HYDE: The Eternal Rock Chameleon
When HYDE walks onto a stage, the world shifts. The lights dim, the chants rise, and for a moment, thousands of voices join into one. To Japanese rock fans, HYDE is not just a singer—he’s an institution, a shape-shifting frontman who has defined generations through L’Arc〜en〜Ciel, electrified global stages with VAMPS, and now pushes his artistry even further with his solo work and THE LAST ROCKSTARS.
FUSION sat down with the legendary vocalist to talk about his upcoming album, his relentless drive, and what it means to keep evolving after three decades at the top of Japan’s rock scene.
A New Era of HYDE
HYDE’s upcoming album, still in the works, is designed to ignite.
“This time, I put in everything I love,” HYDE says. “These songs are made to get your blood pumping—especially when performed live. It’s all about excitement and energy.”
While he’s still fine-tuning a couple of tracks, HYDE promises an album that feels fiercely personal. “This is HYDE,” he laughs. “It’s wild, it’s raw, it’s me right now.”
One standout track is “Bleeding”, written as a theme song for a July drama. But beneath its catchy hooks lies a darker reflection on society’s obsession with video games and blurred realities. “I wanted to capture that messy world where the virtual and real start to fuse together,” HYDE explains.
Teaming Up with the Demon Slayers
Anime fans already know HYDE’s voice well, but his recent collaborations with MY FIRST STORY for the opening and ending themes of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc proved to be unforgettable.
“Hiro is an amazing vocalist,” HYDE says. “When we sang together, it felt like a battle between two voices. That tension made the song powerful—it became more than just music, it became a duel.”
33 Years of L’Arc〜en〜Ciel
For HYDE, L’Arc〜en〜Ciel remains the foundation. The band has sold out stadiums for decades, held massive festivals with audiences as large as 250,000, and even became the first Asian band to headline Madison Square Garden.
“After 33 years, people still come—families, kids, grandparents,” HYDE reflects warmly. “It feels timeless.”
Yet, his solo shows tell another story. More intimate, more aggressive, and often cheaper to attend, HYDE’s solo concerts showcase his rebellious edge. “I want fans to feel the raw intensity,” he says. “It’s a different side of me from L’Arc.”
Conquering the World Stage
From Tokyo to Los Angeles, HYDE has seen it all. He recalls wild overseas tours: broken-down buses, flooded hotel rooms, and even riots that called for police intervention. But for HYDE, even chaos becomes memory. “When the power went out mid-show, the fans sang with us in the dark,” he grins. “Those moments are unforgettable.”
Overseas audiences, he notes, are uninhibited. “They’re already screaming before the concert starts. In Japan, fans listen more quietly, but with deep focus. Both are beautiful in their own way.”
Life Beyond the Spotlight
Away from the stage, HYDE lives simply. He loves open-air restaurants in the fleeting Japanese spring, hits the gym a couple of times a week, and admits his one constant ritual: carrying a humidifier to protect his throat.
“When I’m off, I eat, drink, watch movies,” he says with a smile. “Pretty normal, right?”
But the fire for music never dims. “Right now, my performances are all about energy,” HYDE reflects. “In the future, I want to become a singer who can move people quietly—with just the voice.”
Looking Ahead
HYDE’s [INSIDE]LIVE 2024 tour is set to embody his newest vision—“a little more devilish, yet still cute,” as he describes it. Festival stages across Japan and abroad will see him continuing to expand his solo identity, proving that HYDE is more than just a name tied to L’Arc.
And for fans overseas? HYDE has a clear message:
“I want to tour North America again. Please keep supporting me—I’ll bring you something worth waiting for.”
The Night HYDE Took Tokyo
At Tokyo Haneda Zip, FUSION witnessed HYDE transform a venue into something between a horror circus and a rock cathedral. His band, masked in sinister smiles reminiscent of The Purge, set the tone before HYDE himself stormed the stage. The crowd erupted, fists pumping, voices screaming.
From the first note, it was clear: HYDE isn’t just performing. He’s summoning something primal. Songs became chants, the stage a spectacle of sound and shadow. Fans sang every word as if their lives depended on it.
Walking away from the show, one thing was certain: HYDE’s legend doesn’t rest on nostalgia. It thrives on reinvention. Whether in a packed Tokyo club, a sprawling anime theme, or Madison Square Garden, HYDE remains what he has always been—Japan’s immortal rock chameleon.
✨ HYDE’s message to fans:
“Thank you for supporting me all these years. Please pick up this issue of FUSION—I’m proud to be on the cover. And when the new album drops, let’s go wild together.”
