Shazna

Template:Short description Template:Infobox musical artist

Shazna (stylized as SHAZNA) is a Japanese visual kei rock band originally active from 1993 to 2000. Originally having a strong gothic/post-punk influence, the band's sound greatly shifted to a more new wave direction by 1996. At their peak in the mid-to-late 1990s, they were considered one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of visual kei" alongside La'cryma Christi, Malice Mizer and Fanatic Crisis.<ref name="jbpress">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their 1998 major label debut album Gold Sun and Silver Moon reached the number two position on the Oricon chart, sold over a million copies and was named "Rock Album of the Year" at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. In 2006, Shazna reunited, though after releasing an album and a single they disbanded once again in 2009. In 2017, Shazna officially reunited again for their 20th anniversary.

HistoryEdit

Formed in 1993 with Izam on vocals, A・O・I on guitar, Niy on bass and Katsura on drums. Katsura left in 1996 and joined Baiser, leaving the trio.<ref name="JaME"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref> Perhaps the band's most notable feature was vocalist Izam and his choice of fashion; taking the cross-dressing feminine look to an extreme. Izam was largely influenced by Boy George and Culture Club, whom he later did a cover album of in 1998.<ref name="JaME"/><ref name="George"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>

With the release of their major debut single "Melty Love" on August 27, 1997, Shazna gained immense popularity and many awards.<ref name="JaME"/> It reached number two on the Oricon chart, earned them the "Best Newcomer" award from the Japan Cable Awards (Nihon Yusen Taisho) and helped their album Gold Sun and Silver Moon, which was named "Rock Album of the Year" by Japan Gold Disc Awards, be certified Million by the RIAJ.<ref name="OriconMelty"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="RIAJ"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref> The album was named one of the top albums from 1989–1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazine Band Yarouze.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1999, Izam married famous idol Hinano Yoshikawa, only to file for separation two months later and divorce two months after that.<ref name="JaME"/> Both the marriage and divorce caused a scandal.

In October they released a cover of Ippu-Do's "Violet September Love" as a single.<ref name="JaME"/> In 1999 Shazna signed to Toshiba EMI and released the album Pure Hearts in June. Their last single (and their second Christmas single) "Winter's Review" was released in December. In January 2000, a singles collection was released, however in October Shazna went on an activity pause.

The members all went in different musical directions. Izam, with a much less feminine look, became a solo singer and turned to acting, appearing in several films such as Chinese Dinner, G@me and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Act Zero, a special episode of the live-action series based on the popular Sailor Moon manga. Back in 1998 Izam also had a cameo appearance in the Crayon Shin-chan movie Crayon Shin-chan: Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission, which used Shazna's song "Pureness" as its theme song. A・O・I performs as an acoustic guitarist and singer, and became a filmmaker. Niy performs with the band Fanble.

In June 2006, after 6 years Shazna announced that they were reuniting. They held their first concert on September 5, 2006 and released the single "Heart" on April 25. They released the album 10th Melty Life on August 8, 2007, 10 years after the release of their major single debut "Melty Love".<ref name="JaME"/> On November 3, 2008, Shazna announced that they would disband and played their last concert on March 22, 2009 at Shibuya O-East.<ref name="JaME"/><ref> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>

Shazna's song "Melty Love" was covered by BugLug on the compilation Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-. The album was released on January 26, 2011 and features current visual kei bands covering songs from bands that were important to the '90s visual kei movement.<ref name="Crush! -90's V-Rock Best Hit Cover Songs-"> {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>

In August 2017, Shazna officially reunited for the 20th anniversary of their major label debut. In addition to Izam, A・O・I and Niy, their lineup includes three new female members; second vocalist Raychell, drummer Natsume and saxophonist Asuka.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

MembersEdit

Izam – vocals (1993–2000, 2006–2009, 2017–2019, 2023–present)
A・O・I – guitar (1993–2000, 2017–2019, 2023–present)
Niy – bass guitar (1993–2000, 2006–2009, 2017–2019, 2023–present)
Asuka – saxophone (2017–2019, 2023–present)

Former membersEdit

Template:Nihongo4 – drums (1993–1996)
Raychell – vocals (2017–2019)
Natsume – drums (2017–2019)

DiscographyEdit

AlbumsEdit

Sophia (November 30, 1994)
Melty Case (March 14, 1996)
Raspberry Time (August 1, 1996), Oricon Albums Chart Peak Position: No. 43<ref name="Albums">SHAZNAのアルバム売り上げランキング. oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2011-11-23.</ref>
Promise Eve (January 22, 1997) No. 16<ref name="Albums"/>
Gold Sun and Silver Moon (January 22, 1998) No. 2<ref name="Albums"/>
Pure Hearts (June 30, 1999) No. 15<ref name="Albums"/>
10th Melty Life (August 8, 2007)

Compilation albumsEdit

Best Album 1993–2000: Oldies (January 1, 2000) No. 24<ref name="Albums"/>
Single Best Shazna & Izam (September 5, 2007, singles collection & Izam's solo)
SHAZNA LOVE SELECTION - EP (December 12, 2014, ballads collection) <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

SinglesEdit

"Stillness for Dear" (April 17, 1994, limited to 330 copies)
"Dizziness" (December 8, 1995, limited to 500 copies)
"Dizziness" (January 5, 1996, re-release with a B-side track, limited to 1000 copies)
"Melty Love" (August 27, 1997), Oricon Singles Chart Peak Position: No. 2<ref name="Oricon Singles">SHAZNAのシングル売り上げランキング. oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2011-11-23.</ref>

Ending theme of Template:Nihongo2