-I'll-

Dir En Grey
DIR EN GREY in Paris in 2007
Background information
Origin	Osaka, Japan
Genres	Avant-garde metal progressive metal alternative metal gothic metal death metal nu metal
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Firewall Div. SMEJ Okami The End Gan-Shin Warcon Enterprises
Associated acts	La:Sadie's sukekiyo DECAYS SERAPH
Website	www.direngrey.co.jp
Members	Kyo Kaoru Die Toshiya Shinya

DIR EN GREY (previously stylized as Dir en grey) is a Japanese heavy metal band formed in 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As of 2014, they have recorded nine full-length records with a lineup consistent since its inception. Numerous stylistic changes have made the genre of their music difficult to determine, though it is generally considered to be a form of metal. Originally a visual kei band, the band has opted for less dramatic attire in recent years.

Dir En Grey was preceded by the independent rock band La:Sadie's, which included four of Dir En Grey's members before it ended activities. They disbanded due to leader and bassist Kisaki not wanting to debut as he felt that it was too soon, but guitarist Kaoru believed that they were ready for it. After parting ways with Kisaki, members Kaoru, Kyo, Die and Shinya recruited bassist Toshiya and regrouped as a new band. After playing one show at Nagano Live House on January 24, they decided to stay together as "Dir En Grey" on February 2, 1997. They released their first EP, Missa, a few months later. According to Toshiya, the name "Dir En Grey" was chosen because it "sounded right" and is composed of words from several languages so that people would not be able to attach a specific meaning to it other than the band's name itself. However, in another interview Kaoru said "At the time we chose the band name, it had some meaning but right now it doesn’t express the band anymore, so it has come to not mean anything specific. We chose the band name because it sounded right, and it also reflects an image that probably doesn’t exist elsewhere."

They first attracted mainstream attention in 1998 by entering the top ten on the Oricon music charts with the still independently produced songs "Jealous" and "-I'll-". Five subsequent singles, arranged and produced by X Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi, were published during the first half of 1999. The band's first full-length record, Gauze, followed. One of the shows in support for the album (filmed at the Osaka-jo Hall) would later become the first of several live concerts to be released on VHS and DVD.