—Since the story has turned into flattery, I will go on to the next (laugh). About Chuyu, what are the circumstances of how you met?

I met Chiyu about 3 years ago. When I was having a meal with Aoi of The GazettE, it was Chiyu who came over and said “Can I call you junior?”  In fact, prior to that, we (Nightmare) had been an opening band with SuG. But since we didn’t have an opportunity to talk at that time, no backstage greetings and such, it actually felt like this was our first meeting with each other. After that, we got along perfectly while in Hokkaido.

—Both of you were on tour in Hokkaido at the same time?

Yeah, yeah. Since I knew Takeru from before, I had originally contacted him saying “Hey, if you are over this way, let’s drink together!”  Takeru replied with “But Chiyu is saying he wants to go too.”  I said “Well in THAT case, let’s all three of us go drinking!”  Somehow, we were getting along right away at that place! But that… it was mysterious; I wonder what you call that feeling, to drink with people you know out in a small town (not Tokyo metro)? You know what I mean?

—I guess changing the situation(location) makes the mood a little different from the usual.

What would it be…? It felt like we were hanging around on a trip, something natural and binding just happened by itself. I feel we had instantly “clicked,” despite the fact Chiyu and I still hadn’t known each other for long. Formerly, he was the delinquent of Amagasaki because he’s rambunctious (laugh); but even so, Chiyu is diligent.  He was recently doing solo bass vocals while SuG was on break.  When I went to that recent live, it was cool with awesome rock. SuG is essentially pop, is it not.  But Chiyu himself is also gifted as a rock musician, you know!

—You made the first recording of GREMLINS as you wished – with Kenzo, Mizuki, and Chiyu; what kind of feedback were you able to acquire?

July and August of this year have already been hell (bitter laugh).  August in particular, because there were various Nightmare things to do and I definitely had to write lyrics for this solo project; I thought it was impossible. But it couldn’t be helped; so I wrote lyrics while travelling, taking full advantage of the iPhone’s memo function.  I’m always hopping from place to place; but the day before yesterday (interview was early Sept), I finished recording the vocals for all 4 songs! Three originals and 1 cover song; the cover was hide’s [Dice].

—Continuing with the tributes, this is the second, right?

Fortunately, when I did [D.O.D] I received good reviews from people who are hide fans; but back when I was a junior high student, [DICE] was the first song I could copy perfectly on guitar.  Thinking along those lines, this would be my first time to sing, wouldn’t it? Since it was, I thought that for my first time as a vocalist, I’d choose the song that was my “first.”  I love this song!! I don’t even know how many times I’ve listened it (over the years). Fortunately, singing [DICE] was easy compared to my original songs.

—But this, isn’t its tempo a little faster than the original song?

It is 30 BPM (beats per minute) faster, so this time the guitar was wicked cool, you know. The song was surprisingly easy to sing really, but even so the guitar solo was fast! Especially places in the first half. Even while I was thinking “There’s absolutely no way I can play it like this!” I gave it my all (bitter smile).

—Surely hide-san would be pleased with the finished product.

Truly hide-san is a god to me, even now. If I hadn’t had hide-san, I surely wouldn’t be who I am now.  I have a real name as a person that my parents gave me at birth, but the one who gave birth to me as Hits and Hitsugi is hide-san. I say these kinds of things, and do things like have red hair; there are some people who might think I’m copying, but that’s not necessarily copying, is it. Even make-up, mine is thicker than hide-san’s (laugh).

—When I listen to this, I understand!!  Although it stays as faithful as possible to the original song, it is undeniably a cover rather than a copy.  It’s the end result when love is properly sublimed.

If I could feel that, I’d be happy. hide-san would probably not be pleased if I was just imitating. But even if I was told “You resemble him” I would be happy. What do they say? Isn’t it natural for a child to resemble the parent?

—That is what people say.

I was born and raised in hide-san. Though it’s completely subconscious, a part has been imprinted and I can’t help that. I’m not (intentionally) squeezing it out, but I can’t stop it from leaking out on its own. For me, hide-san is a life-long inspiration, not an end goal.

—A cover such as this is captivating, but in the first CD The Carnival, there’s a feeling which emanates from the original songs and it’s also very powerful. As long as you hear this sound, is it fine to think of GREMLINS music as rock ‘n’ roll at its core?

Exactly! This time, I was supposed to begin with KNZ, when we talked about “Well, I wonder what kind of songs we should do?”  we decided “Let’s play difficult songs which young people can’t play well. Maybe even ones that are a little weird.” In other words, it was “cool rock” but simple I guess. After that, I also wanted to do a ‘party rock” song.

—Anyway, RUKA’s band The LEGENDARY SIX NINE, finished recording without any of the members getting together at the same time; but for GREMLINS, it seems that particular aspect was different, right?

I wonder if it was the middle of August. The label asked us to come individually to Tokyo, even Mizuki, and then did a 2 day practice before recording. Each of us, without our respective managers, using an effect board, carrying our instrument in a soft case, going to the studio with everyone, even doing the settings themselves. Everybody was saying “It feels nostalgic! Like student-times.”

—For reference, I want you to tell me what kinds of things you thought the first time all 4 of you played together.

First of all, it was noisy (laughs). KNZ was loud, Mizuki was rough, and Chiyu was also quite heavy. But at first, Mizuki and Chiyu had been saying things like, “We suck!!  We’re not playing!”  even before the rehearsal; I was saying stuff like, “That’s fine. So I just won’t play at all.”  But KNZ said, “What the hell, you guys! Do it right!” acting angry, but with a smile. The scene was also a little interesting in previous rehearsals.

—KNZ… he is the band boss??

He’s like the band boss, being too serious (laughs).  It means that quite often when I say something, he thoughtfully considers it like “Then what should we do about that.”

—That’s downright reliable.

But, it’s not just KNZ, you know. Before doing GREMLINS together, my relationship with Mizuki and Chiyu was a “seniors and juniors” type of course; but since going out doing this together, for me specifically it has already gone.

—Because you are standing on the same playing field, right?

Essentially, we are members of the same band.  Even though officially they were “support.”

—Such a sense of intimacy and unity, have they even sprouted in the support team; and if so to what degree?

It seems so. During a conversation they said to me, “It’s okay if we don’t get paid, just let us do it!” (laughs).

—Good story!

Well as for the PV’s story, the production was rushed and there were also a variety of unforeseen circumstances; consequently, the PV did not turn out the way we had wanted.  But I was happy that Mizuki and Chiyu said the things they said. In the evening after the first rehearsal, the 4 of us went to eat for the first time as a group, it was fun, and it made me super excited.  Even though we had a rehearsal the next day, we drank until 6 am (laughs).

—Fun above all else, but after that was it okay?

There KNZ said to me “Tomorrow, you sing again so you drink too much because I have to sing again tomorrow.”   But you know, that’s probably the reason why it’s interesting and fresh. In NIGHTMARE, proposing to go eat with everyone after the rehearsal, we don’t do that do we? Gathering just the band, putting out the sound, and then after that eating a meal with everyone and getting excited; it just doesn’t get any better than that! “No, I’ll drink today because I’m so nervous. It’s not non-alcoholic, I go in “on alcohol!” I said.

—That stance itself is the epitome of rock and roll.

It’s not like I can’t have fun apart from NIGHTMARE, but I don’t want you to misunderstand. Buying a new instrument, putting on new strings, activities like these are exciting, aren’t they? As a feeling, I’d say it’s something close to that. I think it’s good, letting everyone listen to this recording early.

—By the time this magazine comes out, it’s likely the first CD of GREMLINS will have already arrived in everyone’s hands. We who have listened will be more than just a little surprised I think. After all, your singing is impressive and wonderful, like a natural rock vocalist. Also because people from those offices had sung and recommended it, I am convinced!

Really? Have I properly become a song vocalist? If I was, then all the effort I put into doing my best was worth it (laughs).

—During the recording period, isn’t it true that you were praised by the engineer?

He could have said the singing was tasty, and it evolved in a short period of time. But me, I don’t know that kind of thing too well.

—Your self-confidence as a vocalist is still not high up there?

Essentially I want to be a guitarist. However, compared to the first time, it might have improved somewhat. Since the starting point was “If you’re going to karaoke anyway, how unreasonable is it that the song be my own;” thinking about it, it might be that now I can sing to without resistance… to some extent.

—So far I’ve heard many Instrumental artists and their performances from when they became singers for their own solo project; your case seems to be that very rare successful story.

It’s something, but I feel a responsibility. Even during the making of previous NIGHTMARE CDs, every time I was recording I was keenly aware that I was making something that would last a lifetime. But up to now (the responsibility) was 1/5, if you divide by the number of band members. In GREMLINS there isn’t a dramatic increase in that ratio; however, the band “type” being a solo project, seems to increase my own responsibility. After all, what is most important; in music it is probably the melody and singing more than anything else. The responsibility to face this feels renewed and really big.

—There is the basic premise/ theory, of being on the go doing music according to Hits, right.

So it seems, not only for Hits, but for Hitsugi of NIGHTMARE too. Instrumental artists are another, they seem like us because they are doing the music on which the singing is based, of course; but Zozzy’s (YOMI’s) singing is the most important, right. If you had to do what Zozzy has been doing, no matter how you do it, it is going to be a burden. From the start of recording it was a state of trial and error; I worried about if it was really coming together.

—To be honest, we are hearing only the “finished” sound and I didn’t know that there had been such a great background. The feeling that singing is fun,  wasn’t it born inside you?

Fun…….?? Well I can’t say so yet. I will still stand up to fear; and I’m starting to care more about the finer details, such as pitch when singing. When playing guitar, I can go intuitively rather than thinking in my head; but with singing, that is not the case. I want to improve in that area somehow, even if just little, before the upcoming live. (The Gremlins live finished on October 19^th, before the release of this magazine.)

—Well come to think of it, I forgot to ask that one important thing. This solo unit, why was it named Gremlins?

You know, originally it wasn’t a band or even a unit (a wry smile).  From the outset, I was told “You’re doing a solo.”  So, “It’s the artist’s name” and it probably will not change from Hitsugi(kanji).

—For example, changing the way of writing hitsugi and HITSUGI would be the limit I guess.

It was unpleasant for me. I mean, I just couldn’t bear to be on all the billboards alone like that. So, consequently when it was said “What should we name this kind of style,” the first thing KNZ said was ALIEN. “Hey, isn’t JIRO (GLAY) doing THE PREDATORS? So if we were ALIEN, then someday it would be possible to do an ALIEN VS THE PREDATORS live”… wouldn’t that be cool?”

—It’s a movie joke, right?

Because KNZ and I both love movies, well… but that was a half joke chat while drinking. When you consider it as a musical thing, the name ALIEN might have given people the impression that our image was something cyber, or a little digital. So, that was a no go. The next thought that came to mind was “Gremlins.” I have liked Gizmo since way back when. I thought…. “He’s cute, isn’t he. And a monster-ish thing would probably even be good.”  And you know, I just noticed when I looked up the meaning of Gremlins, they say it also means being a mischievous fairy, in addition to self-enlightenment type of thinking and such.

—I didn’t know that.

This self-enlightening thinking is probably good. I feel that the name GREMLINS fits really well, I consider it a place for my own Gremlins. And, if this name, it’s not anything that can be restricted/ bound were this name. We can do rock, we can do digital, we can even do Gothic.

—Now of the remarks, it looks good even when caught in the sense that “this earlier” there. Regarding this year, although you’ve completed the first stage, did lives and the release, do you already have a vision for the next?

Far from being a vision, there are still two songs which we could not include this time. As far as the schedule for next time, nothing has been decided; but I will do it again someday. And I don’t know for sure, but ΚNZ also seems motivated; he does only the chorus, and yet for some reason he has recently gone to vocal training (laugh).  I’m not stopping after just once because I’m having fun with this.

NIGHTMARE guitarist Hitsugi started the solo unit GREMLINS and he handles guitar and vocals as Hits. It seems like the opportunity was a string of random coincidences; and with partner KNZ at the top the list and Mizuki and Chiyu as support, Hitsugi enjoys the music and his buddies (drinking buddies?) with whom he can share his mind; a project style that should be overflowing with excitement like when they first came together to start the band. From details about GREMLINS origin, up thru the execution of the project, I made a direct hit on ringleader Hits/Hitsugi.

—Nice to meet you. This time you are appearing in the magazine as Hits, the mastermind of the new unit GREMLINS, not as Hitsugi of Nightmare.  First of all, please tell us, when did the concept of this project start?

No no no! It wasn’t like that.  Let’s just say “from about when” because I hadn’t thought of such a thing at all, especially in the beginning. So, it was just a little bit before I had made the song for [Nameko].

—Nameko, do you mean [Nameko CD] made from the smart phone game app [Nameko growing kit]?

Yeah. I often used to say “I love Nameko” on Twitter; one day an offer came from the other end “Why don’t you make a song,” and I participated in the making of a piece called [No. 20].  After that, this year I also received the news of hide-san’s tribute and was given the opportunity to participate in [D.O.D.[ DRINK OR DIE].

—The vocals were recorded as Hitsugi from Nightmare, right!

But that didn’t necessarily mean I wanted to do the vocals! I say these kinds of things to myself; but in regards to that, the main office told me, “Since you have such a good voice, sing it yourself.”  At least I had a chance to sing in a 3-piece group called “My rhythm + me”, when we did the part change at Nightmare’s fan club live. In general, I don’t really like my voice. So at first I really thought “What about this, I wonder if it’s okay.” Since I finished hide-san’s tribute, next when it became talk of doing a solo, I thought “None of the fans will want to listen to my song.”  Also in terms of timing, there was “I wonder if now is a good time?”

—What do you mean by that?

After all, this year is the 10 year anniversary of Nightmare’s major (label) debut, isn’t it? So if I said something about solo activity, surely the fans would become worried.

—As usual, you are so kind thinking of the fans.  I just want to ask, various things (details) aside, do you genuinely like to sing, or do you hate it? Tell us the truth, which is it?

Eh.  Singing, do I like it or hate it…?   I think maybe in a general sense I like it. When I go to karaoke with everyone, I usually sing when my turn comes up…well I try. But I don’t go and (practice for hours) all by myself.

—I see. Indeed, for those of us who were expecting to meet the vocalist existing within Hits of GREMLINS, that was an unexpected twist.

It is, isn’t it! (laugh)

—In Nightmare, quite often the distortion effect is applied, even when recording the chorus.

Plus, I’m usually just shouting, aren’t I.  Nowadays, recording as GREMLINS, I still can’t capture the feelings like a reputable vocalist… to be honest. Be that as it may, when I was finished doing hide-san’s tribute, there was a completed form somehow my own “landing point” had appeared.

—In the sense that there is a role model, it might be so.

But when it comes to the original, this was very difficult.  Even though the guitar recording went well, when it came to vocal recording, it was panic from Melody A, you know. “What? I wonder where I should be going with this (musically)…” (bitter smile).

—It turns out then, choosing a partner for GREMLINS was a pretty important decision for you, since you’re still an inexperienced, newcomer vocalist.

In GREMLINS, I am making songs with KNZ.

—KNZ, KENZO (previously from AYABIE) and you have already been friends for quite a long time?

It’s already been about 10 years I think!  I’d known him since before doing AYABIE; there had been the news that “he’d decided to join AYABIE at that time.”  But over and over, he was always saying “Someday I want to do something together.”  There was this one time, when we were both really drunk, that we went in for a rehearsal in the middle of the night!

—The 2 of you?

Yeah, 3 people including Aki from SiD. We drank, from there we went to Aki’s house, and we borrowed a bass and a guitar that Aki had.  Just like that we went into the studio in the middle of the night, and we copied LunaSea and hide-san.  But everyone was drunk (laugh).

—I would have wanted to see that (laugh).

Well… at that time, I thought “KENZO is a really loud drummer.”  Until then, the only band I played with was Nightmare; Ruka is probably a more subtle (technical?) type. Conversely, KENZO is a power drummer, in any case the raw sound is huge. So, whenever I put out my usual level of sound like I do when I’m with the band, for some reason the sound of my guitar ends up feeling small. I had thought, “Well that’s a little strange.”

—And so, when starting up GREMLINS at this time with him, around that time you apparently found an ally it seems. Kenzo had left AYABIE in July of this summer.

Ah, you’re right. Like I’d said earlier, as to whether or not the timing was good, there was some uncertainty; but in that sense, it might BE “now.”  It made me so happy that first time I greeted KENZO and he answered with “Tell you what, if you do the solo project, I’ll be drums!” (laugh).

—In addition, with respect to GREMLINS, Hits and KNZ are full members, but for recording and lives Chiyu(SuG) and Mizuki(Sadie) are participating as support.

About that… to me it feels like Chiyu and Mizuki are members rather than the support. It is a “solo unit” in name only, I think of GREMLINS as a band.  Of course it’s completely different from Nightmare, but this is its own band after all!

—By the way, I would also like to know why you, the original guitarist, issued an offer to Mizuki.

Mizuki is likeable as a guitarist. But also imagining my time standing on stage made me think “I want to have a proper lead guitarist or else they will look at me standing center stage;” if I had to ask someone, it would be him.

—About how long have you been friends with Mizuki?

Maybe it’s been 5 or 6 years. Long ago when I went to Osaka on tour, Mizuki was out drinking at (the same) place where I had been invited by Tatsu (Tatsurou from MUCC); we first met there.  Prior to that, I wonder was it around 2004?….  Mao-kun had met him previously, at that time I heard the news that Mao-kun was joining a band called Sadie.  So, it turns out we met 2 or 3 years after that, I think. When we first met, I didn’t think we would become such good friends; but even seeing him live he’s an attractive guitarist, not JUST a cool guy; I really like that.  Doesn’t it feel like he’s ranting on and on to the fans from upon stage? It’s great!

—That there is sex appeal as a guitarist.

As for musicians… there are people who can be sensual on stage; and then there are people who can’t. Mizuki is a person who can do it. Tsurugi-kun is also a really great player and cool, but he is a manly type of guitarist. And Mizuki is a little androgynous at times, but Tsurugi-kun… again is completely different, you know! I like a person’s character to have sex appeal. However, in Sadie Mizuki is the “lesser” guitarist. Isn’t he the “lesser” guitarist even in Karasu? So this time, for my band I said “Good luck, do your best as lead guitar” (laugh).

—Words like that put on considerable amount of pressure.

Well, but this kind of experience will surely lead to good results when he returned to Sadie, won’t it?  For example, if he starts to understand Tsurugi-kun’s feelings. For me, being lead guitar from the center is a new experience, and being a new kind of stimulus for each other is a good thing I think!

—Did Mizuki accept immediately?

Yeah, he was saying “Me…am I good enough?   So I replied “You are GOOD!!!”  Mizuki is cute, isn’t he!

…to be continued

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Hits (Hitsugi/NIGHTMARE) and KNZ (BVCCI HAYNES) from the unit GREMLINS. So far they’ve released two singles, [the Carnival] and [故]. It has been one and a half years from start-up to the launch of their 1st album [MAD THEATER] on February 18. Let’s tell the whole picture here.

 

 

 

 

 

****Hits-san as Hitsugi of NIGHTMARE, KNZ-san as BVCCI HAYNES. May we think of GREMLINS as extracurricular activities since there is a “home group” for each of you?

Hits(Vo & Gt): Participating as support members are guitarist Mizuki of Sadie, and bassist Chiyu a member of SuG; so all the members participating in GREMLINS have (another) band that is the main group.  If you liken it to school, (if the main bands are like the classes) it feels like after-school extracurricular activities. However, since everybody gets together to try to play seriously, making the most of their (limited) time, GREMLINS is just like the main bands. Without a doubt GREMLINS is, for the 4 of us, a place for significant expression.

**** GREMLINS, which began in June 2013, released its 1st single [The Carnival] in October of the same year and its 2nd single [Yue] in March 2014, has finally released its 1st album [MAD THEATER] one and a half years after the band’s formation. In this work, many different characters are revealed. Is the content (of the album) constructed as unfolding stories of various people?

Hits: They are expressed by the theme given to each song. If you think of it as a movie, the images would be like short scenes (Theater) which have “emotionally disturbed” (Mad) adults in them.

**** The heroes who appeared in the music, they all have their feelings stretched to the edge of madness.

Hits: I think everyone has “sickness” and “darkness” in their heart; but people can not successfully control it so eventually they are going to breakdown. That being said, it’s not all negative stories; there’s some music that conveys the feelings of “love” and a song done with the theme of alcohol; so there are bright songs too, they’re not all devoted to one particular type.

KNZ (Dr): Regarding the album [MAD THEATER], I went back to features more like the time of the 1st single [The Carnival]  which first defined the GREMLINS likeness. In addition to that, even while depicting the world-view after that, I finished the work of compiling the history of GREMLINS up to now.

**** Certainly, lively personalities and their stories have been protrayed. [Bacchus] which was also recorded as PV on the [A Type], the surrounding liquor… it’s a song that depicts a sensation of being drunk isn’t it?

Hits: Exactly, it is a song in which “liquor” was the theme. The PV was shot in a club-like atmosphere, the four band members performing surrounded by a bunch of people, fans and models who were mixed together and acting rowdy. When you watch this rambunctious video, it makes you want to join the crowd over there, I wonder if it seems like that.

**** In [Bacchus], you depict an excessively indulgent state of mind; then in [Mourou suspense], it’s a man on the verge of madness who could X(kill) at any moment.

Hits: Because the hero went to X(kill) a person. As for the suspense part, exploring someone who is a criminal is a real thrill I think; but even writing “X” and “?” on the lyrics card for this song is a play on that riddle.

**** [Cinderella] is full of cleverly written imagery that’s quite erotic.

Hits: It is, both live and in-store. The fans who come to meet the members are always making themselves look attractive. I’m a Hide fan too, so I KNOW that psychology. I wondered, can we write that “fan psychology” from a woman’s perspective. As for the erotic imagery, it is because I feel like “I have fans like that too!” In terms of fan psychology [Hidden + a] is a song which I wrote honestly about my feelings for Hide, who I hold in my heart as a yearning; but in the sense that the “hide” in [Hidden], in here I’m even hiding Hide’s name.

**** Oh, what do you mean?

Hits: If you take out the “dn” of Hidden it becomes Hide! Also the “+ A” added to the title, if you connect it to the leftovers it becomes “dna”. In other words, it was attached because I felt like “I want to connect to Hide’s legacy”; likewise the lyrics reminisce back to the time when Hide died, from the place where the story had begun.

**** I thought it was about thoughts/feelings for another person who I could’t meet.

Hits: That is because it was written to be taken as thoughts/feelings for someone special who died.

KNZ: He likes to make an underlying theme (hidden meaning) to the lyrics. It seems like a typical story at face value, but the black point of view comes out when a different interpretation is taken and you say “it’s saying such a cool thing.”

Hits: [Bereavement], which is about thinking of important people who died, has a hidden theme of “masturbation?”  [INSANE] is the song of XXX, because the lyrics line up to make a hidden mnemonic. In the songs we recorded, an underlying theme may or may not always be present. Since music will change meanings and feelings depending on how it’s perceived, I’ll be happy if each one of you get it in your own way and have fun.

**** On the “B Type” you have also recorded Hide’s [50% and 50%].

Hits:  It was assumed we would, since we had recorded covers of Hide’s music for 2 singles；all 13 songs recorded for the album are a whole GREMLINS’s work, not a single one can be excluded. This time when making [A/B Type], I didn’t want do a Bonus Track by cutting 1 song from there. Therefore, [50% and 50%] which had been set aside to use on the next single, was used as the Bonus Track for B Type.

**** This album explores that which can be explored, it is likely that various feelings that were buried will come bleeding out.

KNZ: Sometimes there will be bright lyrics in dark song, sometimes vice versa.  So it is work that you can enjoy to how exploring hidden feelings, including the hidden themes that were put in the lyrics. If the [MAD THEATER] album itself, becomes a culminating work based on what we’ve expressed this past year and a half, and that it created for you this album, it will be more interesting how we can show the GREMLINS worldview in our first one-man tour, starting from here on out, by all means, we should make it together with everyone.

Hits: We are going to present a view of the [MAD THEATER] world, not tied to the album, to do a live where you are able to enjoy the current GREMLINS; so now it’s just trial and error, of course I want you to look forward to what will happen, but since our juggling of schedules is terrible, plan on seeing GREMLINS live now, because I don’t know when will be the next time you can see. Don’t miss this chance, I want you to come and experience a live that is alive!

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Although there are many different “sounds,” they were all put together in a single genre called GREMLINS on their 1st Album [MAD THEATER]. This is carried over to GREMLINS’s first one-man tour [MAD SHOW] which has reached the tour final at the Shinjuku ReNY performance on March 5. Since this day is also the birthday of vocalist Hits, excitement swelled and the venue was wrapped in more enthusiasm than usual.

March 5, the tour final of GREMLINS’s first one-man tour [MAD SHOW] as well as being a commemorative for Hits’s birthday. I thought it would be a fun playground with such intensity, it became a LIVE that left a deep vivid impression.

Each and every song was dramatic indeed, in a manner of speaking the current tour carries the [MAD THEATER] album like a (book)collection of short stories. Suddenly the hall went dark and the volume came up, background music made as the intro for the album’s first song [Film], also enhanced the feeling of anticipation. A large cheer greeted the members as they appeared one after another, as soon as they entered they played [Film] with KNZ’s powerful drumming… was it not a tremendous overwhelming feeling!? It was truly amazing. Not getting buried in the thunderous roar, Hits’s voice also projected well.

During [The Carnival] Mizuki and Chiyu stood at the edge of the stage, which rapidly increased enthusiasm. Hits and KNZ together had said, “We definitely wanted to tour (around) with 4 people, which included Mizuki and Chiyu.” There’s a magnificent power balance that has grown during the tour. That can also be said for the MC, the merciless bantering from the Kansai people (Mizuki and Chiyu) on the left and the right whenever Hits said something, and watching affectionately!? was KNZ. The exchange was very funny.

Approaching the drums, Mizuki and Chiyu synchronized breathing with KNZ [Yue]. Hits exchanged glances with KNZ [Trigger]. In the intro Hits, Mizuki, and Chiyu had gathered at KNZ’s drum set [Mourou Suspense]. Each song’s ingenious view of the world really made the live shine; of course the members’ performances excited us and things like raising a fist, yelling in a loud voice, “full-body” headbanging, even the rather serious way the floor shook, made it even better.

While playing, Mizuki and Chiyu consulted and also (stirred things up) by sandwiching Hits on the left and right [INSANE]. The expressiveness of a woman’s perspective that Hits performed made us feel “doki” [Cinderella]. Then, while mezmerised by the variety of colorful music, something unexpected happened. Hits announced “A song that has not been done yet in the current tour …” and as he tried to lead into [50%&50%], the three other guys began playing Nightmare’s [The World]. This, to celebrate Hits’s birthday!? they had cleverly planned a surprise. Hits gave a blank look, not understanding what was going on. The rehearsal of the surprise was a huge success, much to the delight of the other three. KNZ’s amusement?? when watching over the son’s majestic figure, it was his way of saying “just because NicoNico is allowed to broadcast an exclusive live, that’s no reason for pranksters to behave.”

On top of that, Chiyu’s slap (bass) and Hits’s guitar solo also got us excited [Fellow Traveler]. Piercing into catchy pop doing GREMLINS to the extreme, the floor was a mixed up mess [Bacchus]. Then doing a complete 180, they concluded the main part in melancholy color [LOVE YOU]. The power of Hits’s vocals didn’t wane until the end, I remembered the passion/emotion.

It was “With sake!” instead of “Encore!” that voices called out to the 4 guys who had appeared once again; the members and the audience sang the Birthday Song to Hits and… Hits reacted to the message engraved on the cake (on the plate) that had been carried out. In addition, a sash with the words “I am ARU chuu(an alcoholic)” was draped (across Hits) by the staff; on the spur of the moment, pictures of members on Hits’ beloved IPAD (were shared); as well as various members “playing” with toy snakes and cockroaches, and getting “schooled” about carrots; the marks for standing position (on the stage) had been graffitied… but members and staff did not stop the mischievous encounters of chaos there. In the momentum, [DOD] was longer than usual and the alcohol was 35 proof! The 4 guys gulped Jagermeister. Precisely the idea behind DRINK OR DIE. Soon after this concert, there was a SuG autographing event for Chiyu to attend; he rocks (as in “he’s so cool” I think).

It didn’t stop at all. In response to the call “Bring sake!”… a double icon call. The song was [Bacchus] which is indeed perfectly suited (for the call). There in that place, everyone could unleash their smiles. “I want to play while watching the dream” the words (from Bacchus) had became reality. GREMLINS, their thoroughly free playfulness was the wonder drug that repainted a mundane everyday existence.

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