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GLAY is arguably the most popular band in Japan right now. Unlike many
visual rock bands GLAY's music is bright and upbeat. It's a very infectious pop-rock style with an emphasis on catchy melody
which has won them fans of all ages, sexes and all musical tastes. Both men and women seem to like them equally (although
often for slightly different reasons). Personally I don't have a favorite member and like them all the same. That's not something
I can claim with many bands. Teru's a great singer with a crooning yet slightly husky voice and a lighthearted stage prescence.
Jiro, the baby-faced bassist plucks out some aggressive basslines and is fun to watch. Hisashi is the most "visual" of the
group and also has that pretty boy thing going for him apart from being an energetic guitarist. Finally there's the band's
leader Takuro who is both excellent with the guitar and saavy songwriter.
GLAY is considered a visual band, but other than dyeing their hair and
sometimes putting on light makeup, they look relatively normal as Japanese visual bands go. I personally wouldn't consider
them a visual band anymore, but since they started off with a somewhat visual kei influence, everyone still refers to them
as such. By now, Hisashi is really the only member who still has a consistent visual kei influence in his sense of style.
While Jiro is still the man of a thousand colourful hairstyles (many inspired by anime and 60's pulp film) and still wears
makeup from time to time, it's only borderline visual kei.
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