Press conference and interview with MUCC

THE PRESS CONFERENCE

The press conference with MUCC took place in the entrance hall of the Locomotive. The four of them were aboard and the journalists ready with their questions. Here is a summary of what we have learned:

If they had to thank someone in France, it it would be the French label Soundlicious which made the first step to contact the band in Japan and let our dream comes true. It were obviously their first concerts in Europe and they are really happy about the interest that the French fans have in them. Of course their main career is still in Japan, but they are ready for more if there are some requests.

When they talk about their music style, they named it 'shock rock'. But for them, music styles don't make any sense and it's only a marketing thing. They started with visual kei and don't deny it, but now they do something else and their producer still classifies them into ‘shock rock'. Well, why not. Anyway, they said that their upcoming album will be different from the previous ones and that their last maxi-single is just an example of the direction it will take.
And when someone asks them what they think about the language barrier and that European fans still sing their songs, Tatsuro answers that he hopes they won't make any mistakes in the lyrics.

They arrived in France only the day before the concert, but they had already enough time to walk around. Yukke tells us a funny anecdote. While he was walking around near the concert house, a tall guy asked him if he would like to visit a sex shop. Our poor bassist didn't really want to give it a try. Miya's best memory was to see L'Arc de Triomphe when he exited from the subway station. More simply, Tatsuro was really surprised to see an episode of Full Metal Alchemist on French TV. Finally, they tell us that once the night came, they went for a walk and as something like a real size post card they saw some guitarists playing in front of the Sacré Cœur.
They had nice memories from Paris and it seems they discovered the « déspé » (a beer) and that they had a diet based on Kebab.
As a final dot to this trip, Tatsuro has written a song during his journey and it will be on the next album! Paris will be always Paris, won't it?


THE MUCC INTERVIEW

The meeting takes place in the backyard of the hotel. The band does one interview after the other, but they seem to be in a good mood and are cheerful.

Hello, we are working for JaME and we are very happy to have an interview with you today.
They all answer with "bonjour"

First of all, what did you think about Europe before you came over here?
Miya: We just told each other : let's see what happens!

A little summary?
Miya: Well, after these 3 concerts, I fell in love with Europe.

Let's talk about the Wacken Open Air. It was the first time you played in such a big festival in Europe, how did you feel about it?
Miya: Because there were a lot of famous bands, we had a lot of pressure. We told to ourselves that we should make a good performance. We really tried to give our best. And I think we succeeded.

Is it a motivation to come back to Europe?
Miya: Yes, we want to come back to Europe, but this time, we want to do more concerts. Even if nobody asks us, I'll come back !

In Japan you play in a lot of live houses, but you're not interested in big places like the Budokan?
Miya: We like both. The small ones are much more fun, while the big ones are something different.

Is the preparation different?
Miya: In fact, it's more about the visibility. There are emotions, some things that we want to share that you can't see in the same way depending on the size of the place. We do our best to share what we want to, even in big places, for people in the background.

What did you do these last 2 months?
Miya: These last two months… In June we wrote some news songs, and in July we recorded them.

The recordings are finished now?
Miya: We stopped them to come to Europe, but we will continue when we're back.

Can you tell us something about this new album?
(they talk to their assistant manager)
Miya: It'll be released in October, and it will be really different from our previous CDs. This will be a new side of Mucc.

Yesterday you played a new song, will it be on the new album? And what is the title?
Miya: Yes, yes of course it will!
Tatsuro: Aaaah, I can't tell you because, I still have no title for this song.

How do you write songs?
Tatsuro: We start with the music, then write the lyrics.

Some of your albums are released in France and Germany, can we hope for a simultaneous release of the next album in Japan and Europe?
Miya: If that happens we would be very happy.

We too!
(everybody laughs)
Tatsuro: What can we do to make something like this happen?
The translator answers: it's a discussion between the labels.
Tatsuro: Ah! These are adult chats !
(everybody laughs)

Since your beginning, you only released one live DVD, do you plan on releasing a new one?
Miya: The last DVD is quite old, we would like to release a new one more up to date.

Some bands dislike live DVDs, what about you?
Miya: We like them.

On this live DVD, the concert is incomplete, how did you select the songs?
Miya (while looking at Yukke): There was a crash during this concert. Some problems with the bass for example.

I haven't heard anything about that (said one of the teammembers who was at this concert at NHK bay hall)
The band seems surprised and happy that he didn't hear anything…

What are the Japanese bands that you like?
Tatsuro: BUCK-TICK
Yukke: Anzen Chitai, that's an old group.

A friend told me she has seen you at Fatima's Last Live, was it really you?
Tasturo: At O-East ?
Yes, It was there.
Tatsuro: Yes, it was me. I'm a friend of their bassist (Lay), in 2001 we made a BUCK-TICK copy band together.
(note: bluck-tlick; Tatsuro (MUCC), Yuu (Merry), aie (deadman), Lay (Fatima), Tsuyoshi (Karimero)

If you haven't been musician, what would you be now?
Tatsuro: A beggar
(everybody laughs)
Miya: Audio engineer
Yukke : A natto maker! (translator's note: Natto is a Japanese rice addition. It's made of Soja beans, smells and is very sticky)
(everybody laughs)
Satochi: An olympic athlet! Hammer thrower (and then he acts like he would throw it away).

You didn't play hand ball?
Satochi: No, I played basket-ball (he acts like throwing the ball). And I like surfing too, I'm a professional. (laughs)

What will you be in 10 years?
All together: musicians!

With 10 more albums!
Tatsuro: Oh no! I don't want to think about that right now. (laughs)

Now a personal question, that might interest some of your female fans… What is your kind of girl?
Tatsuro seems to be embarrassed. Someone tells us that they are not allowed to answer these kind of questions.

So, at least you can tell us what you like to eat?
(the band laughs)
Tatsuro: French food is much better than German one.
Miya: I miss the Japanese food, because it's the best one.
Yukke: I like French fries that come with the Kebab (note: since they were in France, they only ate Kebab).

There've been Kebab in Japan since 2-3 years, too.
Yukke: Yes, but they are not really good (the others agree).
Satochi: SUSHI !! SASHIMI !! TEMPURA !! (he gives us the same answer as the day before during the press conference). I like tempura (fried shrimps or vegetables), but I have difficulties to digest fat things, but with vegetables it's ok.

A message for your fans?
Tatsuro: Next time … Come! When do we have to come for people to see us?

Anytime but not July or August … (translator's note: Holiday time in France. People from Paris mostly "escape" from the city to have vacations somewhere else)
Miya: The next time we're here, you will have a great time!
Yukke: Sorry that we came during holidays, next time we will come when everybody will be able to see us.
Satochi: I can't wait to come back, I don't know how much more people can come, but if we could play in a bigger place I would be very happy.

Thank you and have a nice journey in France!
They answer all « Merci » very well pronounced!


Translation : Sae (Soundlicious)
Thanks to Soundlicious, No Sphere and to the sympathetic hotel owner.