Biography
As a longstanding pillar of Japanese rock, singer Kiyoharu, born Kiyoharu Mori, built his reputation by fronting the bands Kuroyume and SADS across the 1990s and 2000s while maintaining an active solo path. His distinctive vibrato had already marked him as a performer since the 1980s, when his early credits included stints with Sus4 and Garnet; prominence arrived only after he launched Kuroyume in 1991 alongside bassist Hitoki, formerly of Garnet. During the decade that followed, Kuroyume ranked among the visual kei scene’s defining acts, sharing stature with X-Japan and Luna Sea; Kyo of Dir en Grey served as the group’s roadie and later adopted aspects of Kiyoharu’s visual style.
Kuroyume ceased activity in 1998, prompting Kiyoharu to form SADS, whose sound blended post-punk with surf rock. The project issued its recordings on the independent imprint Fullface Records beginning in 2001; that same label also released Merry’s debut album Gendai Stoic in 2003. SADS disbanded in 2003, yet Kiyoharu moved directly into solo work, appearing for the first time as guitarist on the 2004 album Poetry. Positive reception led him to issue two further albums in 2005, Mellow and Kannou Boogie, while touring Japan alongside Kirito, frontman of the visual kei band Pierrot.
New output continued in 2006 with the album Vinnybeach and its single “Slow,” both featured in the anime series The Wallflower. The following year Kiyoharu dedicated the album Forever Love to his late father. Subsequent releases turned reflective: Light and Shade appeared as a double set of self-covers drawn from across his career and augmented by several new tracks, followed by a singles compilation in 2008 and the 2009 album Medley, a collection of Kuroyume reinterpretations timed to the band’s one-off reunion concert early that year. Throughout this period Kiyoharu continued to operate Fullface Records and pursued parallel work as a designer of fashion, accessories, and jewelry.
Kuroyume ceased activity in 1998, prompting Kiyoharu to form SADS, whose sound blended post-punk with surf rock. The project issued its recordings on the independent imprint Fullface Records beginning in 2001; that same label also released Merry’s debut album Gendai Stoic in 2003. SADS disbanded in 2003, yet Kiyoharu moved directly into solo work, appearing for the first time as guitarist on the 2004 album Poetry. Positive reception led him to issue two further albums in 2005, Mellow and Kannou Boogie, while touring Japan alongside Kirito, frontman of the visual kei band Pierrot.
New output continued in 2006 with the album Vinnybeach and its single “Slow,” both featured in the anime series The Wallflower. The following year Kiyoharu dedicated the album Forever Love to his late father. Subsequent releases turned reflective: Light and Shade appeared as a double set of self-covers drawn from across his career and augmented by several new tracks, followed by a singles compilation in 2008 and the 2009 album Medley, a collection of Kuroyume reinterpretations timed to the band’s one-off reunion concert early that year. Throughout this period Kiyoharu continued to operate Fullface Records and pursued parallel work as a designer of fashion, accessories, and jewelry.