FAZ drummer TAKAHIRO (a.k.a. Hiyoka (卑妖華), ex-WERKMARE) has been arrested, and the band will indefinitely pause activities in consequence.

Previously, TAKAHIRO had missed the band's 2016-11-28 performance at SHIBUYA-REX. At the time, the band confirmed with one of his acquaintances that he was “safe,” but they [wrongly] assumed that he was just sick--in reality, he had already been arrested.

The reason for TAKAHIRO's arrest is unknown.

FAZ has had other trouble in recent months:

Around October, vocalist ToshiA began experiencing strange foot pain, but was allowed by his doctor to continue performing. However, due to his condition worsening, ToshiA was ordered to stop performing on November 1st. As such, the band performed without a vocalist for the remainder of the month, and indefinitely postponed the planned release of parts 4 and 5 of their 5-consecutive-month release campaign (a single and mini-album, respectively).

On November 20th, ToshiA revealed that he'd been diagnosed with ankylosin spondylitis (chronic inflammation of certain joints, sometimes severe). He was therefore ordered to undergo inpatient treatment at a hospital, which is where he's been ever since.

Yesterday, while still in the hospital, ToshiA received news that TAKAHIRO had actually been arrested, and so he made the decision to indefinitely pause FAZ's activities.

FAZ has five shows scheduled for upcoming months, and they still plan to perform, albeit with only 3 members (unless ToshiA is ok'd to return). Their last live will be on February 6th at HOLIDAY SHINJUKU, and then they'll indefinitely pause activities.

In his personal comment, guitarist SHINYA says that they will definitely return in some form, but the other members don't seem as confident.

No word has been given about their planned single and mini-album release (which had already been delayed due to ToshiA's illness), but I wouldn't be surprised if they were cancelled altogether.

Since I never formally introduced them here, here's a bit about the band's lineage:

In 1999, vocalist ToshiA formed Fazism, which was signed to indie label Soleil--the same label under which the fledgling MIRAGE had formed. When MIRAGE bassist/leader KISAKI formed his own label, Matina, Fazism followed. (Matina actually started as a sublabel of Soleil, and then became independent.)

Soon after, Fazism gained an additional member and changed its name to Philia. The following year, vocalist ToshiA formed his own Sapporo (札幌)-based Matina sublabel, STORM, to which -I's- and allure idea were signed. Eventually, though, Matina dissolved, STORM dissolved, and Philia disbanded.

Cut to summer 2012, and original Fazism members ToshiA, SHINYA, and KATSUHISA formed the new band FAZ. Thus, FAZ is, in essence, the “second part” (or third!) of Fazism--their early releases even contain some Fazism covers!

Hopefully they'll continue in some form, as guitarist SHINYA says they will.