By-Sexual (stylized asBY-SEXUAL) was a Japanesevisual keipunk rock band fromOsaka. They were active from 1988 to 1995, when vocalist Sho left the band and they went on hiatus. In August 1996, the remaining members restarted the group under the nameBy-Sex (stylized asBY-SEX) with Ryo taking over vocals in addition to guitar. In February 1998, Nao left and the group disbanded.
On September 3, 2011, By-Sexual reunited for a show at Shinagawa Stellar for the victims of the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Around the same time, Ryo and bassist Den teamed up with theirZigzo bandmateSakura to perform as By-Sex. The four reunited again for the October 14, 2016 Visual Japan Summit atMakuhari Messe and Chain the Rock Festival on August 26, 2017.
By-Sexual was formed in April 1988 inOsaka. That year they released the demo "Bad Boy Blues" onFree-Will records. They signed toPony Canyon and in February 1990 they released their major debut, "So Bad Boy".[1] Their first albumCulture Shock followed in April.[2] It reached number 6 on theOricon chart and was named one of the top albums from 1989 to 1998 in a 2004 issue of the music magazineBand Yarouze.[3]
Their song "Bakumatsu Junjoden" was used as the theme song for the 1991 movie of the same name starringRiho Makise and sold over 100,000 copies.[1]
In January 1995, vocalist Sho left the band and they went on hiatus. However the remaining members continued to play together under the name Alzheimer. In August 1996, they restarted the group under the name By-Sex with Ryo changing to vocals and guitar. In February 1998, Nao left and the group disbanded.
Sho made an attempt at a solo career, but soon changed to managing bands before retiring from the music industry altogether. Both Ryo and Den went on to form the bandsZigzo, Pt. (Platinum), and are currently in Test-No.. Nao joined Nitro (now known as Food), Nakata Band (who later changed their name to The Heavenly Curve) withZi:Kill bassist Seiichi, and Badub. Den and Nao were both support members for Machine (duo ofPenicillin's Hakuei andSpread Beaver's Kiyoshi).
On May 9, 2011, it was announced via Nao'sTwitter and Den's blog that By-Sexual would reunite for one night.[4] All proceeds were donated to theJapanese Red Cross for the victims of the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[5] By-Sexual's first concert in sixteen years was held on September 3 at Shinagawa Stellar to an audience of 2,000.[6][7] Around the same time, Ryo and Den teamed up with theirZigzo bandmateSakura to restart By-Sex. They released a mini-album titledAgo on August 17 and had their first show two days later at the 2011 Chain the Rock Festival.[8]
In 2014, Ryo and Sho performed an acoustic set together at that year's Chain the Rock Festival on August 30.[9]
By-Sexual reunited once again to perform on the first day of the Visual Japan Summit on October 14, 2016, atMakuhari Messe.[10] They were joined byHisashi ofGlay for "Be Free".[11]
The band will perform at the second night of the 10th anniversary Chain the Rock Festival on August 26, 2017.[12]
