Versailles (known as Versailles Philharmonic Quintet in North America) is a Japanese visual kei symphonic power metal band formed in 2007 by vocalist Kamijo and guitarist Hizaki. After recruiting bassist Jasmine You, drummer Yuki and guitarist Teru, they performed their first show on June 23. Their key characteristics are their Rococo-esque costumes, dueling guitars and heavy but melodic arrangements. The group gained a significant worldwide following soon after forming as their debut EP, Lyrical Sympathy (2007), released by Kamijo's own label Sherow Artist Society, received a simultaneous European release and they performed in Europe and the United States the following year. Their first full-length album, Noble, released in 2008, was also released in North America in 2009. Versailles signed to major label Warner Music Japan in mid-2009; however, on August 9, days after announcing he would be suspending activities for health reasons, Jasmine You died. Their major debut album, Jubilee (2010), was completed with Hizaki performing the unfinished bass tracks. They went on a world tour that took them to Latin America and Europe and ended with new bassist Masashi officially joining. 2011 began with the whole band starring in their own television show, Onegai Kanaete Versailles (おねがいかなえてヴェルサイユ; lit. "Fulfill My Wish Versailles"), which ran from January to March. Their third album, Holy Grail (2011), has been their highest charting, reaching number 12 on the Oricon Albums Chart, and was supported by their second world tour. In July 2012, Versailles announced they would be stopping all activities at the end of the year. They released the self-titled album, Versailles, in September 2012, and after a short tour, performed their last concert at NHK Hall in December of that year. The band resumed activities at a concert in December 2015 at Zepp DiverCity.
Top Tracks
Releases in the Catalogue
- Versailles - Live Best -
WPBL-90216(2013)
Members
Current
Former
- Yuki - Drums
- Jasmine You
History
Translated from the ja.wikipedia article Versailles (バンド) (CC BY-SA 4.0), revision 110390831.
Overview
Versailles was formed in 2007 around KAMIJO (formerly of LAREINE) and HIZAKI (formerly of SULFURIC ACID). All members wear attire inspired by 18th-century France, which is strongly reflected in their music and promotional videos.
In June, searches for “Versailles band” ranked highly on Yahoo! JAPAN. Footage of their men-only live performances and interviews was broadcast on programs including Mezamashi TV (めざましテレビ).
In late March 2008, the band held its first overseas live performances in Europe.
The lyrics of all Versailles songs are connected as a single story, with the exception of “SFORZANDO”, included on the omnibus album CROSS GATE 2008: chaotic sorrow.
As an artist with the same name had registered a trademark in the United States, the band announced on its official website on August 19, 2008 that it would solicit a new band name for use in performing live in the United States. On September 14 of that year, it announced the name “Versailles-Philharmonic Quintet-” (ヴェルサイユ・フィルハーモニック・クインテット). This name was to be used only within the United States and did not mean that the original band name, “Versailles”, had been abandoned.
Shortly after their major-label debut, the band temporarily suspended activities due to bassist Jasmine You’s ill health. Following Jasmine You’s sudden death on August 9, 2009, the band put its activities on hold for a time, resuming them with its appearance at V-ROCK FESTIVAL ’09 on October 25, 2009.
On September 4, 2010, new member MASASHI, a bassist, joined the band during a concert at Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall (渋谷C.C Lemon Hall).
The band suspended activities following its concert at NHK Hall on December 20, 2012.
On December 20, 2015, the band announced the resumption of its activities. On December 28 of the same month, it announced that it would hold a live performance entitled “The Ceremony of Resurrection”.
YUKI left the band and retired on December 14, 2023.
In 2024 and 2025, Versailles itself had almost no public activities as KAMIJO prepared to move to the United States. However, during one section of KAMIJO’s solo concert before his departure for the United States on July 18, 2025, four members performed Versailles songs together, with Hibiki of Matenrou Opera (摩天楼オペラ) participating as a support musician.
The band will fully resume activities with its appearance at the B7KLAN ROCK FEST, to be held in Paris on July 11, 2026.
Members
Vocal: KAMIJO (カミジョウ) (formerly of LAREINE) See his individual article for details.
Guitar: HIZAKI (ヒザキ) (currently of Jupiter; formerly of SULFURIC ACID and HIZAKI grace project) Born February 17. From Shiga Prefecture. Blood type AB. His favorite artists include X JAPAN, Angra, Rhapsody and Dream Theater, and he also enjoys listening to classical music. He has cited Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and John Petrucci among the guitarists who influenced him. He began appearing as an onnagata after senior members of a band he had previously belonged to told him to do so, leaving him with no choice. From Jasmine You's death until MASASHI joined, he handled bass only for recordings, and also played bass on some works from his own solo albums.
Guitar: TERU (テル) (currently of Jupiter; formerly of Aikaryu and HIZAKI grace project) Born April 10. From Kyoto Prefecture. Blood type O. He describes himself as a “true metalhead” and favors melodic death metal. His favorite artists include Arch Enemy and Led Zeppelin. The guitarist he respects is Chris Impellitteri. Like HIZAKI, he also enjoys listening to classical music. He performed as an onnagata in Aikaryu and HIZAKI grace project, but stopped doing so after Versailles. He has an endorsement contract with the guitar manufacturer ESP. Illustration is one of his special skills. He created the artwork for Impellitteri's 2015 album Venom, stating that he was overwhelmed to have been able to create the artwork for an album by an artist he admired. When Impellitteri later visited Japan, TERU was invited as a guest and performed with him on stage.
Bass: MASASHI (マサシ) (formerly of Red Carpet) Born April 25. From Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Blood type O. After performing in numerous bands, he joined Versailles as a support member from its 2010 tour and became an official member on September 4 of that year. He frequently features his pet cat, “P-suke”, on his blog. During his time in Red Carpet, he performed under the name Masashi Miwa.
Eternal Members
Bass: Jasmine You (ジャスミン ユウ) (formerly of Jakura and HIZAKI grace project)
According to his official profile, he was born on March 8, 1979 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and had blood type B. He had suspended his activities around the summer of 2009 due to poor health, but died suddenly on August 9 of the same year. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Former Members
Drums: YUKI (ユキ) (formerly of SugarTrip)
Born on February 18. From Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. Blood type A.
YUKI joined Versailles after Meguro Rock-May-Kan recommended him when KAMIJO was looking for a drummer for the band.
On February 12, 2023, he announced that he would suspend activities from 2024 onwards in order to undergo treatment for dystonia. On September 10 of the same year, he announced that he would retire from active performing and leave the band following his activities during the year. He retired after the Zepp Haneda concert on December 14 of the same year.
Sources
- Wikidata entity Q769325.
- en.wikipedia, Versailles (band) (revision 1363886192), CC BY-SA 4.0.
- ja.wikipedia, Versailles (バンド) (revision 110390831), CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photograph: Versailles.jpg - Press shot via Deezer (artist 161777).