X Freaks Forum
The band => General chat => Topic started by: Wick on May 30, 2011, 08:33:52 PM
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I came across a new song on youtube from guitar legend Panther (former guitarist of Sex Machineguns, now in Cycle and doing his own solo project). There was a picture of his new guitar in this vid and it reminded me of a guitar from hide.
(http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af215/wick1584/pantherguitar.png)
not a clear picture but a cool guitar for sure
(http://www.dustbowl.co.jp/hotnews/images/mg160r.jpg)
hide signature fernandes mg-160s | and no..there aren't many black signature guitars that have roses
So I liked the style of Panther's guitar and saw similarities with hide/ X Japan.
Now taking a look at Panther himself:
(http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af215/wick1584/912214833_eecc888b0d.jpg)
This is how he looked when he was called Circuit V. Panther as a member of Sex Machineguns.
So he looked quite feminine/ visual kei how...hide looked too. Before Sugizo became a member, the idea was that there wouldn’t come a new member in X Japan but different guitarist would support their live shows. This caused me to fantasize about X Japan with Panther….less ballads…..more rock songs…probably a second art of life instead of born to be free but only better…etc. So in my ecstasy I posted a comment on the video thinking I would get many negative reactions. It included:
“Panther should have taken hide's place in X Japan instead of Sugizo! He's perhaps technically too good for the music they make now but then we could have had less ballads and better solo's. Not the crappy whammy bar action of Sugizo -.-“
But to my surprise it became the best comment with a good number of thumbs up’s!
I got one negative comment (won’t mention the positive):
“Whatever you like or dislike sugizo,This advice is so bad that really sounds like a joke.Panther is not as famous as sugizo in mainstream music zone， Yoshiki has a relationship based on friendship and acquaintance with sugio,not only know him.If you say so, then syu ,daita,ace shimizu,whichever guitarist I like,are they available to take hide's place in XJAPAN?”
So I responded:
“Looks like the one that uploaded the vid of Panther's new song didn't agree with you. Still, I do respect your opinion and I'll answer.
Yes, I dislike Sugizo's playing but only for X Japan as a power metal band. They are going more mainstream now and Sugizo's style really suits them now. I'm just more a fan of X Japan before their reunion. It's of course not Sugizo who's responsible for this new direction but I think he was given some freedom by Yoshiki regarding solo's and I do think his solo's are crap.
Looking at his style though including the violin playing and his history (Luna Sea discovered by hide and he played with them at a live when the band was still called X) he's a good option for X Japan. It's just my opinion that I rather would have seen Panther as their lead guitarist. Not only because of his excellent playing (there are idd other guitarist that are technically more advanced then Sugizo) but also because of his image thats sometimes quite visual kei and his new guitar which I said reminded me of a guitar of hide.
It's just an opinion and I actually didn't expect my comment to get some thumbs up's. Interesting discussion though.”
And he responded again saying he removed his comment himself because he was embarrassed after realizing he was wrong. He didn’t like Sugizo either and rather would have seen Syu (Galneryus) but wouldn’t dare to say it out loud lmao.
So there aren’t any negative comments left for the Panther fans. Maybe we need to start a petition :P. Now, what do the X-freaks think of this idea? Just imagine how great it would be ;D
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Hmn, interesting topic, nice to see you again Wick.
I never really heard anything of Sex Machineguns, tough I've read some stuff about them, but on the topic, there are in fact many guitarists technically better than sugizo, some of them are "unemployed", I don't know whats the relation between Yoshiki and Panther but when working with him, you need to be PATIENT (IMO), and if he hired someone that is not close to him, he would probably jump off the boat pretty quick, so just like you said, he made the right choice on picking Sugizo, not only he is an old friend of Yoshiki but he is also very well known among X fans.
Mainstream is not about solos (for non metal-heads) and if he wanted nice solo sections he could have hired Hideaki Nakama or any of the guitarists mentioned, but looks like the highlight of new X songs is ToshI's voice.
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Hi Neru, likewise.
Yes the focus is now more on the vocals and the guitar is more in the backgound. Typically for pop music.
Sugizo is a good option but he will never be a real X member. He will always stay a member of Luna Sea and I think it's just a shame that other options were never explored. I don't even know if Panther even was an option. Still I would be very curious at the result..
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Not even if Yoshiki called Jun back to the band no one could be called a real X member anymore (though this would be the most awesome move ever and very interesting to see), and if other options were explored they would still be "the member from that band that is now on X" the result would most likely be the same, in the end, yoshiki is still the boss.
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True, you could even question if X Japan is a real band then..
Some video's to give a better picture of Panther:
This is his new song Labyrinth
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2yApA4QiTY&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]
Some sick solo's in sex machineguns (couldn't find better quality)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEFHzPCtkOg[/youtube]
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Don´t know it exactly, but I thing it was in an interview for JJR where Yoshike mentioned that he was thinking of a lot of other guitarists, not only Sugizo, also DIE and Kaoru of DIRU and other, not as members of X, but as guest musicians, may be someone knows more about...
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Interesting, was it a recent interview?
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Cool post. I'm a pretty big fan of Sex Machineguns. Taboo is really off in their sound, lyrics, and style. Which I really like.
Also, a note on the guitars, it also reminds me of the Yoshiki guitar with the roses and black finish.
(http://www.oocities.org/yoshikiheathpata/YoshikiGuitar.jpg)
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Haha, didn't realize that Yoshiki's guitar had a rose as well. Looks like its really X-style.
Yeah, Sex Machineguns are amazing but a combination with X Japan...really want to know and perhaps it still can..who knows
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Interesting, was it a recent interview?
no,no definitly not, it was after Sugizo became a member or around that time and Yo was asked about the topic, and I do remember that he said, that it would be a cool idea to have a phalanx of guitarists, but now it went in a different direction and so only Sugizo left, to give the gist of it, may I´ll find it again than I´ll post the link, I´m not really a hero in organising my PC ::)
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I´m not really a hero in organising my PC
sounds familiar hehe, would be nice if you can find it though
It's what I meant with why it's a shame that no other option besides Sugizo was explored because Yoshiki did consider it.
Somehow I think it would have been even more respectfull towards hide if not one guitarist would have taken his place in the band.
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I´ll try my very best, please gimme time untill next week, this week I have such a lot of work to do, thanx in advance :D
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IMO right now everything is exactly the way it should be. I mean, since all the X-members are seem to be happy with Sugizo being a part of the band, I'm happy as well ;) Furthermore, I think it's not the case that Sugi can *or cannot* replace hide, it's not about ->replacing<- hide at all. Sugizo is just different, he has his own role and, IMO, he will do justice to himself soon. I'm not a fan of his, but for me it's obvious that he is really talented and he fits to X pretty well *especially when it comes to diversifying X-style by adding violin* ^^
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I read that Sugizo is not always the easiest person to go around with but I don't know their situation and they seem happy yes. They just don't know what they miss :P.
Sugizo replaces hide as a guitarist in X Japan. You try to say it pretty and respectful but of course he won't replace hide as a person making his hair pink and wearing a green outfit. He'll do it differently but that's obvious. hide dissapeared of the new band photo's and they'll eventually stop playing video's of hide during lives I think.
Panther is on twitter (@sexyfinger75) replying to most questions so I asked him directly about his guitar! He said the real thing was more beautiful and sexy then a photograph and that X Japan is his favorite band!!
(btw pretty cool Yoshiki asked on twitter what they should play in Europe..)
I heard Panther played a X Japan solo during a live some time ago! I'll try to find more info but pretty cool huh
X Japan should invite him as a guest guitarist once if only for one song...they'll never do it though..Panther is too good for X Japan anyway :D
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Sugizo replaces hide as a guitarist in X Japan. You try to say it pretty and respectful but of course he won't replace hide as a person making his hair pink and wearing a green outfit. He'll do it differently but that's obvious. hide dissapeared of the new band photo's and they'll eventually stop playing video's of hide during lives I think.
Let's hope so.
About the guest-musician-thing, If I remember it correct Yoshiki also mentioned Miyavi, but I have to search for that, gimme a minute/hour.
EDIT: Looks like I can't find it anymore. >:(
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Sugizo replaces hide as a guitarist in X Japan. You try to say it pretty and respectful but of course he won't replace hide as a person making his hair pink and wearing a green outfit. He'll do it differently but that's obvious. hide dissapeared of the new band photo's and they'll eventually stop playing video's of hide during lives I think.
Let's hope so.
About the guest-musician-thing, If I remember it correct Yoshiki also mentioned Miyavi, but I have to search for that, gimme a minute/hour.
EDIT: Looks like I can't find it anymore. >:(
Sugizo:
- About joining X JAPAN -
"If X JAPAN was only trying to recreate the days when hide-san had been alive, they wouldn't have needed me."
taken from http://www.musicjapanplus.jp/specialfeatures/2291/sugizo-first-interview-with-musicjapanplus/page/2/
@wick: that´s the interview I mentioned above, thought it was from Yoshiki, but I was wrong, finally I´m not that looser in PC organizing- ufff ;)
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Thanks, that was the one I was also looking foward. Was also sure it was an interview with Yoshiki ;)
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Ah thanks elanor! Sugizo puts it really nice. It sure was a difficult situation him becoming the lead guitarist. Almost like X Japan should be grateful atleast someone wanted to do it hehe.
The guitarists included me, the DIR EN GREY members and 雅-miyavi-, all who had a lot of respect for X JAPAN. The gorgeous line up of guitar players was to be complemented by artists from other countries as well. All of them together would have definitely livened up the stage. But things didn't go as planned; by the time the X JAPAN members gathered again in March, I was the only Japanese guitarist left.
I wonder what the reason was that Sugizo was the only one left. Didn't the other guitarist want it at the end, couldn't they do it or weren't suitable? Choice of Yoshiki or not?
I'm glad Sugizo became their guitarist. He was by far the best option..it's only now I'm getting to know more about Panther that I question his position lol
I wouldn't have liked it when their guitarist was not Japanese...just for the image..B'z has an American drummer covered with kanji tattoos.
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Since they announced the reunion, I always thought in Sugizo being the new guitarist.
I think nobody can fit this place better than him, due to the history that Luna Sea and X has together, as Sugizo was someone "near" to the band, and to hide.
Somehow I think it would have been even more respectfull towards hide if not one guitarist would have taken his place in the band.
And I still think that the most respectful is letting him rest in fucking peace, instead of using his image to earn money and his pre-recorded tracks to make a LIVE concert NOT being live.
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Somehow I think it would have been even more respectfull towards hide if not one guitarist would have taken his place in the band.
And I still think that the most respectful is letting him rest in fucking peace, instead of using his image to earn money and his pre-recorded tracks to make a LIVE concert NOT being live.
I said that meaning multiple musicians would do the actual guitar playing instead of one. Not that hide's image would still be used..
For the band though, in the direction they're heading, I know that Sugizo is the best choice..but many take it as granted. I'm just showing that there is an amazing option for a lead guitarist if Yoshiki had decided to bring X JAPAN to a higher level making new technical masterpieces.
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@ wick: I think the reason for only Sugizo left over was that the other ones were activ in their own projects, but it´s just an idea, don´t really know if Sugizo was on the way with Juno Reactor at this time
@ Joker: Yes I think it´s good to let hide rest in peace, sometimes it´s like Yoshiki was kind of obsessed about him, so I think that the disagreement with Head Wax leaded finally to something good, of course in a very special way :-\
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I said that meaning multiple musicians would do the actual guitar playing instead of one. Not that hide's image would still be used..
For the band though, in the direction they're heading, I know that Sugizo is the best choice..but many take it as granted. I'm just showing that there is an amazing option for a lead guitarist if Yoshiki had decided to bring X JAPAN to a higher level making new technical masterpieces.
Technique doesn't make good songs. Creativity makes good songs, good melodies make good songs.
A technical masterpiece USUALLY is awesome, but sometimes is so much technique that comes boring. Art of Life is awesome, but, Week End, which doesn't have 10% of Art of Life "technical masterpiece", is so awesome as AoL for me.
The main problem now on X is the huge ego of Yoshiki, the need of being famous in America, even if needs to be forced. Listening to the new songs, they aren't bad, but are quite far on the awesomeness of the old ones. Looks like Yoshiki is trying to make X some kind of a japanese Muse.
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I agree on the last part but Yoshiki is the main composer of X Japan. He has the most creativity. I thought in Luna Sea, Inoran composes most songs and I'm not really impressed by Sugizo's solo work. So combining the composition skills of Yoshiki with the guitar playing skills of Panther would open new possibilities for Yoshiki. Music that would attract attention of many people just for its quality. I agree that music can be technically over the top. Too much shredding and sweep picking that doesn't fit in. I don't like the classical compositions of Yngwie Malmsteen for instance. It's over the top and X JAPAN shouldn't become a second Versailles either. Simplicity is beautiful when its composed really well. I hope that X JAPAN would combine the two and would still made some attractive music that's also technically interesting because that was X Japan was about for me. I just miss a solo that blows me away because it fits in perfectly.
Looking at the guitar parts, Art of Life isn't the most difficult song but it's impressive anyway. Why I mentioned Panther is because of all this. Listen to his solo work..he is an exception by playing technically advanced guitar parts while still having the focus on the music and letting it blend in. These aren't some exercises randomly put together..
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@wick i found this rose guitar at his esp signature series, you can check it here: http://www.espguitars.co.jp/gallery/ (http://www.espguitars.co.jp/gallery/) right down there is a "panther" gallery, there she (guitar=she? :D) is :) really nice, i like panther very much!
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hey thanks andy!
I was always looking on his artist page at the esp site...his guitar is just beautiful (the Sexy Rose lol) and you can see all his other guitars as well :D
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/gibson-les-pauls/58081-why-guitars-called-she.html (http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/gibson-les-pauls/58081-why-guitars-called-she.html) IMO choose what you prefer..
ow and I wanted to add that I like Panther's guitar sound also over Sugizo's. More natural sounding (Hughes & Kettner triamp ftw) and better vibrato's. So even for the slow solo's...
just one more vid..I can't help it:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPNT3V6TBM[/youtube]
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yeah, i would definitely prefer panther than sugizo :)
do you know where i can find more "cycle" albums?
only have "metal circus" :D
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@wick i found this rose guitar at his esp signature series, you can check it here: http://www.espguitars.co.jp/gallery/ (http://www.espguitars.co.jp/gallery/) right down there is a "panther" gallery, there she (guitar=she? :D) is :) really nice, i like panther very much!
Actually, in Latin languages (such as mine) you need to address objects and persons according to their genre, and a guitar is actually a female.
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In dutch "gitaar" is also feminine but the allocation of a gender to an object is quite irregular. Always easy to recognize immigrants because of that.
@andy: Those albums are idd very hard to find.
Cycle
Total Eclipse Of The Sun: http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/2756975 (http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/2756975) (shipping is not cheap though)
Spactracks [limited Edition]: http://www.amazon.co.jp/Spactracks-theCYCLE/dp/B003OACI7Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308999955&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/Spactracks-theCYCLE/dp/B003OACI7Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308999955&sr=8-1)
Those are actually the only sites that have the item and ship it abroad. Making the list complete (these are more available) =>
Metal Circus: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAKSACD-5 (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAKSACD-5)
Panther's solo work
SEXY FINGER: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAKMRSC-7 (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAKMRSC-7)
SEXY FINGER II: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAKMRSC-8 (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAKMRSC-8)
SEXY FINGER III: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAKTKCD-413 (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAKTKCD-413)
Support Panther!
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As much as I adore Sex Machineguns and how much I like Panther's guitar playing, technically, I think that Sugizo is a much better fit for X-Japan. He can play all the old solos, albeit it took some warming up, and his general old school flare and style suits the more mature band.
I understand the desire for Panther, but I like Sugizo. He's a rad dude.
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If Panther had joined X JAPAN instead of Sugizo, it would make no difference. Because Yoshiki wouldn't had let him play anyway.
Sugizo is barely starting to play now. :-X
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@wick: thank you very much! :)
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@ForeverFades I can't disagree. Still while Sugizo is technically good enough, Panther is much and much better.
Compare this video of Pata vs Sugizo to the second video I posted here of Mikan no Uta which is Anchang vs Panther..
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4j-J_DeNcQ[/youtube]
Come on..it's bad. Sugizo and Pata didn't do a great job. In Love Replica even wrong notes were played.
It makes me think that Panther really is too good (check the opening of the SM Show Finale. that's how to play together :D).
Sugizo's image and experience aren't questionable but Panther isn't bad either. He'll turn 41 in some days and this is how he looks now (the one on the right):
(http://a1.l3-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/51/a906da744e70451dadedcd7af39f1094/l.jpg)
I think it's a close call between Panther and Sugizo. Like I said Sugizo is probably better suited for the direction they're heading now but it's also a matter of taste who to prefer.
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If Sugizo wouldn't have joined them I very much doubt they would have asked Panther, the chances would have been higher that Richard would have been the new guitarplayer. ;)
And he (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPUZM46CFPE) plays circles around everyone mentioned. :D
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And he (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPUZM46CFPE) plays circles around everyone mentioned. :D
If there is something that I learned from my short experience as a guitarist is that most of the time everybody has the right to judge technique, but no one has the right to judge musicality.
I personally am no fan of Vai's playing and I find much more pleasuring some simpler songs but there is no doubt that he is very innovative and a very experienced guitarist.
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hehe Matthias, it's not about who's the most talented guitarist but who is suited for X Japan or do you think Steve Vai is a good option :P
btw Panther is a Steve Vai fanboy. The "V" in Circuit.V.Panther stood for Vai and I think he has more or less the same pick-ups as Vai.
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@Wick- I kinda feel ya there, Sugizo's guitar playing wasn't all that great on that little battle, but I don't think it shows a lack of skill rather a poor essence of improv. I mean, I know plenty of talented guitarists, musicians in fact, who can sing/play their heart out but when it comes to on-the-spot make up time, it's like "...Can I get some sheet music..?" Some people just aren't good improvisational musicians.
Funny thing is, I'm not even a Sugizo fanboy or anything. XD I wasn't a big Luna Sea guy or anything, I mostly just like how X-Japan is still being kept in the family. I remember reading an article by some guy who was hating on Yoshiki because, during the time, Yoshiki was getting guitarists from lots of different outside sources like ex-Limp Biskit and GnR. He was saying that he should just get Sugizo and call it a day but Yoshiki was more focused on getting new fans rather than keeping X what it should be.
Like I said, Panther is a great guitarist and probably would've done a lot for X-Japan if hired on, I don't think he'd like sitting out for backtracked guitar solos but eh whatevs.
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@ForeverFades
I can see your point. We're pretty much on the same line now :D
Like I said, Panther is a great guitarist and probably would've done a lot for X-Japan if hired on, I don't think he'd like sitting out for backtracked guitar solos but eh whatevs.
I also agree on that. That role is probably better for Sugizo lol
I'm obviously not a big fan of Sugizo but I still respect him and he's not bad..well not really :P
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hehe Matthias, it's not about who's the most talented guitarist but who is suited for X Japan or do you think Steve Vai is a good option :P
I think he's a pretty unlikely option. ;) Seriously, of course Steve was not a serious suggestion.
The best suited guitarplayer imho for X Japan is Sugizo. He's got the skills, he knows the members of the band, his songwriting isn't that bad and he seems to have no problem with the hide-guitar-backing-tracks (although I'd like hime to step up and play all himself). I don't know who else has been shortlisted for the guitarspot, so it's hard for me to say 'Him or him would have been better'. Miyavi is also someone I wouldn't have been that surprised if he'd have been involved in the X Japan reunion, but I'm not sad it didn't happen. ;)
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haha the thought of circuit v panther in X just made me jizz my pants. X japan is one of my fav bands of all time, but Anchang and Panther wrote some of the most epic dual guitar solos I have heard in my lifetime, tons of emotion and creativity. How sexy would it of been if panther joined and gave a new spin on some of the solos of the old songs. As much as I like the old solos I love hearing fresh spins, changin a few notes here and there really bring a song back to life again and keep it from boredom. Just like what they did in SMG, many of their songs solos changed over the years and became more epic each time. One can only dream though lolol
btw totally forgot i could go on the internet to talk about x and smg. glad to see others out there love smg and circuit v as much as me
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It's nice to see that more people like the idea of Panther with X Japan :). It seems that I'm not the only one getting annoyed sometimes by Sugizo's playing.
When I first started discussing things like this, most would say Sugizo was the best among hide and Pata. Even that hide was the most unskilled.
I'm happy to see comments like the ones from the Sugizo vs Pata video that recently got some thumbs-up's:
(http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af215/wick1584/moresupport.png)
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I never really heard anything of Sex Machineguns, tough I've read some stuff about them, but on the topic, there are in fact many guitarists technically better than sugizo, some of them are "unemployed", I don't know whats the relation between Yoshiki and Panther but when working with him, you need to be PATIENT (IMO), and if he hired someone that is not close to him, he would probably jump off the boat pretty quick, so just like you said, he made the right choice on picking Sugizo, not only he is an old friend of Yoshiki but he is also very well known among X fans.
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I never really heard anything of Sex Machineguns
he made the right choice on picking Sugizo
Well..how do you know he made the right choice if you haven't heard anything of Sex Machineguns yet...perhaps that would change everything :P
I did say Sugizo was the best choice, but in comparison to other guitarists that were likely options (not including Panther) and for the direction the music of X Japan is heading now.
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lol, why you even bother replying to a spammer, the guy obviously only wanted to spread his website links, see his signatures "floor polisher". Lately, these spammers getting very good, they summarize people's comment and make it their own so it looked "stay on topic".
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damn..how much do they get paid to do that :-\ It was on topic though
edit: now I see he just copied Neru's comment..I feel like an idiot. Can these posts be removed?
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“Whatever you like or dislike sugizo,This advice is so bad that really sounds like a joke.Panther is not as famous as sugizo in mainstream music zone， Yoshiki has a relationship based on friendship and acquaintance with sugio,not only know him.If you say so, then syu ,daita,ace shimizu,whichever guitarist I like,are they available to take hide's place in XJAPAN?”
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Looking at his style though including the violin playing and his history (Luna Sea discovered by hide and he played with them at a live when the band was still called X) he's a good option for X Japan. It's just my opinion that I rather would have seen Panther as their lead guitarist. Not only because of his excellent playing (there are idd other guitarist that are technically more advanced then Sugizo) but also because of his image thats sometimes quite visual kei and his new guitar which I said reminded me of a guitar of hide.
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“Whatever you like or dislike sugizo,This advice is so bad that really sounds like a joke.Panther is not as famous as sugizo in mainstream music zone， Yoshiki has a relationship based on friendship and acquaintance with sugio,not only know him.If you say so, then syu ,daita,ace shimizu,whichever guitarist I like,are they available to take hide's place in XJAPAN?”
While that is probably true, I don't think (and hope) that is a reason why they should (or not) pick a guitarplayer.
If Sugizo would have declined to become the new member of the band they still could have asked Richard Fortus, they also did share a stage together ;) Not 100 % serious about that, although I think he's great.
0:00 - 1:00 & 5:00 - 8:00 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpJjgwe6E6A
0:00 - 4:29 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G6H1t-m92g
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haha Matthias, you made the same mistake as I did (replying to a spammer that copied an earlier post).
Thanks, I feel less dumb now :P
but ok on the topic..I'm a big Guns fan but with Slash. I think Guns without Slash is almost like X Japan without hide. The main differences are that Slash is ofcourse better known for his guitar playing and in Japan the image is often cute instead of cool/relaxed. So, I haven't seen much of the new Guns. I knew that Dj Ashba could play a few notes but I underestimated Richard Fortus..he has his own way of playing and does it with a lot of feel. Sugizo could learn much from him. I like that Fortus plays Knockin on heavens door in a different way then Slash and Izzy did. The vid you showed about the James Bond theme is less impressive. I prefer the Godfather theme of Slash.
Like Sugizo, I think Fortus isn't great for power metal. If X Japan would play more power metal Panther would definitely be the best but for the slower stuff with more improvisation Fortus would do a good job. Better then Sugizo for sure. Only the image of Sugizo suits X Japan more but that's just my opinion. For popularity in the US Fortus might be better in that as well.
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Damn, these spambots are getting more and more clever :P
Well, his cv with bands like GNR, Thin Lizzy and Love Spit Love obviously doesn't scream Power Metal, so yes if X would wanted to create power metal music Panther probably would be a better fit as Richard. Not too sure about the popularity thing. He may be better known in the US than Sugizo, but he's not someone the wide public knows.
That he is friends with Yoshiki and Sugizo may be helpfull if he decides it'd be a cool thing to play a gig or two with them ... maybe even together with GNR ;D I should stop dreaming. ;)