ZI:KILLZI:KILLジキル
disbanded解散add to list
Bay City Rollers fan Ken Matsudaira starts a band with his friend Seiichi Iida, and thus G-KILL (ジキル) forms in Kanagawa (神奈川)神奈川.
School dropout, restaurant handyman and David Bowie fan Tusk Itaya joins and the group plans full-scale activities. Drummer MASAMI is recruted around the same time.
First live at Meguro (目黒) ROCKMAYKAN (鹿鳴館).
「Kanto 3DAYS live」 (「関東3DAYS live」) to take place at the following dates: 8/21 Maebashi RATTAN, 8/22 Meguro THE LIVE STATION, and 8/23 Yokohama 7th AVENUE.
Concert at Yokohama 7th AVENUE is recorded for the HOLD YOUR LAST CHANCE VHS.
The band plays a concert at Harajuku's pedestrian paradise (原宿歩行者天国).
「EXTASY SUMMIT」 (「エクスタシー・サミット」) event is held at Osaka BOURBON HOUSE. It's their first live in the Kansai area.
「EXTASY SUMMIT」 (「エクスタシー・サミット」) event now at Meguro (目黒) ROCKMAYKAN (鹿鳴館).
「WHO'S NEXT」 event is held at Meguro (目黒) ROCKMAYKAN (鹿鳴館).
「DYNAMITE YEAR END PARTY」 event is held at Meguro (目黒) THE LIVE STATION.
Recording of their first album starts in January.
First oneman is held at Meguro Rockmaykan. 300 people in attendance.
「1st Album Hatsubai Kinen live」 (「1st Album発売記念GIG」) three-day event to take place at the following dates: 3/9 Osaka Banana Hall, 3/10 Nagoya Music Farm, and 3/15 Tokyo Shinjuku Loft.
First album release live (「1stアルバム発売記念GIG」) is held at Shinjuku LOFT. A limited edition of 真世界~REAL OF THE WORLD~ Is on sale, including a different jacket design from the regular version. Only 100 copies are available. A promotional flexi-disc of 華麗 Is given away for those in attendance.
GHOST DISK, a sub-label division of EXTASY RECORDS exclusive for ZI:KILL releases (whose founder YOSHIKI was introduced to the band by his X bandmate HIDE), puts out 真世界~REAL OF THE WORLD~ on vinyl. A CD version follows later in the same year, including the track "華麗". The album proves to be successful, with the band becoming one of the more popular groups in Japan's emerging visual kei scene.
「STREET FIGHTING MAN Jr」 event is held at Nakano MONSTER. Their show is recorded for Rockin' F Video Magazine's ZETA Vol.2 omnibus VHS.
「FIRST YEARS PRESENT live」 event is held at Meguro LIVE STATION, including performances by KAMAITACHI (かまいたち), BAD MESSIAH, and more. Michael Monroe from Hanoi Rocks fame is expected as a special guest, but fails to appear due to rehearsals for a gig at Nissin POWER STATION three days later (some sources point out that D'ERLANGER's KYO is also a guest).
Drummer MASAMI secedes.
Their first live after recruiting new drummer YUKIHIRO is recorded for TBS TV's LIVE TOWN. Filming takes place at Meguro ROCKMAYKAN. EXTASY RECORDS labelmates VIRUS are also filmed.
Former GUERRILA drummer YUKIHIRO joins.
First national tour 「CHANGE OF KING TOUR」 Starts (13 locations nationwide).
「Emergency Express ~ METAL WARNING 2」 release event is held at Kawasaki CLUB CITTA'. The bands play in the order of the album's tracklist (that later would be rereleased as Emergency Express by NIPPON CROWN (日本クラウン)). Drummer YUKIHIRO is formally announced.
TV appearance for TBS TV's LIVE TOWN.
Oneman at Shinjuku (新宿) LOFT.
「LIVE ON STAGE Vol.2」 event is held at Koutouku MZA Ariake. Bands include X, BAKI, Kinniku Shoujo Tai (筋肉少女帯), and The MAGNETS. Promotional flexi-disc TERO is given away for those in attendance.
「Wha't Beat Festival」 is held at Kyoto (京都) Sports Valley.
「EXTASY SUMMIT」 (「エクスタシー・サミット」) two-day event is held at Meguro (目黒) ROCKMAYKAN (鹿鳴館).
「Who's Generation」 event is held at Tokyo Hibiya Yagai Daiongakudou. Bands include JUSTY NASTY, D'ERLANGER, and クスクス. Promotional flexi-disc LAST THIS TIME is given away for those in attendance.
「EXTASY SUMMIT Jougai Rantou-hen」 (「EXTASY SUMMIT 場外乱闘編」) event takes place at Shibuya Koukaidou. Bands include X, LADIES ROOM, VIRUS, and more. Promotional flexi-disc REAL OF THE WORLD(日本語版) is given away for those in attendance.
「Loft Circus」 event is held at Sendai (仙台) CAD HALL.
First oneman hall live 「ON THE EDGE」 Is held at Teshima Toshima Koukaidou. 850 people in attendance.
Recordings of their next album starts.
Radio appeareance for Nippon Broadcasting System's Buttoushi LIVE II (ニッポン放送「ぶっとおしライブII」).
「ALL NIGHT METAL PARTY」 event is held at Meguro ROCKMAYKAN. Besides ZI:KILL, performances include Gargoyle, LADIES ROOM, AION, BELLZLLEᗺ, BILLY & THE SLUTS, COLOR, DECAMERON, PASSION ROSE, TOKYO YANKEES, WOLF, and KAMAITACHI (かまいたち).
Two-day event at Shinjuku (新宿) LOFT.
TV appearance for CX's Yoru no HIT STUDIO (夜のヒットスタジオ) with a live version of "I4u" filmed at DRUM Be-1.
DRUM Be-1 -schedule
National tour 「CLOSE DANCE TOUR SPECIAL STAGE」 Starts (18 locations nationwide).
Second album CLOSE DANCE is released. The artwork is created by artist Maki Kusumot, author of the popular manga "KISS XXXX". The series follows the daily lives of a indie band called Die Küsse, and the decadent and dark world view grabbed the hearts of the bangyas. CLOSE DANCE is an even greater success than the debut, reaching the first position of Oricon's indies chart, with 30,000 copies pre-ordered.
New fan club 「KING OFF」 is launched in the Spring.
「CLOSE DANCE TOUR SPECIAL STAGE」 tour final at Kawasaki CLUB CITTA'. 1000 people in attendance.
TV appearance for NHK's Kaiun! Ko ni Tenten (開運!こにてんてん).
Concert recordings for Saitama's "SOUND SUPER CITY"ZI:KILL LIVE special.
Nationwide tour 「CLOSE DANCE TOUR SECOND STAGE」 Starts. It's their indies last tour (17 locations nationwide).
Live event at Sadamitsu, Tokushima Prefecture on the insland of Shikoku.
Radio appearence for IBC's CHERI CHERI NIGHT (チェリチェリNIGHT).
TV appearance for a SPACE SHOWER TV special ZI:KILL no ON AIR (ZI:KILL のON AIR) featuring footage from their concert a week earlier at Shinjuku NISSIN POWER STATION.
Radio appearence for IBC's CHERI CHERI NIGHT (チェリチェリNIGHT).
Radio appearence for Shizuoka FM's CLUB RED'S.
Radio appearence for NACK5's MUSIC BLOOPER.
「VIDEO CONCERT」 two-day event is held at Umeda am hall in October 3, and Shinjuku LOFT in October 7.
TUSK announce their signing with major label Toshiba EMI, who also gave the band their own label, Planet Earth.
Oneman 「CLOSE DANCE FINAL STAGE」 At Nakano (中野) Koukaidou (公会堂).
Major debut recordings starts in London.
Major debut recordings completed in London.
「FAN CLUB X'MAS LIVE」 event at Kawasaki CLUB CITTA'.
Upon completing the album, YUKIHIRO secedes.
Drummer YUKIHIRO secedes.
Video concerts with member participation are held nationwide from February to March.
Radio appearance for FM's MUSIC ING.
Major debut single LONELY is released. 40,000 copies sold.
TV appearance for TV Tokyo's Ryuukou-mono GABURI (流行物ガブリ).
Secret event at Tokyo (東京) Terada Souko F (寺田倉庫F号).
Radio appearance for FM's MUSIC ZONE.
Third album and major label debut DESERT TOWN is released. It hits the Oricon top ten. Ex-drummer YUKIHIRO is not credited.
Nationwide tour 「ZI:KILL in DESERT TOWN TOUR」 starts at Osaka Kousei Nenkin Kaikan.
「in the DESERT TOWN TOUR」 starts.
New drummer TETSU (from D'ERLANGER) is recruited.
「in the DESERT TOWN TOUR」 ends.
TV appearance for TVK's Bessatsu MUSIC TOMATO JAPAN (別冊ミュートマJAPAN).
ZI:KILL SPECIAL TV special.
Radio appearance for BayFM's MIDNIGHT BAY LINE.
「into the DESERT TOWN TOUR」 starts in the summer (18 performances in 17 locations nationwide).
TUSK and SEIICHI are featured on the new KAMAITACHI (かまいたち) album, JEKYLL to HYDE, singing backing vocals.
「over the DESERT TOWN」 encore tour starts. TUSK gets sick and some dates are postponed.
「over the DESERT TOWN」 ends.
Radio appearance for Nippon Broadcasting System's Tokyo SOUND BAZOOKA-on Hime Emaki (ニッポン放送「東京SOUND BAZOOKA音姫絵巻」).
「JT SUPER SOUND 91」 event is held at Tokyo Nippon Budokan. ZI:KILL, LADIES ROOM and Kyosuke Himuro (氷室京介) are on the bill. The show will be later broadcasted as a NTV special.
Nationwide film gig tour 「ZI:KILL VIDEO LIVE CIRCUIT」 starts. The main focus is a concert filmed at Shibuya NHK HALL.
広島C&Aホール
新宿ルミネホールACT
Fan club only event at Kawasaki CLUB CITTA'.
Drummer TETSU decides to secede after a day of recordings at Kawasaki CLUB CITTA' for a TVK's Bessatsu MUSIC TOMATO JAPAN (別冊ミュートマJAPAN) appearance
Second major single HERO is released. SCEANA of KAMAITACHI (かまいたち) provides backing vocals for the b-side "Your Face".
Word gets out to the press that "any future tour will be canceled due to TUSK's throat problems". Official sources claim that TUSK was taken to a hospital in August to treat angina, an acute tonsillitis of the palatine tonsils and mucous membrane caused by infection or irritation. But, behind the scenes, an ongoing bitter dispute with Toshiba EMI leds to ZI:KILL leaving the label and forcing them to suspend all activities.
The band is virtually inactive for a short period, as it deals with office problems and breaking ties with their former label. It seems that tour tickets sold in advance for fan club members were not refunded
KEN and SEIICHI are guests in the 「EXTASY SUMMIT」 (「エクスタシー・サミット」) event held at Nippon Budokan.
According to Karl Taro Greenfeld's book, Speed Tribes (more on that later), Toshiba EMI's manager Ohta stole all of his client's money and disappeared. ZI:KILL's client account balance had been over ¥20 million, including royalties from their latest album as well as show guarantees for their recently completed tour. Besides the major financial hit, the future of the band was in doubt, since Ohta, wherever he was, still owned legal rights to the name ZI:KILL.
Again there were tensions and quarrels among the members, and for a brief moment TUSK toyed with the idea of starting a solo project called TUSK and the Suffragettes (named after "Suffragette City", his favorite David Bowie song).
They began to hold auditions where interested managers could get an idea of them and evaluate their performance. Ultimately, the company Zoom Republic Network decided on the four guys and, as soon as the contract was signed, ZI:KILL managed to regain their rights and started to work on their next album.
Activities resume and TETSU's withdrawal is announced to the fans. Former The MAGNETS drummer and EXTASY RECORDS handyman EBY joins.
New fan club 「Star Dust」 is launched.
As free agents they collaborate with EXTASY RECORDS on a compilation of songs from their indies albums, along with their newest single "HERO" and two fresh tracks, "CRACK EYE" and "DON'T ASK ME". TOMORROW... hits number 34 on the Oricon charts, a monumental success for an indies album.
Ressurection live at Shibuya (渋谷) NHK HALL (NHKホール).
「RED ZONE TOUR」 starts.
「RED ZONE TOUR」 ends.
The success of their indie compilation don't sit well with Toshiba EMI, who, in retaliation, releases its own ZI:KILL compilation, a cash grab aptly titled DISGRACE - THE BEST. The "greatest hits" features the entire DESERT TOWN tracklist plus four other tracks.
Video concerts with member participation are held all over the country
"SLOW DOWN", the lead single for their new album, is released by their new label KING RECORDS.
IN THE HOLE, a new album recorded that summer, is released and hits the 8th position on the Oricon. All arrangements are credited to ZI:KILL and producer HOPPY KAMIYAMA.
The band is part of the cast of the 「EXTASY SUMMIT」 (「エクスタシー・サミット」) event at Osaka (大阪) Jo Hall (城ホール).
A second date of the 「EXTASY SUMMIT」 (「エクスタシー・サミット」) event, now at Tokyo (東京) Nippon Budokan (日本武道館).
「IN THE HOLE TOUR 1992」 starts (8 locations nationwide).
「OPEN THE GATE~Tengoku e no Kaidan~」 (「OPEN THE GATE~天国への階段~」) at Tokyo Nippon Budokan. 「IN THE HOLE TOUR 1992」 ends.
Oneman at Tokyo (東京) Nippon Budokan (日本武道館).
TUSK's radio show 「TUSK no JARI ROAD WORLD」 (「TUSKのヂャリ道ワールド」) starts broadcasting.
Rockin' F event 「SUBLIMINAL VISION」 Is held at Nakano (中野) Koukaidou (公会堂).
「Fastest Lap Circuit Tour」 starts.
「Fastest Lap Circuit Tour」 ends.
Fan club only event at Kawasaki CLUB CITTA'.
For the recording of 1993's ROCKET, ZI:KILL goes back to London. Ranking 5th on the Oricon, it marks their highest chart appearance.
The single "CALLING" is also a success, being used as "Tony's Theme" in the anime Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle.
National tour 「FLYING ROCKET TOUR 1993」 Is held from July to September (17 locations nationwide).
Radio appearance for FM RIDERS no Utage VOL.10 (FM RIDERS の宴VOL.10).
ncc&スタジオ-schedule
「FLYING ROCKET TOUR 1993」 ends.
SEIICHI bass clinic in Nagoya.
A photoshoot in March featuring TUSK and X's HIDE for the magazine SHOXX leds to the release, in VHS and laser disc, of the experimental movie Seth et Holth on September 29. The film is based on an original short story by HIDE, who also wrote the music, and features the tragic plot of two beings from a different plane of existence coming to earth and being overwhelmed by the city' sensory overload. The two communicate through swapping blood, and are persecuted and executed. TUSK wrote all lyrics and stood behind the vocals.
「LIVE ROCKET TOUR」 starts.
「LIVE ROCKET TOUR」 ends. Oneman gig at Tokyo (東京) Nippon Budokan (日本武道館).
KEN's debut solo album JOKE is released.
One of the reasons that led to ZI:KILL disbanding has long been rumoured to be KEN's choice to focus on his solo career. A message sent to fan club member after the dissolution was as follows:
「Dear My Friends
この度 突然ではありますが ZI:KILL解散致します。 たとえオリジナルメンバー不在となってもZI:KILL というバンドの存在はしていく様な長い歴史を 持つバンドにしたかったのですが これでおしまい エネルギーになった皆様 心から感謝します。 ホント気分なんだよね ノッてる時はGo! でもノらない時はNo. 新にバンド組んでがんばります。
ZI:KILLはただのROCK BANDでした。
TUSK」
ZI:KILL disbands
Japan-born American-raised journalist Karl Taro Greenfeld publishes a book called Speed Tribes: Days and Nights with Japan's Next Generation, a collection of nonfiction short stories about Japanese youth during the early years of Japan's Lost Decade. In the chapter "Tusk: Twilight of the Idols", he uses the dispute between ZI:KILL and Toshiba EMI to illustrate the inner workings of the Japanese music industry, which may be one of the first reports on the visual kei scene published overseas.
Kodansha bought the Japanese translation rights to Speed Tribes shortly after publication, but the book has never been published.
ZI:KILL was a visual kei band in Kanagawa. They were part of the kurofuku kei and okeshou kei subgenres. They were active from 1987 to 1994 and are now disbanded.
Check our list of every vkei band on Spotify in 2026 and follow our monthly playlists!
