6.8.04 [Wonderland] will have 3 new songs written by 178; musicians include Stevie Salas, Greg Upchurch, and Toku-chan. We are promised a combo of "a deep lyrical world and dramatic melodies." 1st press comes with special art and photo book.
May 2004
5.18.04 Koshi was top taxpayer out of artists last year, according to the annual lists. Ayu was 2nd, and Tak 3rd. Kosh is also #80 on the general population list, the only singer. Thanks to tamashii for the info! Dubious congrats to 178 for paying around US$30 million in taxes. :P
4.2.04 Koshi solo tour schedule February and March 2004 November 2003
Typhoon No. 15, the next concert DVD, will consist of 3 discs: 2 of the Nagisa-en concerts from September 2003, and 1 of bonus backstage footage. The release date is Dec. 17, so start saving! The Banzai in NA documentary will be aired Dec. 23 in Japan on cable TV.
Tak's The Hit Parade solo cover album will be released Nov. 26. Tak himself will sing 2 tracks! You can see the funky cover at the HMV site, or any of the music store sites.
Finally, I must apologize for the lack of updates. I have a huge list of stuff I still want to add to this site! I mean, that link to Koshi's Morocco trip has been defunct for at least 6 months. *is ashamed*
September and October 2003
August 6, 2003
June 9, 2003
May 26, 2003
April 3, 2003
March 6, 2003
5.5.04 And they've done it again! Banzai is the 32nd consecutive B'z single to debut at #1, continuing the record streak that began in 1990.
April 2004
SO EXCITING!!
7.16 Nagoya M Wave
7.21 Yokohama Arena
7.22 Yokohama Arena
7.28 Niigata Sangyo Shinkou Center
8.11 Nagoya Rainbow Hall
8.12 Nagoya Rainbow Hall
8.18 Kobe World Memorial Hall
8.19 Kobe World Memorial Hall (Kinen Hall)
8.23 Osaka Hall
8.24 Osaka Hall
8.28 Makomanai Ice Arena (Sapporo)
8.29 Makomanai Ice Arena (Sapporo)
9.2 Hiroshima Green Arena
9.3 Hiroshima Green Arena
9.8 Nihon Budokan (Tokyo)
9.9 Nihon Budokan (Tokyo)
9.15 Marine Messe Fukuoka
9.16 Marine Messe Fukuoka
9.19 Grande 21 Miyagi-ken Sports hall (Miyagiken Sogo Taiikukan)
9.20 Grande 21 Miyagi-ken Sports Hall
Thanks, tamashii! :)
4.8.04 Tak Special Collaboration
Our Tak will do [Special Collaboration 2004 Hana] with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in concerts 7.17, 7.18, and 7.20 at Century Hall. Official site.
4.14.04 Koshi to participate in Pocari Sweat Blue Wave Rock Odyssey 2004
Concerts to be held in Osaka and Yokohama on 7.24 and 7.25 (2 per day). Koshi is slated to perform in Yokohama on 7.24. Other guests include Aerosmith (same concert as Koshi), Lenny Kravitz, L'Arc~en~Ciel, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Tickets are 14,000 yen. Koshi and Steven Tyler, reunited! Official event site.
3.31.04 [Oh Japan ~ Our Time is Now~] single. BMCV-5006
1. Oh Japan ~ Our Time is Now~
2. TRAPPED
3. Oh Japan ~ Our Time is Now~ (karaoke)
4. TRAPPED (karaoke)
To sum up, ex. Mr. Big Eric Martin is the vocalist, Ball's Brian Tichy is on drums, and Jack Blades (ex. Night Ranger), is on bass. Music by Tak, lyrics by Eric and Jack. Yes, they're in English! I think it's kind of hilarious how the main pic for TMG features only Tak. Oh yeah, and who's on the single cover? Just Takboss. Is this not typical of him? I see the TM, but where's the G?
If you go to the collaboration members section of the TMG site here, you can check out pics and comments from the rest of TMG. Mr. Martin is wearing a denim jacket and, frankly, I think he's inadvertently got the mop hair, rosy-cheeked hobbit look going. However, that is neither here nor there.
TMG will be making their debut on television soon.
4.5.04 Fuji TV Hey Hey Hey Music Champ Spring special (I wonder if this will include a talk. The last time B'z graced Heyx3 with their presence was in 1997 for a Fireball performance, and they skipped the talk! We think Downtown must have gone overboard or something, to make B'z keep away so. Perhaps they alarmed gentle Koshi and offended Mat-chan. Ha!).
4.9.04 Asahi TV: Music Station special Tamori fun!
Finally, if you do plan to get the new TMG single, make sure you get first press and pick up this accompanying Tak Guitar Book, which looks sweet.
That's it for now. Koshi, heart, rest well; we're waiting for news of you also.
3.1.04 Tak's TMG 2004 solo tour dates announced!
No word yet on the setlist, but it's TMG, the Tak Matsumoto Group.
7.30: ZEPP Fukuoka
7.31: ZEPP Fukuoka
8.3: ZEPP Osaka
8.4: ZEPP Osaka
8.5: ZEPP Osaka
8.16: ZEPP Sapporo
8.17:ZEPP Sapporo
8.21: ZEPP Sendai
8.22:ZEPP Sendai
8.26: Hiroshima Club quatro(?)
8.27: Hiroshima Club quatro(?)
8.30: Nagoya Diamond Hall
8.31: Nagoya Diamond Hall
9.4: Niigata feiz(?)
9.5: Niigata feiz(?)
9.7: Tokyo Budokan
Uh, what other news did I put up over the last couple of months?
Tak got his 3rd signature Gibson.
The Tak Matsumoto Group, with Mr. Big and Night Ranger members, was formed. Eric Martin is the vocalist and Jack Blades is on bass.
Oh, Koshi placed third in CDTV's "Your ideal sweetheart" poll.
Typhoon No. 15 stormed the Oricon DVD charts on its release, beating out Ayu's A Museum DVD.
Wow, I think that's pretty much it. I think B'z are definitely going to take it easy in 2004, though Tak will obviously be busy pursuing solo activities.
Note to self: Link B and tamashii's live reports sometime. ;)
Tak's as yet untitled cover album will feature not only Koshi doing the vocals for one track, but also include the recently released Ihoujin and Imitation Gold singles. Being Co. starlet Rina Aiuchi will also record [Namida no Taiyou] with Tak. Release date 11.26.2003.
B'z [The Final Pleasure] tour concluded on Sept. 20 and 21 (the 15th anniversary date) with a bang at Nagisa-en, where rain and mud failed to dampen the spirits of the performers or the audience. Next, B'z will spend all of October doing a West Coast tour in North America, and after that it's no rest for the weary as they continue on with the [BIG MACHINE] dome tour in Japan for November and December. They will cap off the year with a pair of Christmas concerts in Tokyo Dome. Ganbatte B'z!!
On 10/10, B'z will appear, for the first time in 15 years, in a dorama, "Namahousou wa tomaranai/Can't Stop the Live broadcast." But don't get too excited...they will play themselves and be shown only in a brief musical performance. The dorama is about guys working backstage for a fictional music show called "Music Stadium," so this isn't a big stretch! Other performers making cameos will include MiniMoni, Gackt, and Aya Matsuura.
BIG MACHINE debuted at #1 and was listed as the #6 album that week by Gracenote, which compares sales records from 130 countries.
B'z fanclub members got a surprise free gift in honor of the 15th anniversary, a photo book called Live OFF ( as opposed to the Live ON book on sale).
The B'z Live ON photobook, featuring photos from various lives, and What's In B'z Ultra Chronicle were both released in September.
As you've noticed, there's now a news box on the main page, so I guess I'll archive old news and put in more details here.
First of all, get ready for Big Machine, B'z 13th original album, release date September 17. (Remember, What's In and Being are also publishing 2 B'z books that month: an Ultra Chronicle, and a pictorial of B'z lives, all in honor of their 15th anniversary). Big Machine tracklist:
1.�A���N��
2.�쐫��ENERGY
3.WAKE UP, RIGHT NOW
4.�R���_�C�������h�@�@�@
5.I'm in love?
6.IT'S SHOWTIME!!
7.���Ƒ����݂̃n�W�}��
8.BIG MACHINE
9.Nightbird
10.�u���[�W�[�Ȓ�
11.ῂ����T�C��
12.CHANGE THE FUTURE�@
13.ROOTS
Secondly, B'z appeared on Music Station on July 25, performing Yasei no ENERGY.
Thirdly, the biggest news is, of course, that B'z are spending October touring in North America. There are 6 shows all together: in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Vancouver. LiveGym Banzai in America is really the most incredible chance to see B'z in concert. Tickets went on sale August 1 on www.ticketmaster.com and www.hob.com. See the main page for the specific venues, or visit the B'z official site! I just want to add that this year's tour support members are Takanobu Masuda-san as usual, Shane Gaalaas, and Toku-chan (finally!).
Oh yes, Shane also released an album called Primer in Japan; Koshi contributed some blues harp, and Shane also gave the B'z classic Hadashi no Megami a shot in Japanese. Tak is also writing some music for ZARD and Kuraki Mai. The fruit of the collaboration with ZARD will be released 8.27.
July 14, 2003
July's monthly recommend is up. Sorry everyone, not much in the way of written content. But I worked on my screen capturing skills!
News
tamashii reports that B'z performed a 5 minute "guerilla live" (Secret!) at Roppongi Hills yesterday. 4000 people showed up for the performance of It's Showtime!! and 120 security and 30 policemen were needed. The footage was captured for the 15th anniversary documentary special to be shown on Asahi June 27. Afterwards, B'z ascended to the 54th floor sky deck of a building (err...Morita something) that is 270 meters above sea level to perform their upcoming single "Yasei no Energy." Nikkan news link
News
B'z new single "Yasei no Energy" has a release date of July 16.
I also updated the Monthly Recommend for June (finally, I know).
Ok, looks like the Seattle show has been postponed indefinitely. Hm, guess I've learned my lesson and should put a big Unofficial before announcing news of that kind again eh? Gomen gomen. I still think there's a chance B'z will come to the US in the fall though...so keep thinking positive! Will report any further developments!
Also I must apologize for lack of updates, but I was recovering from exams. I want to revamp the look and get new content up but then I get distracted and do something like spend much time making a mediocre Tak fanart. You can see it at Mai's site Trash (in the links).
And oh yes, B'z have an unreleased new song called "Wake Up, Right Now" that is going to be the new CM song for Asahi Super Dry. You can hear a clip of it at the official Asahi Beer site.
May 13, 2003
News
B'z will have a concert at The ShowBox in Seattle on October 21. Tickets start selling online on May 16. Not at Ticketmaster...the other one. They didn't announce it anywhere but at a BBS for Japanese people living in Seattle, but the news leaked out. West Coast tour, Mat-chan! West Coast tour! *gets on knees and pleads for a Los Angeles concert* Word is even Japanese fans are having trouble getting LiveGym tix this year, due to the enormous demand for The Final Pleasure and 15th anniversary. If you live near Seattle, don't miss this chance to see this legendary band.
Koshi's Akatsuki pv is out.
May 7, 2003
Tamashii reports that Koshi will be on music program FUN on June 6 and Music Station on June 13 for his next single [K I]. As usual, not that we will be able to watch. :P New scans in the gallery. Mother's Day special for May up!
May 1, 2003
Hello folks. The latest news is that the Hall concerts for The Final Pleasure LiveGym tour this year are sold outive, formal way -- in the reviews, the reports, and pretty much everything. On the other hand, I cannot deny that rush of exhilaration I get from B'z. I've never been this crazy over anything else. Goodness knows I'm not a teenager anymore, but that's just how it is. My friends know that I am often tormented by the fact that while I do not want to be a fangirl, I occasionally exhibit distressing signs of it. Therefore, this site is currently on what I call "Fangirl Lite" mode. -_- Hopefully it manages to be informative while retaining fan enthusiasm. But if you guys find, for example, that the, oh, say the Inaba page, makes you sick and click "back" with your mouse furiously while vowing not to read anything more, then I will consider toning it down and saving such comments for posts and private conversation. :P
It's Showtime!! review is up; Tak page is open; splash page up; links up. Busy scanning pics now!
Ok, so progress has been really slow. I've written up some content but the problem is I revise every time I look at it. It's not possible to do them justice. They are so wonderful it hurts me (and my wallet). I'm curious though. I haven't really opened this site yet, but there are 8 votes in the mini-poll. 3 people picked the Gackt answer?! (I picked the puppy answer myself hehe).