QUEEN BEE (女王蜂)

Overview

Queen Bee, known in Japan as Ziyoou-vachi (女王蜂, Joōbachi), is a Japanese rock band formed in Kobe on March 31, 2009 and signed to a major label in 2011. The band describes its own music and imagery as "fashion punk." All members work under pseudonyms, and personal details such as real names, ages and backgrounds are undisclosed. The current lineup is Avu-chan (vocals, guitar), Yashi-chan (bass) and Hibari-kun (guitar). The band is widely known for songs featured in anime and film.

Career

Formation and indie years (2009–2011)

Queen Bee formed on March 31, 2009 with Avu-chan, Yashi-chan and Ruri-chan; after the first guitarist left, Gigi-chan joined. Based around the Kobe live house Mersey Beat, they self-released the CDs "Himesama Goran-shin" and "Ozoku Daigekirin" through their own Ziyoou Record label (now out of print). On March 31, 2010 they held their first self-organized solo show for their first anniversary, were selected for the "ROOKIE A GO-GO" stage at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2010 in July, and in September staged "Bi no Terror" (Terror of Beauty), an event combining visuals, fashion, dance and music.

In February 2011 they released "Curse of the French Doll" on iTunes, and in March their first nationally distributed album, Witch Hunt (魔女狩り). A second "Bi no Terror" followed in August at Kobe Star Club, and on September 7 they debuted on Sony Music Associated Records, making Ziyoou Record a sub-label. They were chosen to perform the theme song for the film Moteki and appeared in it as themselves. At a 2011 charity show for earthquake relief, a "juli-sen" fan thrown from the audience was picked up by Avu-chan, and it became a staple of their concerts. The members do their own makeup and styling and make their own accessories.

Lineup change and hiatus (2012–2014)

The second major album, Hebihime-sama, came out on May 23, 2012. A week later, guitarist Gigi-chan announced his departure to seek treatment for severe, unexplained pain in his dominant arm that had persisted since the March tour. The band continued with additional performers, announced a hiatus on December 30, 2012, and paused after the Shibuya-AX show "Hakuheisen" on February 22, 2013. After the return, Yashi-chan revealed that telling the others he wanted to leave had pushed the band to the brink of collapse. After about a year, they resumed on February 22, 2014 with the Shibuya-AX show "Hakunetsusen."

Resurgence (2015–2020)

Support guitarist Hibari-kun officially joined on January 9, 2015. The band released its first single "Venus" on February 25 and the album Kirei on March 25. The album Q followed on April 5, 2017. In November–December 2017, Avu-chan played Columbia in the Parco Stage production of The Rocky Horror Show, with the other members in the ensemble. In April 2018 "HALF" became the ending theme of the anime Tokyo Ghoul:re (third single), followed by the single "Saimin-jutsu" on October 3. "Kaen" (January 30, 2019) was written as the opening theme of the anime Dororo. The album Ten (十, May 22, 2019) featured "Seisen," the theme of the film Sadako, and "Introduction," the theme of Tokyo Ghoul 'S'. That year they also published the book QB Zukan. The album BL arrived on February 19, 2020.

Budokan and overseas shows (2021–2023)

The single "Yaten" was released on January 27, 2021, and on February 24–25 the band played its first two-day Nippon Budokan concerts, HYPER BLACK LOVE / Yaten Kekko. On September 5, drummer Ruri-chan went on leave for health reasons, and several support drummers filled in. The eighth album Juni-jigen was released on February 1, 2023, featuring "MYSTERIOUS" (opening theme of Kōkyū no Karasu) and "Violence" (ending theme of Chainsaw Man). "Kaishun (feat. Hikari Mitsushima)" was released digitally on March 22, and the single "Mephisto" on May 17, serving as the ending theme of Oshi no Ko. Ruri-chan announced her graduation on September 4, and a Shanghai show at Modern Sky Lab was announced for October. Avu-chan also produced music for the group Ryugujo, formed on the audition show 0-nen 0-kumi.

15th anniversary and recent activity (2024–2025)

The band marked its 15th anniversary on March 31, 2024, with the anniversary concert Sei-sei-sei (15) on April 20 and a New York show at Sony Hall, "QUEEN BEE LIVE '01' IN NEW YORK." On June 21 Avu-chan took a break for health reasons, and the FINAL ANGEL tour was cancelled. The new song "Kyōshikyoku" was chosen as the theme of the film Baby Assassins: Nice Days and released on September 27. The e-book Joōbachi-ten Zuroku followed on October 22. On December 24, "Mephisto" passed 100 million domestic streams and received Platinum certification from the RIAJ, the band's first to do so.

Avu-chan returned on January 18, 2025 at the opening show of the hall tour Kyōshikyoku Gal Bakutan in Omiya, Saitama, after seven months. The ninth album, Aku, was released on March 5, 2025, and the single "Tsuyobi" on April 30 (streaming from April 5), written as the opening theme of the anime Fire Force Season 3.

Musical style

The band calls its sound and imagery "fashion punk," rooted in rock while reaching into J-pop and anime tie-ins. Avu-chan writes the lyrics and music, credited as Barazono Avu, including for songs written for other acts. Their work blends music with makeup, styling, visuals and dance in a total-art approach.