I’ve been following them since 2008 and I’ve never heard of another version. It came out after the BORN EP, probably was a throw away from BORN and they needed to release something in 2004 because they were gaining a lot of public, but at the same time, they didn’t have material for a full album yet.
Maverick was previously released under the name “Itanji” when they were uncertain if the band would work out(at this time, Karyu transferred responsibilities to TSUKASA and he became the “leader” of D’espairsRay), after the release was successfull, they re-released it as Maverick [Mini-album/single) (featuring Yami ni furu kiseki and Marry of the blood), but I don’t think they re-recorded Maverick for this.
After that, Marry of the blood and Yami ni furu kiseki are the two songs that they re-recorded for the BORN EP and that was it. (Yami ni furu kiseki has the white classical version released in the HORIZON single and Marry of the blood has a feature of SUGIZO on violin), later they released SCREEN in two versions (one from Squall and the most famous from MIRROR) and that was it.
As Elviserror said, there is no released other version. The question remains, have there been more versions in the process? Maybe a demo version or several versions? Or did they just put “diva version” in the title for whatever artistic reason? We will probably never know. That’s the question to ask, if you ever meet any of them
(Remimnds me of another funny story: My best friend met Zero at a festival, where Despa were playing. She came only to see them. But since Zero had changed his hairstyle quite drastically, she did not recognize him. She saw his tour shirt and talked to him and thought he was a stuff member until she saw him on stage later )
Oh, I did not make that mistake again when it came to Despa. Even went to their last live. At that time we didn’t know it would be their last concert, tho. Just a tour final …
Totally understand. I’ve been so broke in 2009 when they’ve been touring in Germany in summer. I went to Hamburg and then they suddenly announced a live in Berlin and even though I’m living there I didn’t have a single cent left. I was offered the money from an acquaintance the day of the live when they learnt I weren’t going (they were a fan themself and couldn’t imagine how I must feel about them being so close) and I was lucky enough there were tickets left at the entrance and it was one of the best nights of my life.
When it comes to their music I still constantly listen to some of the songs in a mixed playlist.
My favorite ones are Screen (Squall single version) and 朧ノ月. After that it’s quite some I barely do know how to rank.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. When I think of disbanded Vk bands that I love, none affected me quite like D’espairsray.
I play them all the time and daydream of what they must have been like live.
Favorite tracks:
Forbidden
In vain
Fallen
Screen
Squall
furachi no toiki to amai uso
Kaleidoscope
Infection
Garnet
Paradox 5
Depends on my mood. I like the slower version most of the time, but if I’m energic I like the louder one.
It’s funny, I never looked up what the name is for the two. I think the slower one is a b-side on Squall.
