We can say that LAREINE’s history is probably started in Kamijo-sama’s mind, in high school period.
He had a precise idea… like a vision, of his future band.
In 1994, while he was working as a roadie for Malice Mizer, he met Mayu.
A strange encounter, indeed…
In some interviews, Kamijo told that Mayu arrived on late to their meeting, so they could not talk that much… moreover, Mayu wasn’t paying a great attention to Kamijo’s words, so he didn’t understood a thing! ^^;
But after this beginning, in november Kamijo and Mayu founded LALIENE; two other guitarists joined the band, Sakureu and Hirono. Then, the drummer Kyouka joined too.
And Kamijo… was not “Kamijo”, but “SHOKI”!
Meanwhile, they started to look for a bassist in the advertisements on the magazine “Rockin-f”.
In the beginning of the following year, Kamijo saw a photo of a bassist… Emiru.
The picture was out of focus… it’s said that Emiru did it on purpose.
But before the meeting with Emiru, Mayu left the band because of musical divergences with Sakureu and his too dark way to play guitar.
Emiru joined the band and LALIENE had their first live on March 25th, 1995.
A few day later, their first demo tape “Lucherie” was released and distributed in the live at Meguro RockMeiKan.
In May of the same year, Mayu came back after Sakureu left.
In June-July, the second demo tape was released and it took place their tour of 9 dates.
It’s said that during the tour Kamijo was so moved that he cheered the audience waving the hand and saying something like “Let’s meet again!”.
In October 1995, Hirono and Kyouka left the band: we don’t know what Hirono did after this but Kyouka joined Eliphas Levi.
The month after, Kamijo met Machi at Shinjuku Loft… it was instant feeling between them!
They had so many things in common and Kamijo was so impressed that he asked him to join the band.
As said in later interviews, during this meeting Machi was wearing military trousers and a t-shirt… but at their first concert together, he wore a beautiful dress: his band-mates were pretty shocked by that! XD
By the way, between December and February ’96, tour “Pain of Love Story” took place and in March they changed their band name from LALIENE to LAREINE.
From that moment on, they started some tours and recordings.
During the “Tsukiyo no Kageki” (Opera of Moonlight Dance) Tour, another guitarist joined, Akira.
It followed the recording of “Tsukiyo no Kageki” demo tape.
Then, in this year, we have another tour, “Queen of Opera Dance”(11 shows).
In 1997 we have their first minialbum “Blue Romance” and their first OneMan live at Meguro.
After the “Romancia” Tour, Akira left the band.
Then, their first album “Blue Romance” was released, and they realized a number of lives.
In 1998 there are many tours: “Fleur – Le primtemps” (8 shows) is the first.
In April their fanclub “Fleur” opened.
Then, another couple of tours: “Hakuchou to tsuisou” (10 shows) and the autumnal tour “IMAGE CONCERT TOUR “Kohan ni nokosareta ai no chouzou” (7 shows); between these two tours, “LILLIE CHARLOTTE Visual CD Book” was released.
In December, the maxi single “Métamorphose” was released and on December 25th, there was a fanclub-only Xmas party at Ring Shibuya Factory: a great event… where LAREINE shoot photos with fans and shook their hands.
In January 1999, “Métamorphose” Tour took place.
The “Romance Kakumei” live was one of their greatest events: they asked their fans to come there dressed-up with high couture dresses… and they did it!
This was their last live as indie, because they then signed a contract with Sony Music Entarteinment.
In the same year they released their first single as major, “fiançailles”. It followed a live performance at SHOCKWAVE Illusion 1999.
In summer they had their “Le vent express” Tour (6 shows).
After this tour, they suspended their live exhibitions to work on their next album… meanwhile, they released “Billet~osanaki natsu no binsen” single.
In December, we have “Fuyu Tokyo” single.
Their official websites opened, and they had their X-mas party at Tatou Tokyo, in Roppongi.
In 2000, they released their “Bara wa utsukushiku chiru” and their first story album “Fierté no umi to tomo ni kiyu” (normal version and a version with PVs and member comments about the making).
But now we’re coming closer to their last tour… “Miss Carmila”.
After this, they disbanded.
There were many reasons for the disbandment and they are not that clear but the first one leaving the band was Emiru; then Machi and Mayu.
From now on, Kamijo kept running alone LAREINE activity as solo.
He realized in this period “GRAND PAIN” and its PV, shot in Wien.
“Scream” and “Vampire Scream” were then released.
Kamijo created a newsletter for his fans called “Grammar”.
2001: Kamijo have a live at Shinjuku Liquid Room; meanwhile, Machi started a project called “Chanton L’amour” with Lucifer Luscious Violenoue.
In June 2001 Kamijo froze LAREINE activity and joined New Sodmy; after a while, Mayu joined too.
New Sodmy had a certain success but their activity is destined to a rapid end: in 2002 Mayu left the band for musical divergences and personal matters… he disappeared and no one knew where he was.
Meanwhile, Emiru started a new activity with RIBBON.
In August, Kamijo left too and New Sodmy disbanded.
Applause Records website (Kamijo indie label) opened again, giving hopes to the fans for a new start of activities…
After a series of events and parties Mayu, Emiru and Machi took part in (they realized together, “Chou no Hana” single and “ETUDE” minialbum, but Mayu, Emiru and Machi figured in it as “guest artists”), LAREINE finally reunited: RIBBON disband in February 2003, so Emiru comes back to LAREINE taking with him Kazumi, RIBBON’s drummer. In fact, Machi won’t come back, and Kazumi takes his place.
In May, Mayu comes back too…
03/01/06: Kazumi left LAREINE and the musical activity.
02/18/07: LAREINE are officially “on indefinite hiatus”.
And now… after 3 great years of activity, events, albums, lives… their activity stopped again.
This time maybe forever…
But no one can say what the future will take…