FAIRY FORE

Fairy Fore were a promising Japanese rock band that combined the happy-go-lucky atmosphere of J-pop with the musical stylistics of visual kei. The group was around for quite a while, and had achieved a degree of recognition, but didn't manage to hold a stable lineup and folded after a decade in business. The band was formed in 1994 in Tokyo by Takashi (vocals; then called Rei), Yasu (bass), Yoko (drums), and Yuhki (guitars), and originally bore the tongue-twisting name Fir-Reforle. They droned on the Tokyo scene for five years, playing live shows and releasing demos that didn't really get them anywhere, but they finally put things in motion around 1999, when Yuhki was replaced by Akihide. In 2000, they adopted the name Fairy Fore and finally managed to get a proper record out -- the EP Loop was released on the Sweet Child label, which also housed Pierrot and Plastic Tree. The attention they've received at this point was enough to score a gig with Avex and have their first major-label single, "Love Sick" (2001), featured in the anime series Devil Children; the second single, "Vivid" (2001), scored a slot in the Final Fantasy: Unlimited anime. After that, Fairy Fore were finally able to release the proper full-length -- Heavens Market came in 2002, days before the single "Jet" was used in Beyblade 2002 -- and they played a nationwide tour, but Akihide opted to quit in 2003. He was replaced by Eiji, who came on board just in time for a major touring spell in 2004, but he didn't stick around long enough to be there for the second full-length, Kono Hana ga Karerumade, which was released in 2005 and proved the group's final album. Fairy Fore disbanded the same year. The members didn't quit music: Akihide played in Never Land, Yasu joined Beauty Maniacs and later Acalli, and Yoko became a member of Orpheus. ~ Alexey Eremenko