Aion definitely in terms of helping shape the foundation, along with Gargoyle too.
1 Like
I don’t consider any band “big” if they haven’t played any shows outside of Japan in the last 30 years. So MM and BT are definitely out, no matter how much tiktok wants them to be relevant. In my opinion, X Japan is number one, then Luna Sea, then Dir en grey.
Well, I would’nt put it that way. I assume you are referring to the demand of the bands overseas. But some bands just don’t want to tour outside of their home country for various reasons.
As a VK unrelated example, Rob Zombie is definitely big in the Metal world, but he rarely tours overseas due to fear of flying.
3 Likes
yes only people on tiktok like buck-tick and it has nothing to do with their storied history and immense, quality discography
anyway the real big three are X Japan, The Last Rockstars, and Violet UK sorry guys
9 Likes
Malice Mixer, Malace Mizer, Marisu Mizeru
8 Likes
X Japan, sure, but The Last Rockstars? You gotta be kidding me here? I know there only are famous members but they are not even close to be one of the biggest bands…
You must be like the biggest Yoshiki fan out there? Sorry but I laughed to read your post, cringe 
no i’m being totally serious cringe
1 Like
I always wonder why Yoshiki didn’t have the foresight to start The First Rockstars back in the 80s. We’d be on a brighter timeline if they never had legal troubles with X.
1 Like
Ok then you are very wrong in either way. I am not in a very good mood now to be honest because of life stuff… and your comment got stuck on my mind. I thought people (you) could seriously think they are one of the biggest because they have some of the biggest jrockers in the band, but TLR is not one of the big 3 ones Not even close get a reality check buddy
1 Like
Lmfao okay bro. Violet UK literally never had a full official release. Nobody would genuinely claim they’re big three because they had zero impact. Didn’t think I would have to elaborate given that context, but okay!
2 Likes
Missa was making a joke. Very obliviously 
3 Likes
The Last Rockstars, S.K.I.N., YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz.
9 Likes
Maybe I scrolled too fast but where is the Nightmare acknowledgement???
That Deathnote opening is 100% responsible for introducing innumerable people to JROCK/ visual Kei.
(imho haha)
Personally the 3 OGs that got me into VK in no particular order are
Nightmare; the Gazette; and Alice Nine
(Abingdon Boy School is honorable mention if you could count them)
Dir en Grey 100% deserves to be there too but I’ve only listened to Arche lolol
1 Like
S.K.I.N deserves to be part of this list, certainly. 
1 Like
Alice Cooper, KISS, and Motley Crue jkjk (although some basis in reality)
Id put X, Luna-Sea, and Glay, its the only logical choice. Buck-Tick transcends vkei and nobody knows Malice Mizer outside of TikTok
1 Like
As a huge Nightmare fan now, I totally understand your sentiment, and I would agree with your choices…IF the title was “big three in neo-vkei” or post-2000s bands. This is a heartbreaking thing for me to say too pls don’t flame me 
Definitely, to the younger crowd, they would already be in the veteran/older category. Still, very rationally speaking, for me, the “old” three would suggest more of the bands that came before them.
I am also aware of the fact that Nightmare came to be as a very direct result of Luna Sea’s influence, which makes me think that Luna Sea may be a more suitable band as a “big old three” band.
I’m gonna have to somewhat disagree with Diru being in the top three if I were to put X Japan and Luna Sea. Maybe a somewhat hot/lukewarm take, but Diru didn’t necessarily have that same kind of reach, but so did many bands, if I were to compare to X and Luna.
However, a third band I might put on the same pedestal is L’arc-en-Ciel, given their reach and influence.
I must say, anime is an incredible and vital conduit for introducing people to the jrock/vkei genre. Shoutout to SID, LM.C, Shazna, and Penicillin for also having anime openings and endings.
4 Likes
do we already have a thread for posting these
but he rarely tours overseas due to fear of flying.
It’s the same reason for Buck-Tick, Imai is afraid of planes
1 Like
3 an arbitrary number, hard to work with