Japanese all-female rock band SCANDAL, famous for their theme songs in hit anime like *Bleach* and *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood*, announced on August 24 that they will officially cease all band activities on August 21, 2027. The news comes as the band celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The announcement is a shocker, especially since the band was certified by Guinness World Records on August 21, 2023, as the "longest-running female rock band with the same members" during their 17th-anniversary event at Namba Hatch in Osaka.
SCANDAL is composed of HARUNA (vocals, guitar), MAMI (guitar, vocals), TOMOMI (bass, vocals), and RINA (drums, vocals). The four met and formed the band in 2006 as high school students at a vocal and dance school in Osaka.
After a stint in the indie scene, SCANDAL made their major label debut in 2008 with the single "DOLL," winning the Best New Artist award at the 51st Japan Record Awards the following year. They went on to contribute iconic theme songs to the world of anime, including the opening themes "Shōjo S" & "HARUKAZE" for Bleach, and the ending theme "Shunkan Sentimental" for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
▼ *Bleach* OP "Shōjo S" & *Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood* ED "Shunkan Sentimental"
The four members have continued performing together with the same lineup ever since, earning them the Guinness World Record in 2023 for being the longest-running female rock band with the same members.
The band recently celebrated their 20th anniversary with the "SCANDAL 20th Anniversary Live 'Chapter 20'" concert at Osaka-Jo Hall. Along with the announcement of their upcoming disbandment, SCANDAL expressed their gratitude to everyone they've met on their journey.
Official Statement from SCANDAL:
On August 21, 2026, SCANDAL celebrated its 20th anniversary and successfully held the 'SCANDAL 20th Anniversary Live "Chapter 20" at Osaka-Jo Hall.' For the four of us, Osaka-Jo Hall was the dream stage we first set our sights on when we had just formed the band. Throughout our journey, we have spent many important moments on the stage of Osaka-Jo Hall countless times.
We are incredibly proud to have stood on this stage once again on the major milestone of our 20th anniversary, with the same four members who have been together since the beginning. We want to thank everyone who came to the venue in person, and everyone who stayed with us until the end via the livestream. To everyone who celebrated our 20th anniversary with us, we offer our deepest gratitude.
And now, after this concert, there is something the four of us want to tell you. SCANDAL will officially cease its activities on August 21, 2027. During our 20 years together, we have traveled all over Japan and around the world. We have visited many places and met many people. Through all the experiences we've had living as SCANDAL—experiences we never would have had otherwise—the four of us have come to a heartfelt conclusion: 'We have done everything we can possibly do together.' It was an incredibly difficult decision to write the final chapter for a band that has come this far.
However, after countless discussions among the four of us, this is the conclusion we have reached. Now, for our final journey, we will embark on a tour covering all 47 prefectures of Japan, starting this October. On our 21st anniversary, August 21, we will hold a special concert at Yokohama Arena. In this final year before we end our activities, we will cherish every performance and every day, and we will continue to make our voices heard as the four of us until the very last moment.
Many fans have followed the band for 20 years, ever since their high school days. The news that the Guinness World Record-holding "longest-running female rock band with the same members" is coming to an end has been met with sadness, but fans are also expressing their hopes for the members' bright individual futures.
via： X@SCANDAL