Biography
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Born
4 July 1973 (age 50)
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Born In
Okinawa, Japan
GACKT (大城 ガクト, Ōshiro Gakuto, born July 4, 1973, Okinawa, Japan) is a singer-songwriter, musician, actor and author, famous in Japan. Since the launch of his solo career, he has gained an even greater fandom and notoriety than he had while working as the vocalist of the iconic visual kei band MALICE MIZER, and has been extremely successful. He is one of the most successful and recognized male soloist artists in Japanese history, and holds the record for most top 10 chart singles. He is considered the best male live performer in Japan, and his concerts are always highly anticipated. Besides being a musician, he is also an film actor, and novel author.
Gackt's musical education began at age three, when his parents enrolled him in classical piano lessons. During his childhood he familiarized himself with brass instruments, and also played electric guitar and drums. Gackt's musical career began in 1994 as the drummer, and eventually the singer of the independent band Cains:Feel he formed with his friend You. His career began to truly blossom when he joined the visual kei rock band Malice Mizer in 1995. He made his first recordings in 1999, after left the group and began a solo career, signed to the reputated record label Nippon Crown. He was immediately recognized, and with a big following his recordings regularly charted high on the Oricon (Japanese Billboards) charts. Despite his notoriety, only one single managed to top the charts, Returner ~Yami no Shūen~ (2007), reputated for incorporating the Japanese traditional instruments with rock music, and the wonderful music video.
On June 29, 2007, he performed (as the singer and pianist) with S.K.I.N., a group who also consists of other famous Japanese rock musicians; X Japan co-founder Yoshiki, Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo, and Miyavi, at the Anime Expo convention in Long Beach, California. In 2013 will go on a new national tour after four years, named Best of the Best Vol. 1., where will perform his best songs up to date.
Gackt, in addition to being a composer and songwriter, is also involved in film and voice acting. He starred in the film he wrote, Moon Child (2003), and his international debut Bunraku (2008), while also appearing in TV series such as the NHK drama Fūrin Kazan (2007). He also performed live in theatre stage productions such as Nemuri Kyoshiro Burai-Hikaye(2010), and he wrote Moon Saga Yoshitsune-Hiden (2012). His music has been used as theme songs for various video games, anime films and television series - mostly where he also had an acting role, or was the voice actor - including New Fist of the North Star (2003), Zeta Gundam: A New Translation (2005), and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (2006).
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