EXILE

EXILE is a 19-member Japanese male group under the avex trax sub-label rhythm zone, and managed by LDH JAPAN agency.

The group is originated from J Soul Brothers. In 2001, after SASA left J Soul Brothers, performers HIRO, MATSU, ÜSA and MAKIDAI were joined by vocalists ATSUSHI and SHUN to form EXILE.

Members

Main article: EXILE/Members

Current Active Members

ATSUSHI	AKIRA	TAKAHIRO	Tachibana Kenchi	Kuroki Keiji
TETSUYA	NESMITH	SHOKICHI	NAOTO	Kobayashi Naoki
Iwata Takanori	Shirahama Alan	Sekiguchi Mandy	Sekai	Sato Taiki

• ATSUSHI
• AKIRA
• TAKAHIRO
• Tachibana Kenchi
• Kuroki Keiji
• TETSUYA
• NESMITH
• SHOKICHI
• NAOTO
• Kobayashi Naoki
• Iwata Takanori
• Shirahama Alan
• Sekiguchi Mandy
• Sekai
• Sato Taiki

Retired as Performers

HIRO

Matsumoto Toshio

ÜSA

MAKIDAI

• HIRO (Leader)
• Matsumoto Toshio
• ÜSA
• MAKIDAI

Former Members

• SHUN (2001-2006)

History

Pre-debut

HIRO, who debuted as a member of pop music group ZOO in 1989, presented the idea of a vocal and dance unit called Japanese Soul Brothers in 1991. That dance unit, consisted of HIRO, BOBBY, KOJI and LUKE, participated of many dance contests and as supportive performers for Bobby Brown's tours. When ZOO disbanded in 1995, HIRO continued with the unit. In 1997, DJ DARUMA, ÜSA, MATSU, MAKIDAI and Ryuzy were added to the unit. In 1999, HIRO, alongisde ÜSA, MATSU, MAKIDAI and SASA created the group J Soul Brothers and released their first self-titled single in October 20, 1999.

In 2001, member SASA left J Soul Brothers, new members and vocalists ATSUSHI and SHUN were added to the group. In August 24, 2001, HIRO changed the group's name to EXILE.

2001-2006

After the name change, on September 27, 2001, EXILE debuted with the single "Your eyes only ~Aimai na Boku no Katachi~".

In November 2003, EXILE remade ZOO's hit single "Choo Choo TRAIN", which became a strong promotional single for their third studio album EXILE ENTERTAINMENT. The album sold over a million copies. They took part in the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen of the year, singing "Choo Choo TRAIN". At first, their music style was influenced by R&B, but their style later became more pop-oriented form. Their 2004 single "real world" became their first number-one single on Oricon weekly charts. They released the collaboration "Scream" with Japanese rock band GLAY in July 2005, peaking at #1 and selling over 500,000 copies on Oricon charts. ^[1] The group released the singles "Tada... Aitakute" in December 2005 and "YES!" in March 2006. Both singles topped the Oricon weekly charts.

On March 3, 2006, SHUN left the group to pursue a solo career.

On June 6, 2006, AKIRA, former member of the group RATHER UNIQUE, joined EXILE.

After the group sought a new vocalist from the public by the EXILE VOCAL BATTLE AUDITION, TAKAHIRO joined the group on September 22, 2006.^[2]

2007-2013

On February 14, 2007, the group released the single "Michi", which became their first number-one single on the Oricon charts since TAKAHIRO joined the group. Their 2007 studio album, EXILE LOVE, became the highest selling album of Japan in 2008, selling nearly 1.5 million copies on Oricon charts. Their compilation album EXILE BALLAD BEST sold nearly 1 million copies in its first week on Oricon charts, making it the highest first week sales for an album of Japan in 2008. The song, "Ti Amo", was certified Million by the RIAJ for 1,000,000 full-track ringtone digital music downloads (Chaku Uta Full).^[3] They also won the Grand Prix Award at the 50th edition of Japan Record Awards for "Ti Amo".

In 2009, EXILE's song "THE NEXT DOOR" was featured as the theme of the Japanese edition of Street Fighter IV. The song was released at the iTunes Store on February 22, 2009. The English version "THE NEXT DOOR -Indestructible-" was used for the international edition of the game. The English version was released as the third track of their single "THE HURRICANE ~FIREWORKS~" on July 22, 2009, featuring American rapper Flo Rida.

On March 1, 2009, EXILE and Nidaime J Soul Brothers announced that they would merge to become a 14-member group. They released their first studio album with 14 members, Aisubeki Mirai e, on December 2, 2009. They won the Grand Prix Award for the song, "Someday", at the 51st Japan Record Awards.

For the 52nd Japan Record Awards, the group earned their third consecutive win with the song "I Wish For You".

The group was the 3rd artist by total sales revenue in Japan in 2011, with ¥5.603 billion,^[4] and the 2nd in 2012, with ¥12.177 billion.^[5]

On January 1, 2012, the group released their ninth album EXILE JAPAN / Solo, which is also ATSUSHI's first solo album.

On July 1, 2012, the unit THE SECOND from EXILE, EXILE's first sub-unit, was announced on EXILE's tour EXILE TRIBE LIVE TOUR 2012 ~TOWER OF WISH~.

On April 3, 2013, HIRO announced to be retiring from his position as performer of the group through the year. In the same day, EXILE released their 41st single "EXILE PRIDE ~Konna Sekai wo Aisuru Tame~". In October, the single crossed the 1 million mark, being EXILE's best selling single.^[6]

On September 27, 2013, LDH announced the EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION, to find a new performer for the group due to HIRO's retirement.^[7]

On December 31, 2013, HIRO retired from his position as performer of the group on 64th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen but will remain part of the group as the leader and producer.

2014-2016

On April 27, 2014, the EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION results were revealed through EXILE's concert EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION FINAL in NIPPON BUDOKAN. The audition winners were Sato Taiki, Sekai, Sandaime J Soul Brothers' member Iwata Takanori and GENERATIONS' members Sekiguchi Mandy and Shirahama Alan.^[8] Their first single in EXILE, "NEW HORIZON", was released a few months later, on July 23, 2014.

On March 25, 2015, the group released their tenth studio album 19 -Road to AMAZING WORLD-.

On June 22, 2015, members Matsumoto Toshio, ÜSA and MAKIDAI announced to be retiring from their positions of performers on the group within the year.^[9]

On December 31, 2015, Matsumoto Toshio, ÜSA and MAKIDAI retired from their positions of performers on the group on the New Year's special show CDTV Special! New Year's Eve Premiere Live 2015 → 2016. ÜSA although was revealed to remain as performer on the unit DANCE EARTH PARTY.

On August 31, 2016, ATSUSHI announced that he would restrict his Japanese activities and move his base of activities to United States until 2018. Subsequently, it would also affect EXILE activities as a group too.^[10]

On September 27, the group released the best album EXTREME BEST, celebrating the group's 15th anniversary.

2018

On January 1, LDH announced the comeback of the group with a new studio album and a new Dome tour titled EXILE LIVE TOUR 2018 "STAR OF WISH". It was also announced that the group would release six digital singles as part of the EXILE FRIDAY special.

On February 2, the first song of the EXILE FRIDAY chronology, "PARTY ALL NIGHT ~STAR OF WISH~", was released.

On March 2, the second song, "Melody", was released.

On April 6, the third song, "My Star", was released.

On May 4, the fourth song, "Turn Back Time", which featured FANTASTICS, was released.

On June 1, the fifth song, "Awakening", was released.

On July 6, the sixth and final song, "STEP UP", was released.

On July 25, the group released their 11th album STAR OF WISH.

From September 15 to February 11, 2019, the group held the dome tour EXILE LIVE TOUR 2018-2019 "STAR OF WISH".

2019

On January 3, the group released the digital single "Love of History".

2020

On January 1, the group released their 49th single in a joint release with EXILE THE SECOND, titled "Ai no Tame ni ~for love, for a child~". This was EXILE's first CD single release since "Joy-ride ~Kanki no Drive~", released in August 2016.

From January 19 to February 25, the group held the dome tour EXILE PERFECT LIVE 2001▶︎2020, as part of LDH PERFECT YEAR 2020.

Discography

Works

Filmography

Television

• [2009.01 - 2010.03] EXILE GENERATION
• [2009.04 - 2010.03] EXH ~EXILE HOUSE~
• [2010.01 - Present] Shuukan EXILE
• [2010.04 - 2011.03] Hiruxile
• [2010.04 - 2010.09] EXE
• [2010.10 - 2012.09] EXILE Tamashii
• [2012.11 - 2013.03] EX-LOUNGE

Publications

Books

• [2003.03.20] EXILE BOND OF SIX
• [2007.03.01] EXILE ROAD TO CHAPTER 2 -Dai Ni Shou e no Michi–
• [2011.11.26] EXILE Yume no Mukou no Kokorozashi

Concerts/Tours

Tours

1. [2003.04.28-2003.07.01] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2003 Styles Of Beyond
2. [2004.05.14-2004.07.14] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2004 "EXILE ENTERTAINMENT"
3. [2005.09.24-2005.12.18] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2005 ~PERFECT LIVE "ASIA"~
4. [2007.05.11-2007.08.05] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2007 EXILE EVOLUTION
5. [2008.10.02-2008.10.28] EXILE SHOWCASE LIVE 2008
6. [2008.11.29-2008.12.31] EXILE LIVE TOUR "EXILE PERFECT LIVE 2008"
7. [2009.05.09-2009.08.16] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2009 "THE MONSTER"
8. [2010.07.17-2010.09.26] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2010 FANTASY
9. [2011.11.26-2011.12.25] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2011 TOWER OF WISH ~Negai no Tou~
10. [2013.04.16-2013.09.27] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2013 "EXILE PRIDE"
11. [2015.09.11-2015.12.27] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2015 "AMAZING WORLD"
12. [2018.09.15-2019.02.11] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2018-2019 "STAR OF WISH"
13. [2020.01.19-2020.02.25] EXILE PERFECT LIVE 2001▶︎2020

Concerts

• [2006.09.22] EXILE VOCAL BATTLE AUDITION 2006 ~ASIAN DREAM~
• [2014.04.27] EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION FINAL in NIPPON BUDOKAN

Concerts Featured In

• [2012.04.14-2012.07.01] EXILE TRIBE LIVE TOUR 2012 ~TOWER OF WISH~
• [2014.09.03-2014.12.28] EXILE TRIBE PERFECT YEAR LIVE TOUR TOWER OF WISH 2014 ~THE REVOLUTION~
• [2016.07.22-2016.10.03] HiGH&LOW THE LIVE
• [2019.12.31] LDH PERFECT YEAR 2020 COUNTDOWN LIVE 2019▶︎2020 "RISING"

Fanclub Events

• [2005.12.31] EXILE COUNTDOWN LIVE 2005-2006 CLOSED CIRCUIT
• [2007.08.xx] "EX FAMILY" in HAWAII ~Live Tour Uchiage 2007~ ("EX FAMILY" in HAWAII 〜ライブツアー打ち上げ2007〜)
• [2010.09.27] EXILE LIVE TOUR 2010 FANTASY Goya-sai ~EXILE Tamashii~ (FANTASY後夜祭 〜EXILE魂〜)
• [2012.07.xx] FAN CLUB TOUR 2012 "EX FAMILY" in HAWAII
• [2019.02.09] EXILE TRIBE FAMILY SPECIAL LIVE "STAR OF WISH" ~Hoshi ni Negai wo~ (EXILE TRIBE FAMILY SPECIAL LIVE "STAR OF WISH" 〜星に願いを〜)

Trivia

• On December 27, 2019, Avex revealed the top 5 artists with the highest number of views in total on their YouTube channel. On this list, EXILE took the 4th spot with a total number of about 410 million views.^[11]

References

1. ↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/6142/
2. ↑ http://www.asahi.com/culture/music/NIK200703020009.html
3. ↑ http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w090220_3.html
4. ↑ http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2011/12/oricon-announces-2011s-yearly-ranking-for-artist-total-sales
5. ↑ http://www.tokyohive.com/article/2012/12/oricon-reveals-artist-total-sales-revenue-ranking-for-2012/
6. ↑ http://www.musicman-net.com/artist/30112.html
7. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20140222002352/https://www.ldh.co.jp/news/detail.php?lang=jpn&site=EXILE&newsid=0000008052
8. ↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2036834/full/
9. ↑ http://www.hochi.co.jp/entertainment/20150622-OHT1T50110.html
10. ↑ EXILE ATSUSHI、活動拠点を海外へ 18年まで国内活動を制限
11. ↑ Avex MV views announcement

External Links

• Official Website
• Facebook
• YouTube