Fake?
Fake? is a Japanese rock musical project led by vocalist Ken Lloyd. Originally a duo, guitarist Inoran left in 2005. Lyrics are mainly in English and sometimes in Japanese. History. In late 2001 Oblivion Dust vocalist Ken Lloyd joined up with Luna Sea guitarist Inoran and formed Fake?. They didn't go public until early 2002, though, where the two of them held a secret two-day "Show Case" event at Liquidroom Shinjuku. A short time later they released their first single "Taste Maximum." They released another single "Someday" and their first album "Breathe In..." which reached the top  30 in the Oricon charts despite a lack of promotion, major magazine interviews, or photo-sessions. Their respective musical influences can be heard throughout the album: slightly more trip hop songs were composed by Inoran, slightly more Punk rock songs composed by Ken. Then, they took part at the Summer Sonic Festival 2002 in Tokyo, Osaka, and Hong Kong. They also played in gigs at Nagoya Diamond Hall, Osaka Namba Hatch and the Akasaka BLITZ. On November 2, the band started its "Live Tour", doing 7 concerts in 5 towns. The final concert of this tour on November 24 at  Zepp Tokyo, was later broadcast in Japan by WOWOW. In January 2003 they released the album "Tomorrow Today"(with the collaboration vocal of Kokia in the song "Care") and then they toured for the rest of the year.<ref name="Vibe news about Fake? 2003/02/26">"Vibe news about Fake?" 2003/02/26 Retrieved September 13, 2007</ref> Besides, due to differences about the direction of their careers, they changed their label from Warner Music Japan to Tokuma Japan Communications. In the beginning of 2004, they performed the concert "Stepping Stone Extra Date" which was later to be released as their first DVD. On March 13, they  released the mini album "New Skin". Shortly thereafter, they released another single "Praise" (this song was used as opening theme to Aqua Kids anime television) and another album titled "The Art of Losing Touch". They began their "Tour of Losing Touch", playing at 6 locations. The last event of this tour was on July 6 at the Shibuya-AX,<ref name="Vibe news about Fake? 2004/05/21">"Vibe news about Fake? 2004/05/21" Retrieved September 13, 2007</ref> where their "Tour of Losing Touch DVD" was recorded. Subsequent tours were titled "Tour of Losing Touch: Live Like Billy" (in direct allusion to the "Just Like  Billy" single) and the "Tour of Losing Touch: Final". In 2005 they released the single "Pulse" (this song was used as the second opening theme to Onmyou Taisenki anime television) along with an English version and released the album "Made With Air". After the "Tour of [?]", Inoran left the band in October, due to musical differences. Ken Lloyd announced that the group would continue and short time later released the "Live Tour? Final at Shibuya-AX DVD" which was recorded from the last live performance of "Tour of [?]" together with a best album titled simply "Fake?" In mid-2006 they released  Songs From Beelzebub (with the collaboration of the former Luna Sea member Shinya in some songs), and their tour "Live From Beelzebub Tour" finished its Japanese leg on July 4 at the "Ebisu Liquid Room" and was followed by a show at Pentaport rock festival in South Korea on July 29. In late 2006 "Marilyn Is A Bubble" was released with contributions by Anna Tsuchiya, Hide and U-Ta (Buck-Tick), "Ali" (Monoral) and others. K.A.Z, "d-kiku" and "Shigeo" (Mold, the Samos) each contributed a remix song (added up 3), that was released on the internet as a bonus  to those who bought the albums "Songs From Beelzebub" and "Marilyn Is A Bubble". After the band's "Live With Marilyn'" tour in early 2007, along with a concert on July 28 at the Ebisu Liquid Room in Tokyo, the band took a break because Ken Lloyd was concentrated on the return of Oblivion Dust. In early 2009 Ken Lloyd announced that a new Fake? album is in the process of being written and on June 12, 2009 the band performed in New Jersey, United States at AnimeNEXT, where Ken announced that he hope bring his music to the US  by next year. On February 24, 2010 Ken released the third endeavor of post-Inoran Fake?, entitled "Switching On X" under the label Music Taste and being produced by Martin Glover. A suspected lack of promotion, as later indicated by the band's switch in management, likely led to the album reaching the band's worst Oricon ranking ever; topping a meager 203rd for only one week on the chart. Around the time of the album release, Ken Lloyd created his first English official Facebook page and Twitter account. On his Facebook page he answered questions from fans around the  world in video messages. In April 2012, Ken announced he was working on new Fake? stuff, thing later confirmed with the news about a new album compilation entitled "Fake? 2002-2012 Decade Selection" under Tokuma Japan Communications, this album going to include an exclusive song called "Feel it" (a collaboration with Inoran). At November 19 the band kept a gig at "Daikanyama Unit" in Tokyo, where released an exclusive and brand new EP called "Nail"<ref name="Fake? Fakebook Vlog 11/13/2012 English Version">"Fake? Fakebook Vlog 11/13/2012 English Version" Retrieved November 13, 2012</ref> and announced a new gig at February 23, 2013  called "Fake? Live -Decade-" where Inoran comes back to play with Fake? in live. This gig with Inoran was recorded and released as DVD on October 2, 2013.