Deadman is a Japanese rock band founded in Nagoya in 2000. The group gained notoriety for popularizing the nagoya kei subgenre of visual kei, which is a lot "darker" than most and focuses more on musical composition. Deadman also quickly became known for vocalist Mako's heavily melancholic lyrical themes, with the music itself touching on alternative rock in sound. The group disbanded in 2006 for unknown reasons. Mako and guitarist aie reunited as Deadman in 2019.
History
Guitarist and leader aie, vocalist Mako and bassist Yukino were all previously in the band Kein. In 2000 they formed Deadman with drummer Toki, whom aie previously played with in Lamiel. They played their first concert on January 6, 2001. Shortly after the release of their first single, "Subliminal Effect", Yukino left the group and was replaced by Takamasa previously of Lady. Yukino went on to the bands Gullet and lynch.. In April 2005, Takamasa left and it was not until July when Kazuya replaced him. At the end of the year they released their second full-length album, In The Direction of Sunrise and Night Light. At the beginning of 2006, Deadman played a couple of shows in Europe. But in March they announced they would be disbanding and on May 23, 2006 performed their last concert at Shibuya O-East. aie went on to form the band The Studs in 2007 with ex-bassist Yukino, they went on hiatus in 2009. He then formed both HighFashionParalyze and The God and Death Stars in 2010, all the while performing occasional solo shows. HighFashionParalyze recruited Sakura and Kazu in 2016 and changed their name to Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy. On May 29, 2008, Mako released a photo book called Buried Alive by Words, which came with a CD of a song called "Buried with the Light" that features Közi on guitar and bass. Kazuya released a solo album, under the name Gift, called A Man's Walking is Succession of Falls on June 20, 2008. Yukino then went on to sing and play guitar for the band DimmDivision. After 13 years, Mako and aie announced a reunion as Deadman in March 2019. After a performance on June 22 at Nagoya Bottom Line, where aie revealed that the reunion would last until September 2020, they played a one-man live at Ebisu Liquidroom on September 9, 2019. The duo were supported both times by Tetsu on bass and Asanao on drums. After two more performances in October and November, Deadman went on a three-date tour throughout December. In February 2020, the duo embarked on a joint tour with Gibkiy Gibkiy Gibkiy. Another joint tour, this time with Cali Gari, was set to take place in March. However, those dates have been postponed until May and June due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.
Musical style
Deadman cites Buck-Tick, Chage and Aska and Kurt Cobain as inspiring them. Their music incorporates several different genres of rock, drawing heavily from alternative rock and indie rock. A style reminiscent of gothic rock, punk and post-punk can also be seen, in what is much of Deadman's musical sporadic-ism. Often incorporated into individual songs are several "movements" that seem to drift back and forth, with erratic vocals and sounds.
Lyrical themes
Mako's lyrics usually touch on the "psychological instability of mankind, the mortality of humans, and religion", particularly Christianity and Shintoism references are made often. The title of their album 701125 is a reference to the date author Yukio Mishima died, November 25, 1970.
