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Exclusive Interview: Kaoru And Die Of Dir En Grey

Published

15 years ago

on

I’m beyond excited to have had a chance to talk with Kaoru and Die, the guitarists of Japanese metal band Dir en grey, about the upcoming album, Dum Spiro Spero, how the March tsunami affected them, and their take on horror and its influence on the band. By now you probably realize that I’m a huge fan and I’m really thrilled that I’m able to bring you this exclusive interview. Don’t forget to check out singer Kyo’s Top 10 Horror Movie list and my review of Dum Spiro Spero.

direngreyband

First of all, thank you very much for this interview. I’m a big fan of Dir en grey and the new album, Dum Spiro Spero, is fantastic!
Kaoru: Thank you.
Die: Thank you.
So, jumping right into things with Dum Spiro Spero, the first several minutes of the album are incredibly creepy and unsettling. They set the tone for, what I feel, is a very diverse and very chaotic album that seems like it would be perfect for a horror movie. Was this something that you were aiming for?
Kaoru: It wasn’t intended to be particularly for a horror movie but the imagery that we were presenting was more of a, as you said, twisted and chaotic scene. Through that, we were trying to shun light and concepts. 
The various guitar tones and effects are incredible! I’m wondering though how the two you are able to make them fit so well with each other to create these rich textures?
Die: Concerning the guitar arrangement, we just take a long time. Even with the effects during the recording process, we take it down to the very tiny, tiny details and we make sure that everything is fitting correctly. It’s all just time, we take a long time to do this.
How, if at all, did the March tsunami affect Dum Spiro Spero or you as a band?
Kaoru: Well, the disaster happened during the time we were recording and so when that happened, we had to stop recording for a second and we were contemplating whether to keep recording or not. However, we decided to do what we had started and complete what he had, which was the album. We also felt that completing the album was a way to bring light and definitely hope for our fan base. 

Will there be a US tour in support of Dum Spiro Spero?
Die: Yes. The tour is at the end of the year.
The visuals of Dir en grey have always had a very dark edge to them. What is it about this style that appeals to you and to the band?
Die: Let’s say we were listening to pop music. There is not much of a deeper emotion that is conveyed through the music. However, we as a band like to take grotesque videos and within that art form, we want people to receive the beauty and depth of these images. 
Kyo gave us his Top 10 horror movies and it was a huge hit with the Bloody-Disgusting readers. I’m wondering what are some of your favorites?
Kaoru: I was actually not able to watch horror movies before and a lot of people had said to me, “You make music videos that are basically horror movies but you don’t watch these movies?”. But recently I am able to and concerning the ones I’ve recently seen, I’ve seen a few but I can’t remember them.
Die: I saw the first Saw in movie theaters and it was quite surprising. I was moved by the first movie. 
Kaoru, Die, thank you both very much! Like I say, the album is amazing and I really look forward to seeing what the rest of the world thinks of it!
Kaoru and Die: Thank you very much! Bye!
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Managing editor/music guy/social media fella of Bloody-Disgusting

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Movies

‘The Lost Boys’ Musical Extends Broadway Run With North American Tour Set for Spring 2028

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 28, 2026

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The Lost Boys: A New Musical officially kicked off on Broadway last month, and Deadline now reports that the show’s Broadway run has been extended into next year.

The show was originally set to run through November, but Deadline reports that The Lost Boys: A New Musical “has released a block of tickets through Sunday, March 7, 2027.”

The news comes in the wake of The Lost Boys: A New Musical becoming the most Tony-nominated musical of the season with twelve nominations including Best Musical.

Additionally, “The Lost Boys will launch a North American National Tour in Spring 2028, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Additional cities and tour dates will be announced later.”

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is of course an adaptation of the 1987 horror classic from director Joel Schumacher, with the cast including Ali Louis Bourzgui as lead vampire David (originally played by Kiefer Sutherland), Maria Wirries as Star (originally played by Jami Gertz), and LJ Benet as the soon-to-be-turned Michael (originally played by Jason Patric).

The horror musical’s cast also includes Shoshana Bean as Lucy Emerson, Benjamin Pajak as Sam Emerson, Paul Alexander Nolan as Max, Jennifer Duka as Alan Frog, Miguel Gil as Edgar Frog, Brian Flores as Marko, Sean Grandillo as Dwayne, and Dean Maupin as Paul.

The Lost Boys: A New Musical is Directed by Michael Arden, featuring Music and Lyrics by The Rescues, Book by David Hornsby & Chris Hoch, Story by James Jeremias & Janice Fischer, and Produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait & Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

When a mother and her two teenage sons move to Santa Carla in desperate need of a fresh start, they soon uncover the darker side of this sunny coastal community. While Lucy tries to piece her family’s life back together, Michael keeps pulling away in search of belonging.

As he finds connection with a local rock band and its charismatic leader, his younger brother Sam comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality: When night falls, Michael’s new friends are even more dangerous than they first appeared.

Joel Schumacher directed the original The Lost Boys vampire movie in 1987, wherein two brothers move to a new town and discover that the area is a haven for vampires.

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