Current
* Vocal : Ishii Shuuji
* Guitar : Ao
* Bass : Kenjirou
* Drums : Makoto
Former
* Vocal : Kureiju [gone : 1993]
* Vocal : Shin [gone : 1995]
* Vocal : Shuuji [gone : 2000]
* Bass : Keiji [gone : 1996]
* Bass : Kazuya [gone : 1995]
* Drums : Katsumi [gone : 1999]
PROFILE
Considered by some as the founder of the Eroguro style (a combination of the words “erotic” and “grotesque”), cali≠gari displayed that particular style in nearly everything they produced throughout their career.
Bizarre makeup and clothing, along with odd gimmicks that included a free condom in one of their CDs, a stage show featuring an almost naked transvestite, and other antics came courtesy of guitarist and leader, Ao, who also wrote a great deal of the lyrics and music for the band. Just like their appearance, their songs were surprising, strange, and very different, and ranged in style from upbeat rock to typical visual-kei, jazz to new-wave, and a bit of the experimental.
Unfortunately, the band paused activities in 2003, but all members are currently working on their own bands and projects at this time.
BIOGRAPHY
The concept of Cali+Gari was already in the works in 1989 when Ao, guitarist and leader of the band, met drummer Katsumi. The project officially began in June 1993 when bassist Keiji and vocalist Kureiju joined the band.
With this complete lineup, Cali+Gari was born. They performed their first concert at Ikebukuro CYBER on September 11, 1993, just months after their formation. Two months later, the band lineup changed with Shin replacing Kureiju as vocalist. Soon after, cali≠gari’s first demo tape Dai 1 Jikkenshitsu went on sale at Yokahama 7th Avenue.
Their next demo tape, Sennou, was limited to 100 copies, only available for sale at a concert performed at the famous MeguroRock May Kan, and included the song If. This song is of particular note because it marked the beginning development of Ao’s infamous performance style. It was later discovered that Shuuji, who was to be the band’s new vocalist, delayed joining the band for six months after hearing this song.
Keiji left Cali+Gari just before the band embarked on their first tour of the Kanto area. He went on to join the band Valen Schtein and changed his name to Mitsuo.
In December 1995 Shin left the band and the remaining members decided to temporarily halt activities. During this hiatus, Kazuya also decided to part ways with the band.
Remaining members Ao and Katsumi formed a band called Kashimiya with Heresey, the would-be vocalist of Jubilee, and bassist Ayan. Following another member change, Mitsuo became their bassist once again after leaving Valen Schtein and Parachute 2.
In January 1996, Cali+Gari reunited with Shuuji at the microphone. At this time the band changed their name to cali≠gari.
A short time later, Mitsuo left again and Kenjirou of Eternal Flame joined the band as a support member in his place, soon becoming an official member of cali≠gari.
On April 4, 1997, cali≠gari held an anniversary concert at Motoyawata Route 14 to celebrate the first year of the band’s formation, and continued this tradition in 1998 and 1999, marking each anniversary. cali≠gari's first tour outside of the Kanto area kicked off on the 21st of August with a gig at the Niigata Juke Box.
Between 1997 and 1999, the Tokyo Chikashitsu event, considered the predecessor of Ao’s later annual music event, Yaneura Dai Circus, was organized ten times in Tokyo and once in Osaka. These events were some of the earliest gigs for bands such as Velvet Eden and Mucc. Other well-recognized bands of the Angura Kei and Eroguro scenes, such as la vie en rose and Guruguru Eigakan, participated as well.
On 12th December, cali≠gari performed their first one-man concert in the Shinjuku Loft.
On Halloween 1999, Ao organized the previously mentioned Yaneura Dai Circus for the first time at Shibuya On Air West. The event featured Ryutaro and Tadashi of Plastic Tree, Velvet Eden, MUCC, Ya-foo!, Onan Spelmermaid, Full of Guniw Tools and Nookicky, and nearly every band that was ever mentioned in relation to cali≠gari. On this special night, Katsumi announced his departure from the band and Makoto of TECHNO URBAN took his position on drums.
One of cali≠gari's most famous songs, 37564, included on Dai 5 Jikkenshitsu, shows more of cali≠gari’s strange sense of humor. The numbers spoken in Kanji would be: 3 = mi, 7 = na, 5 = go, 6 = ro, 4 = shi, forming minagoroshi, which translates as "massacre." The idea came to Ao while he was stuck at a traffic light in Shibuya and thought, “How would it be if I just kill everyone now with a machinegun, like in Full Metal Jacket?” In order to share his thoughts through music, he wrote the song in just three minutes.
Shuuji left cali≠gari on June 1, 2000 and was replaced by Shuuji of float. Due to their identical names there was some confusion in the beginning and the new vocalist, Shuuji Ishii, always introduced himself as "the OTHER Shuuji".
With the new Shuuji behind the microphone, the band continued making an impact as an Eroguro band, their reputation growing more notorious with the release of their album Blue Film, which is another name for adult movies. The second press of this album contained a pink condom and an instruction manual for using it.
cali≠gari's major-album Dai 7 Jikkenshitsu was released in May 2002 under their own label Gai Records, a sub-label of Victor Records.
Less than a year later, during a concert in March 2003, cali≠gari announced that they would be taking a break. Their last concert took place at Hibiya Yagai Ongakudô and was later released on DVD. This is where cali≠gari’s history as a band ends.
In the aftermath of cali≠gari’s activity pause, Shuuji Ishii started a solo project called goatbead. Makoto followed Ao into his new project lab., but at the end of 2004, he left the group to join Cyanotype and has also played on Shuuji Ishii’s project. In 2004 Kenjirou changed his name to Samurai W. Kenjilaw when he joined Sex Machineguns. He is still with the band at present.
Songs
Maguro
Blue Film
Maguro, second version PV
靑春狂騷曲
Haikara Satsubatsu Haiso Zessa
