KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT B'Z RIGHT HERE

[racso64]

OK for starters B'z has about 500 songs  so if you have like 60-100 songs
you have to catch up
If you dont know who are B'z. B'z its a rock and roll Band in japan they have made openings and ending for Detective Conan and as well other shows too and video games. (i think)

[Zdm321]

OK for starters B'z has about 500 songs  so if you have like 60-100 songs
you have to catch up
If you dont know who are B'z. B'z its a rock and roll Band in japan they have made openings and ending for Detective Conan and as well other shows too and video games. (i think)

Do you know what Tak did last summer? 

[Jd-]

So, as promised, I'll start throwing in some B'z tidbits (mostly the ones that I've gone over on DCTV while airing B'z videos of varying sorts).

I guess I'll start with the one that makes most people go ":o". At the 2002 FIFA World Cup (Japan/Korea), the closing ceremony featured two of the biggest rock acts both locally and abroad: Aerosmith & B'z. Everyone knows Aerosmith (I Don't Want to Miss A Thing, Dream On, Crazy, etc), but not too many people knew B'z outside of Asia. Despite being Japan's #1 selling rock group and having more Oricon sales records than any other band, B'z rarely do/did anime tie-in themes. Of course, everyone here should know the Conan songs they've contributed, but beyond that, there have only been a few others. Given how much Japanese bands receive when one of their songs is featured on a popular anime, it isn't too surprising that B'z went largely unnoticed stateside (given that Conan was only aired here in the summer of 2004).

The planning committee for the World Cup International Day wanted a show that would speak to the entire world. The organizers had been asking Aerosmith to headline for years, but when they were asked the final time, the spokesman is quoted as saying: "We have asked Aerosmith to perform live for us a long time ago, but their answer was only if we ask B'z to perform together with them."

And so, they did.

The setlists went like this, with B'z taking the stage first:

  B'z
  1. juice
  2. DEVIL
  3. ZERO
  4. love me, I love you
  5. Warp
  6. Blue Sunshine
  7. GO★FIGHT★WIN
  8. STAY GREEN ~Mijuku na Tabi wa Tomaranai~
  9. Calling
  10. Atsuki Kodou no Hate
  11. FIREBALL
  12. Liar! Liar!
  13. Samayoeru Aoi Dangan
  14. girigiri chop
  15. ultra soul

  Aerosmith
  1. Back in the Saddle
  2. Love in an Elevator
  3. Just Push Play
  4. Jaded
  5. Mama Kin
  6. Pink
  7. Girls of Summer
  8. Stop Messin' Round
  9. Dream On
  10. Draw The Line
  11. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
  12. Cryin'
  13. Walk This Way
  14. Uncle Salty ~ Sweet Emotion

Surely, everyone will recognize a dozen or so of the songs between the two bands. And then, Aerosmith had their encore set...


  Aerosmith (Encore)
  15. Theme From Spiderman
  16. What It Takes
  17. Livin' on the Edge


What followed was perhaps the most epic moment in the history of soccer or rock and roll. For those of you not too-cool-for-school, you can see the entire moment here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUb8WHAqOto

Spoiler:

Steven Tyler: "We'd like to bring the B'z out here!"

  Aerosmith & B'z
  Train Kept A Rollin'

"Train Kept A Rollin'" itself is a cover, so it was only appropriate to combine forces for it.

Next time, I'll probably go into some of the more prestigious honors that B'z have received in their day.

[Jd-]

For those that missed this starter selection before, I'll be posting this here for future reference. Easier than going and digging out the old link every time and all that.

[Update: You can now find a new download in the new B'z Hype topic!]

[Mit]

That video was epic.  Also, are these "Selection" albums compiled by you, or are they official?

[racso64]

thanks Jd for the downloads

[Jd-]

That video was epic.  Also, are these "Selection" albums compiled by you, or are they official?

Self-compiled, self-compiled. They're kind of catered to the audience here--picked to appeal to the Conan/Lupin faithful that maybe heard girigiri chop/ONE/Shoudou/Everlasting/Yuruginai Mono Hitotsu in Conan and wondered what else the band is capable of. Well, these are the answer.

[Mit]

Ah, well, I'm the audiophile type that goes for full albums and whatnot.  I'd like to get into B'z, but they have one intimidating discography size.

[Jd-]

Ah, well, I'm the audiophile type that goes for full albums and whatnot.  I'd like to get into B'z, but they have one intimidating discography size.

They've done a lot over the years, yesh. Of course, there's no reason to seek out all of the singles (yet), so you could just hit up the studio albums first and move from there.

[Yardbird]

The planning committee for the World Cup International Day wanted a show that would speak to the entire world. The organizers had been asking Aerosmith to headline for years, but when they were asked the final time, the spokesman is quoted as saying: "We have asked Aerosmith to perform live for us a long time ago, but their answer was only if we ask B'z to perform together with them."

How cool!! I didn't know it, awesome!

I have a lot of aerosmith dvds, and this FIFA 2002 is included, of course! Love the part when Bz's coming to the scene, and it turns yet better on solos, man, incredible! This show kick some asses 

By the way, do you have the Bz's part of this show? I'm really interested 

[Jd-]

The planning committee for the World Cup International Day wanted a show that would speak to the entire world. The organizers had been asking Aerosmith to headline for years, but when they were asked the final time, the spokesman is quoted as saying: "We have asked Aerosmith to perform live for us a long time ago, but their answer was only if we ask B'z to perform together with them."

By the way, do you have the Bz's part of this show? I'm really interested 

Unfortunately, it seems like no one does on the internet. I've searched wide and far for it, but B'z didn't release this show on DVD like Aerosmith. They released "a Beautiful Reel" instead, which was a DVD of their 2002 LIVE-GYM tour. The B'z performance at the World Cup was broadcast in Japan & Korea, but only to satellite owners that subscribed to a certain company's services ("bS" I think).

Even more unfortunate is the fact that it was a fairly unknown service at the time, and the World Cup International Day exclusivity was a big part of the draw. It seems that no one who recorded it has transferred it to the internet as of now, so I guess we'll be waiting a while before it shows up somewhere.

Rumor has it it was dynamite, though.

[Yardbird]

Ah... we'll wait 

[Jd-]

You all know Koshi Inaba as the vocalist and lyricist of B'z, but he also has released three solo albums and three solo singles. His success with Tak Matsumoto as B'z carried over to his solo career, as all of his releases to date have premiered at the #1 spot.

[Update: You can now find a new download in the new B'z Hype topic!]

[Jd-]

Anyone who has heard a B'z song will instantly take note of the complex and expertly crafted melodies. Sometimes, they're driven by piano. Sometimes, by brass outfits or synthesizers. But, most importantly, and most often, they're driven by guitar. As the composer for all B'z songs, the duo's guitarist Tak Matsumoto has been heralded for his adept approach the world round.

---

LES PAUL SIGNATURE GUITARS

CANARY YELLOW / YELLOW LES PAUL SIGNATURES



In 1999, with 60,000,000 albums already sold (they recently passed 90,000,000 in December 2008), and after breaking record after record the year before with the releases of two greatest hits compilations, Tak was bestowed an honor that only the most elite receive... He was offered a signature model Les Paul from Gibson, the world's leading guitar manufacturer. The Les Paul design itself is, of course, nearly synonymous with the very idea of what a guitar is all about.

Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz said of the induction, "He’s a loyal Gibson player, a major influence on young guitarists and a superstar. We couldn’t be more proud to work with Tak to produce a Signature Les Paul."

And so, they did. Tak was only the sixth guitarist in history to receive a signature Les Paul, and he collaborated with the Gibson factory in Tennessee all the way from Tokyo on the specifications.

The sales for Tak's signature Les Paul went through the roof even before it was released, with pre-orders pushing it well into the next year's production cycle. Even today, the original Canary Yellow model is popular with new and experienced guitarists alike.

The release of Tak's first signature Les Paul took Japan's leading rock icon to an entire new level of fame, as he had now received an honor that no other Asian musician had received.

TAK BURST LES PAUL SIGNATURE



In 2001, due to the absurd volume of sales that had been generated from the first model, Tak was once again approached by Gibson for another signature guitar.

The Tak Burst was released in Japan in 2001, and was once again back-ordered due to the demand. The guitar featured a "TAK Burst" finish, which was modeled on the classic Cherry Sunburst finish sported by many of the classic Les Paul's.

---

DOUBLE CUTAWAY SIGNATURE GUITARS



For his next collaboration with Gibson USA, Tak selected the old Double Cutaway design and formed it to his specifications.

To date, there have been a Flame Top edition, a Brown Burst edition, a Vintage White edition, an Antique Ebony edition, and...

A Tak Burst-esque version.



And finally, just last fall, the Ebony, Goldtop (Aged) and Goldtop (Gloss) Tak Matsumoto signature guitars went on sale. All three of which can be seen below.



Now, I know what you're thinking. "Those are amazing!" Yeah. They are. And for that $5,000+ price tag, they better be!

Tak routinely cycles through his signature models during live performances, so keep an eye out for all of the different models the next time you see him in action. Also, it should be noted that Tak now officially has more signature model guitars than any other artist in Gibson history.

---

As an aside, you can read an article I wrote for my friend's B'z blog back in December regarding Tak introducing the new Gibson robot guitar "Dark Fire" to Japan. That can be found here.



Oh, and while I'm plugging things-I've-written-about-B'z, you can read my (rather elongated) review of their latest studio album, ACTION, from 2007 here or here.



(It's actually really, really strange for me to read it now--it's some sort of reverse deja-vu... However that works. And yes, I'm aware I'm a B'z faNguRL)

---

Next time, I'll go over one of the landmark moments in B'z history: the induction to the Hollywood RockWalk of Fame, as well as their collaboration with renowned American guitarist Steve Vai, and maybe a rundown of some of their many Oricon sales records. I know I said I'd do the latter with this post, but I was more in the mood to do this, so there you go.

[Mit]

How good would you B'z fanatics say the ULTRA Pleasure and ULTRA Treasure compilation albums are?  I'm not looking to get way into B'z like you guys, but they look like they're pretty good compilations (especially with ULTRA Treasure being made up of tracks voted on by fans).