SAD NEWS: VIDOLL IS ON A POSSIBLY PERMANENT HIATUS, AS VOCALIST JUI PREPARES FOR THROAT SURGERY. FINAL VISUAL KEI ALBUM CRESCENT GAZER.
If you’re following my Twitter, you’ll have already heard the devastating news. Jui, the vocalist of Visual Kei band Vidoll, has a blood clot in his throat and is undergoing major surgery. As a result, the group will be taking a long break. If the surgery is successful, Vidoll may be back on stage within two years. However, if the worst case scenario arises, Jui will lose his voice and the group will never get back together.
Regi, my friend and bassist in a new band in Japan, shares the following tribute to Vidoll:
Vidoll has been one of my favorite Visual Kei bands for years, mostly because they were the first truly indie band I stumbled upon. I watched them over the years. They evolved as would an art student moving from a school gallery into the Met. I joined their fanclub as soon as I was able, and managed to see Vidoll live numerous times.
Tonight (Sept. 16th) marks their last live as Jui will be undergoing surgery. Say what you will: “Oh, it’s only two years off” or “It’s just surgery, they’ll be back soon enough” or even “I never liked them anyway.” But remember this: This surgery will make or break Jui.
Right now, Jui is losing his voice. Even though he knew about the problems almost a year ago, he still continued to perform, with rapid deterioration as a result. It was quite possibly one of the most self-less/selfish things I have ever heard about, and I am eternally grateful for his sticking it through so many lives, even when I could tell he was exhausted emotionally and physically.
To take away a singer’s voice is to take away his most precious possession. It would be the equivalent of depriving La Carmina of Basil, or myself of my bass guitar and art books. This is a devastating time for him, and I can only hope that the surgery is successful. Who knows if his voice will remain the same, if he will have one at all, post-op? A surgery is still a surgery, and complications arise in even the most mundane of procedures. I wish him a speedy recovery, and really wish I could be there for the concert tonight in Tokyo — if not to watch from the audience, then to just here him sing one last time.
Vidoll was the first band ever signed to HearJapan, and with great sadness, the label now presents possibly their last release ever. “The band made sure their last three songs have a song for all of their fans. The first song is a medium paced rock ballad. The second song gets down and dirty. The third song is a sad farewell song.” You can support Vidoll by picking up Crescent Gazer here. (Photos courtesy HearJapan.)
Do you have any treasured memories about Vidoll, or well-wishes for Jui and the band? I encourage you to leave a comment for them in this post.
PS: in happier Jrock news… D’espairsRay approved almost all the photos I took of them at the Seattle concert, so the review will be up ASAP. And Rose got to hang out with Die and Kaoru from Dir en Grey after the Seattle concert. Her photos and report will be posted next.
Japanese Word of the Day: Mikazuki = Crescent moon
Song of the Day: Vidoll – Crescent Gazer (You can get the last release from HearJapan.)
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LA CARMINA
32 Comments
I hope the surgery goes well for Jui, it is truly a heartbreaking thought that he could lose his voice.
Let everything go well <3
Get well soon Jui… *hugs for you and for all of Vidoll* I love your work…. I’m listening to Monad right now…
omg. i hope Jui will recover. i really love them..:C and i really feel for him. T^T i hope everything will be okay..
:(
that’s tragic, I’ll wish them all the best
damn! thats too sad!! I hope Jui will get better, it would be a great loss if he wont be able to sing again…i love his voice ♥ T__T
All the best for Jui and I hope he recovers well!
WOW – it’s been a while since I’ve been on the Internet, why? Because some crazy virus decided to kick in middle of the night when I was doing some humble research a week back…and BAM gone just like that. It was such an insane difficult thing. I mean – I can live without the internet through phone calls and stuff, but with international friends – how is that possible? – I wouldn’t be able to afford it at least.
But later on I ended up getting some of my most geekiest friends (who I had know idea were this GEEKY) to help me fix my problem – turns out my connection was corrupted from the inside…and you had to do some “Command Prompt” – ugh…I don’t want to talk about it.
But I got my internet back yesterday and looking through the JRock blogs – I FIND THIS…THIS PIECE of NEWS. WOW – really? This is how the web welcomes me back?
I knew his voice was having some difficulty, but I had no idea that it would turn out this bad. God it’s such a great band too…with all those great twin/contrasting melodies by Shun sama and Giru sama, Jui sama’s harmonic rhythmic voice, Tero sama’s perfect taste for the beat, and Rame sama’s MAD BASS SKILLS.
It’s interesting though – these days in the JRock world…there are like 5 bands that announce they are disbanding every week – I swear, dead serious (or deadly serious). But honestly they are like bands that have been together for like 1 year…just a year and then BAM “KAISAN!” They say they just can’t work it out with the other members of the band.
But Vidoll saying they will disband – actually shows how much they need each other, and just how much the band means to them. – If that’s not a damn good faithful band I HAVE no idea what is.
All their beautiful songs…Cloud, Orihime, Innocent teens, Blue Star, Puzzle Ring, Eve, Hitokiri no Kurixxxxsu, and Crescent Gazer – which just came out yesterday…will continue to live on – AS well as the band. Not just through our hearts and memories of their songs/lives – but they WILL PLAY AGAIN.
“I wish him a speedy recovery, and really wish I could be there for the concert tonight in Tokyo — if not to watch from the audience, then to just here him sing one last time.”
Hey we all do – but I’m going to have to falsify your last phrase for it won’t be his last song.
I know so. =)
Oh no! I know how frustrating computer problems can be — I’m glad your friends were able to help you get back on your feet.You’re right — it means they do respect each other and really want to do the best for Jui. Let’s hope he will recover fast!
but like I told you, no disbanding, a hiatus, even when the reason is not good at all! More a sad one…I do hope everything will go right!
Jui has an amazing voice, but sadly he didn’t really took good care of it and you could hear it in the last years…sadly!
I could see them several times live during their indie days…they are a good band…I hope that Jui will recover fast and take better care of his voice in the future…
I think I can see why he would still sing even though he knew that his voice was worsening. It’s like what you said, a singer can’t live without his or her voice.
I hope all goes well.
That’s probably why it is raining in Tokyo as I type this…..the heavens are crying.
The band are not considering it a permanent hiatus – they’re confident, as is Jui, that he will recover from surgery well and return. It’s sad news for fans but stating it might be the end for them is not considerate or helpful.
Thats too sad!! I hope Jui will get better, it would be a great loss if he wont be able to sing again…
AHHH! NOOOOO! </3
i too hope Jui recovers i worried when Juka had the the surgery i will be picking the Cd up.
Jui feel better!
Rame and the other members can launch their solo careers in the meantime, they might have something good they’ve been cooking up on the side while the band’s been going,they have such a progressive level of skill
Oh, wow…I hope he’s okay and it goes well. Stuff like that scares me so much, as a vocalist! I can only imagine what he’s going through.
Ah, I didn’t know you were a vocalist! Do you sing in any groups / bands?
Not currently, looking to get back into it ASAP though. Things have been really crazy for me the last several years…but it’s always been my goal.
That’s terrible, I can’t even believe it. ;_; That there’s even a possibility he might permanently lose his voice… for a singer that’s devastating.
Haha I saw Rose running across the street while I was waiting in line for the Dir en Grey concert. xD
Another Rose spotting! ^__^
Oh nuuu T_T I absolutely love Vidoll! I remember back in 2007 (or ’08, I forgot), I met Jui and Rame at Megacon!! Uraah they were so amazing in person. Although there was no performance, they still seemed like amazing people. Listen, I know this sounds corny, but I think if Vidoll’s fans really believe that they will be back on stage, and we’re able to hear Jui’s voice once again, then it might reach out to someone or something. Never think about the sadness. Think about the best-case scenario, not the worst. I believe that Jui will gain his voice back!!
I know it sounds silly to some, but I think that fans should really have more faith in their favourite bands, including their health and well being.
I think you’re right — we should keep the best in mind!
Jui hope that your operation goes well.
For his sake and to follow it, you can enjoy the music of the band.
handsome.lovvvvvvvve
ZOMG it’s THE Vivienne Westwood.
I wish for the speedy recovery of Jui, HIZUMI and Isshi
Apparently, his operation must have gone well because Jui is releasing his solo debut album in April… urahh it’s not like Vidoll has been around for a year or 2… and they are in my top 5 visual kei bands >_> hrafokljaf I’m so annoyed and a little disappointed. I was afraid of this after the news of Jui’s throat… Ah well hopefully we will see activity from the other members besides Jui as well
hope vidoll come back soon….Im waiting for them
Have there been any new updates about this?
I really hope he’s recovered :( Vidoll is awesome.
im a knot and love dir en grey but this page is a lie! this is not rose , roses, royal roses, royal roses has tan skin, actually has military and gov around him i think royal roses is a guy i dont know maybe a girl. anyways I saw royal roses in japan and a lot of people who are actially asian or bands know royal roses does not speak is like mana i guess you can say but really formal. i dont know why this white girl is talking as she knows but the real roses is tan skin, blue black dark eyes, hard to tell and black hair. oh yea and for those who dont know royal roses , just know royal roses is not a band and do help the military. Anyways the knot army pages are all fans, please understand that.