
Artist: baroque (バロック, Baroque)
Band profile here (http://www.jame-world.com/uk/database-artist.php?id=43) JaME
Disbanded: December 25, 2004 (last live at Zepp Tokyo)
Members:
Ryo (怜) – vocals
Akira (晃) – guitar
Kei (圭) – guitar

Bansaku (万作) – bass
Former members
Yuji (祐二) - Drums
Naru (ナル) – drums
If not for the Tokyo Stripper mini-album that I so adore now, then I would know so little of this band forever. I first encounter baroque when a friend gave me a copy of their PV Cherry King. Until now, I really love that song and Ryou's very pronounced "r". XD They released several albums and singles up to 2004 and decided to disband.
Their music are fresh, very spunky. Some of their songs when they went major included trance/electronica sounds which made this band even more popular and unique to the taste of music-lovers.
Although baroque started in the visual kei scene, wearing heavy make-ups and costumes, even touring when other visual kei bands, the members lie-low in their image some time during the height of their popularity. When they become a major band, they fashioned simple clothes close to the lifestyle fashion of everyday people. Street wear it is. And personally, if taking image and music as a way of viewing a band identity, I think that kind of style suited them the most.
I've read several things about their band history and all I can say is that those 3 years is nothing but a roller coaster ride both for the members and fans. I don't know if it's a curse, but they had their 2 drummers quit in the middle of success, making it an untimely death for a band's establishing popularity. So in the end, the final members are Ryou, Akira, Kei and Bansaku. Bansaku said he was quitting around 2003 (?) or much later, then there was a time when baroque's lives, releases and magazine shoots was canceled due to a member's scandal. I'm not sure if that was Akira or Kei, but someone was arrested and the band's activity had to stop for months. For quite a long time, there was no baroque in the Japanese music scene. In the magazine Arena37°C, the absence was explained in an interview by the members. I happen to find a picture of this said period. The description says that it was a flyer released by the band as an apology to the fans:
Kei has an anger management and he's been in a lot of trouble for underage drinking and smoking. At some point, Ryou lost faith in music and wanted to quit the band. Fortunately, they were able to get on their feet and reclaim their popularity, releasing their postponed projects. However, much to the dismay of eager fans, on September of 2004 they announced disbanding,
The following messages were posted at their official website, concerning the band’s decision to disband. Credits to http://www.yuukitenshi.net/baroque/breakupcomments.html for the translation.
baroque disbanding notice
We truly thank you for supporting baroque all this time.
As a result of repeated discussions between both the band members and the office staff because of bassist Bansaku's leaving the band, baroque, who started activities in August 2001, are disbanding.
Furthermore, we will announce an official breakup schedule as well as details on both the recently postponed fanclub-only live show and event plus details on a last concert here on this site as soon as they've been determined.
We really thank all the fans and all people concerned who gave their support during the last 3 years.
FREE-WILL Co-Ltd.
Ryou
長い間、皆を心配させちゃってごめん。
ファンの皆にこの言葉を言うのにすごく悩んだ。
自分達でも、どうしたら良いのか分からなくって悩んだ。
脱退って話しされたとき、正直分かってあげられない自分が居たよ。
でもね、三年って短い時間だったけど、色んな壁を皆で乗り越えてきて、泣くときも一緒で、怒るときも一緒で、笑うときも一緒で、毎日いつも一緒に居た。
だからね、俺たちは、最後まで一緒に終わろうよって思ったんだ。
それがbaroqueが出した答えなんだ。
今は、ファンの皆にはごめんってしか言えない。
ごめんね。
でも、最後に会うときはファンの皆にも一緒に居てくれてありがとうって言えると思う。だから最後のライブをやる時は、楽しい時間にしよう。
皆で笑って泣いて、最高の日にしよう。まだいっぱい書きたいことあるけど、それはライブまでとっておきます。
そして最後に一つだけ。
この3年間、どうしようもない自分らを応援してくれたファンの皆、関係者の皆、
ありがとう。
そしてバロックのメンバー、ありがとう。
こんな人生最高だよ。
I'm sorry for having everyone worry for such a long time.
I was really worried to say these words to all you fans.
But even we ourselves didn't know what to do and were worried.
After those talks about [Bansaku's] 'retiring', there was a part of me that honestly couldn't understand it!
But you see, even though those three years were a short time, we climbed over so many obstacles together, we cried together, we got angry together, we laughed together, we spent every day together the whole time.
That's why we thought we should also end this together.
That's the answer baroque have given.
Right now, I can only say 'sorry' to all of you fans.
I'm sorry.
But I think that when we'll meet for the last time, I'll be able to say 'thank you' to all of you fans for being with us. So let's have an enjoyable time when we're holding the last concert!
Let's all laugh and cry and make this the best day ever! There are still so many things I want to write, but I'll save them for the last show.
And finally, one more thing.
Thank you to all the fans and people concerned who always supported us no matter what during these 3 years.
And to the members of baroque: thank you.
This life is the best!
Kei
怜と晃くんと万ちゃんと一緒に居て、baroqueにめちゃくちゃ夢中になって、
毎日4人で音楽して、生きて、色んな大変なコトあったのに支えてくれてる人ってかみんなが居て、何かうまく言葉になんないんだけど最高幸せで楽しくて貴重で、、、。
それを終わらせるってのは辛いよ。
個人的なコトばっかで申し訳ない。
俺らは皆本当にbaroqueを愛してるし、ずっと4人でいたいから解散を決めました。
解って下さい。
最後までわがまま三昧で本当にごめんなさい。
正直本気寂しいけどずっとずっと俺らはbaroqueのメンバーです。
今まで本当にありがとう。
最高感謝してます。
I was with Ryo, Akirakun and Banchan, I have been so totally enthusiastic about baroque, the four of us made music every day, I lived my life. And even though there were various problems, there were all those of you who supported us and I can't even put it all into words properly, I was totally happy, I had so much fun and it's all so precious to me... .
It's tough to let all of this end!
Those are just my personal regards, I'm sorry about that.
All of us truly love baroque and we want to stay together as the four of us so we decided to disband.
Please understand that.
I'm truly sorry for being so selfish and self-absorbed until the very last moment.
I'm honestly and seriously sad, but we'll be the members of baroque forever and ever.
Thanks so much for everything up to now.
I'm absolutely grateful.
Akira
バロックが始まって3年ちょっと。
解散が来るとは思ってなかったよ。
sug lifeのレコーディングが終わって万ちゃんにやめたいって話を聞いたんだけど、
初めは自分達のことと思えなくて動揺して悩んだし、本当の意味での納得もできなかった。それからも考える時間があって一人になって今までにないくらい悩んで考えたけどやっぱり俺らは4人でバロックだし一人でもかけたらやってる意味がないんだよ。
それが俺の答えでもありメンバーの答え。
だから始まりは万ちゃんの事かもしれないけど結論を出したのはメンバー4人でだしたから。
悲しいけど今は気持ちの整理もだいぶついてきてる。
今まで応援してくれたファンのみんなには本当にごめんしか言えないよ。
こういう状態になって余計応援してくれたファンのみんなに感謝とごめんていう気持ちがでてくる。
本当にごめん。
今は詳しい事は決まってないけど解散ライブを予定してるからその日には笑ってできるライブにしようと思ってる。
だからこういう時に言うのもおかしいけど楽しみにしててください。
ちなみに体調はよくなったよ。
心配かけてごめんなさい。
It was only 3 years ago that baroque started.
I didn't think there would ever come a time we'd disband!
We had finished the recordings for sug life and I'd heard Banchan talking of wanting to quit, but first I couldn't believe this was about us and I was shaking and worried, and I couldn't grasp its true meaning. And even after that, when I had time to think, I was all by myself and I was so worried like I've never been before and thought about it all. But baroque was the four of us after all, there wouldn't have been any sense in continuing with even just one of us missing.
That's both my and the members' decision.
So that's why even though it might have started with Banchan's decision, it was the four of us who came to that conclusion.
I'm sad but I'll have to adjust my emotions [to the new situation] now.
To all of the fans who've supported us until now, I can only say I'm deeply sorry!
To the fans who've supported us so much in a situation like this, I'd like to express my gratefulness and that I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
The full details haven't been decided yet, but as a last concert is being arranged, I think this is going to be a day I'll be able to smile.
That's why even this might sound a bit strange at a time like this, I hope we'll have a good time.
By the way, I'm feeling well again.
I'm sorry for making you worried.
Bansaku
いつだって四人が一番サイコーだから、自分に疑問を持ったまま続けて行く事ができないから、初めて辞めるって気持ちが俺のなかに生まれました。
常に確信していないと、音楽に嘘がでると思っていたし、今も思っています。
初めて迷いが生まれたので、それをみんなに打ち明けました。
アルバム制作が終わり、次にbaroqueでやりたい事や、やるべき事が見つけられなくなりました。
そんな気持ちでバンドを続ける事は、正直出来ないと思って。
それからいっぱい話をして、考えて、悩んで、またいっぱい話をして、
いま、解散が決まって、ライブも予定中です。そこに立つ事が俺の全てです。
最高にかっこいいバンドであり続ける為に。
本当にありがとうとごめんって気持ちがごっちゃになって大変なんだけど。
でも本当に感謝いっぱいしてます
Because the four of us have always been the best, I couldn't go on while I was doubting myself. So for the first time, the wish to quit the band was born inside of me.
I believed that if I'm constantly doubting things, lies will arise in the music and that's what I still believe.
As I felt those doubts for the first time, I told everyone about that.
When work on the album was done, I couldn't find any things I wanted to do or achieve with the band anymore.
I thought that I honestly couldn't continue being in the band with feelings like that.
And then we discussed a lot, we thought things over, felt worried, had a lot of discussions again, and now we've decided to disband and are also in the middle of planning a [last] concert.
To be up there means everything to me.
To continue being the coolest band.
The feelings of being truly grateful and feeling sorry are all mixed up and it's really hard.
But I truly thank you so much.
The bold parts was done by me, it was those parts that really touched me. Kei and Ryou re-joined their old bands, and I don't know much what has happened to Bansaku and Akira. But hopefully, they show themselves soon! If you have any information about them, let me know~
Discography (credits to Wikipedia)
Albums
* Sug Life (September 9, 2004)
Mini-Albums
* Tokyo Stripper (東京ストリッパー, January 12, 2002)
Compilation Albums
* Brq 2001-2004 (December 12, 2004)
Singles * "Sukebe Boy" (スケベボウイ, August 7, 2002)
* "Caramel Drops" (キャラメルドロップス, November 29, 2002)
* "Chaplin" (February 5, 2003)
* "Gakidou" (我伐道, July 24, 2003)
* "Ila" (April 7, 2004)
* "Garion" (ガリロン, April 21, 2004)
* "Nutty a Hermit" (July 28, 2004)
Video Releases * Anakuro Film (あなくろフィルム, August 12, 2001)
* Brq DVD (December 15, 2004)
* Clip Collection (March 23, 2005)
* Last Live Mumirai No Future (Last Live 無未来 NO FUTURE March 23, 2005)
Random stuff:
Ryou doesn’t smoke. In the profile that I read it's like this: Tobacco/Cigarette brand: NOOOO!!!
This is a very old Q & A with Bansaku but it did tickle my insides:
Q:Your recent "my boom"
A: Dates with Ryou
This is also very funny of Kei:
Q:What was your childhood dream?
A: Boss of banana shop
And the first thing he does before lives is pray then go crazy after. You are extreme dude!
Akira’s first love was in kindergarden.
Random dork moments of Ryo and Kei. XDDDD
Because no band is without yaoi moments. Here’s a clip: <object http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhpNVbJN6vw
Great baroque fan-site: Coup d'etat (eng)
I will forever love baroque and I hope to hear all their songs in the future! I'm sorry for the lack of more information, but I hope you would check out the links that I gave. I wish that I did enough to give tribute to this wonderfully talented band. (V^^V)
Currently listening to: baroque - "tight"