BiS

BiS (Brand-new idol Society) were a Japanese alternative idol group founded in 2010 by singer Pour Lui, whose determination to challenge the conventions of idol music helped establish the group as pioneers of the alt-idol movement. Working with producer and manager Junnosuke Watanabe, BiS rejected the polished image and carefully controlled behaviour expected of mainstream idols in favour of punk rock, provocative music videos, confrontational performances, and unusually direct relationships with their fans, known as ‘kenkyuin’ (researchers). Their music combined melodic idol pop with distorted guitars, electronic production, and aggressive vocals, while their unpredictable promotional activities attracted attention well beyond Japan’s idol scene.

The first generation debuted with ‘Taiyou no Jumon’ in 2011, followed by the album ‘Brand-new idol Society’ that March. Their early releases included the fan favourite ‘nerve’ and the controversial ‘My Ixxx’, whose music video depicted members apparently performing nude in a forest. After signing with Avex Trax in 2012, they released ‘PPCC’ and the album ‘IDOL is DEAD’. Their increasingly unconventional activities included a collaboration with veteran Japanese noise group Hijokaidan under the name BiS Kaidan, resulting in a self-titled album in 2013, alongside film appearances, gruelling live events, and repeated changes in membership. Their final studio album, ‘WHO KiLLED IDOL?’, arrived in March 2014 before the original group disbanded with a farewell concert at Yokohama Arena on 8th July 2014.

Exactly two years later, Pour Lui, Watanabe, and producer Kenta Matsukuma announced the return of BiS under WACK management. Following a publicly streamed audition camp, Pour Lui was joined by four new members for the release of ‘Brand-new idol Society 2’ in November 2016, followed by ‘Re:STUPiD’ in February 2017. The second generation continued the original group’s unpredictable approach, with new members recruited through WACK’s annual audition camps and even a temporary member exchange with fellow WACK group GANG PARADE. Pour Lui departed in March 2018, after which BiS introduced the controversial BiS.LEAGUE system, dividing members into two ranked teams, BiS1st and BiS2nd, according to fan votes linked to record purchases. The system was subsequently abandoned, and the second generation disbanded on 11th May 2019 after releasing their final single, ‘Are you ready?’.

A third generation was assembled almost immediately through auditions that attracted more than 2,000 applicants. The new members began activities in June 2019 and released their debut album, ‘Brand-new idol Society’, that August, followed by ‘LOOKiE’ in February 2020. With no members carried over from the previous generation, the group inherited the BiS name, catalogue, and reputation while developing its own identity. They continued the tradition of demanding physical challenges, including a two-day, 200km relay race followed by a live performance, and adapted their promotional methods during the COVID-19 pandemic through unconventional online events and experimental merchandise sales. Despite frequent line-up changes, the third generation became the longest-running incarnation of BiS, remaining active for more than five years.

The third generation underwent another major restructuring in 2023, with three members recruited through WACK’s audition camp. Their subsequent releases featured outside collaborators including Masayuki Nakano of BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, Yutaka Furukawa of DOPING PANDA, and alternative rock band Age Factory. These collaborations contributed to their final studio album, ‘NEVER MiND’, released in February 2024 after a four-year gap between original albums. That January, the group also completed CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THiRD BiS, a 24-hour event at Daikanyama UNIT featuring 74 song performances across 24 rounds of mini-concerts and fan meetings. In April, BiS returned to their original self-sufficient philosophy, with members taking responsibility for management duties including promotional materials, event bookings, and merchandise sales, while remaining jointly managed by WACK and Tsubasa Records.

The third generation announced their disbandment in August 2024, shortly after WACK founder Junnosuke Watanabe stepped down as the agency’s representative. The group nevertheless completed their remaining commitments, including their first and only overseas performance at London’s The Underworld for WACK in the UK Vol.3 that month. Their final line-up comprised Toggy, Nano3, Hyuga, Iko Mugennokanata, and Kurenai World’s End, who performed their farewell concert, Finale of third BiS, at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on 12th January 2025. The concert closed with ‘STUPiD’, bringing an end to more than five years of third-generation activity and the group’s third disbandment. No fourth generation has subsequently been announced.

Across three generations, BiS became one of the defining names in Japan’s alternative idol movement. Their willingness to incorporate punk, noise, and other underground music into an idol format, together with Watanabe’s unconventional management methods, helped establish the approach later associated with WACK groups including BiSH, GANG PARADE, and ASP. Although every generation experienced instability and ultimately disbanded, BiS left behind a substantial catalogue and an approach to idol performance that continued to influence the scene long after the original members went their separate ways.