is a Japanese thrash metal band formed in Osaka Prefecture in 1987. The band was formed in July 1987, led by vocalist KIBA. After some changes in members, they started musical activities in earnest in November 1988. In April 1993, they signed for the major label Nippon Columbia, and released three studio albums (天論, 月の棘, natural) and two compilation albums (異人伝, borderless). From 1996, they went back to indie. In 2017, they marked their 30th anniversary since the band's formation. On 6 September 2018, KENTARO, TOSHI, and KATSUJI left the band with a solo live show “美しき時代”(beautiful days). In January 2019, KIBA started UNDER GARGOYLE. Taking 34th anniversary in July 2021, they will act as Gargoyle again.
Members
Vocal：Kiba (October 20, 1965) from Kobe, Japan
Past members
Guitar：Real Jack
Guitar：She-ja
Guitar：Yotaro
Drums：Not
Drums：Misaki
Guitar：Kentaro (June 10, 1972) from Osaka, Japan
Bass：Toshi (September 6, 1965) from Kobe, Japan
Drums：Katsuji (September 11, 1971) from Osaka, Japan
Timeline
KTASUJI is also a support drummer of a rock band The Cro-Magnons by the name of Katsuji Kirita (桐田勝治).
UNDER GARGOYLE members
UNDER GARGOYLE is a band, where a vocalist KIBA plays Gargoyle songs with various musicians. They plan to hold a live show on the first Saturday of each month at Takadanobaba club PHASE from January, 2019. Before that, they held their first live show at the same venue in the 2018-19 countdown event with the title of “l underland 00”.
Guitar：KOUSUKE, HISASHI（AMANE）
Bass：SHINGO☆、長野典二
Drums：末房央、K
Summary
Gargoyle is said to be a pioneer of visual kei and also as the leading authority on hard music scene in Japan. Beyond their mysterious visuals, they are renowned for a strong band that has worked their way up to the present position from the first. They are looked as “the king of live music clubs” that triumph the career for more than a quarter of a century. In their indie era, they sold out a plurality of solo concerts at Shibuya Public Hall. In 1992, a year before their major debut, they won a first prize of indie band section in a project called "LEADERS POLE 1991" held by a magazine “Rockin'f” （the second was LUNA SEA and the third was COLOR）.
History
1987 - 1991
1987
In July 1987, the band was formed in Osaka. 1988 In November 1988, after some changes in members, they started musical activities in earnest (KIBA, TOSHI, 屍忌蛇, KATSUJI). 1989 In October 1989, the first album “禊 (Misogi)”was released. 1990 In November 1990, the second album “檄 (Furebumi)”was released. 1991 In April 1991, 3rd album “璞 (Aratama)” was released. (a set of three musical compositionsog”‘禊〜檄〜璞”)
1993 - 1996
1993
In April 1993, they made major debut by releasing “タントラ・マントラ (Tantra Mantra)” from Nippon Columbia. In May, they released 4th album “天論 (Tenron)’. After that, due to G.屍忌蛇's leaving the band, KENTARO and 与太郎 joined. In November, they acted at Marquee club in London as a headliner, which was the first of Japanese bands. 1994 In February 1994, 5th album ”月の棘 (Tsuki no toge)” was released. 1995 In March 1995, 6th album “Natural” was released. In May, 4 CDs BOX “異人伝 (Ijinden)”, which collected precious songs in their indie era, was released. (Sold out by only reservation) 1996 In June 1996, best album “borderless”, the compilation of them after their major debut, was released. After that, they left Nippon Columbia and went back to indie. In December, they released VIDEO “絶滅種 (Zetsumetsu syu)”, in which members did everything from shooting to editing.