Shinya
His first "real" band was called Jinkou Tenshi, the band members were Shinya's friends from high school. A year after, he was in Siva, a new band. They played in livehouses at night, so Shinya had a hard time keep up with school. He also had a part-time job, but the money he earned still wasn't enough. So he stopped buying food, and saving up his lunch money his parents gave him. He stayed 6 months with Siva, but he really had a tough time there. Then Shinya was invited by Kisaki to join a new band (Ruby), so he decided to move to Tokyo along with the old band members of Siva (except the bassist). Eventually, both Kisaki - and later - Shinya left Ruby. Shinya joined Kisaki's band 廃人黒薔薇族 (Haijin Kurobara Zoku), Kyo was already in the band as a vocalist. Kyo had a deep impact on Shinya with his singing style! In 1995, Kisaki, Kyo and Shinya left Haijin Kurobara Zoku to form La:Sadie's.

Kyo
He has previosly been a roadie for Kuroyume and Albatross. At the age of 17, Kyo joined his first band, Gesshoku. In this band he went by the nickname Yoma. He went by the nickname Hotoma when he joined his next band, Visun. Then he joined Masquerade. It was when he joined Haijin Kurobara Zoku that he met up with drummer, Shinya, and bassist, Kisaki. It was here that he changed his nickname to Kyo.

Originally, before La:sadie's, Kyo and Shinya were in the band called Haijin Kurobarazoku with Kisaki. After their guitarists #4 and seine (from Stella Maria) left, they formed the precursor of Dir en grey, La:Sadie's in December, 1995. Kisaki recruited Shio from their previous band SHEY#DE. Die left his previous band, ka.za.ri, to join them.

The original leader was Kisaki, and the original lineup included Kyo (vocals), Die (guitar), Shio (guitar), Kisaki (bass), Shinya (drums). Shio doesn't stay with the band too long, he left shortly after Kaoru joined in early 1996.

The band's music was visual kei, inspired mainly by Kuroyume (Kyo was a roadie for them, and a big fan of the vocalist, Kiyoharu).

La:sadie's was very similar to Dir en grey music-wise. The main difference was in Kyo's voice: it was a little higher. That, and Kisaki was not as good as Toshiya. ^_<

Kisaki decided that for some (unknown) reason, he wanted to leave. Many rumors go around about Kisaki didn't get along with Kaoru; that he preferred the indies scene, while the other members wanted to go major; and that Kisaki wanted more independence. So he quited the band in Jan. 1997, then joined the band Mirage.

When La:sadie's was on a tour in Nagano, they met Toshiya, and became close friends. After Kisaki left them, the four remaining members decided to play together again, but they were without a bassist. Not letting this stop them, the band called up Toshiya, the bassist of D+L (who had since joined GOSICK), and they went to kidnap him (as Toshiya likes to say).

At this point, Kaoru became the leader and the band performed a few lives in Nagano under the name of DEATHMASK.

And in 02.02.1997, they became Dir en grey.

Bass: Kisaki (Levia → LAYBIAL → SHE#DE GARDEN → De=prive → Stella Maria → Ruby (サポート) → Haijin Kurobarazuku (廃人黒薔薇族) → La:sadie's → Mirage → Syndrome → Kisaki (Project) → Phantasmagoria)
ex Guitar: Shio (SHE#DE → Fictiv Eyes → La:sadie's → Snow → Remage → Sledge → Hiskarea)