【ライブレポート】LUNA SEA武道館6days開幕、揺るぎない魂「成功は永遠じゃない。頂を目指すのではなく作っていきたい」

【LIVE REVIEW 】'Success is fleeting. Not to TRY for the top, we're gonna MAKE it to the top.' LUNA SEA kicked off their Nippon Budokan 6 days of gigs with unshakable spirit.

First half of the＜LIVE TOUR 2012-2013 The End of the Dream＞, LUNA SEA held gigs at Nippon Budokan for 3 days on January 11, 12, 13.

The band is alive. No need to mention that the best thing to feel alive and kicking is to be there in with the audience. RYUICHI said, 'We will make tonight better than yesterday.' His words became true. Day by day LUNA SEA became stronger and stronger as if they had been taking all energy from their audience. In 24 years, it seems like they have been changing and influencing many fan's lives, they have no limitations. Reviewing how they ran through their audience's hearts during the first 3 days of gigs.

On January 11, Friday, first day of【FUTURE ERA　-SHINING NEW CHAOS-】

Blacked out, screaming and shouting, 'Moon Light' started, surrounding with blue lights. Members appeared, RYUICHI was wearing a cape and sunglasses, and then played「Time Has Come」. After coming back from their break in 1997, it was released symbolically as the first tune of their album『SHINE』. The mirror ball shined white light, the venue was turned into their world with their sound.

They played different set lists each day. The fist day was mainly consisted of their tunes which were released in 2000, and they put their hope in it for heading to the future.

The 2nd tune was「Dejavu」, You would have missed a lot of things if you were only watching the screen above the stage. INORAN and J went to stage left, SUGIZO was whipping up the audience on the right side slope, INORAN ran through the whole 360° open stage and then whipped the side audience up. You could see thrilling moves between RYUICHI and J during「Unlikelihood」, also SUGIZO played a fierce guitar solo. J and INORAN were taking exactly the same positions and turns as in the past「END OF SORROW」with SHINYA's tough-beat. LUNA SEA's gig requires the use of all the senses.

SUGIZO and INORAN pointed at J, RYUICHI was singing「SHINE」. It was like he was holding SUGIZO from behind who was nearly soaring to the heights of heaven... They were performing to show their power of large-scale tunes that included their latest singles 「Rouge」and「The End of the Dream」. Up beat tunes and ballad songs such as「gravity」were very powerful and never faded away. Only RYUICHI can sing and express their songs with his silky low to high pitched voice.

'Nippon Budokan! You are great from the first day! This venue is our holy ground that we tried to reach since we started playing. We are enjoying ourselves with you guys, we will make these gigs go beyond our ZEPP tour which showed us that our world wouldn't be traded for anything.'

It was new and shocking to see that J and SHINYA's solos were put in the middle part of the gig. They played standard tunes in the last half, 'Tokyo! Bring it on everyone!' RYUICHI shouted, and then SFX of silver tape exploded out. In an encore, they played「THE ONE-crash to create-」which tells you their story and vow of REBOOT. There was silence, the audience just watched them closely.

At the end of the first day, RYUICHI said, 'I don't know what songs are coming out and how the stories come up, but we definitely go beyond your expectations anyway.'


On January 12, Saturday【RISING ERA　-UNENDING LOVE & HATE-】

'Can't wait to see them!' 'So excited!' The audience's excitement was everywhere, and when the lights turned off, they screamed and shouted even louder. After REBOOT, they got many more male fans. I was quite sure that the guys probably watched LUNA SEA's music videos over and over again before coming here.

The opening tune was「LOVELESS」 which was played at the beginning of the『MOTHER』tour. SUGIZO had a Triple Neck Guitar, INORAN played beautiful arpeggio sounds with his acoustic guitar. The audience screamed to hear the sorrowful melody.

LUNA SEA played different tunes from their ZEPP tour last year. They even kept with the same concept. The audience screamed in ecstasy to the introduction of「PRECIOUS」. When J held his bass guitar higher and played flexibly and wildly「G.」, it made the audience even more excited.【RISING ERA】was set with the popular tunes from their first golden period. Because of member's skills,「END OF SORROW」and「TRUE BLUE」had not lost its energy.

Perhaps, they do not think that they are playing past hit songs, but also I believe that they sear 'the moment' into their sounds vividly. I think that this is the key to be a live rock band.

RYUICHI mentioned about their tour in Asia. 'We want to be the top band in Asia. I think there is an empty seat for a rock'n roll band like us, because the present music scene is full of idols and dance music. What do you think?'

The energetic and beautiful latest single「Rouge」was played, then the glamour of the other tunes did justice for LUNA SEA. The magnetic song 「Providence」that SUGIZO played a brilliant fleeting violin piece in, was great. This song is not their mainstream style, but is loved by their fans.

RYUICHI's singing is very eloquent. SHINYA, J, INORAN and SUGIZO have a perfect balance ensemble. No doubt that their reflective dimensions and their attitudes for unlocking their future on their own gave huge impact on many Japanese visual bands.

'Some of you have supported us for over 20 years and came here today. You guys, can feel our dream with reality because you supported us even during our breaking-up period of 10 years. Some people might think that we are a success as a band, but success is fleeting. Not to try for the top, we're gonna make it to the top.'

It was dramatic to see that INORAN ran a lot instead of SUGIZO who could not run properly because of his broken leg. I think that their 2nd gig showed us his words and passion the most. LUNA SEA is a living rock legend, but not an unreachable band, they still perform a lot of gigs that you can see and feel their magical show.

J's rap part elicited a lot of screaming, 'Come on, Budokan!' Then he thew the microphone stand away, then started 「ROSIER」. The last song began with INORAN's cutting guitar introduction「TONIGHT」.

Before the encore, the audience started doing a big mexican wave. Then members came back on stage smiling. 'Thank you so much for showing us such a beautiful scenery.' Then started to play「I for You」. After member introductions, SUGIZO and J went playing in front of the back seat audience, and then played one more tune「IN MY DREAM」.

'Excellent! We want to come together as one tonight with all 12,000 of you.' Everyone held hands then jumped. J put his towel on a monitor as a decoration, SHINYA ran around the whole back seat area, finally SUGIZO held his hands up, and then bowed deeply on the centre of the stage.


On January 13, Sunday【BEGINNING ERA　-IMAGINE FOR MY NEW MOON-】

The 3rd day started at 3:00 pm. I wondered how they still had energy for performing, but no need to worry about it.

The opening tune was「FATE」. This tune was recorded on their first album 『LUNA SEA』that was released before their major debut. The 2nd tune was 「Dejavu」, it made many fans headbang.

'It is too early to say 'tonight'... but I'm gonna say on purpose, TONIGHT will be a blast! '

「JESUS」was played with their full spirit and concentration. Cheers erupted from the audience. RYUICHI shouted out the introduction of「SLAVE」, the audience sang it from the beginning, the venue was full of energy.

'LUNA SEA might settle down after 30 years (laughing). Music never changes even though the time has changed. I believe that your dream comes true anytime, so let's make our big dream come true together!'

The stage lighting affect was like burning fire during「Rouge」, then「SANDY TIME」. It did not seem as if it was from their very early era. SHINYA and J made a massive earthy groove, INORAN's exquisite phrases, SUGIZO sounded as if he had gone to another world made to expand our imagination out of space. Their masterpiece 「MOON」was performed this time. They did not play it on their ZEPP tour. The artistic lighting affect enhanced their tunes more. If this song was not born, then「THE ONE-crash to create-」might not have been created.

After they played the melodious guitar tune「The End of the Dream」, J whipped up the audience in the centre with his wild bass guitar solo to shake 12,000 people. He shouted 'Let's go!'. After「BLUE TRANSPARENCY」made more excitement, SHINYA played his drum solo.

RYUICHI's song was getting more and more powerful, it was unbelievable. The remarkable non-stop performances of these gigs should not have been missed. 【BEGINNING ERA】was arranged with their early age of songs. They gave us goose pimples, it seemed they approached an unreachable area.

Instead of calling for an encore, the audience sang a happy birthday song for SHINYA. After he appeared with a very embarrassed look on his face, he blew kisses in all directions, and then made the audience laugh with a fake crying pose, then the rest of the members appeared from backstage.

'Happy birthday SHIN-chan. Finally we were able to hold a gig on his birthday. He is easily moved to tears.' RYUICHI said. SHINYA just nodded.

During member introductions, INORAN stole SUGIZO's role by playing the theme song of「007」. SUGIZO shouted without using the microphone that 'TOKYO! I love you!' and introduced RYUICHI as 'the most narcissistic vocalist in the universe.' RYUICHI laughed then he made a joke by saying, 'I should stop being ONARU (narcissistic), and should be ONASU (aubergine).'

The other band members were not finished surprising SHINYA. In the middle of 「IN MY DREAM」, the other members stopped playing suddenly apart from SHINYA. When the screen showed SHINYA's confused face, SUGIZO began playing happy birthday song. Then a huge special cake was delivered onto the stage.

'I'm speechless. When I was a high school student, I asked SUGIZO if I should buy a drum set then I got it. It's been a long time since then, now you guys are celebrating my birthday. Thank you so much.' SHINYA said.

Everyone who saw it, must have felt LUNA SEA's strong bonds of togetherness.

'Thank you guys, you made our day!! Bring it on!! Bring it on!!' RYUICHI shouted as in the past, the last song of the encore was the blissful tune 「WISH」. At the end, RYUICHI said, 'We will try to make the last 3 days better and better from the 18th!'

After jumping with everyone as usual, the members were reluctant to leave from the stage. INORAN took pictures of SUGIZO together with the audience, J got a banner for SHINYA from a fan, and then put it on SHINYA's shoulders. Usually SUGIZO says goodbye as the last member, but it was SHINYA's turn because it was his birthday. SHINYA put the banner on as a cape and greeted the audience. The warm standing ovation and cheering did not end for a long time.

LUNA SEA has everything, skills, high potential and entertainment as a rock band. Their maturity and original intention are well balanced. I have a feeling that something unexpected will happen during the upcoming 3 days.

Written by Hiroko Yamamoto
Translated by Yuko 'dorami' Soutome