News

B’z have announced the details for their upcoming 2019 LIVE-GYM tour that will support their 2019 Studio Album. Because the album has not been fully announced, the title for the tour isn’t available either.

The tour will also mark the departures of the band’s longtime support members: Shane Gaalaas on Drums (with the band since 2002), Barry Sparks on Bass (with B’z from 2003, 2008-2018), Takanobu Masuda (1992-1997 & 1999-2018) on Keyboards, and Yoshinobu Ohga (2011-2018) on 2nd Guitar. The decision was made by the band in order to try a new sound for their 31st year. Fans on social media have been overwhelmingly supportive of the outgoing members with many hoping to see them with the band again in the near future.

In their places will be all-new support members who have not performed with the band before though some have worked with Tak and Koshi in various capacities in the studio:

B’z LIVE-GYM 2019 Support Members

Brian Tichy (Drums) : Original drummer for “juice“, played drums on most tracks of the Tak Matsumoto Group‘s first album TMG I, and contributed to Tak’s 2016 solo album enigma.

Mohini Dey (Bass) : 21-year-old Indian internet sensation who has been endorsed by Steve Vai. This is her first participation with B’z or Tak/Koshi solo activity.

Sam Pomanti (Keyboards) : Provided backing vocals for “Rooftop” and “SKYROCKET” on DINOSAUR.

Yukihide “YT” Takiyama (2nd Guitar) : Contributed arrangement and recording to all but one song on DINOSAUR and some backing vocals.

B’z LIVE-GYM 2019 Venues

Kagoshima Arena – 6/8 (Sat), 9 (Sun)
Mie Prefectural Sun Arena – 6/14 (Fri), 15 (Sat)
Kobe World Memorial Hall – 6/19 (Wed), 20 (Thu), 22 (Sat), 23 (Sun)
Sundome Fukui – 6/28 (Fri), 29 (Sat)
Osaka Jo Hall – 7/3 (Wed), 5 (Fri), 6 (Sat)
Yokohama Arena – 7/9 (Tue), 10 (Wed)
Zepp Nagoya – 7/16 (Tue), 18 (Thu), 19 (Fri)
Ehime Prefecture Budokan – 7/26 (Fri), 27 (Sat)
Saitama Super Arena – 7/30 (Tue), 31 (Wed)
Zepp Fukuoka – 8/3 (Sat), 4 (Sun)
Miyagi Sekisui Heim Super Arena – 8/8 (Thu), 10 (Sat), 11 (Sun)
Takasaki Arena (Gunma) – 8/24 (Sat), 25 (Sun)
Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena (Sapporo) – 8/30 (Fri), 31 (Sat)
Makuhari Messe Event Hall – 9/3 (Tue), 4 (Wed)
Hiroshima Green Arena – 9/7 (Sat), 8 (Sun)
Marine Messe Fukuoka – 9/10 (Tue)

News

B’z is kicking off the New Year of 2019 by posting an image with the hashtag #Bz2019 on Twitter and Instagram. On the same day, fans around Japan have also spotted B’z concert dates being advertised in their local cities.

Although there is no official announcement from the band yet, fans have compiled a preliminary list of dates spotted throughout Japan. However, details regarding the exact venue in which the concerts will take place is still under wraps. The following is a list of dates found so far, with the tour currently slated to run from June to September 2019:

B’z LIVE-GYM 2019 Tour Dates

Update 03/01/2019: Added dates for Fukui, Yokohama, Saitama and Gunma (a total of 36 dates)

Kagoshima – 6/8 (Sat), 9 (Sun)
Mie – 6/14 (Fri), 15 (Sat)
Kobe – 6/19 (Wed), 20 (Thu), 22 (Sat), 23 (Sun)
Fukui – 6/28 (Fri), 29 (Sat)
Osaka – 7/3 (Wed), 5 (Fri), 6 (Sat)
Yokohama – 7/9 (Tue), 10 (Wed)
Nagoya – 7/16 (Tue), 18 (Thu), 19 (Fri)
Ehime – 7/26 (Fri), 27 (Sat)
Saitama – 7/30 (Tue), 31 (Wed)
Fukuoka – 8/3 (Sat), 4 (Sun)
Miyagi – 8/8 (Thu), 10 (Sat), 11 (Sun)
Gunma – 8/24 (Sat), 25 (Sun)
Sapporo – 8/30 (Fri), 31 (Sat)
Chiba – 9/3 (Tue), 4 (Wed)
Hiroshima – 9/7 (Sat), 8 (Sun)
Fukuoka – 9/10 (Tue)

News

The latest song from the to-be-revealed 2019 B’z Studio Album has been announced with the title “Tsuwamono, Hashiru” (or “Soldier, Run”). It is currently featured in a Lipovitan D energy drink ad campaign for the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be held in Japan.

The song will be found on the album to be released in the first half of next year along with “WOLF” and “Majestic“.

News

Another all-new B’z song titled “WOLF” will be used in the Japanese series Suits as the theme song. The drama, a remake of the U.S. series by the same title, had its first airing October 8 on Fuji TV with the song playing at the end.

No release date is announced for the song but it should appear on the 2019 studio album announced weeks ago.

News

B’z have wrapped up their 30th year with a pair of fanclub-only performances in Hawaii. The show was performed over two days at two separate venues with the second also being streamed live to Japanese theaters.

The eighteen-song setlist included fan favorites from the anniversary tour that completed its run a week earlier but reshuffled. Most importantly, the shows featured the returns of numerous longtime fan requests. Some dated back to appearances 27 years ago.

The setlist has been posted below, no home video release has been announced at this time but it is possible the show could be packaged with an eventual release of B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI- sometime next year.
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News

Tak Matsumoto and Koshi Inaba appeared as scheduled for the September 24 concert for another Japanese rock band, LOUDNESS.

The two have been associated for years and featured on each other’s works for a long time including their bassist Masayoshi Yamashita performing with Tak on his 2016 solo tour The Voyage. In a 2013 special live show, on the fifth anniversary of the band’s drummer Munetaka Higuchi‘s passing, B’z included a cover of the LOUDNESS song “Crazy Nights” in their own setlist.

For the LOUDNESS & FRIENDS event held today, Tak appeared on stage during “Crazy Nights” while Koshi appeared separately for “Crazy Doctor”. This was chosen because of it being a favorite of Koshi with footage existing of him covering it in his youth.