ðHgeocities.com/neuilly1990/Gurah.htmlgeocities.com/neuilly1990/Gurah.htmlelayedx(kÔJÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÈp©mÿOKtext/html±6ûúÿÿÿÿÿb‰.HSun, 10 Dec 2006 01:43:20 GMTMozilla/4.5 (compatible; HTTrack 3.0x; Windows 98)en, *(kÔJÿ Gurah Music Daily
Interview with Yoshiki







      This week, our special guest is Hayashi Yoshiki. Yoshiki is mostly known as the leader of the legendary group, XJapan. Since his first debut as X (later changed to XJapan), Yoshiki has written numerous musical jewels creating a sensation in Japan. He and his band was like the Beatles of the US. His most famous work, Art of Life which is surprisingly more than 30 minutes long, has been approved of many famous musicians in various fields of music. Gurah Music Daily has taken the big honor to interview this hero of the 20th Century J-Rock.

Q1> What was the reason for your relocation to Los Angelas? It Seems that there are interesting opportunities for you to visit Japan. Right?
A1> Well, the reason why I moved to L.A. is just an accident. Originally we were planning to record X-Japan¡¯s new album. Our first album was record in Japan. After that, everyone went overseas on vacation, and we just tried to come together to make a new album. And I suggested London¡¦ but the others wanted do it in L.A. You know I was the band leader. But basically, X-Japan a being democracy, I lost 1-4. So we ended up going to L.A.. In L.A. we booked 4-5 recording studios for long-term, and I was going around each studio for producing. But we had a very sophisticated style of music, so ¡°why don¡¯t we book several rooms in one studio?¡± we started thinking like this. Then one day we found a studio. And that was highly recommended by the engineers. But unfortunately, it was booked for the whole year and some other bands like Metallica was using them. So we got together and thought, ¡°Why don¡¯t we just buy one?¡± That¡¯s what we ended up doing. I bought one and we did all the recording the recording at my studio in L.A. Then we got back to Japan but¡¦ We had then decided what to do with the studio. It¡¯d be crazy to have a studio and do nothing with it. So it wasn¡¯t long before I went back to L.A. It was kind of an impulse buy, but I figured that if I already had a studio I may as well get a house too. And before I knew it I was a resident of L.A. But to me, it was like an accident, so if I have the chance, I¡¯m going to move to Europe. Yeah, I¡¯m going to make my debut in the near future so I will be going back and forth to Japan lots as well.

Q2> Do you have any hobbies other than music? We heard that you are now interested in SIM CITY.
A2> Music has basically been my only hobby my whole life. So I had nothing special but over the past year or two, I have gotten into car racing. Well, I¡¯m not sure if I can call it a racing. I mean, we don¡¯t race on real race tracks. I really shouldn¡¯t say this but¡¦ Anyway we race on public roads, but let¡¯s just say we don¡¯t speed that much. I wonder if it¡¯s ok to be saying this. But anyway, there are roads without speed limits. I also do some karate. I don¡¯t know why I started karate. I met a karate teacher one day, we got along well, and I just decided to start training. Yes, I like it. I¡¯m interested in SimCity. My friends are into it and keep trying to get me to play. But I get hooked on games easily so I¡¯m staying away from it. The last game I was into was a racing game. I played it with Bill Gates at the Xbox opening ceremony but he beat me and I haven¡¯t played since. Well, I may start playing SimCity.

Q3> Which Artist have you been paying attention to recently? Do you listen to KISS even now?
A3> Well, in terms of fashion, I like Alexander McQueen and styles like that. I like kind of radical or rebellious styles. As far as artists are concerned, I like Salvador Dali. And my favorite chef is Mr. Sakai. Ferraris are my favorite cars. I love their designs. I used to play sometimes when I missed good old times, but I don¡¯t do that much. I think I¡¯m influenced by certain types of music, but there¡¯s nothing special that I can tell you.

Q4> What is VIOLET UK? Are you planning to perform before release?
A4> Basically, I see this as a movement starting-unit. Of course most members are musicians, so music is our focus. But under the name VIOLET UK, we¡¯ve produced clothing, Magazines, video games and internet-related items, too. We¡¯re still searching around and trying things in different areas. Of course music will always be our core, but we¡¯re going to continue to expand our range. We want to do a live concert with a show case kind of style In Japan L.A., or somewhere else in the world.

Q5> Your CDs/DVDs have been released, haven¡¯t they?
Somehow we were able to release Eternal Melody II. I never thought we would get it done. We¡¯d kept on saying that, but it never did. But once production started, it was easy, just like DVDs. I shouldn¡¯t say that VIOLET UK¡¯s release also will be easy but somehow I just think it will with some incredible way. Anyway, now is just the calm before the storm and I hope everyone will listen to our music until then.



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