DIR EN GREY are Kyo, Kaoru, Die, Toshiya and Shinya. After the bass-player of the Japanese band "La:Sadie’s" quit, the remaining 4 members find a new bass-player (Toshiya) and form "Dir en grey" in 1997.
Never heard them actually live, but have seen the Family Values Tour 2006 dvd and I have to say... something different! They used to dress up and give away a whole show which is a certain style (Visual Kei), but turned to the normal side of metal. I do not really like the loud screams and singing in Dir En Grey, however they are something very different than I am used and that's a good thing! I was very suprised to see the singer fake a nosebleed on stage, but based on their site and the wikipedia site that's a left-over piece of show from their Visuel Kei days. All and all a show worth watching, but I do not think I will ever buy one of their cd's.