About Diru

Lately I've been staying up late the whole night and going to bed when the sun rises from the East. My parents advised me that this bad habit will cost me my health, but really, I feel at peace during the wee hours of the morning. Nobody is there and I can do whatever I want. Everything is quiet and peaceful, even the animals are sleeping soundly outside. So, I particularly like to stay up late at night. But you know, beauty sleep is crucial for a girl, and sometimes I think about this too. Like, will it affect my looks if I keep doing this everyday? In 2 days I will be going back to university. I feel really sluggish. I don't want to go back. I don't want to do something I don't want to. Please don't force me.

Well tonight I want to write my feelings about Diru. When I became interested in Japanese rock music, I started to get to know Diru (and love listening to Yokan), as well as Laruku, D'espa, Gazette and all those visual kei bands. The ones I listed here are the ones I listen to the most. I remember coming back from school, and listening to J-rock all day. Day till night. Everyday. Needless to say, J-rock was pretty much my life back then. I did nothing but J-rock. Haha.

I still remember listening to -saku- and Clever Sleazoid, and focusing my hatred to the song. I felt like these J-rockers understood me better than anyone else in the world. Finally, I found someone who understood me. You know that feeling, right? I used to watche the PVs all day also. Haha. I was a very angry person back then. After that I got more into Gazette and Laruku, and the period of Marrow of a Bone did not really fuse with me like the previous albums. I like Withering to Death and Vulgar the best of them all, but Gazette and Laruku seems more happy and upbeat. It is well-known that Diru never sings about happy things. At the time, I guess I felt like wanting something fresh, so I got into the Gazette. I started listening and watching their videos non-stop too. But still, Diru never left me completely, I still liked to listen to -saku-, IIID Empire, Mr.Newsman, Umbrella, Garden, Kodou, Kasumi, Obscure particularly and all that. It's just that Marrow of a Bone did not really appealed to me at the time.

The first time I search for them in the internet, I had a deep crush for Die and Toshiya. Because my sister already liked Die before I even got to know them, I thought I'd pour out my love to Toshiya. Toshiya is a playful person, he likes to make jokes and he's very energetic. Haha. That's something cute about him. He is also the tallest member in the band, so that is a plus. But you know, I never tend to like bassists, I am more prone to like guitarists, so in the end, I just had to give my love to Die. Even though I love everyone in the band, to put in chronological order, the first would be Die, next is both Kaoru and Shinya, then it's both Kyo and Toshiya. Something like this... it's cruel to level out my love towards people, but I meant what I wrote, the absolute first person has to be Die. But I love them all the same.

Now out come Uroboros and I am deeply impressed. I love their sound, and started listening to them again. Watched Uroboros at Nippon Budoukan too! To be honest, I really think that the live performance at Budoukan was the best thing ever. Everything was perfect, visuals, music, the energy, the vocals, everything was top-notch. I never saw a better live in my life. But in the documentary, the band said that they couldn't hear their own sound... They had problems with the sound during the live. But really, I thought everything was perfect. Despite the fact that they had some problems with the sound, they managed the live very well to make it truly enjoyable.

And out comes Dum Spiro Spero. Well, this is something new. Heavier, darker music for Diru. I love this album too, kept listening to it non-stop. But you know, I feel a slight tingly sensation in my deep self. There is this feeling of suffocation, like the upcoming of feeling sad. You see, I sort of miss the old Diru. Their cheerful, playful selves are no longer seen anymore. Before, like in documentaries and old backstage footage, you would see them being very open, friendly, goofy, and playful with each other. Now, they've grown up, and they've become serious adults. Goofing around is considered childish, and they do their work professionally and precisely. It's not necessarily a bad things, being a professional like that, but... I miss the old Diru. They are funny people, really, but when it comes to Diru and their music, they are very serious. I appreciate that about Diru, I think it has contributed to their immense success nowadays. You see, I read before that Kyo said, there are old fans who does not like their new music and wants the old Diru. He said that they don't need fans like those. I know Kyo is this kind of person and I understand that. I think he is right because fans come and go, some may like what you do and some may not. For Diru, the purpose of their music is not making music so that other people will enjoy them, no - I have never gotten the impression that this was their goal to make music. More like, they make music sorely to express themselves. They want to express human emotions and feelings from the deepest level possible with their music. That's all. They want to express themselves. Not make music for the enjoyment of others. Well, they do make music for the fans too...but the core reason is expressing themselves.

Most bands would be like, 'we want to make music so that other people can enjoy and relate to them', 'we make music that the fans would like'. Hehe. That's very kind of them, but Diru is not like that. And because of that, I feel that Diru understands me very well. Listening to Kyo's lyrics and he sings them... it makes me feel like Kyo understands me very well. When he says things like, "kuzu yarou... KIERO!" Aww man, I feel you so much Kyo. "Daikirai!" That's absolutely right! I do these reactions very freely when I listen to them. Some people can sit still as they are listening to music, but I can't do that. My feet and legs will move spontaneously to the beat. Then at certain parts of the songs, my arms and hands move around too. Then my lips and head... I think I am able to express myself this way through the music that I love. Shouganai desu yo.

I look back to past for the old Diru and feel a little crushed. Just a little. A little suffocated. I wish for the old Diru, but people change and they progress, of course they would never stay in only one area in their life. Undoubtedly, people would want to move on and be best than anyone else. Right now, I have confidence to say that Diru is a very accomplished and amazing band. They have their own unique sound and stage presence, and that is something very rarely accomplished. To me, Diru is a perfect band. They are all talented people and when combined, they are an unobstructed force and makes its way however it wants, and nobody can really stop it. It is like that. I have yet to see other Jrockers inspired from Diru. But I'm sure there are some somewhere out there. Well, I think Diru changed somewhat after they went on their foreign countries tours... Maybe the exposure to the rock life in rock festivals created an impression to them, and this is how they have turned out to be. Also, I AM SICK AND TIRED of articles comparing Diru to other bands. Things like "Korn-like guitar riffs", "GC Allins (or whatever his name is) type of performance"... I just want to curse everyone. I feel so mad. Diru cannot be compared, they are unique and original. Shut your stupid trap. Ugh. I get so angry. Just shut up your opinion stop comparing bands please! They are unique nobody sounds the same like the other. I don't get this style of writing that needs to compare everything to every other thing. Need something to give an image to the readers? Well let them listen to the bands' music. Please stop with the comparing. "Mike Patton's Asian version..." I'll cut you if you say that again.

Furthermore, nobody gives Shinya credits. Everyone talks about Kyo's versatility. And that's good, but Shinya is very talented too. Has anyone seen the way he beats the drums? And how his drumming fits every song perfectly? Like nothing is out of place? No hesitation, every beat is precise. He only has 2 pairs of limbs but he makes noises with the drums like he's got 8 pairs. He's an amazing drummer without a doubt. But articles keep writing about the vocals and guitar riffs...please acknowledge the little baby too. He's worked hard like everyone else. With such a slender build too, amongst the giant drum set...

So the point of all this text is that.. I love Diru no matter what period they are in, and if you listen to them, even to the earliest piece of music ever recorded, Diru is extremely talented and in some ways, they haven't changed in the way they make their music. This is individuality. But I miss the old Diru sometimes. I wish to listen to Yokan and Garden again. I want to see Drain Away live again. But I just hope, someday maybe they will take fan requests when doing a special live. Though I doubt this will happen, because the band consists of selfish people. Haha. Even though they are selfish people, I can tell that they care for each other and the fans. When fans love them even though they are still selfish and does anything they want, I think they appreciate fans like this. It's that kind of love. Hehe.

Also, the band members talk about Diru and other members coldly and seriously, like they are all just collegues or something, but the truth is that they are so close with each other that even being alone in a room would not be awkward, they wouldn't feel the need to communicate or hold conversations when it is not necessary, because in their presence they feel relaxed and trust one another. I've read that Kyo said that they are all like family, you don't talk much to your parents or siblings. They have gone beyond the point of friends, they are family. And that is something that makes me feel cosy and fuzzy inside. :)