Japan's heavenly-king Rock-band, B'z will accept the challenge by American Super Rock-band Aerosmith, to do rock-battle on the same stage for the closing ceremony of World Cup Japan/Korea. This performance will be broadcasted live from Japan to audience around the world on June 27.
After successfully conquering Taiwan and Hongkong's music market last year, this year B'z unexpectedly gets an opportunity to conquer the giant music market of USA. And who else but Aerosmith, the band which can be said as a legend in American rock music, who gives B'z the helping hand. As the spokeman of FIFA World Cup committee quoted: "We have asked Aerosmith to perform live for us long time ago, but their answer was only if we ask B'z to perform together with them."
Four years ago when Aerosmith went to Japan, they have met B'z in "Music Station" TV program. At that time, both bands' performance left very deep impression to one another. Aerosmith's lead vocal, Steven Tyler was deeply moved after seeing B'z performance. He said, "Wow, so Japan has such level of rock music too! Now I understand why their best album sells more than 5 millions and their fans literally pack the Tokyo Dome."
But this is not the first time that Aerosmith eagerly pin-point B'z to perform together with them so the whole world can see brilliance of their music. In the past, through both bands' managing companies, Aerosmith has invited B'z to perform in their US nation-wide tour. Opportunities like these will definitely be the fastest path to getting in US market for B'z.
Note: B'z performed "Fireball" in above mentioned "Music Station" show.
April 23, 2002| Star Newspaper (Taiwan)| Translated
by Keen for this website©
Article originated from "B'z
Only"
"International Day" Live-show will begin with a live-performance of World Cup's theme song "Boom" by American's female pop-star, Anastacia. Next will be followed by 80-minutes performance each by B'z and Aerosmith. Presently, it is still in planning to have both bands perform one ending song together.
B'z two-members Tak Matsumoto and Koshi Inaba have always had deepest respect and admiration towards Aerosmith, the rock-band consists of five-person headed by Steven Tyler who is also their lead vocal. After meeting once in a certain music program in Japan years ago, they have kept in touch as good friends. It is also a public knowledge that B'z was invited to perform for World Cup this time is because of eager recommendation by Aerosmith.
Insider-info from a source, Aerosmith also invites B'z to make guest-appearance in their US nation-wide tour this year. Surely there will be many reporters from all over the world covering this event, therefore B'z has to use this opportunity to show their best music to the world as a warming-up phase before going into the world's music market.
Additional info:
Date: June 27, 2002/ Thursday
Time: 15:00 (going into stadium)
17:00 (begin) 21:30 (end) - approximate time
Ticket Price: 15,750 Yen
April 2002| Translated by Keen for
this website©
Article originated from "B'z
Only"
The events will be held at the Tokyo Stadium which can accommodate 50,000 people, both on the 27th and the 28th of June, 2002. The world’s finest artists including Aerosmith, B’z and Kodo will perform on the 27th, the first day of the 2-day spectacle entitled “International Day.”
The second day will bring 4 hours of excitement, entitled “Korea/Japan Day,” with the biggest artists of Korea and Japan today, including “Voices of Korea/Japan,” the singers of 2002 Fifa World Cup Korea/Japan Official Song, as well as Chemistry, The Gospellers, Mai Kuraki, T-Square and other celebrated musicians.
Synchronized to a fever pitch of the final match week, this official concert will bring you the new form of excitement and unforgettable experiences, spectacle to match the action on the field.
TITLE:INTERNATIONAL DAY:
Aerosmith
B’z
Kodo
and others (tbc)
KOREA/JAPAN DAY:
Voices of Korea/Japan
Chemistry
The Gospellers
Mai Kuraki
T-Square
and others (tbc)
TICKETS:
International Day --- ¥ 15,750 (tax included)
Korea/Japan Day --- ¥ 9,800 (tax included)
For more information:
Organizing Office of 2002 Fifa World Cup Korea/Japan Official Concert
TEL: +81-3-5148-5205
FAX: +81-3-3543-8380
May 31, 2002| Gathered by Keen for
this website©
Article originated from "Yahoo
News!"
The first FIFA World Cup official concert raised its curtain on June 27 in Tokyo Stadium, Chofu City. On the first day "International Day", rockduo B'z and five-members American band, Aerosmith shared the same stage. With the best bands representative of both world Japan and USA, even the rain and bad weather could not surpress the excitement of 52,000 people, all in white raincoats that packed the stadium.
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Japanese monster-duo B'z were showing kid-like smiling faces. It was the first ever official concert of World Cup, furthermore, as Japan's representative, they got to share the dream stage with Aerosmith, world reknown popular band. Both bands showed 120% of their best performance. The concert began at 5 pm when the spectators were still sparse. Regardless to the fact that the rain was still falling, when it was B'z turn to make their entrance at 6:30 pm there was no more empty seat in sight. "Devil" which was compiled into Fifa World Cup ost album was one of the first few songs to kick off the start. Performing all record-breaking hit songs, B'z prompted the audience to sing along loudly. |
"If there weren't for World Cup, there wouldn't be today's event. We wanna thank everyone in relation to Japan's soccer team!" Shouting this to the fans, bare-top Inaba continued to perform 'Atsuki Kodou No Hate" and others. With same duration as the soccer game, B'z ended their performance in 90 minutes after much fireworks and last song "Ultra Soul" and sweep place with Aerosmith.
Aerosmith was of course, not the one to lose. Taking over from B'z the already-stirred audience, they performed many popular songs like "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" and from to-be-released album "Girls Of The Summer", all 18 songs. In between, Steven Tyler shouted out the painted Kanji of "Natsu Musume" (*Girls Of The Summer) and "Hisshou" (*Sure Victory) on his arms. He also took time to congratulate German and Brazil, the two countries that emerged to final round.
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5 hours of concert had finally come down to the last song. Answering to the endless screaming of 'encore', "Tak and Koshi!" Tyler called for B'z to come back on stage to perform "Train Kept A Rollin'" together. The vocalists, Inaba Koshi (37) and Steven Tyler (54) harmonized voices, singing shoulder to shoulder. While Matsumoto Takahiro (41) and Joe Perry (52) played duet with their roaring guitars. The World Cup stadium were entirely swallowed in the cheering voices of the audience. |
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Also in this concert, Sato from Taiko Group performed the official anthem of Fifa World Cup Korea/Japan "Kodou" as the opening tune for the appropriately extravagant stage of World Cup's first official concert.
Broadcast on June 30:
Highlights of the two days concert will be broadcasted on Nippon's radio special
program at 11am for about two hours. Also included are messages and documentary
of participating artists.
June 28, 2002| Summarized and translated by Keen for this
website©
Photos & articles originated from "Yomiuri",
"Chunichi,",
"Nikkan Sports",
"Sponichi"
Special thanks to Liv from B'z Dome for posting the url of info pages ^^
Before "DEVIL"
Koshi : "Today is not Live for B'z only, but
definitely welcome to B'z LiveGym!" (* B'z LiveGym ni yokozooo~!!!)
Before "Go* Fight* Win"
Koshi : "From here looking out there, all those
white raincoats are like a layer of snow. This is the first time for me, so
I'm excited. But most important of all (laugh) it's once in a life-time event,
so please, with all your heart, sing and make noise! Have fun!"
Before "Atsuki Kodou No Hate"
Koshi : "People at the very back, can you hear
me?"
Audience : "Haiiii~~" (* yes)
Koshi : "Good! Won't you all sit down for a
while? You must be tired now... We're able to perform here tonight is because
of World Cup event, therefore to thank everyone in relation to World Cup and
all team members of Japan, we'd like to sing this song. Those of you who can
sing it, please sing with us!".
Before "Fireball"
Koshi : "Right here I wanna introduce the band
members. Keyboards: Takanobu Masuda! Bass: Billy Sheehan! Drums: Shane Gaalas!"
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B'z SONG LIST : Aerosmith's SONG LIST : B'z and Aerosmith : |
 |
Additional report and songs list are taken from Live Fifa concerts reports by various Japanese B'z Sites
Takahiro Matsumoto (41) recollecting his intense guitar skill performance with Aerosmith's guitarist Joe Perry, "I never dreamt about performing with people whose record was among the first ones I bought in high school era. But even though they rank as very senior to us, their whole attitude made it so much easier for us to cope. We were able to do our best in order to not lose and we had so much fun!"
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Koshi Inaba (37) who shared a mic and sang together shoulder to shoulder with Steven Tyler said, "It was like a dream for me. I said this to Steven when we got off the stage together, and he told me, 'Dreams are things to be realized'. I had goose bumps!" |
"I told him that I'm having goosebumps in English and he replied laughingly, 'Me too!' The ten-meter walk to backstage is something I will never forget my whole life." Inaba said gratefully.
With all members being more than 50 years old of age, Aerosmith still strived to do their best. An effort which B'z witnessed with their own eyes. "We've never met people with so much energy. They are our role-models. That's the direction we want to be someday too."
On the program, songs from new album "Green" to be released on July 3 could be heard. B'z also talked about album cover's secretive photo-shooting in Las Vegas and also their annual nation-wide tour which will begin on July 8, all 18 concerts in 11 cities. They ended the radio program with a message to see all listeners at the upcoming LiveGym Green* Go* Fight* Win.
June 29, 2002| Nippon Special Radio Broadcast | Translated
by Keen for this website©
Photos & articles originated from "Sanspo"
