Today I had a look at the German music magazine "Rock on" and found an interview with X Japan's producer and manager Yukitaka Mashimo.
Anyway... I translated it for you people. I tried my real best and my english is not perfect yet. Just tell me if there are mistakes or if you don't understand something.
Rock on: Mister Mashimo, how influential are X Japan for the Japanese rockmusic?
Yukitaka Mashimo: X Japan started what we know as Visual Kei today. They were the first to take the Manga-Culture and mixed it with rock music.
And they sang in Japanese purposely so everybody in this country could identify themselves with the songs. No other band succeeded with that.
R: So they are the pioneers of a whole scene?
YM (laughs): Yes, the Visual Kei-Grandpas! But they are in good shape for that.
R: What do the artists think about all these Japanese bands that tour the whole world today and celebrate great achievements - what was never granted to X Japan? Is it even the reason, why they try it another time now?
YM: Of course we watched closely what these relatively young bands are doing. And we think it is great, that the audiences in Europe and America granted them a warm welcome - what seemed to be unimaginable for a long while. And this is exactly our target for 2008: We want to dare to take the same step like all these bands did.
R: If you take a look at old group pictures with those wild hairstyles and flashy costumes X Japan were actually pretty wild - and very style-orientated. Did they grow - with now 40 years - out of it?
YM: Naturally! They became older. And therefore they will not return to those clothes and hairstyles. By no means. but they are still a role model for many young groups who are orientated on those old photos and videos. In this respect they make sure that this look, which is 15 or 20 years old now, is still regarded as cool.
R: How shocking was their performance in the eighties and nighties for a conservative country as Japan?
YM: Very much! For Japan they were just as shocking as the Sex Pistols were for England or for the rest of the world. Therfore, they were just about the limit. And both bands had quite a few similarities - concerning their combination of style and music, their provocating appearance and their attraction on youths. In that matter they were resembling the same. But let me ask you a question: What do you think how old the audience on the reunion shows was?
R: Hard to say. Somewhere between 15 and 40. While many of the old fans are still wearing Visual-Kei outfits, but are taking their kids along with them already...
YM: The average age of a person to purchase a ticket is 25 years! Which is really interesting. Since when the band was breaking up ten years ago these people were only 15. That means, they probably have not seen X Japan ever live and don't belong to the original fandom. They came anyway - and that is why 70000 or 80000 of the older fans could not get any tickets. Sadly we made a small mistake regarding the ticket sales via mobile phones. We accidentally chose a provider which attends only young people - but barely older people. That is why all who come from the same generation as X Japan could not get any tickets. Those were 70000 or 80000 who fell by the wayside, what put up quite a fuss. Understandably. Therfore we want to procede differently on the next shows in May, the "hide memorial summit" in the Ajinomoto Stadium - we just don't know how yet. There's one question: how do we reach the old supporters without allowing the young ones to pull the rug from under their feet? That is a serious problem. In Mai we will do two more concerts for 45000 viewers. We hope to supply the demand like that.
R: A real luxury problem!
YM: Yes, but it is one! We are racking our brains about that.
R: Whereas the show is being something special because noone is misdemeaning such megalomania anymore - that's something like Guns N' Roses in 1993. How much work and money are behind this?
YM: The whole costs from the dress rehearsal to the third and last concerts amounted to 17 to 20 Mio US-Dollar! That's quite a chunk, that is barely covered by the ticket sales. Furthermore we had the problem, that a baseball game was happening the night before and we could build up our stage only one day before the Gig - usually it would take at least three days. We engaged three times as much roadies than usually. And the band themselves could only start rehearsing on the day of the show. That was quite a show of strength.
R: Will you carry this on to Europe or will we have to see a notedly flattened show?
YM: That is X Japan! And if we don't manage to take everything with us, then it won't work! It is an essential piece of what we are!
R: In spite of the immense costs? And the fact that such halls are very rare over here?
YM: Well.. How many people could we pull in Germany?
R: Swallow. I can't answer this!
YM: But you've seen what happened here and how big this thing is - go and tell your people that! This is your mission! (laughs)
R: Well, thank you! There are two new songs by X Japan which, are for example, on the japanese SAW IV OST. Is the band planning to release a new album this year?
YM: Altogether there are actually three new songs and we are planning a "Best Of"-Album which will include the new pieces. In Japan this is supposed to be released in May, June for Europe. But a complete new Album? We're not that far yet.
R: How comes that hide, who commited suicide in 1998, is still part of the show? At last you take him back on stage with holograms and video projections, instead of exchanging him for a new member... Why such a care for the past?
YM: hide is not past, but he's still a very important part of the band - without him there wouldn't be X Japan. Therefore he has to be part of it. He is part of the conception. And that's why we trimmed the whole new production to fit the question how we could bring him into it. That was the most difficult part of it - because without him there couldn't have been a reunion. It might a little off, but he is too important to do without him.
R: The newest laser technology from Germany for that?
YM: Yes, for that we spend two Million Dollar - to bring him on stage for two minutes as hologram. He's that important for us. (laughs) And in May, on the hide memorial show we will have evaluated more footage and will have brought it into the production. hide will be even longer and more often on stage then. We are currently working on this. Whereas we have less of a money- but rather time-problem. Since there is so much material, it's pure madness.
R: You flew in guest guitarists as Wes Borland (Ex-Limp Bizkit) and Richard Fortus (Guns N' Roses) for the shows in Tokyo. What can we expect in Europe? More US-Stars?
YM: We will ask local guitarists on stage from the countries we play in. Furthermore will SUGIZO, the guitarist of LUNA SEA, be part of the show - as stable band member.
R: Will there be a competition for the German guitarist?
YM (laughs): Good idea! We can talk about that.
R: Honestly: don't you regret not to have taken the step to Europe or America earlier?
YM: No, because it couldn't have worked back then, in the eighties and nighties - since they would have plainly ignored us and wouldn't have given us any chance. Japanese music was in Europe and in other places just something exotic, which noone was taking seriously. Anyways this changed in the last ten years. Right because so many bands paved the way for us - while following our approach. Sure, it is somewhat ironic, but on the other hand it is a great thing. Therefore: Don't forget your mission! Arigato!
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Now I have a big big problem with this Interview. It doesn't seem really credible, does it?
I'm confused about a few parts... anyway the picture besides the article is Toshi and it says ( Photos: X Japan Production Management Comittee) so it does seem pretty serious...
I could've never imagined X calling themselves those who invented Visual Kei... or comparing themselves to the Sex Pistols is odd as well.
I don't like the part where he says that X MUST do big shows or it's not X... They did so many smaller shows without being megalomaniac before their reunion, why shouldn't they be able to play like that anymore?
x__x people please tell me what you think
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