NASHVILLE |DT: DECEMBER 20, 2006
FM: SHAZILA MOHAMMED/KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON, MSO
CONFIRM “INWARD SCREAM” U.S. HEADLINING TOUR;
NEW FULL-LENGTH CD DUE IN EARLY 2007;
EP TO BE RELEASED EXCLUSIVELY IN f.y.e STORES IN JANUARY
Japan’s DIR EN GREY have confirmed their first headlining U.S. theatre and club tour, “INWARD SCREAM,” launching February 1 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and leading up to the release of their spring ‘07 sophomore American full-length THE MARROW OF A BONE. As a teaser to the tour and full-length, the band will release the AGITATED SCREAMS OF MAGGOTS EP in January, to be sold exclusively in f.y.e. stores across the country. The EP will include the studio recording of the song “Agitated Screams of Maggots” as well as three tracks recorded live at the Nippon Budokan Arena in Tokyo during the summer of 2006, where the band headlined two nights at the 8,000-capacity venue.
In the almost ten years since DIR EN GREY formed, their music and lyrics have always expressed sentiments of grief, sorrow and darkness. Originally a “visual-kei” band, which emphasized their appearance, DIR EN GREY’s intensity and maturing sound have helped them create a loyal following across the globe as they moved away from the genre.
The presale for the “INWARD SCREAM” tour sold out in less than 10 minutes, solidifying America’s growing fascination with the band. DIR EN GREY–KYO (voice), KAORU (guitar), DIE (guitar), TOSHIYA (bass) and SHINYA (drums)–began creating a buzz stateside early this year with a packed show at SXSW and sold-out shows in New York and Los Angeles, all before releasing an album in America. The Japanese rock phenoms then spent the summer on the main stage of the 2006 Family Values Tour, touring in support of their U.S. debut release WITHERING TO DEATH. (Warcon Records), recently named one of the Top 10 Hard Rock & Metal albums of 2006 by Amazon.com.
Here’s a taste of the critical acclaim DIR EN GREY has garnered thus far for their musicianship and dynamic stageshow. The “…visually stimulating, highly entertaining live act” (Hollywood Reporter, 3/23/06) transcended the language barrier day after day on Family Values. Fans and critics have enjoyed “…the wild-eyed thrash of Japan's Dir en grey, which roared with hard rock stripped down…” (Los Angeles Times, 8/21/06). Boston Globe praised the band’s performance by noting: “…Dir en grey stirred things up with sharp speed jams and noise. Few will forget the haunting instrumental passage the band played as singer Kyo slashed at his chest Iggy Pop-style…The music was fierce (9/19/06).”
On The Family Values Tour, DIR EN GREY sold over 5,000 copies of their CDs & DVDs. The Family Values Tour also saw their dedicated fans and new DIR EN GREY converts line up several hundred deep at every show to get a chance to meet them at their f.y.e. meet & greets.
If you can’t wait until 2007 for your DIR EN GREY fix, look for the band on The Family Values Tour 2006 CD and DVD, out December 26 on Firm Music.“INWARD SCREAM” tour dates are as follows (website info below):
Date City Venue
| Thu | 2/1 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Revolution | ||
| Fri | 2/2 | Orlando, FL | House of Blues | ||
| Sat | 2/3 | Atlanta, GA | Roxy Theatre | ||
| Mon | 2/5 | Baltimore, MD | Ram’s Head Live | ||
| Tue | 2/6 | Philadelphia, PA | Theatre of the Living Arts | ||
| Wed | 2/7 | Boston, MA | Avalon Ballroom | ||
| Fri | 2/9 | Toronto, ON | Guvernment | ||
| Sat | 2/10 | New York, NY | Nokia Theatre | ||
| Mon | 2/12 | Detroit, MI | St. Andrews Hall | ||
| Tue | 2/13 | Chicago, IL | House of Blues | ||
| Wed | 2/14 | Minneapolis, MN | Fine Line Music Club | ||
| Fri | 2/16 | Englewood, CO | Gothic Threatre | ||
| Sun | 2/18 | Houston, TX | Meridian | ||
| Mon | 2/19 | Dallas, TX | Palladium Ballroom | ||
| Wed | 2/21 | Tempe, AZ | Marquee Theatre | ||
| Fri | 2/23 | Los Angeles, CA | The Wiltern | ||
| Sat | 2/24 | Los Angeles, CA | Avalon | ||
| Sun | 2/25 | San Francisco, CA | Filmore |
http://www.direngrey.co.jp
http://www.myspace.com/officialdirengrey
http://www.warconent.com
For additional information on DIR EN GREY and the INWARD SCREAM tour, contact
MSO 818-380-0400:
Shazila Mohammed, x238, shazila@msopr.com
Kristine Ashton-Magnuson, x233, kashton@msopr.com
http://
DIR EN GREY: JAPANESE BUZZ-BAND DIR EN GREY CONFIRM “INWARD SCREAM” U.S. HEADLINING TOUR;
NEW FULL-LENGTH CD DUE IN EARLY 2007; EP TO BE RELEASED EXCLUSIVELY IN f.y.e STORES IN JANUARY
