WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU GUYS???
Fans are getting ripped off here and this smacks of elitism and bourgeosie-ism. They seem to think that we fans would stomach everything that they throw our way. They are making us look stupid.
Why pay through the nose for a service that fans won't probably use too often - come to think of it, how many articles and new stuff can GLAY post in a week anyway? I mean, they can't be uploading new stuff everyday when they should be spending that time brushing up on their music and if we have unlimited access, we would just be basically going back to the same things over and over again. And this, pardon my language here, is tantamount to cheating our money. I don't even go to Happy Swing Space Site (HSSS) everyday simply because there aren't too many new things being added all the time!
BUT I don't blame those who want to join this club - they want to be able to read what GLAY writes, and in a sense, be closer to the band. AND remember, the BBS and the chatroom in HSSS were taken off to make way for this upcoming site. Fans are left with nothing now unless they pay. Why was something that was free in the first place cost so much now? In the past, GLAY fans from all over the world were able to transcend the distance barrier and talk about their favourite band with each other. Now, there is a huge barrier in their path - MONEY.
I sure am not joining this 'exclusive' site - it doesn't matter whether I have the funds or not, it's just plain exploitation of the fans' love for them and discriminating them for it as well. I am surprised that the 4 of them didn't protest or even manage a whimper but went along with it. I am pretty sure that they have a say in this whole circus act. I am not saying that GLAY is wholly responsible for this site but what I am saying is that they do have a say in it. One can't be so naive and deny that GLAY had absolutely nothing to do with it. They were going to write articles for the special site afterall - they can't be too unhappy about this site if they were to write for it.
To say that GLAY are highly controlled by the company and do not have much of a choice just doesn't make any sense to me. They broke away from Platinum because they didn't want to be in the shadow of Yoshiki any longer - if they could do that then, they sure can do it now if they think their fans are being exploited and they can't opppose the company's decision. Fans would stay loyal to the band no matter which company they switch to, afterall, we are fans of GLAY, not fans of Unlimited Records. Besides, GLAY are the top band in Japan, so what's to say that they don't have much of a choice? Many other big record companies in Japan would be dying to sign them on.
GLAY has certainly changed - getting more arrogant and elitist I must say. They don't seem to be concerned about the fans at all. And they seem to have forgotten that fans made them to what they are today. I preferred when they were younger and struggling for recognition - they were more earnest and appreciative of their fans then. I am so disappointed that they have chosen to go the way of commercial greed. Words can't describe exactly how I feel right now about GLAY and it certainly isn't a pleasant feeling.
I like my favourite band to make good music and not rip off the fans with gimmicks like this - and it is especially cruel to others who cannot afford it but want to join. I can just imagine the huge disappointment those fans must be feeling. None of GLAY were rich to begin with - so I am surprised that they tolerated this scheme.
I am not being antagonistic when I typed this piece out - I just felt that GLAY has changed so much that they are no longer the band that I liked them for. I loved them for their music and the fact that they were nice honest guys who valued all of their fans. This scheme is a real slap in the face for me who thought so highly of them all along.
