Friday 25 October 2013
Friday 4 October 2013
Saturday 17 August 2013
[TRANSLATION] TSUTAYA V.A. ANOTHER SIDE - RUKI NO YOROZUYA VOL. 2: RUKI X MAXIMUM RYO-KUN (MAXIMUM THE HORMONE)
RUKI: I’m looking forward for our conversation today!
Maximum the Ryo-kun: Likewise, I’m looking forward for today too. You’ve changed your
hairstyle, right. I noticed because I’ve been given the chance to see your PV and artists’ photos
in magazines.
hairstyle, right. I noticed because I’ve been given the chance to see your PV and artists’ photos
in magazines.
RUKI: Eh!? Were you shown magazines and such where we were featured in?
Maximum the Ryo-kun: I see them. Our band did a live at a place called [Jigokuezu] once,
but before that there was a live limited to visual kei cosplayers held there. There were a lot of
the GazettE’s fans at that time.
but before that there was a live limited to visual kei cosplayers held there. There were a lot of
the GazettE’s fans at that time.
RUKI: I’m so happy to hear that! The truth is I’ve known about Maximum-san since a long time
ago! Sometimes around 10 years ago, we did a recording in a studio in Hachiouji. During that
time, Maximum-san was massively put on the market in record shops. They stuck a Polaroid
photo there, so that’s where I found out about Maximum-san’s existence. I became curious, and
then bought the CD and listened to it, and I got so excited about it along with our bassist
(REITA). Basically I’ve always loved hardcore. What’s Ryo-kun-san’s music root?
ago! Sometimes around 10 years ago, we did a recording in a studio in Hachiouji. During that
time, Maximum-san was massively put on the market in record shops. They stuck a Polaroid
photo there, so that’s where I found out about Maximum-san’s existence. I became curious, and
then bought the CD and listened to it, and I got so excited about it along with our bassist
(REITA). Basically I’ve always loved hardcore. What’s Ryo-kun-san’s music root?
Maximum the Ryo-kun: It’s SCANCH. To tell the truth, I planned to become a slim glam
rocker who had silky, long blond hair (lol). During junior high school, every day I would face the
Rolly Teranishi poster that I stuck in my room. I would put my hands together and say “I’m
going!” to the Rolly poster, and then go to school. Speaking of eras, those were the days when
hard rock was highly popular, so it was the age of Guns and Roses, Motley Crue, Metallica. I
loved bands like them, but because of my sister, Nao’s influence, I became interested in bands
like Unicorn, SCANCH, and from there I began liking 70’s rock.
rocker who had silky, long blond hair (lol). During junior high school, every day I would face the
Rolly Teranishi poster that I stuck in my room. I would put my hands together and say “I’m
going!” to the Rolly poster, and then go to school. Speaking of eras, those were the days when
hard rock was highly popular, so it was the age of Guns and Roses, Motley Crue, Metallica. I
loved bands like them, but because of my sister, Nao’s influence, I became interested in bands
like Unicorn, SCANCH, and from there I began liking 70’s rock.
RUKI: But practically, the music you’re doing is loud rock and hardcore, right?
Maximum the Ryo-kun: I like many different types of music. From hardcore music and all
sorts of metal music from different countries, reggae, mellow-core, the popular funk songs by
idols of the Showa Era, to 80’s anime songs (lol).
sorts of metal music from different countries, reggae, mellow-core, the popular funk songs by
idols of the Showa Era, to 80’s anime songs (lol).
RUKI: Ah~ surely. Hormone-san’s music is, although it is heavily violent, it is also greatly
melodious. The compositions of your songs are great, and I’ve always admired them.
melodious. The compositions of your songs are great, and I’ve always admired them.
Maximum the Ryo-kun: There are a lot of personalities inside of me. When I thought I was
really sensitive, I became really rude; when I thought I was daintily timid, I became boldly violent.
I lean toward both extremes. That’s why I’m thinking whether or not this personality of mine
shows up in our music. I think Hormone is like, while thinking that there’s nothing wrong in the
music that we like, we just do all the components that we want to do.
really sensitive, I became really rude; when I thought I was daintily timid, I became boldly violent.
I lean toward both extremes. That’s why I’m thinking whether or not this personality of mine
shows up in our music. I think Hormone is like, while thinking that there’s nothing wrong in the
music that we like, we just do all the components that we want to do.
RUKI: Was Hormone the first band you formed?
Maximum the Ryo-kun: No, there was another band before this. I used to be in a B-class
pop-ish punk band whose music surpassed Hormone’s heavy parts. The band often performed
with the band that later became Hormone’s predecessor. Back then when I hadn’t joined
Hormone, I used the name “Bou-kun”. I drew illustration designs for Hormone’s flyers and
demo-tapes, and as remnants of the past, I attached “-kun” to Ryo-kun.
pop-ish punk band whose music surpassed Hormone’s heavy parts. The band often performed
with the band that later became Hormone’s predecessor. Back then when I hadn’t joined
Hormone, I used the name “Bou-kun”. I drew illustration designs for Hormone’s flyers and
demo-tapes, and as remnants of the past, I attached “-kun” to Ryo-kun.
RUKI: That’s right! Even now Ryo-kun-san is still doing various artworks. I do a lot of artworks
myself.
myself.
Maximum the Ryo-kun: The design quality for the GazettE’s CD jackets or booklets is high.
RUKI: I’ve come from an era where we buy CDs because of the jackets, so that is very
important.
important.
Maximum the Ryo-kun: Yes, yes, I totally understand that.
RUKI: Right. Ryo-kun-san, how do you write your lyrics and such?
Maximum the Ryo-kun: I’m basically a shy kind of a person, so I like the way of singing
where, if you’re singing in Japanese without plastering your mouth directly to my ears, I won’t
know what language you’re using. That’s why, because the meaning of our lyrics is difficult to
perceive, it’s become a default art in the booklet where we explain our lyrics (lol). In our newest
album, [Yoshu Fukushuu], words no longer suffice so we finally do the explanation with comic
(lol).
where, if you’re singing in Japanese without plastering your mouth directly to my ears, I won’t
know what language you’re using. That’s why, because the meaning of our lyrics is difficult to
perceive, it’s become a default art in the booklet where we explain our lyrics (lol). In our newest
album, [Yoshu Fukushuu], words no longer suffice so we finally do the explanation with comic
(lol).
RUKI: That is awesome! Hormone-san, do you have any obsession about performing in live
houses?
houses?
Maximum the Ryo-kun: Right. Talking about ourselves, we’re not the kind that aims for the
baseball major league, but rather the kind who wishes to be in the basic, grass-lot baseball. Of
course we have professionalism, but there’s an excitement in grass-lot baseball where an old
man in the neighborhood can hit and make a big home-run (lol). The image it gives is we do
whatever we want to our own convenience, but in my mind I pick a live house. Nothing
compares to working without worrying about selling, and in the mean time continuing to make
music and doing lives together with my bandmates. That’s why I have a wish to perform in live
houses. I want to defeat major league players on the grass-lot baseball field, so to say.
baseball major league, but rather the kind who wishes to be in the basic, grass-lot baseball. Of
course we have professionalism, but there’s an excitement in grass-lot baseball where an old
man in the neighborhood can hit and make a big home-run (lol). The image it gives is we do
whatever we want to our own convenience, but in my mind I pick a live house. Nothing
compares to working without worrying about selling, and in the mean time continuing to make
music and doing lives together with my bandmates. That’s why I have a wish to perform in live
houses. I want to defeat major league players on the grass-lot baseball field, so to say.
RUKI: I completely understand what you mean. When it’s time to shoot a live video, it’s good to
do it in a hall; even so, performing in a live house is great, huh. But I feel that Hormone-san has
always carried your original intention earnestly. I respect that. Really awesome. Please let me
see your live again next time!
do it in a hall; even so, performing in a live house is great, huh. But I feel that Hormone-san has
always carried your original intention earnestly. I respect that. Really awesome. Please let me
see your live again next time!
Maximum the Ryo-kun: Certainly! Please let me see the GazettE’s live too.
Ending the conversation… from RUKI
Ryo-kun-san is a really great person! It was so interesting! However, I really haven’t gotten used
to being a host (lol). I thought Ryo-kun-san was a man who really loves music, stoic, and a
really
frank person. But the things I’m thinking about were just like what I had imagined. I can follow
many examples from him.
to being a host (lol). I thought Ryo-kun-san was a man who really loves music, stoic, and a
really
frank person. But the things I’m thinking about were just like what I had imagined. I can follow
many examples from him.
========================================
* Rolly Teranishi: Lead guitarist and vocalist of
SCANCH.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolly_Teranishi
SCANCH.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolly_Teranishi
* RUKI and Aoi tweeted that they had just received MTH’s album [Yoshu Fukushuu] today.
From RUKI’s instagram: http://instagram.com/p/dBsG1cQObU/ ; from Aoi’s
twitpic:http://twitpic.com/d8elfl (why did you pick this photo to post, Aoi, seriously…)
From RUKI’s instagram: http://instagram.com/p/dBsG1cQObU/ ; from Aoi’s
twitpic:http://twitpic.com/d8elfl (why did you pick this photo to post, Aoi, seriously…)
* This is a surprisingly short convo (O___o) compared to the one RUKI did with Teru…
* Translation by me, credits if used/posted elsewhere/translated. I’m always prone to mistakes, so constructive criticism is welcomed.
Credit : http://akinojou.tumblr.com/
Tuesday 13 August 2013
The GazettE - Kubana 2013 Press Conference
Q: Why have you not come before?
Kai: Well, it was just that we never had a chance to. But this time, we were told that we could perform at Kubana, so we came. It's not like we came because we didn't want to (laughs)
Q: How did you decide which songs you were going to perform today?
Reita: We chose songs that both we and the people that came to the festival could enjoy together.
Q: What are your thoughts on Russian girls?
Uruha (after a few minutes of passing the mic around): Well, we actually talk about this here and there since we arrived, and we were pleasantly surprised with their height and figures that no Japanese girls have.
Q: How do you want to express your music (outside of Japan) if you have plans to?
Ruki: We're always in Japan, so we can't go out (of the country) much, but we do want to share the music we make in Japan with people in all these other countries and want to be known.
Kai: Well, it was just that we never had a chance to. But this time, we were told that we could perform at Kubana, so we came. It's not like we came because we didn't want to (laughs)
Q: How did you decide which songs you were going to perform today?
Reita: We chose songs that both we and the people that came to the festival could enjoy together.
Q: What are your thoughts on Russian girls?
Uruha (after a few minutes of passing the mic around): Well, we actually talk about this here and there since we arrived, and we were pleasantly surprised with their height and figures that no Japanese girls have.
Q: How do you want to express your music (outside of Japan) if you have plans to?
Ruki: We're always in Japan, so we can't go out (of the country) much, but we do want to share the music we make in Japan with people in all these other countries and want to be known.
*KUBANA PRESS CONFERENCE (JAPANESE --> ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY AIMAI-NA-KOKORO)
Monday 5 August 2013
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