Tetsuya (musician)


Tetsuya is a Japanese musician, best known as the leader and bassist of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. Formerly known by the stage name tetsu, on December 1, 2009 he started to use his birth name. While in L'Arc-en-Ciel his name is stylized as tetsuya, whereas in his solo work it is stylized as TETSUYA.
He also does backup vocals in L'Arc-en-Ciel and has composed many of the band's songs, including "Link", "Ready Steady Go", "Finale", "Driver's High", "Stay Away", "Pieces" and "Good Luck My Way". In 2001 he started a solo career under the name TETSU69. On November 26, 2006, he released one song under his old stage name, and as of December 10, 2009 he uses his birth name. From 2005 to 2006 he was a support member of, Dead End front man, Morrie's solo project Creature Creature.

Playing style

Tetsuya plays with a melodic style. Many of L'Arc-en-Ciel's songs involve him playing counter melodies with guitarist Ken while still holding a groove with the drums. Tetsuya's composing can be seen as more "poppish" as compared to Ken's who has a heavier and sometimes bluesy approach. He frequently uses slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs in his playing.
He plays with a pick most of the time, but uses finger style occasionally when the song calls for it, such as in "Winter Fall", "Jojoushi", "XXX" and "Mirai Sekai". In a few songs he can be heard using the slap style of playing, such as in the L'Arc songs "The Nepenthes" and "Twinkle, Twinkle". Tetsuya has also used distortion, such as in "Stay Away" and "Butterfly's Sleep".
Tetsuya primarily plays a 5 string bass since L'Arc-en-Ciel's 15th anniversary, but is known to occasionally use 6 strings. Such as in "Neo Universe", "Time Goes On", "Get Out from the Shell" where he plays lead melody. In "Perfect Blue" he used a 6 string baritone guitar. Tetsuya also uses a guitar/bass double neck in the song "Trust".
Even though Tetsuya is endorsed by ESP Guitars and has several signature models, he has used his Zon bass for most of his recording work. Tetsuya is an avid collector of basses and guitars, owning over 120 basses and more than 20 guitars.
Tetsuya now also endorses Lakland basses and his signature model is the US Series 55-69 tetsuya. He was seen using variations of this bass at the band's recent 20th anniversary concerts in aid of the great Japanese earthquake and tsunami tragedy.

Discography

;Singles
Stage nameNameRelease dateAlbum
TETSU69"Wonderful World/Tightrope"July 18, 2001Suite November
TETSU69"Shinkirou"August 28, 2002Suite November
TETSU69"15 1/2 Fifteen Half"October 23, 2002Suite November
TETSU69"White Out: Memory of a Color"February 13, 2003Non-album single
tetsu"Can't Stop Believing"March 14, 2007Come On!
TETSUYA"Roulette"May 19, 2010Come On!
TETSUYA"Looking For Light"August 18, 2010Come On!
TETSUYA"lonely Girl"November 10, 2010Come On!
TETSUYA"Time goes on 〜泡のように〜"September 7, 2016Non-album single
TETSUYA"Make a Wish"September 7, 2016Non-album single
TETSUYA"愛されんだぁ　I Surrender"June 14, 2017Non-album single

;EP
Stage nameNameRelease date
TETSUYA"I WANNA BE WITH YOU"July 18, 2018

;Albums
Stage nameNameRelease date
TETSU69"Suite November"November 20, 2002
TETSUYA"Come On!"January 5, 2011

;DVD / Blu-ray
Stage nameNameRelease date
TETSUYA"FIRST TOUR 2010 ルーレットを回せ! ～LIVE & DOCUMENTARY FILMS～" December 15, 2010
TETSUYA"LIVE SELECTIONS 2010-2012!" October 3, 2012
TETSUYA"THANK YOU!"July 2, 2017
TETSUYA"15th ANNIVERSARY LIVE"April 25, 2018
TETSUYA"TETSUYA LIVE 2019 THANK YOU 4950"August 19, 2020

;Other releases
Stage nameNameAlbum
TETSU69 for TRAPNEST"Reverse"Love for Nana: Only 1 Tribute''

Equipment

;Guitars/Basses
;Amplifiers
;Effects