December is winding down so I’ve decided to make a little best and worst list for this year. Also, I’ve enabled comments from anonymous users so everyone get involved with this! I want to know your picks!
A single blurb is not enough to explain Yoshiki’s triumphs this year so let’s break it down.
ABC NEWS- During the summer, Yoshiki was interviewed on ABC world news, being referred to as the next Bono. He promoted X’s tour and ambitiously declared that X would become the next Beatles. Farfetched? Maybe, but the bottom line is that the man made it to American primetime television.
Surprise, surprise-X Japan made it to the Tokyo dome (again), toured the US, released A LOT of shit, then added a few amped up PVs into the mix.
The Ultimate Sponsor- Hello Kitty was a loner until she met Yoshiki…Together they did something unheard of, they gave the rock star his own character and thus, Yoshikitty was born. The Yoshikitty line, released in May, includes plushies, t-shirts, stationary, you name it. Now if only Gackt could hop on board that money wagon and stop selling those bizarre FRIED CHICKENz products.
Once every generation, there come few bands able to suffer so quietly when clearly being overworked. Congratulations VAMPS and GazettE, you’re well on your way to becoming the first bionic musicians! They keep going and going and going…
So what did they do anyway?
VAMPS- New Album Beast, World Tour, Three Singles.
When I talked to the VAMPS promoters at Otakon, they mentioned that they knew where VAMPS would be working every single day this year. Yes, every single day.
The GazettE- Tokyo Dome Live, 3 Singles, Move to SONY Records, Nameless Liberty Six Bullets Tour
GazettE really takes the cake on this one. The Nameless Liberty Six Bullets tour had 22 dates with a kick-off at the Nippon Budokan. The second leg ended the tour in november with 17 shows.
This year was great for comebacks despite hearing news of disbandment left and right. In January, Kiyoharu announced the return of both of his bands, SADS and Kuroyume. SADS turned out to be the main focus for most of the year with 2 new albums and a single, but an album for Kuro is currently in the works. In august, LUNA SEA announced their comeback and went on to do their Reboot tour.
Over the summer, rumors ran rapid about a MALICE MIZER comeback when Mana announced that Moi dix Mois would be doing a live with ex. MM members Kozi and Yu~ki. Unfortunately nothing seems to be in the works for a return…at least not this year.
Suffering from a car accident and losing your vocalist right before you release your first PV is certainly one of the most devastating setbacks a band can experience. However Gakido has really gone above and beyond to conquer what could have been the end. With only twin vocals (leader Yohya and guitarist Shutaro), Gakido returned with three singles during the summer. In October they added a third vocalist, Kahiro, and have announced a new single and album for early next year.
This band actually isn’t bad; they just have a terrible name. You don’t have to take marketing to know that the fan base is going to have a hard time explaining to people what exactly it is they’re listening to. I imagine if you catch the wrong end of the conversation, you might wonder why your buddy is reciting their bank account number. But like I said; decent band…just expect a name change if they go major.
Three consecutive singles and a nationwide tour=hiatus? I have to say, I was pissed when I found out Leda’s brainchild was taking a break, especially considering how quickly they’ve grown in two years. Usually hiatus of course means imminent disbandment but who knows with this one. DELUHI does have a live DVD coming out this month from their Blitzkrieg tour so their winning streak has yet to screech to a complete halt.
If you read the Kiwamu interview from their US tour earlier this year, it’s obvious that the Darkest/Starwave overlord is completely fed up with his lazy band mate. It’s easy to say that perhaps Kiwamu was having a bad day, or maybe that even GPK has gotten his act together since, but the future still looks grim for the vocalist. My number one suggestion for anyone who likes a good laugh is to follow Kiwamu on facebook. The guitarist makes a habit of anonymously complaining about a certain someone (in great detail) on a weekly basis. Oh, and the posts come by the dozen. If GPK doesn’t get back to work, he’ll certainly be dethroned.
I tried to think of a proper title for this category but the more I thought, the more I realized that this year has been an incredibly somber one for jrock. 2010 was unfortunate because so many musicians and industry personnel were lost. Piyo (Gakido), Daisuke (Kagerou/the STUDS), Shunsuke(Eldorado/bis)…the list keeps going. Even the owner of Red List passed away, leaving its bands without a label and with little money to support their activities. Hopefully next year will be a year without such sadness.
This article is great XD The last one especially made me crack up so hard.. "Most likely to get fired" LOL
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can add more, like "Best Disbandment this Year" or "Best Name Change."
Rubab
I just haven't figured out why Gakido needs three vocalists yet...
ReplyDeleteBecause more members = more posters and photo sets to sell?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe they are thinking they can sing on key better with more voices (Not how it's supposed to work, guys...)
Rubab
I was just thinking about how I ought to get working on my own year-end recap when I came across this. I loved your categories, especially the last one. XD
ReplyDeletePersonally I thing The gazette is boring already..
ReplyDeleteAnd full of nothing.. yes they work too much but hey I mean take a break what are they trying to prove anyway? and music is getting worse and worse.. get your priorities I mean obviously they don't have potential or the time to do both.
So instead of making such a mess they should go either with tour without making so much songs..(only good one was pledge and naraku if that is from this year, I get lost often coz they make soooo much shit) any way yea or that or just less tour dates.. and give them self some time do one qualitative single!
Thank you that is what I wanted to say.. and Deluhi WTF?!
@hibari
ReplyDeleteThanks! I can't wait to see your year in review!
@anonymous
recently I have a lot of mixed feelings about the quality of gazette's work...but nonetheless they do seem to be working their asses off XD
@rubab
Maybe I should add Most Confusing Stint-Ayabie hahaha
I don't think the DELUHI takeover is over. They're become more and more amazing with time. But the categories are amusing and I hope GPK doesn't get dethroned.
ReplyDeleteHappy I'm not the only one who did a year end post. Very encouraging~