"B'z LIVE-GYM PLEASURE '93 - JAP THE RIPPER" REPORT B'z - The Men Who Created Legend In the centre of Japan, 100,000 B'z fans gathered to attend the live-shows "Jap The Ripper", the wildest day ever since B'z was formed. Today, once again, B'z created a new legend. Both B'z members spent a wild night with 100,000 fans With green grass and blue sky as background, tall metallic frames that created the stage gave off a space-age impression. This specially designed stage is 40 metre in height and 80 metre in width. On top of the stage are PA sound systems, huge-scale crystalized screens and TV screens that formed a gigantic TV wall.

Before the concert began, looking down to the packed stadium from on top of the stage, there was an electrical feeling of nervous anticipation in the air. Fans travelled in specially planned groups in order to view this unusual concert. The furthest up North from Hokkaido and down South from Kyushuu. B'z fans from all over Japan flocked together here today.

Because of the size of this concert, B'z managing company had set up a new restaurant just to take care of the crew members' daily meals. They also made all new planning to arrange things like transports and environmental usage. One member of the producing team said, "We take special care of everything right to the smallest details, so that the fans will have a wonderful memory to go home with tonight."

In the sky above the stadium, an enermous balloon advertisement with "Jap The Ripper" written clearly on it floated peacefully, while on the stage, hard-rock music was continously played by a DJ. It was another hour before the real concert began, but there were hardly any empty seat to be seen. As the DJ made people in the audience move along with his music, faces and expressions from below the stage were reflected on and off on the huge TV wall screens. The fans were already merging into one, going well into the concert's spirit. Right until the intro of B'z new song "Jap The Ripper" began to roar.

When Matsumoto Tak appeared on the stage, he was wearing zebra-stripes white cowboy suit with black short-pants. His guitar was also in black and white zebra-stripes. In order to craft the concert into perfection, all the smallest details were custom-designed to fit with the stage design concept.

As for Inaba Koshi, he had on his usual American style shirt with knee-length jeans. Both Matsumoto and Inaba performed with every drop of energy, running up and jumping down the stairs, dancing along with the audience. Following closely was "ZERO". During the intro, Inaba walked straight to the centre front of the stage and shouted, "Hey, hey, hey! Nice to see you all here!" Afterwards, everytime there was a break during the songs, he ran into the front and shouted words to the audience.

In the middle of performing a song, Inaba climbed up one arm of the tall metal frames where heavy cameras were hanging. He continued to sing from there. In one interview after the concert, he said, "It felt fantastic! Even though the stage was huge and was 2.5 metre tall, the audience at the back were still having difficulties to see us. Therefore I thought of climbing up there, so everyone can view our performance clearly."

As the metal's frame arm gradually moved in the air, Inaba started an Indian style of movement and when the audience understood his gesture, the stadium seemed to glide on as they followed his movement in waves from the front row until the furthest back row. The metal frames was rising higher and higher, bringing along with it the fans' excitement to the highest point.

Why do so many people like B'z songs?
A 19 year-old fan said, "The lyrics they have are filled with good feelings." How about other people? They answered, "Besides that B'z songs give everyone the same agreeable feeling, the styles applied are so natural and skillful. Emotion expressed in them sometimes is so strong that it stormed right into the core of one's heart. They can bring out most painful secret wishes and reveal them without the slightest cover up... What we feel is really difficult to be expressed in words... For example, some of their fast songs describe the true form of loneliness. While for some songs, Inaba uses light humorous words to describe the hopelessness of reality in life."

While singing "Itoshii Hito Yo, Goodnight...", three giant torches were lighted on each left and right wings of the stage. A moment later, in the sky above the red fire of the torches, the moon began to show from behind the cloud. The stadium was filled with romantic atmosphere. "If you have come here with someone, don't pay attention to others around you, think of them as stones (laugh). It's the greatest pleasure of life to dance together with music like this!" After joking with the audience, Inaba started to sing "Gekkou".

As the moonlight disappeared again amidst the clouds, on the stage, musical instruments have moved to different places! Matsumoto started to play "Wanna Go Home" which was a popular solo song during last year's LiveGym.

Planning and preparing process of a concert of such scale must have been exhausting. So is travelling far-distance to attend it for the fans. But the continously changing mood and atmosphere created by the performers and audience above and below the stage did not in the least show it.

Click here to see cool pics of B'z LiveGyms trucks, merchandises and posters
Pictures forwarded by F. Matsumoto at B'z Kairaku No Heya

Idol Channel Magazine | Translated by Keen for this website ©