and drummer Chargeeeeee (Omega Dripp). Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.