Balzac formed in 1992 in Osaka, Japan, and began playing shows mainly around Osaka and Tokyo. Vastly inspired by the legendary horror punk band the Misfits, Balzac (who adopted their name in homage to the 1800s French poet of the same name) released their first single on their own label, Evilegend, in 1993. Through 1995, they released four more singles via various indies.
In October 1995, Balzac released their first full length album, “Last Men On Earth” through Alchemy Records and due to their similarity to the Misfits - with their unique pop sound, horror movie image concept and so-called ‘Devil Lock’ hairstyle - they garnered attention not only in Japan but also overseas.
In 1997 they signed to Phalanx Records and released their second album, “Deep.” Shortly after the release of “Deep,” Balzac was chosen to open for the Misfits’ first tour of Japan, and also did two nationwide tours of Japan with the Mad Capsule Markets. On Halloween 1998, Balzac released their third album, “13 Stairway,” followed by their first sold-out tour of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. The following Halloween, Balzac released a four-song Maxi Single, “Into the Light of the 13 Dark Night,” which was followed by their first headlining national tour.
Balzac embarked on their second Japanese tour as the Misfits' opening act in January 2000, and toured nationwide as the Mad Capsule Markets’ opening act over the next two months. The “Taste of Fear” video – limited edition 6,666 copies - was released in April and followed by another top to bottom tour of Japan.
In August 2000 the limited production of 2,000 Balzac 12-inch figures by Medicom Toy Co. proved to be an unprecedented and widely talked about hit in the figure industry. Balzac and Medicom have since released many successful toy collaborations, reaching worldwide audiences in the collectible market.
Like the Misfits, Balzac has an extremely loyal and devoted cult following worldwide that eagerly awaits and obsessively collects everything the band releases. At the end of 1999, in a style similar to the early stages of the Misfits Fiend Club, Balzac Fiendish Club was established, offering many special collectibles to club members only. To further support such collectible-mania, Balzac opened their first official retail store, Shocker, in Osaka on Halloween 2000.
Wrapping up the year 2000 was the release of their long awaited fourth album, “Zennou Naru Musuu No ME ha Shi Wo Yubi Sasu.” To support the release, Balzac staged a 28-venue, nationwide tour of Japan from January to April 2001. Throughout the tour, Balzac issued several collectible, limited edition CDs available only at their shows and to their fan club members. That same year, Balzac re-entered the studio and re-recorded their long out-of-print first studio album, “The Last Men on Earth” with an updated edge. Balzac also released a live video to commemorate the entire Zennou-naru tour entitled “20010112,” as well as a CD single for “The Silence of Crows.” “Terrifying! The Art of Dying-The Last Men on Earth II,” their fifth album and first with new drummer Takayuki - whose hard style rejuvenated the band, giving the new songs a more chaotic, yet melodic, hardcore direction – followed, with six new songs and a re-recorded song from their back catalog. The companion disc in the set featured the complete reworking of the original “Last Men on Earth” album.
In 2002, producer John Cafiero orchestrated a collaboration between the Misfits and Balzac on a split CD on which each band covered a song from the other’s current catalog. The result was “Day the Earth Caught Fire,” the first release from the new label imprint Misfits Records. The same Misfits-Balzac split CD was released in Japan via Balzac’s parent label in Japan, DIW/Disk Union, under the title “Don’t Open ‘till Doomsday.” The split CD ranked at number 21 in New York City megastore J&R’s Top 50 CDs immediately following its release.
On October 30 of that year, the Misfits and Balzac kicked off two days of fiendish events in New York City with two well-attended autograph signings. The following night Balzac made their first live appearance outside of their native Japan to a sold out crowd at New York City’s The World, with 500 fans turned away. Many fans had traveled in from out of state as well as out of the country to witness this rare and historic occasion. Balzac front man Hirosuke joined the Misfits on their closing song, “Day the Earth Caught Fire,” which would later be included as one of the live bonus DVD videos on the Misfits’ special project CD “Misfits Project 1950.” The band won over many die-hard Misfits fans with their terrific show.
When Balzac returned home to Japan, they put the finishing touches on their VHS/DVD release “The Legacy of Terrifying” filmed during the summer 2002 Terrifying Tour. They also issued a CD single, entitled “Beware of Darkness,” in January of 2003.
The material recorded for that CD single was combined with newly recorded versions of greatest hits from Balzac’s Japanese back catalog, as well as live bonus tracks for a total of 22 new recordings that were compiled to create Balzac’s first North American release. Issued by Misfits Records under the title “Beyond the Darkness,” it came complete with a bonus DVD containing four music videos and a “making of” the CD featurette.
To coincide with the release of Balzac’s “Beyond the Darkness” and the Misfits’ “Misfits Project 1950,” Misfits Records arranged Fiend Fest, a special month-long summer festival tour. Fiend Fest was Balzac’s first North American tour, alongside the Misfits, punk staples DI, Agnostic Front, the Dickies, and the Damned.
In 2004, Balzac issued a lo-fi DVD documenting their experience and performances on the Fiend Fest tour and followed up with the full length CD “Came out of the Grave,” as well as two limited edition CD singles available only at venues on tour in Japan. January 2005 brought Balzac’s single “D.A.R.K.” and the mini album “Dark-ism.”
These two Japanese releases were compiled in their entirety to form Balzac’s second North American release, entitled “Out of the Grave and Into the Dark,” on Misfits Records (distributed by Rykodisc). The CD/DVD combo also includes the bonus track “Gimme Some Truth” and a limited edition, 60-minute bonus DVD featuring three music videos, five live performance videos, five bonus audio tracks, and a short horror film by Balzac.
A limited edition Balzac book was released in Japan in late 2005 and 2006 brought two brand new limited edition toy collaborations with Medicom in Japan. 2006 also marked the very first North American Balzac toy release when a special limited edition black and orange paperbag man figure was produced in collaboration between Misfits Records, Super 7 and Secret Base of Japan. This highly limited edition color way of the figure, (complete with Misfits Records logo print on its back); quickly sold out and was followed by two more North American Balzac toy releases from Misfits Records (bloody skullbat & Ogon Skullman) that same year.
In the summer of 2007 Misfits Records released Balzac’s latest studio album entitled “Deep Blue: Chaos from Dark-ism” featuring over 60 minutes of new material. In typical fashion, the label maximized the release adding an additional 20 minutes of rare Balzac bonus tracks (many of which are exclusive) as well as a special limited edition Bonus DVD containing over 2-hours of material including a full Balzac live concert from Japan, 2 US Tour Documentaries, 5 music videos, additional rare live footage and more! The first pressing of the disc was issued in a special limited edition 32-page hardcover book; perfect bound and topped off with red foil ink. As if that weren’t enough 1-in-10 copies were personally autographed by all 4 members of Balzac and randomly inserted into the pressing! The edition quickly sold through and was followed by a jewel-case release featuring a 24-page booklet. In the Fall of 2007 Balzac embarked on North America tour in support of “Deep Blue” opening for the legendary Misfits on their 30th Anniversary campaign.
“Deep Blue” is available by digital download at the iTunes store in the U.S. and Canada, including three videos, a variant 18-page booklet, and two alternate tracks not found on the CD version, (both of which are available for individual download).
A limited edition Skull shaped vinyl picture disc was pressed and released exclusively by Misfits Records. The collectible Ltd. Ed. die-cut disc includes both of the alternate tracks from the “Deep Blue” album and immortalizes the band’s iconic skull mascot on Side-A with a full-color band photo on Side-B.
Balzac can also be found on the new “Jackass: The Game” (Red Mile Entertainment/MTV Games) for PSP, PS2, and Nintendo DS. The band’s “Wall,” from Balzac’s first Misfits Records release “Beyond the Darkness,” plays alongside other punk greats like the Misfits and the Circle Jerks, and up-and-comers CKY and Turbonegro.
Balzac is currently working on a new studio CD slated for release throughout North America on Misfits Records in the latter half of 2008.
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