Editing Malice Mizer (section)

===1995–1998: Gackt era===
[[File:Visual kei.jpg|right|thumb|Fans [[cosplay]]ing as Mana, Yu~ki and Közi in [[Shibuya]], October 1998]]
After almost a year of inactivity, Mana recruited [[Gackt]] from a band Cains:Feel,<ref>{{cite web |author=Niji |title=Cains:Feel |work=JaME World |date=August 3, 2008 |url=https://www.jame-world.com/en/article/116717-cains-feel.html |access-date=November 29, 2024}}</ref> as their new vocalist,<ref name="Kanei1998"/> with first performance in October 10 and released the single "Uruwashiki Kamen no Shoutaijou" on December 10, 1995. It was with this single that Malice Mizer started to actively differentiate themselves from other bands; when the song was performed live, Mana and Közi put down their guitars and instead performed a dance routine.<ref name="sessions">{{cite web|title=【インタビュー】Mana × Közi、MALICE MIZERを語る「Kamiの約束が実現できる」|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000158491|work=Barks|language=ja|date=2018-08-29 |access-date=2021-01-02}}</ref> With a new concept, partly due to Gackt's influence (who was also interested in the theme of "What is human?" before joining the band<ref name="February1999"/>),<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 1996 |title=Malice Mizer |language=ja |magazine=[[Shoxx]] |volume=38 |pages=98–101}}</ref><ref name="Kanei1998">{{cite magazine |last=Kanei |first=Satoru |date=October 1998 |title=マリス·ミゼル ヴォーカリスト Gackt (ガクト) ロング·インタビュー |language=ja |magazine=Quick Japan |volume=21 |pages=57– |isbn=487233423X}}</ref><ref name="JaME2011">{{cite web |author=Geisha |title=传记特别篇：Mana（Part 1. 自我探索） |work=JaME World |date=March 19, 2011 |url=https://www.jame-world.com/zh/article/90891-%E4%BC%A0%E8%AE%B0%E7%89%B9%E5%88%AB%E7%AF%87-mana-part-1-%E8%87%AA%E6%88%91%E6%8E%A2%E7%B4%A2.html |language=zh |access-date=November 29, 2024}}</ref> the band's music became more [[art rock]] and [[synthpop]], incorporating even stronger classical and electronic elements. Visually, the band also abandoned their 1980s goth look for colorful historical costumes with a gothic feel.<ref name="allmusic" />

Malice Mizer released their second album, ''[[Voyage Sans Retour]]'', in 1996,<ref name="allmusic" /> and their first home video in 1997; ''Sans Retour Voyage "Derniere" (Encore Une Fois)'', a concert video recorded at [[Shibuya Public Hall]] featuring an elaborate stage and dance routines.<ref name="sessions"/> The band became increasingly popular and signed with major record label [[Nippon Columbia]] that same year,<ref name="allmusic" /> where they released a number of successful singles ("Bel Air", "Au Revoir", "Gekka no Yasōkyoku") and a short film, ''Bel Air (Kuuhaku no Toki no Naka de) de L'image''. Their major label debut album, ''[[Merveilles (album)|Merveilles]]'', was released in March 1998.<ref name="allmusic" /> It was band's commercially and critically most successful album, peaking at 2nd place on the [[Oricon Albums Chart]] and charting for 16 weeks,<ref name="allmusic" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/15645/rank/single/|title=MALICE MIZERのランキング情報: アルバム売上TOP4作品|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref> and both the album and its single "Gekka no Yasōkyoku" were certified Gold by the [[RIAJ]] for sales of over 200,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd_search.html|title=Japanese album certifications|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]]|language=ja |format=''Enter'' Malice Mizer ''into the'' アーティスト ''then select'' 検索|access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref> In May was released single "Illuminati" which peaked at 7th place and sold over 100,000 copies.<ref name="MMSales">{{cite news |url=http://oriconv.seesaa.net/article/158589410.html |title=【MALICE MIZER】のオリコン順位と売り上げ枚数。 |language=ja |publisher=[[Oricon]] |date=August 6, 2010 |access-date=January 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114210217/http://oriconv.seesaa.net/article/158589410.html |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The band had their own radio show around this time and played a two-day live at the [[Nippon Budokan]],<ref name="allmusic" /> which involved a large building as a stage prop and elaborate theatrics; each member performing a skit with another member on their own (including [on "Le Ciel"] the aforementioned skit in which Gackt fell to the stage [to sing the song] and returned to "Heaven" by song's end). It was a massive success and was released on video as ''Merveilles (Shuuen to kisuu) l'espace''. In July 1998, the [[Yokohama Arena]]'s stage would be the last for Gackt, although in September 1998 was released their most successful single "Le Ciel" and participated in its promotion (peaked at 4th place on the [[Oricon Singles Chart]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/15645/rank/single/|title=MALICE MIZERのランキング情報: シングル売上TOP13作品|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=2024-11-29}}</ref> selling over 100,000 copies<ref name="MMSales"/>), because in January 1999, at the height of Malice Mizer's success, he would suddenly leave the band and start a solo career.

There were various rumours about the cause of his departure.<ref name="JaME2011"/> In October 1998 interview, Gackt complained about slow progression of the band.<ref name="Kanei1998"/> Later he recalled that by that time became main coordinator of band's activities, and did not receive composing credits when deserved, but did not complain about it.<ref name="Gackt2018">{{Cite book |author=Gackt |author-link=Gackt |title=Platinum Book -Private Treasures- |publisher=CSI株式会社 |year=2018 |language=ja |isbn=9784908580062}}</ref> In a February 1999 interview he claimed that his departure was primarily caused by his conflict with the management office,<ref name="JaME2011"/><ref name="February1999">{{cite magazine |date=February 1999 |title="Eternal..." 永遠に続く分岐点の前で; Part1:ショッキング·ロケフォト·ストーリー, 過去、現在、そして…; Part2:パーソナル·ロングインタビュー, 重大発言 !! そう、今の全てを苦えよう |language=ja |magazine=[[Shoxx]] |volume=72 |pages=18–51}}</ref> but also members' differences, the sudden income of money, and his isolation from the band led to this,<ref name="Jihaku">{{Cite book |author=Gackt |author-link=Gackt |title=自白 (Jihaku) |trans-title=Confession |publisher=光文社 (Kobunsha) |year=2003 |language=ja |isbn=4-334-97412-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9784334974121}}</ref> and that at the last meeting with record company was told by the band members they cannot work with him anymore hence are splitting up.<ref name="Gackt2018"/><ref name="Jihaku"/> He was open minded to rejoin if the members invited him.<ref name="JaME2011"/><ref name="February1999"/> On the other hand, band members in March 1999 interviews replied that after the last meeting they lost contact with him in November 1998, blamed his insistance on continuing band's activity when they needed a break, noticeable lack of trusting relationship, that did not kick him out from the band, and that are looking for a new vocalist.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 1999 |title=To Dearest Friends... From Malice Mizer |language=ja |magazine=Vicious |pages=141–}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kanoh |first=Kazumi |date=March 1999 |title=Malice Mizer 緊急取材 |language=ja |magazine=Fool's Mate |volume=209 |pages=30–34}}</ref> A February 2001 report based on accounts of staff members who worked at the time with Malice Mizer, said that Gackt's departure was caused by the president of Midi:Nette (at the time band's management agency), Mana's close partner. The mismanagement of band's and fan club's money left members to live in the same indie-days living conditions, and did not protect Gackt from paparazzi's harassment. Other members restrained to speak up on anything, but when Gackt decided to confront the office, it resulted with his departure.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 2001 |title=GACKT愛と青春の日々 |url= |language=ja |magazine=Top Band Hotline |pages=}}</ref>