Tag Archives: Magazines

Tak Matsumoto News

Tak Matsumoto and Slash on the cover of the February issue of「Young Guitar」

With the beginning of the new year, it has been revealed that the February issue (out January 10th) of the Japanese guitar magazine「Young Guitar」will feature Tak Matsumoto and Slash together on the cover. The special issue for the new year includes a special talk session with both guitarists! You can order the magazine at CDJapan right here: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEOBK-1753749.
Don’t trust the cover displayed there, it’s a placeholder as they haven’t updated the page yet!

We will post about it as soon as we get ours!

Koshi Inaba News

As Tak Matsumoto recently released his new solo album, Koshi Inaba also picks up his media presence by promoting his upcoming album 「Singing Bird」set to release on May 21st–in 19 days. Interviews with Koshi Inaba regarding his new album are set to be published in the following magazines:

Ongaku to Hito: May 2nd
Rolling Stone Japan Version: May 10th
WHAT’s IN？: May 14th
CD＆DL Data: May 14th
OriSta: May 16th
Nikkei Entertainment: June 4th

News

Japanese music magazine PLAYER has published its annual readers’ poll in the latest issue. Check out the ratings below. You can find last year’s readers’ poll here.

Category “Best Artist”: B’z ranked 1st (4th in 2012, 5th in 2011, 5th in 2010, 3rd in 2009)
Category “Best New Album”: B’z The Best XXV 1999-2012 ranked 2nd
Category “Best Live Performance”: B’z ranked 1st (3rd in 2012)
Category “This year’s biggest news”: B’z collaboration with Aerosmith (AEROSONIC) ranked 8th
Catagory “Best Vocalist”: Koshi Inaba ranked 1st (3rd in 2012, 1st in 2009, 2010, 2011)
Category “Best Guitarist”: Tak Matsumoto ranked 1st (2nd in 2012, 2011, 1st in 2010, 3rd in 2009)
Category “Best Drummer”: Shane Gaalaas ranked 4th (13th in 2012, 16th in 2011, 8th in 2010, 9th in 2009)
Category “Best Bassist”: Barry Sparks ranked 3rd (9th in 2012, 6th in 2011)
Category “Other Musician”: Takanobu Masuda ranked 2nd (3rd in 2012)

News

Two special issues of the Music Freak magazine are going to be available for sale at LIVE-GYM venues during the band’s B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 -ENDLESS SUMMER- 25th anniversary tour. The two issues will be a compilation of the past featurings of the band in the Music Freak as well as Music Freak Es magazines. The first issue will be called 「music freak magazine & Es Flash Back B’z XXV Memories I」and will feature snippets from 1995 to 2003 for a total of 294 pages. The second issue is called 「music freak magazine & Es Flash Back B’z XXV Memories II」and will feature snippets from 2003 to 2012 for a total of 268 pages.

Both issues will go on sale at the same time and will cost 2,800 yen each. Where the magazines will be sold at the venue, will be announced on the official website on the day of the show.

News

Tak Matsumoto’s critically acclaimed Strings Of My Soul album has received the Golden Disc Award for “Instrumental Album of the Year” at the 27th annual Golden Disc Awards in Japan. The album contains Tak’s selection of songs he considers his finest works and show the true nature of his sound.

Furthermore, Japanese music magazine PLAYER has published its 2012 readers’ poll in the latest issue. Check out the ratings below. You can find last year’s readers’ poll here.

Category “Best Artist”: B’z ranked 4th (5th in 2011, 5th in 2010, 3rd in 2009)
Category “Best Album”: Strings Of My Soul ranked 5th
Category “Best Live Performance”: B’z ranked 3rd
Catagory “Best Vocalist”: Koshi Inaba ranked 3rd (1st in 2009, 2010, 2011)
Category “Best Guitarist”: Tak Matsumoto ranked 2nd (2nd in 2011, 1st in 2010, 3rd in 2009)
Category “Best Drummer”: Shane Gaalaas ranked 13th (16th in 2011, 8th in 2010, 9th in 2009)
Category “Best Bassist”: Barry Sparks ranked 9th (6th in 2011)
Category “Other Musician”: Takanobu Masuda ranked 3rd

Feature

Koshi and Tak have set down with Japanese magazine “WHAT’s IN?” and shared their favorite albums in 2012. Interestingly enough, Tak’s #5 is one of his own works: Strings Of My Soul. That’s a rather odd choice. Why would he choose his own album as #5?

Here are Koshi and Tak’s favorite albums of 2012:

Tak Matsumoto

1. Aerosmith / Music from Another Dimension
2. One Direction / Up All Night
3. The Derek Trucks Band / Already Free
4. Adam Rogers / Sight
5. Tak Matsumoto / Strings Of My Soul

Koshi Inaba

1. The Big Pink / Future This
2. Led Zeppelin / Celebration Day
3. Soundgarden / King Animal
4. Sakanaction / DocumentaLy
5. Tak Matsumoto / Strings Of My Soul

What are your favorite albums of 2012? Share them with us in the comments! We wish you all a merry Christmas and happy holidays!