Koshi Inaba News

What a great Christmas present for Koshi Inaba fans! On B’z Official Website, the video release of Koshi Inaba’s ~en II~ was announced, and it is going to be out on February 16th, 2011. The release will come in two flavors: DVD and Blu-ray. I think it’s about time they started releasing live videos in HD…

Anyway, the DVD version will be 2 disks and the Blu-ray version will be just one disk. There are no extras included, just the live performance itself. I find that a little disappointing, but I guess that every true Koshi fan will buy it anyway! Both releases will be priced at 6300 Yen, which is pretty pricey. The total runtime is 129 minutes, so you’ve got over 2 hours to watch. If you’re wondering what performance was recorded… it is the one at Nippon Budokan. If you would like to catch a glimpse at the live performance, you can visit B’z Official Website as they have updated their intro video.

Setlist:
・ Tamayura
・ My Mirai
・ The Morning Call
・ Okay
・ Eden
・ AKATSUKI
・ Nami
・ LOVE LETTER
・ Toumei Ningen
・ Akai Ito
・ Lone Pine
・ Kono Te wo Totte Hashiridashite
・ LOST～Wonderland
・ Tooku Made
・ ～jam～
・ CAGE FIGHT
・ Koyoi Kimi to
・ Zettai (teki)
・ Shoumen Shoutotsu
・ Hazumu Sekai
・ Itaike na Taiyou

Source(s): B’z Official Website

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.

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

Koshi Inaba News

Koshi Inaba’s solo tour titled ~en II~ kicked off in Shizuoka today, and as usual, we have the setlist right here for you:

Note: The setlist will be the same if there are no updates on setlists from other venues.

Date: August 21, 2010
Venue: Ecopa Arena (Shizuoka)

01 Tamayura
02 My Mirai
03 The Morning Call
04 Okay
05 Eden
06 AKATSUKI
07 Nami
08 LOVE LETTER
09 Toumei Ningen
10 Akai Ito
11 Lone Pine
12 Kono Te wo Totte Hashiridashite
13 LOST
14 Wonderland
15 Tooku Made
16 CAGE FIGHT
17 Koyoi Kimi to
18 Zettai(teki)
19 Shoumen Shoutotsu

-ENCORE-

20 Hazumu Sekai
21 Itaike na Taiyou

Song while people were leaving: Hadou’s secret track “Te wo Furou~” (Keep listening to “Itaike na Taiyou” until the very end)
Ending SE: Unannounced Song (Acoustic guitar ballad)

Koshi Inaba News

Tomorrow, Inaba’s solo album Hadou will finally be released, and as usual he left a message on B’z official site

After a long time, I’m releasing a solo album, “Hadou”….
Even if it’s still Summer, please keep listening to it in Autumn and Winter.
That’s because most of this work was made during Autumn and Winter.
I hope Hadou’s sounds and words will reach you all…