Tak Matsumoto News

The interview for the next issue of the fan club-exclusive magazine Be With! (due in January) was conducted the other day. In it, Tak talks about his new album and his upcoming tour. An excerpt of the interview has been posted exclusively on the official fan club’s website. Tak mentioned that his new album will have a lot more rock tunes compared to his previous works. Furthermore, he revealed that he will try to make use of the size of each venue to turn each performance into a unique one. To tie in with these plans, B’z Party is collecting votes for songs that Tak should play live.

Excerpt from the Tak Matsumoto interview from Be With! Vol. 108

Interviewer: The image song “Ups and Downs” for the Ukiyo-e exhibition is a strong rock tune and I felt that it is an unusual one compared to your previous solo works.
Matsumoto: It just turned out to be that way, I guess?

Interviewer: Your recent solo works are more jazzy and thus that’s the image I have of your works.
Matsumoto: That’s true. But this time I made more rock songs.

Interviewer: I also get the feeling that your new album has more rock songs…
Matsumoto: It will be an overall rock album compared to previous solo albums.

Interviewer: And the long-awaited solo tour has been announced. It’s different from previous solo tours as it includes arena venues.
Matsumoto: I just thought that I’d be able to make something interesting with instrumental music in a big venue…

Interviewer: I am sure it will be a different atmosphere from shows at the Zepp concert halls or the Blue Note. Can you tell us what kind of show you have in mind?
Matsumoto: Of course the atmosphere will change with the size of the venue. I would like to make it a fun show with lighting, stage set and performance tailored to a big sized venue!

Interviewer: Of course we will get to hear songs off the new record, but will you also perform older songs?
Matsumoto: I will focus on the new tracks but of course I will also perform older songs! I’m not sure if there will be more of the new or the old songs, though…

Koshi Inaba News

Japanese band “doa” has announced on their Facebook page that their band member Akihito Tokunaga will be a supporting band member for Koshi Inaba’s appearance on Music Station on December 25. Akihito Tokunaga is a former well-known B’z support member, having played bass on numerous LIVE-GYMs and supported B’z as well as their solo projects between 1997 and 2008.

In addition to that, doa has also revealed on their Facebook page that Akihito Tokunaga is the man in charge of arrangement of all four songs found on Koshi’s new single 「Hane」. You can read more about Akihito Tokunaga in our B’z Wiki!

Koshi Inaba News

A new trailer featuring the theme song 「BLEED」provided by Koshi Inaba was unveiled today at a special event for the upcoming game Ryu ga Gotoku (“Yakuza”) Kiwami. In addition to the new trailer, part of the talk between series creator Nagoshi and Koshi was shown during the event.

The full version of the talk is included in the “Ryu ga Gotoku” special edition of Koshi Inaba’s upcoming single 「Hane」set to be released January 13.

「BLEED」 is audible from the 1:45 minute mark in the trailer below.

Tak Matsumoto News

Tak Matsumoto’s solo project is now in full swing as he has announced that his new album is “coming soon” for a Spring 2016 release. Furthermore, the tour in support of the album as well as the supporting band members have been announced. Unexpectedly Tak is this time not playing at small clubs such as the BLUE NOTE, but is instead turning to bigger hall venues, with the final date at the Nippon Budokan. The ticket lottery for fanclub members is open now until January. General sale for tickets will start March 12th, 2016.

Supporting Band Members

Keyboards: Akira Onozuka (from DIMENSION)
Bass: Masayoshi Yamashita (from LOUDNESS)
Supporting Guitar: Yoshinobu Ohga
Drums: Jason Sutter

Tak Matsumoto Tour 2016 -The Voyage-

General Sale: March 12th, 2016

April 16th — Diamond Hall (Nagoya)
Tickets: All Standing — 8,000 Yen

April 19th — DRUM LOGOS (Fukuoka)
Tickets: All Standing — 8,000 Yen

April 24th — Osaka Jo Hall
Tickets:
SS Category — 12,000 Yen (FANCLUB ONLY)
S Category — 8,000 Yen
A Category — 5,000 Yen

April 27th — Sapporo Factory Hall
Tickets: All Standing — 8,000 Yen

May 7th — Nippon Budokan (Tokyo)
Tickets:
SS Category — 12,000 Yen (FANCLUB ONLY)
S Category — 8,000 Yen
A Category — 5,000 Yen

Koshi Inaba News

During the weekly broadcast of Detective Conan the tv commercial for Koshi’s upcoming single 「Hane」 made its debut. The material used for the commercial seems to stem from the music video for the single. The single is due for a January 13 release with the title track serving as the new Detective Conan opening theme from January 9.

Koshi Inaba News

The lineup for the 2015 iteration of the annual Music Station Super Live at the end of December has been announced. Among the performing artists is Koshi Inaba, who will most likely for the first time perform his new solo single 「Hane」 live on television. The show will be broadcasted live on December 25th, 2015 on TV Asahi from their studio at the Makuhari Messe.