Site News

Hello fellow B’z fans!

On this wonderful autumn day (in Germany, anyway), I want to introduce you to something very special: The B’z Encyclopedia!
Or just call it the “B’z Wiki” since that’s what it is.

In the sidebar you will notice that there is a section “Recent wiki updates” now. That way, you can see if something new has been added or if something has been modified on the wiki. It is simply a convenient way for you to check for project updates.

The goal is to get every single bit of information about B’z into this wiki including song translations, interview translations, trivia, pictures, live reports, fanclub events, et cetera
It is going to be the first ever complete information database on B’z.

However, since there is a LOT of information on B’z, we are going to need your help! So if you want to help us, just post in the comments and we will see what work we can give you! Also state some of the skills you have, such as “Good writing skills in English”, and so on. That way, we will know what kind of work we can assign you to.

Also, if there is something you would like to work on specifically, you can also post this. There’s a bunch of pages that still have not been set up. You can see an overall status of the project by going to the B’z wiki’s main page. Just click the link in the header.

We are especially looking for people who speak Japanese so we can work on song and interview translations!

Koshi Inaba News

The official announcement for Stevie Salas’ new cover album “Jam Power” has been posted on B’z Official Website. As we previously reported, it’s going to be released on October 20th, 2010 priced at 2500 Yen in Japan. It looks like it is going to be available internationally as well, since the Japanese edition contains a bonus track which is exclusive to Japan. Koshi Inaba is going to be the lead vocalist on the track “Police on my back” which was originally recorded by the band The Clash.

Also, as posted on HMV.co.jp in the song credits, there’s a story associated with it:

After I had dinner with Koshi Inaba in Beverly Hills, we went back to his place in my car. When I switched on the radio a song by The Clash was playing and Koshi really had to turn up the volume as he enjoyed the song. One year later, while we were in the car again, a song by The Clash was playing on the radio. Seeing how Koshi was singing along to the song hitting all the notes and getting the lyrics right, he told me he’s a great fan of them! So when we went to record for “JAM POWER”, I asked him if he could sing a song from The Clash. “In English?” he asked. “Yeah” I replied. Then I checked out a bunch of my favorite Clash tunes to find the one I liked best. As you all know I’m a big fan of funk, so I gave “This Is Radio Clash” a try, but Koshi’s voice was not suited for such a song.

When I met Koshi in Hawaii again, we were barbecuing steaks and once we listened to “Police On My Back”, we said “This is it!!” When I was in high school in San Diego, the band I was in performed that song numerous times, so I knew the song quite well. After Jara Slapbak added the funky style to the rhythm track, I flew over to Tokyo to record the vocals with Koshi. When I came back to LA, King’s X singer Doug Pinnick sang the chorus for the song and, with that, polished it.

(Translated from Japanese)

And here’s the tracklist as well as cover:

01. Tell Me Something Good (Chaka Khan)
02. Girls Got Rhythm (AC/DC)
03. Police On My Back (The Clash)
04. Disco Lady (Johnnie Taylor)
05. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (The Beatles)
06. This Is Radio Clash (The Clash)
07. No Air (Jordin Sparks)
08. Getaway (Earth, Wind & Fire)
09. Only Happy When It Rains (GARBAGE)
10. Moonage Daydream ～Live in New York version～ (David Bowie)
11. Ondularte ～Fading Out～ (Gandhi) * Japanese Bonus Track

Koshi Inaba News

The next iteration of the Billboard JAPAN MUSIC Awards will be held in Tokyo Midtown Hall on January 6th, 2011. Additionally the nominations for each category have been revealed.

Koshi Inaba is one of the nominees in the category “Top Pop Artist 2010”. You can check out the complete list of nominees at Billboard JAPAN MUSIC Award 2010’s official website, here.

Tak Matsumoto News

As of today, the details about Larry Carlton’s and Tak Matsumoto’s DVD release of their “TAKE YOUR PICK” tour in Blue Note Tokyo have been released. The DVD contains all the songs performed live, so if you have the setlist memorized, you’re going to know what’s coming at you. Just to be sure, here’s the setlist again:

*Update* Cover for the DVD release has been released.

01. Nite Crawler 2010
02. Islands of Japan
03. THE WAY WE WERE
04. Tokyo Night
05. East West Stroll
06. Easy Mystery
07. hotalu
08. ao
09. Take Your Pick
10. Neon Blue
11. A girl from China
12. JAZZY BULLETS
13. Room 335
14. #1090

Total runtime of the DVD is about 86 minutes, and it will be priced at 5250 Yen (1050 Yen less compared to B’z “Ain’t no Magic” release). Unfortunately there will be no extras such as backstage videos, interviews, etc. on the disc. So all you get is the raw performance, which is amazing as it is.

On an other related note, in addition to the live performance in Taipei on October 17th, another live performance has been scheduled. But this time, it’s in Hong Kong. Larry and Tak are going to perform in the Hong Kong Cultural Center on October 19th. If you’re in Hong Kong and want to check out the show, you can get more information here: http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/000001f5.html

Koshi Inaba News

Koshi and Stevie in Japan

Rock virtuoso Stevie Salas is currently recording his new cover album “Jam Power”. His last cover album “Electronic Pow wow” was released in 1993, in which he covers songs that influenced him as a musician featuring celebrity guest artists, to much critical acclaim. Now, in 2010, he’s teaming up with artists such as Koshi Inaba, Slash, The Crystal Method, Juan Alderete (Mars Volta), Zakk Wylde and many, many more to record his latest cover album “Jam Power”.

In August this year, before heading to the Fuji Rock Festival, Stevie met with Koshi Inaba to record a new track for his album. As always, it was a great experience for him to record with Koshi. They get along very well!

The album is going to be released in Japan on October 20th, 2010 and will be priced at 2500 Yen. A tracklist has not been unveiled yet.

Source(s): Tower Records Online (JP), Stevie Salas’ Myspace

Tak Matsumoto News

Now that’s a big surprise here. After scheduling additional live performances as well as performing at the Tokyo Jazz Festival 2010, Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto are going to perform in Taipei (Taiwan) on October 17th. So that means, there may still be hope that shows in the US and Europe are planned. The show in Taipei might just be the beginning of an international tour. We’ll keep you updated!

Additionally, on September 1st, the DVD release of Larry Carlton’s and Tak Matsumoto’s “TAKE YOUR PICK” tour in Japan was announced. It is going to be released on October 27th and will feature the live performance in Blue Note Tokyo. Further details will be released soon!

Also, to promote their show in Taipei, a video was put up in which Larry and Tak tell their fans that they’re going to perform in Taipei on October 17th.
If you’re in Taiwan and want to go to the show, you can grab the tickets here: http://tickets.books.com.tw/progshow/03010101463130