Közi

visual kei

Közi (born May 29, 1972 in Niigata, Japan) is a Japanese musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, DJ, and solo artist. He is best known as the guitarist and former member of MALICE MIZER. Közi's career began in 1989, when he went to Tokyo, with the band Beyond The Reinsight. Information about this band is very scarce. In 1991 he joined 摩天楼(Matenrou) with future Malice Mizer member Mana and released two demo tapes. Mana and Közi left Matenrou after deciding they both had similar ideas about creating music. They formed Malice Mizer in 1992. After Malice Mizer disbanded in 2001, Közi joined Haruhiko Ash and created Eve of Destiny, an industrial rock band that toured outside of Japan, performing at various festivals in Europe. In 2002, Közi collaborated with Japanese author Minako for the book Izayoi No Tsuki (十六夜の月), which Közi provided the eerie soundtrack for. He then performed a special singing event in Japan which cemented the fact that he was following a solo career. Közi's first solo release was the double-disc, double-single package KHAOS/KINEMA, which included Promenade. The track was re-released several months later on his debut album カタルシス (Catharsis). Közi's MEMENTO single is dedicated to the late Malice Mizer drummer, Kami. During his time in MALICE MIZER, Közi often assumed the role of a pierrot doll, dressing in clown-like costumes with large ruffs, always in shades of red, his favourite colour. In music videos and on-stage he w...