Biography
Janne Da Arc (ジャンヌダルク) is a Japanese rock band signed to the motorod label, a subsidiary of avex trax. Across their career they released three indies albums, nine major-label albums including single collections, 26 singles, and 14 DVDs, building a catalog that reflects both their commercial reach and their long-running identity in the Japanese rock scene.
The band marked its tenth anniversary on May 9, 2006, a milestone that also corresponds to the point when shuji became an official member of the lineup. Although their song "Kyuuseishu --Messiah--" is about Joan of Arc, the group was not actually named after the historical figure; the name came from a character in Go Nagai’s manga "Devilman," chosen by yasu. That reference was also highlighted visually on the limited edition Janne Da Arc 10th ANNIVERSARY INDIES COMPLETE BOX, released on March 15, 2006, which included a picture series of the character on its artwork.
Janne Da Arc describe their sound as "pop-rock," and vocalist yasu has cited MORRIE of the 1980s rock band DEAD END as one of his major musical idols. Even with that core influence, the band developed a broad style shaped by the preferred bands and musical tastes of every member, which helped them stand out for both versatility and technical proficiency on their instruments.
On January 26, 2007, the members began pursuing solo projects alongside their work in the band, extending their activity beyond the group without closing the door on Janne Da Arc itself. Later, on May 19, 2009, they released their major debut 10th anniversary COMPLETE BOX, which reached No. 1 on the Oricon chart and underscored the lasting interest in the band’s music.
