Fanatic Crisis (Japanese: ファナティック・クライシス, often stylized as FANATIC◇CRISIS, and simply called FtC by fans) was a Japanese rock band active from 1992–2005.[1][2]

Six of their singles made the top 10 Oricon Singles Chart for sales,[3] while two of their albums reached the top 10 Albums Chart.[4]

History

Formation

The band was formed in 1992 by Ishizuki, Kazuya, and Ryuji when Ishizuki was 15 years old.[5] In 1993, Shun and Tatsuya joined and they began performing around Nagoya.[5] In 1994, they released their first demo-tape Karma, with Tatsuya on drums.[1] Tatsuya left in 1995[5] after the release of the EP Taiyou no Toriko.[1] Their lineup solidified in 1995[2] when Tohru joined on the drums on the single 'Memories in White'.[1] They released their first album Mask and second EP Marble in 2006.[1]

Like many famous bands from the Tōkai region, they were spontaneously called Nagoya kei[6] along with bands like Kuroyume, Rouage, and Laputa. They were also called one of "the big four visual kei bands"[6] along with Malice Mizer, Shazna and La'cryma Christi.[7][8] Over time, fans stopped calling them visual kei as they perceived the band didn't like the name.[6] During an interview, Ishizuki explained that the term "visual kei" didn't exist when they formed the band, and it felt like a label that was being put on them by adults, suggesting they were frivolous or unserious.[6] In the same interview, Kazuya said he has grown to appreciate it.[6]

Major Debut

Their major debut came in 1997 with the release of the single "Super Soul".[8] They followed with two albums, One -one for all- and The Lost Innocent.[1] One -one for all- was named one of the top albums from 1989-1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazine Band Yarouze.[9] In 2000, they switched to the Stoic Stone label (from which all subsequent albums were published) and released their sixth record, EAS. Five albums would follow before their last record, 2004's Marvelous+.[1]

Disbandment and Post-Fanatic Crisis Work

In 2005, they played their final concert at Tokyo Bay NK Hall.[10] Kazuya joined with Aoi, who was a solo artist, to form the band Bounty in 2007 and they released several singles and one album.[11] In 2011, Shun and Kazuya joined with Zero and Tsukasa (from D'espairsRay) and Ricky (from Dasein) to form the group THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S.[10][12] Ishizuki left the music industry but returned as a solo artist in 2012.[10]

Fantastic Circus

In 2019, Ishizuku, Shun, and Kazuya came together under the name Fantastic Circus to perform; they did not use their original name as not all the original members were available to reunite.[10] Originally it was meant to be a one off event, but it went so well they wanted to continue, but Covid19 put any future events on pause.[10] In 2022, they performed as Fantastic Circus again as part of a 30th Anniversary celebration of the formation of Fanatic Crisis.[10] They followed with an album release, "TENSEISM BEST SINGLES [1997-2000]", and went on tour in 2023.[6]

Members

Lineup 1995 to 2005

  • Tsutomu Ishizuki - vocals (1992-2005)
  • Ryuji - bass guitar (1992-2005)
  • Kazuya - lead guitar (1992-2005)
  • Shun - rhythm guitar (1994-2005)
  • Tohru - drums (1995-2005)

Previous member

  • Tatsuya - drums (1994-1995)

Discography

Studio Albums
Title Release Date Label Format P[4]
Mask 01/07/1996 Noir 5" CD
One (One for All) 03/04/1998 For Life 5
The Lost Innocent 02/24/1999 6
E.A.S. 09/13/2000 Stoic Stone 11
Pop 06/27/2001 19
Beautiful World 12/06/2001 30
5 07/10/2002 24
Neverland 07/02/2003 32
Marvelous+ 07/28/2004 18
EPs
Title Release Date Label Format
Taiyō no Toriko
(lit. Prisoner of the Sun)
12/01/1994 Noir 5" CD
Marble 11/25/1996
Compilations
Title Release Date Format Label
The Best of Fanatic◇Crisis: Single Collection 01 03/30/2005 5" CD Stoic Stone
The Best of Fanatic◇Crisis: Single Collection 02
The Best of Fanatic◇Crisis: B-Side Collection 08/09/2006
Singles
Title Release Date Format Label P[3]
Independent
Memories in White 11/25/1995 3" CD Noir
Tsuki no Hana 07/05/1996 44
Rain 07/05/1996 47
Major
Super Soul 08/06/1997 3" CD For Life 23
Sleeper 10/29/1997 23
One -You are the One- 01/28/1998 14
Rainy Merry-Go-Round 05/13/1998 14
Hi no Tori 07/01/1998 10
Maybe True 09/23/1998 5
Beauties -Beauty Eyes- / Jealousy 01/01/1999 13
7 [Seven] 04/14/1999 6
Side Eve 11/17/1999 5" CD Stoic Stone
Side Adam 12/16/1999
Kokoro ni Hana wo, Kokoro ni Toge wo 05/17/2000 20
Behind 08/09/2000 20
Defect Lover Complex 08/09/2000 26
Life 10/25/2000 30
Hal [haru] 02/16/2001 28
Jet Hyp! 04/11/2001 22
Yuragi 05/30/2001 27
Downcode 10/03/2001 10
Sputnik -Tabibitotachi- 02/06/2002 25
Love Monster 04/11/2002 15
Dorakira 06/12/2002 10
Blue Rose 11/07/2002 28
Yume Jyanai Sekai. 01/16/2003 15
Moonlight 04/16/2003 20
Tsuki no Mahou 11/06/2003 37
Karasu 01/09/2004 22
Everlove 05/12/2004 10
Videography
Title Release Date Format Label
Disappear'n 08/02/1995 VHS Noir
P.E.R.S.O.N.A 08/14/1995
Kuroi Taiyou 08/18/1995
Truth 08/21/1995
Making of Truth Tour Final Sep. 1995
Tsuki no Hana / Rain N/A
Groovers File Mix 04/21/1997
Des[clip]tion-1 07/18/1998 VHS For Life
Des[clip]tion-2 07/28/1998
Des[clip]tion-3 09/27/2000 DVD Stoic Stone
EAS Syndrome Files 03/28/2001
Des[clip]tion-4 07/28/2001
Des[clip]tion-5 08/28/2002
Des[clip]tion-6 12/03/2003
Summer Tour 2004 Dear Marvelous+ in Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall 02/16/2005
The Best of Fanatic◇Crisis: Des[clip]tion 05/11/2005
2005.5.14 Last Live at Tokyo Bay NK Hall 11/16/2005
Other
Title Year Format Label Comment
Karma 1994 Cassette Noir First demo
Disappear'n 1995 Cassette Noir Second demo
Sleepless Merry-Go-Round -1995 Original New Version- 1995 3" CD Noir Live Concert Gift
Eien no Kodomotachi -The Eternal Child- 1996 3" CD Noir Live Concert Gift
Andesu Sanmyaku no Taneuma / Kaze. 2001 Cassette Speed House Third demo (as Harinezumi vs. Dobu◇Nezumi)
You. 2002 5" CD Stoic Stone Fanclub Gift
Holy Song 2003 5" CD Stoic Stone Fanclub Gift

References