MALICE MIZER was a Japanese band in the visual kei music scene, active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for malice and misery – their answer to the question "what is human?". Malice Mizer were as famous for their one-of-a-kind music as for their spectacular live shows, featuring lavish historical costumes and stage sets, whimsical dance routines and band members flying suspended from wires. During their rocky history, the band went through several different lineups and three drastic image changes but their work always maintained the highest professional standards. On December 11, 2001, it was announced that Malice Mizer would begin an indefinite hiatus, and the members went their separate ways - effectively disbanding the group.