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News

The biggest B’z release in their history has just been announced: the mammoth B’z COMPLETE SINGLE BOX! The release is their most expensive to date with two differing editions priced at 50,000 yen ($445 USD) and 70,000 yen ($623 USD). The latter edition offers access to two special live shows set to take place in December that are detailed below.

Both releases collect all fifty-three singles—from 1988’s “Dakara Sono Te wo Hanashite” to “Seimei/Still Alive“—and all of their corresponding B-sides for a total of 117 songs with unique packages throughout for both editions. Additionally, both also come with a set of two DVDs that contain live footage of every single from previous LIVE-GYM concerts—with some never before released prior.

It has also been announced that an all-new song entitled “CHAMP” will be used as the theme to a 7-Eleven Fair commercial beginning July 1. It is expected the song will be tied to the as-yet-untitled 2017 studio album though inclusion on another single is not out of the question.

Black Edition
Price: 50,000 yen / Release Date: August 30, 2017

B’z COMPLETE SINGLE BOX — Black Edition

The “Black Edition” features all fifty-three singles released to date in a vinyl-sized luxurious box and will be available at retail on August 30. The book-style folders contain a set of re-designed golden discs for each individual single and the two bonus DVDs detailed below. A large 100-page lyric book of similar dimensions will be included as well with a litany of high quality photos from the band’s history.

Additionally, most major Japanese retailers are offering specific bonuses on a first-come, first-served basis:

Musing: Tapestry (B2 Size)
Tower Records: Bandana
Yamano Music: Card Holder
HMV: Makeup Mirror
Tsutaya Records: Folding Umbrella
Shinseido: LP-size Tote Bag
Amazon: W-Pocket Clear File (A4 Size)
Rakuten: Clear File (A4 Size)
Other Stores: Post Card Set

Trailer Edition [7-Eleven Exclusive]
Price: 70,000 yen / Made-to-Order, Delivers December 20, 2017

B’z COMPLETE SINGLE BOX — Trailer Edition (7-Eleven Exclusive)

Pre-orders for the 7-Eleven exclusive “Trailer Edition” will be available from July 1 through August 7 with delivery expected to begin as of December 20. The massive package weighs in at 8kg (17 lbs) and must be pre-ordered as each will be made-to-order. The titular trailer contains fifty-three individual premium-packaged hardcase sleeves for each single that has been specially designed for each and is unique from the aforementioned “Black Edition”. Those that reserve will be sent special B’z-branded gifts in October, November, and December as well.

7-Eleven Presents B’z PREMIUM LIVE Banner:
Two shows at Zepp Tokyo and Zepp Osaka Bayside with 2,500 capacity each

Lastly, a pair of special shows will take place prior to B’z LIVE-GYM 2017-2018 in December: one at Zepp Tokyo on December 5 and another at Zepp Osaka Bayside on December 7. Entrance to the shows will be determined by lottery following reservations of the “Trailer Edition” above at 7-Eleven locations beginning in September. Each show is limited to 2,500 people with each winner receiving a pair of tickets.

B’z LIVE-GYM COLLECTION DVD Set
Included in Both Editions

In addition to all fifty-three singles on individual CDs, both editions will include a pair of DVDs featuring dedicated live footage of each and every single from past LIVE-GYMs—with some utilizing previously unreleased footage. This includes the proper home video debuts of “May“, “Kimi no Naka de Odoritai“, and “LADY-GO-ROUND“.

News

The B’z and 7-Eleven promotion reported previously will kick off on July 1 according to a new splash page on the 7-Eleven Japan website. Those interested may gain a chance to win a special B’z-branded towel for every 700 yen spent. The item will be limited to a sparse 2,000 units and will be created by upscale manufacturer Imabari Towels. Imabari have long been celebrated for their strict adherence to quality and their output is already pricey, ensuring the limited B’z-branded ones will be especially expensive on the secondary market.

UPDATE: The promotion extends further, with 7-Eleven being the exclusive retailer of the “Trailer Edition” of B’z COMPLETE SINGLE BOX which was announced later the same day.

News

The latest countdown on the official B’z website will end later today and may be related to the oft-rumored 7-Eleven tie-in previously reported here. Similarly unverified rumors suggest a massive complete singles boxset is on the horizon and may be the costliest item B’z has ever released.

Next, on July 5, recent number-one single “Seimei/Still Alive” will be released on various digital platforms including the Japanese iTunes store, RecoChoku, mora, and music.jp. The single will see its live debut next month when the band hits the road on July 13 in Kumamoto for B’z SHOWCASE 2017 -B’z In Your Town-.

The support members for the band’s 2017-2018 tours have also been announced, with the familiar line-up assembled in 2011 all returning:

Drums: Shane Gaalaas

Bass: Barry Sparks

Backing Guitar: Ohga Yoshinobu

Keyboards: Takanobu Masuda

News

Last week, leaks originating on various Japanese message boards indicated B’z may soon be involved in a promotion with convenience store chain 7-Eleven in Japan. Those that have visited Japan have seen how ubiquitous the brand is in the country—in fact, there are more 7-Eleven stores in Japan than anywhere else, responsible for housing over 30% of their locations. Exact details of the promotion are yet to be confirmed, with one unverified post suggesting it could amount to a special live concert for select winners.

B’z 7-Eleven promotion redemption form

Today, apparent confirmation of some cross promotion came with the uncovering of a form on the 7-Eleven Japan website. For every 700 yen spent, there is a chance to receive a lottery ticket for at least a B’z-themed towel and possibly other unannounced prizes. There should be more news announced later this week.

News

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland (Credit: WSJ)

As was just announced on their official Facebook page with a feature in the Wall Street Journal, the world-renowned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be expanding to Tokyo this September. Already inductees in Hollywood’s RockWalk as its first ever Asian artists, B’z should be within the initial contenders after balloting begins—if not the outright favorites—once local artists are taken into account. The expansion will begin with a local exhibit established to showcase memorabilia from existing inductees such as Deep Purple and The Beatles.

As quoted in our article on the history between B’z and American rock legends Aerosmith—themselves inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2001—this is not the first time a similar sentiment has been put forth. Writing in 2002, David Higashi of Eye-ai Magazine suggested such recognition would be inevitable:

“Here is a hypothetical question for all J-Pop fans out there: If the Japanese recording industry were to establish a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tomorrow, which artist would be most deserving to be the inaugural member? Of course, the question barely needs to be asked, since there is really only one answer, and that answer is B’z. It is no understatement to say that B’z is to J-Pop what Michael Jordan was to basketball (only without the constant barrage of retirements and returns).”

Just yesterday it was announced that B’z have scored their 49th consecutive number-one hit with the suitably hard rock single “Seimei/Still Alive“.

Feature

A very special acknowledgment goes out to Keen for the archive of materials that contributed to this article. A great debt is owed to her not only for this article but for supporting international B’z fandom from its infancy.

Aerosmith formed nearly two full decades before B’z and, by the time Tak Matsumoto and Koshi Inaba made their joint debut on September 21, 1988, had already sold well over 25 million records worldwide. “Dream On”, “Sweet Emotion”, “Walk This Way”, “Mama Kin”, “Back in the Saddle”, and “Draw the Line” had all long been released. Already commonly hailed as both the “Bad Boys from Boston” and the definitive American rock band, Aerosmith had by then already toured the world, broken up and spent a half-decade without its core line-up, reunited, battled drug addiction, and earned a reputation as both the hardest rocking and most volatile band around. The group’s biggest personalities and likewise its brightest stars—vocalist Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry—earned the joint moniker “the Toxic Twins” as a result.

So distant were these two bands in age that B’z guitarist Tak Matsumoto spent his high school years playing Aerosmith songs in his bedroom, whilst a young Koshi Inaba considered Steven Tyler a top vocalist whose ability and stage presence were to be striven toward. What the two acts undoubtedly have in common is success: both topped their respective music industries, both established themselves as definitive rock icons whose staying power is long beyond reproach.

What’s more, despite the different eras from which they hailed and the ages that separate them, the divergent paths of B’z and Aerosmith would later intersect in a way that would make rock history and prove an indelible moment for fans of both bands.

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