Foreword:
*** A Taiwanese B'z fan sent me an audio file of this radio host interviewing of Mayday's guitarist Monster (yes, that's direct translation of his nickname Guai Shou in Chinese). Mayday or Wu Yue Tian, is a Taiwanese rock band that originated in the late 1990s but has since become one of the biggest rock bands to hit Taiwan pop culture.
*** Apparently around September 2005, Monster and a few of his mates and the radio host went to Tokyo to attend B'z concert (it was Livegym "Circle of Rock"). The host and Monster, being a big fanboy of Tak mostly talked about... well, Tak lol. Anyway, I won't translate the whole interview coz it's about 45min, but you'll get the ideas. Plus I'm going on a holiday from tomorrow so I hope you guys enjoy!! ^___^

Host: Let's talk about when we got to the venue. I actually kept watching you. All of the sudden I felt that you changed.
Monster: I was absorbing the grandiose of the atmosphere, seeing tens of thousands of fans heading towards the gate, queing up to buy tour goods. I thought, 'So this is what it feels like to be attending a concert.' We all bought some tour goodies too!
Host: You bought quite a lot too!
Monster: A wrist band. A towel that til today I never use coz I'm worried I might ruin it.
Host: (laugh) so you must understand now that your fans would also never use a Mayday's towel.
Monster: (laugh) And a T-shirt... but I'm too fat, I can't fit into it (laugh). So annoying.
Host: (laugh) You must have bought the wrong size.
Monster: Well I didn't try, I just bought it.
Host: Those B'z tour goods were well designed. I understand that for Mayday's tour goods, the band members also have inputs on the designs, as well as the designers. What do you think after comparing them with B'z tour goods?
Monster: I think their ones are very cool. Plus I noticed the B'z logo is usually not too apparent.
Host: Ooh, yes. Usually there's one big main design on the shirt and B'z logo is small.
Monster: Yes, so if you don't pay attention, you probably won't know that it's a B'z T-shirt. But I think not only the fans would want to buy it. Even if you are not a fan, there's a possibility you like the design, you can buy it too.
Host: Plus, I think it's a good secret sign between fans. If I see someone on the train with that shirt, I can tell that he/she is a B'z fan. But someone who's not a fan wouldn't know at all... Actually you guys can consider this idea as well.
Monster: Yes, we do like this idea of a secret sign between fans. T-shirts don't always have to have your faces or your band's big logo on them.

Host: OK, we just listen to B'z. B'z is Monster's favorite band. Well, the band's vocalist is someone who everybody idolizes and loves. He's also an amazing singer. But the biggest idol in your heart is Tak Matsumoto, right?
Monster: That's because I'm after all a guitarist. But I do like them both. B'z vocalist is very handsome.
Host: Yes, he is.
Monster: But our band's vocalist is also handsome (laugh).
Host: Oh yes (laugh), your vocalist is not bad (laugh)... Also he's a bit taller than Koshi Inaba.
Monster: Even I am taller than him! (laugh)
Host: Yeah, the thing about Koshi Inaba is his body proportion is so good. So many people agree after seeing his image and performance on stage, that he's such a rock giant.
Monster: Yes, he is. Just watching him on stage, he really seems like this giant dominant presence.
Host: His sensuality and charm fused with rock music gives you the feeling of something that is so great and invincible... So anyway, usually when people go to a concert they'd be mostly watching the vocalist. But I guess you were mostly watching Matsumoto.
Monster: Of course I was. My eyes were watching his hands all the time.

(here they talked about how B'z stage and lighting were very professionally designed blah blah)

Host: What did you think about Matsumoto's performance? I know he's your idol ever since you were a child so you are most respectful towards him. But there he was, performing in front of you, what did you learn from that?
Monster: I was totally overwhelmed. His stage persona was very steady. He was calm and steady when playing difficult things. I really felt that he was not just displaying his skills but he was really performing and enjoying his music.
Host: When people told me Matsumoto is an amazing guitarist, as somebody who doesn't play guitar, I said, "Well, not really, the things that he plays look pretty easy and simple. He looks so relaxed and totally doesn't do difficult things."
Monster: He is good to that extent, really.
Host: Is that true?
Monster: He is that good. And if you keep watching him, he never looks troubled at all, always at ease. But I think what he focused on is actually the audience. He made contact with them all the time!
Host: Why did you like him as a guitarist?
Monster: I think he's got a very rounded sound. It's hard to describe. His sound is very steady. The notes keep pouring smoothly, no weak moments between pausing, always a full rounded sound.
Host: So after seeing him on stage, you had the impression that Matsumoto's playing is the same as his sound. And that no matter how easy or difficult the playing was, he never showed that he was troubled at all.
Monster: Yes... Actually this reminds me. You know that we performed with GLAY before. Their guitarist, Takuro often told me to 'enjoy the show', because only if you enjoy the show, then your audience can also enjoy it too. Well, even though Takuro was the one who told me this, it was actually Tak Matsumoto who gave Takuro this advice.
Host: Oh, really? (laugh) So you are the third generation of this legend!
Monster: That's correct.
Host: WAAAAAAAAAAA!!
Monster: No no no... (laugh) It's only a word of advice.
Host: So are his guitars really good? I saw you and the other guys kept going on about his guitars, "He changed guitar. Last one was blah blah. This one was blah blah."
Monster: I myself use his signature guitar. I really like Gibson's guitar. Gibson didn't really give just any guitarist his signature guitars.
Host: Oh.
Monster: Yeah, only to Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, etc. Matsumoto is the world's fifth guitarist to get his signature guitar from Gibson and first in Asia.
Host: Oh really? So he's very well respected among guitarists around the world as well.
Monster: Yes absolutely.
Host: Did you tell him that you've got his signature guitar?
Monster: Yes, I did.
Host: OK, surprise surprise! After the concert finished that night, Monster and I actually went backstage to meet both Koshi Inaba and Tak Matsumoto. We will talk about how Monster felt then.
Monster: I think I went blank. I couldn't think of anything to say. I'm actually quite a brave person, but in front of him I became this teenager.
Host: And you actually drank some beer before that for liquid courage (laugh).
Monster: (laugh) I did too.
Host: Did you feel envious at all seeing their backstage was so nicely designed?
Monster: Yes!
Host: They made it so warm and inviting. There were candles and delicious food everywhere.
Monster: I think that's the way with the Japanese bands. GLAY's backstage was like that too, so nice.
Host: So that when you go backstage to rest, you can really relax, right? How about Mayday's backstage? Like a construction site (laugh).
Monster: Our backstage is like a warzone (laugh).

Host: OK, let's talk about what actually happened backstage. Monster went to meet Matsumoto! He came in the room so casually.
Monster: Yes, so casually. He even opened the door himself. I didn't see what's going on at first, but the person next to me started to act crazy 'Ah ah ah ah!!'
Host: He's here! He's here!
Monster: (laugh) Yes. I thought, 'What's going on??' But when I saw him, I went nuts myself.
Host: What were your thoughts then? There he was your all-time favorite idol, not far up on the stage, but in flesh and blood, with a can of beer in his hand, ready to chat with you. I think you looked totally blank.
Monster: (laugh)... I later found out that his English was quite good. I was initially thinking that I had to use broken Japanese to speak to him. Then and there, I decided to use English, but "I... I... I... am a... guitarist..." It was just as bad (laugh).
Host: (laugh) You were so nervous.
Monster: I kept thinking, 'What should I say??' Anyway, we took so many photos together.
Host: He was so gracious. From the moment he met us, his facial expression was very warm and friendly. He made you feel that this brief time we spent together was precious for him as well.
Monster: He was absolutely affable. He tried to make you feel at ease and did not have the slightest attitude. He is this world-class guitarist yet he's so friendly and humble, drinking his beer with you.
Host: Yes, I remember another important moment with Matsumoto. It was when B'z came to Taiwan for a two nights concert (2002). Every member of Mayday had to work then, so everyone was pretty disappointed to have missed out. But you met Matsumoto that night, didn't you? You know, I interviewed B'z and never got a signature. I was always told by management, "NO!"
Monster: Yes, I met them. And I got his signature too (laugh). But I should really thank you because you were the one pushing me, "Take a picture, Take a picture!" (laugh).
Host: Well, because if you try talking to vocalist directly, he would never refuse you. Plus his English was so lovely, "Of course!" he said (laugh).
Monster: Yes. "Of course!" (laugh) So lovely!
Host: In the end, not only that Monster got a photo with Matsumoto, he also got his signature on the concert booklet.
Monster: That's correct. He signed it on a page that shows all... well, not all but many of his guitars collection. And he wrote "ROCK ON!"
Host: Does such encouragement from your idol do anything for you?
Monster: Yes, definitely. I told him that I'm a member of a Taiwanese band. His immediate question was, "You guys do rock?" He really loves rock!
Host: Yes, he does.
Monster: So I answered "Yes, we are a rock band." He wrote "ROCK ON!" for me. It's definitely an encouragement from him.
Host: I can't really imagine how you felt then but since I've always been 'on the spot' when these meetings happened, I can only say that I could see clearly how happy and excited you were. This famous guitarist who is your idol ever since you were a child, so graciously generously gave you, the next generation guitarist, such big encouragement. And he was so friendly, totally without attitude, taking photos and drinking beer with you!
Monster: He even said, "Kanpai!" (=drink up)
Host: No wonder when you got back, you couldn't stop talking about it.
Monster: Yes, really. I even dreamt about it twice. First dream, I asked him to teach me guitar. Second dream was a bit funny (laugh)... He wanted to smoke, so I quickly ran to shop to buy some cigarettes for him (laugh).
Host: (laugh) You became his assistant! It shows how sincere you are about wanting to learn guitar from him.
Monster: (laugh) I can start by becoming his assistant!
Host: So, after coming back from Tokyo, did this experience help with your own concerts?
Monster: I think so. I used to worry too much about so many things. But now I feel a bit more relaxed since I must remember his advice that the most important thing about performing is 'to enjoy yourself' and then everybody can enjoy it too.
Host: That's good that you learned something of it. I think you are a very good band already in Taiwan, but definitely learning something from a bigger, better band from abroad can broaden one's mind. Because for sure, they are an older generation and have more experience than you.
Monster: I agree with you.
Host: I hope this benefits Mayday and your band can go really far as well!!
Monster: Thank you.