Entrevista a Taiji y Shu sobre CLOUD NINE

Holas, dejo la entrevista que JRR le realizo a Taiji y a Shu; la entrevista esta en ingles, proximamente en español :

CLOUD NINE members Taiji and Shu sat down with us
to talk extensively about Jrock overseas, the return of classic bands
to the scene, and their own activities, reaching out to fans outside
Japan with this special interview. With X JAPAN reuniting, Taiji
also offered wishes for his bandmates from X.

CLOUD NINE was founded in spring 1999 by Taiji and Shu, joined by A-Joe on drums in April and named by vocal Jazz, who joined CLOUD NINE at Shu's
invitation in July of the same year. Live house performances started
after that line up was complete and January 2001 saw the release of
their first album 1st demonstration.

April of the same year unfortunately saw Taiji leave, with Fire taking up his position in June, then bass changing again when Maru replaced Fire in January 2002. Several albums, two of them produced by Logan Mader of Machine Head fame, were released in that line up starting October 2002, but then the very existence of CLOUD NINE was put into jeopardy when Maru decided to leave to pursue a musical career in the USA in summer 2007.

A savior appeared in the form of Taiji, who rejoined CLOUD NINE as bassist because, in his own words, "I don't ever want CLOUD NINE to stop."

The interview below was taken at their first "CLOUD NINE Origin" live at Meguro Rokumeikan Novemeber 3rd 2007 and published now for the release of their new song "Hell's Rage," as the feature number on Japan's We Rock (former rocking f) hard rock and heavy metal magazine, March 2008 issue's CD.

According to both Taiji's and CLOUD NINE's official blogs, there has been more recording so speculation is rife about a possible upcoming full album later in the year.



JRR (to Taiji): A number of your foreign fans asked me to tell you they were glad to find out that your leg is okay again (after a recent accident).

Taiji: Thank you very much.

JRR (to both): May I ask if you had a look at the Jrock Revolution website?

Shu: Yes, I looked at it.

Taiji: Not yet.

Shu: It looks like a site that's extremely supportive of Japanese bands.

JRR: Yes. Jrock Revolution is an organization that
started at the end of last May in L.A. when several current Japanese
visual kei bands performed there. Beyond that, we also want to
introduce more bands to foreign fans who don't know the local Japanese
scene so well.

Shu: So you've already held an event overseas?

JRR: So far only once, but yes, at the Wiltern Theatre in L.A., an event that YOSHIKI planned. With nine bands altogether, like girugamesh and D'espairsRay.

Shu: Young visual kei groups… Visual kei bands have become so popular now in the U.S., it's amazing.

JRR: Well, JRR isn't limited to visual kei bands; we'd
like to introduce other Japanese rock bands overseas as well. That's
the reason [we asked for this interview].

Shu: Thank you, and it's our pleasure.

JRR: Since JRR is an overseas site for fans who aren't
all familiar with the complete Japanese rock scene, could you please
give us a quick introduction to CLOUD NINE?

Shu: Originally Taiji and I founded [CLOUD NINE], but then, I don't exactly remember when, but some time in 2000 or 2001, Taiji left. About six years ago.

Taiji: Is it six years already?

Shu: After that break up, we both did our own things, but then Maru, who was our bass until recently, left because he said he wanted to go to the U.S. Then Taiji said he'd help us out... and today's our first live. We took care of six years in twenty seconds.

Taiji: (in English) Simple is best.

JRR: That's something you've said often, as well as "Never say 'can't.'"

Taiji: Yeah.

JRR: Do you still [say that] now?

Taiji: Even now, yes. Well, after my accident, I went through a
long rehabilitation. I had to have surgery, first for my ankle, then my
hip. I couldn't walk at all for a while. But, well, everybody around me
was so supportive, so I decided I wanted to jog again some day. I was
on crutches first, and eventually could walk without those. Then when I
was wondering what was next… Everybody kept supporting me until I
really could jog again. I'm surprised by it myself, it's miraculous, it
really feels like a miracle. That's already something I can hardly
believe and now, with Shu, it feels like destiny. I mean, it's
been so many years since then that we can play together again. I'm so
glad about that, really.

Shu: It's totally impressive that you made it through all that.

Taiji: (Agrees)

Shu: We're on stage together again, as CLOUD NINE
together again, for the first time after six and a half years. Last
year, we performed together once in a different band, in Yokohama.

Taiji: Yeah.

JRR: What event was that at?

Shu: That was at an event at the Yokohama Arena Sound Hall. We were there but in different bands. I was with CLOUD NINE and Taiji was with "TAIJI with HEAVEN'S."

Taiji: Yeah.

Shu: That time, Taiji's band invited me as a guest player. That was [my first time] after six years back on the same stage [with him].

Taiji: That I've come to this point and that I can come back to this now-I think that's because I've had the support of the CLOUD NINE fans, X's fans, D.T.R's, LOUDNESS' and everybody's.

JRR (to Taiji): Yes, I already saw that on your website, that was very moving. [CLOUD NINE] has an English language MySpace page, don't you?

Shu: Yes.

JRR: Whose idea was that originally?

Shu: CLOUD NINE's MySpace?

JRR: Yes.

Shu: Well, that's really a very supportive fan of ours doing it for us. That's not something we're doing ourselves.

JRR: Oh, is that so?

Shu: Well, I have my own MySpace that I'm really taking care of
myself, but as for the one for the band, a year or two ago we were
doing a tour with a band from L.A., Pretty Boy Floyd, and someone who came to concerts really liked us and said they wanted to support CLOUD NINE and introduce us to overseas fans and so they started it for us. That fan is amazingly supportive and told us, "CLOUD NINE is too good to perform only in Japan, I really want to introduce you to people overseas."

JRR: Well, all your overseas fans, including those on our site,
want [you to play overseas] -oh, and an English version of your
website.

Shu: Ah yes, well, [we should do that]. But for the moment, just
MySpace, since there isn't really anyone who really understands English
[in CLOUD NINE]. (Laughs.)

Taiji: It's still a fun thought despite that, isn't it?

Shu: It is. Well, an overseas version would be nice. With this [interview] for a starting point.

JRR: Please.

Shu: Moving towards overseas.

Taiji: It would be great if CLOUD NINE could become more famous [overseas].

JRR: Have you thought of performing overseas?

Taiji: I really want to, I've said that before.

Shu: What should we do? Maybe first we'll do today['s live].
(Laughs.) Maybe when that's over, we'll be fighting with each other
again. (Laughs.)

JRR: If you fight again, please make up again, too. (Laughs.)

Taiji: One never knows, we might.

JRR: Please don't say that!

Shu: It's likely we'd be friends again the day after tomorrow or so.

JRR: Definitely, please.

Shu: We go back a long way together, since we were twenty or so. I've known Taiji before he joined X.

JRR: Can you please introduce yourself to our readers? If possible, in English please! (Laughs.)

Shu: Oh yes, we should. (Laughs.) OK, in English then. Uh, that's for overseas, right?

JRR: Yes, for your fans worldwide.

Shu: Okay, I understand. I'm going to do it in English. Hi, everyone of the world, I'm Shu of CLOUD NINE. …Ah, that's all Japanese. I'm going to say it in English again in a moment. Here's Taiji.

Taiji: (in English) I'm Taiji. I love you, the CLOUD NINE, bass. Kore kara yoroshiku. ("It's nice to meet you.")

Shu: (in English) Hi, this is Shu from CLOUD NINE. I play guitar. Kore kara yoroshiku.

Taiji: (in English) Never say can't.

JRR: Yeah.

Shu: That's OK.

JRR: Thank you very much.

Shu: I'm so nervous when I have to use English. (Laughs.)

JRR: But you speak some, don't you?

Shu: No, not at all. Just Japanese. I even have difficulties with Japanese. It's really not good. (Laughs.)

Taiji: It isn't. (Laughs.)

JRR: Overseas, fans are talking a lot about old bands like X JAPAN or LUNA SEA or BUCK-TICK becoming active again. How do you feel about those old bands coming back?

Shu: They talk about Japanese bands overseas?

JRR: With you yourselves back to "CLOUD NINE Origin" again, too, how do you feel about old groups coming back?

Shu: For me personally, it's bands like LOUDNESS, which Taiji was in, who were the real pioneers. If people like us go over to the U.S., it's LOUDNESS that people in bands over there talk about, too. Well, now there is LUNA SEA or Dir en grey and so on, but I think those are different.

JRR: Dir en grey is also much later.

Shu: Yes, LOUDNESS was very different from those. But, if you ask overseas fans these days if they know LOUDNESS, well, it's a bit different, I guess because it's a different generation now. But I feel that because LOUDNESS blood flows in our veins, because I've always admired LOUDNESS,
I believe that [as opposed to the current visual kei mainstream], going
on in that tradition would be a good thing, too. Well, that would be
somewhat different from visual kei.

JRR: Well, visual kei and LOUDNESS are really very different, but LOUDNESS
was after all the first Japanese band that got noticed overseas, played
Madison Square Garden… They are definitely a large influence [on the
Japanese rock scene].

Taiji: I've been fortunate enough to have been a member of LOUDNESS, too, but for me, there isn't really any connection between LOUDNESS
and visual kei. Sometimes I wonder why everything seems to be visual
kei these days. Then again, the Japanese rock scene is rapidly evolving
and changing, so I think we've finally come to such a point where
[Japanese rock] can reach out to the whole world. And these days, with
the internet, even normal studio-produced work can be spread easily, so
it's much easier now to introduce new or less known hard rock bands
now. And there are still a great many that I'd like to introduce to
your audience.

JRR: Whenever you feel like doing so, please feel free to contact us and introduce them to us.

Taiji: Yes, that's an idea.

JRR: Also, if you are planning to do something with D.T.R again-

Taiji: Yes, I do, I'm going to do something with D.T.R again. I really I've come to feel I want to promote the Japanese hard rock scene more, little by little.

Shu: When Taiji was in X, he used to live and work
overseas so he has really personal experience with the music scene over
there, which is very different from Japan.

Taiji: Originally, rock came from America [to Japan], so based
on that, when everybody [in Japan] was still only copying, when I was
recording with X - I'm not quite sure how to say it - but,
then, I felt that finally there was a band that could introduce such a
great unique Japanese sound. I thought that was amazing. That after 10,
20 years the Japanese scene had finally changed, that made me happy.

JRR: If you don't mind, would you tell us how you feel about X and the X JAPAN reunion?

Taiji: For me, on guitar, that's HIDE, that's PATA, I myself am not X JAPAN, I'm X-

JRR: Well, X and X JAPAN is different for people like me, too.

Taiji: About that, how can I say this, inside myself, in my heart X
is alive, so I guess that's the reason I don't really feel like
thinking very much about the past. I want to make the most out of the
present, live now, so, if X JAPAN is going to reunite, I really want them to give it their best.

JRR: I'm very grateful to hear you say this.

Taiji: ... Go for it, X JAPAN.

JRR: If I may come back to the JRR site once more, what
was your impression of the site? What do you think of that kind of
approach to introduce Japanese rock overseas?

Shu: First of all, as Taiji already said earlier, it's
absolutely amazing that people overseas enthusiastically support
Japanese bands; that they want to introduce them [outside Japan].

Taiji: It really is.

Shu: Well, up until now, for several decades, since we still
were kids... uh, I guess we can do without old stories like that...
(Laughs.)

JRR: Oh no, please go on. Personal talk is so much more interesting. (Laughs.)

Shu: Well, it was the opposite in Japan at that time. Critics
were always telling us how great foreign bands were. That someone would
introduce Japanese bands overseas like [JRR is] now, that would
have been unthinkable then. [That it's happening] is something to be
very grateful for. It really makes things [like this interview]
worthwhile doing for us.

Taiji: Yeah.

Shu: So, in that sense, I consider being interviewed by people from overseas a great privilege. (Laughs.)

Taiji: It's really a privilege.

Shu: I really think so. And appearing in a music magazine or so
overseas, for example, that's great - things like this really make me
want to move into that direction. And, as Taiji already said
earlier, it's really very moving that Japanese music has developed to
the state it's in now. And for ourselves, it's our start today.
(Laughs.)

JRR: If you'd have to start right now overseas, where would you like to perform first?

Taiji: Good question.

Shu: First I'd like to try L.A.

Taiji: L.A.? Sounds like an idea.

Shu; If you look at it, CLOUD NINE music is strongly
influenced by American [music]. We grew up listening to U.S. metal.
With American bands' big influence, I think I'd really like to try and
see how people over there would welcome us.

Taiji: It's like Shu just said, but I'd like to go to
Asia, too. There are plenty of places that haven't been exposed [to
this kind of music] yet. I think it would be challenging to introduce
it there, then somehow, in a hungry spirit, to take on the whole world.
Because for me, rock isn't something you create, it's something that's
there. I'd be grateful, to everyone, everywhere, who'd look forward to
that.

JRR: Oh, there are people who are looking forward to that now already. Just come and you'll see.

Shu: Well, before overseas, or even Asia, there's actually still a lot of places I want to go inside Japan, with Taiji Sawada, to see what kind of reaction CLOUD NINE would get there.

Taiji: With CLOUD NINE having become this big, sounding as good as it does now, partly I feel it'll be challenging to get the [current] CLOUD NINE
fans to accept me, but I also very strongly feel that I'm back home
where I belong. So, for our stage tonight, well, in just a bit more
than two hours now, I really want to go all out performing today.

Shu: During our rehearsal, members from the other bands
performing tonight were watching and it was really amusing to see their
surprised faces. It felt like 'we did it!' Our former bass was
watching, too-he really was staring. He felt like, 'that's that, we won
our first challenge.'

Shu: It's definitely a different band from, one, no, two weeks
before, when we had our last gig. So I guess everybody will be
surprised, maybe think everything has changed, but nothing has changed,
because this is our origin.

JRR: Ah, yes. It says that on your MySpace profile, too.

Shu: This is how it's used to be. This IS our origin. So when Taiji came back and came into the studio, it was very emotional. (Laughs.) And then that very low bass sensation-

JRR: They are calling you "savior" on the CLOUD NINE website. How does that feel?

Taiji: Savior... listening to its sound, to what Shu has created up to this moment, I just felt I couldn't allow this band, CLOUD NINE, to be over, so when Maru left, it felt like this was a chance I'd been waiting for, because Shu
really has created a sound I want to play. The truth is, at the moment
I feel that I'm being given the privilege of being allowed to play it.

Taiji: It's not exactly like in our first formation, but going
back to the old style and developing [something new] from there,
playing together again, being able to enjoy ourselves again, that's
amazing, something I feel very strongly about, though this isn't really
the place to get sentimental now.

Shu: We haven't even started again yet. (Laughs.)

JRR: Just a little longer now... (Laughs.)

Shu: Yes. And that's something I'm always talking about with Taiji. That is, up to now, in X and LOUDNESS and D.T.R
he's always been playing bass under extremely high pressure, with huge
responsibility. So, we are always telling each with, with CLOUD NINE,
let's just have more plain, good-old fun-but when it comes down to
things, somehow it doesn't work out that way. (Laughs.) Whenever we
start [playing]-(Laughs.)

JRR: The pressure is back?

Shu: Yes. But [CLOUD NINE] is still a bit different.

Taiji: But then, you can't give in to the pressure.

Shu: We're doing it as people of the same generation [and background], and as friends.

Taiji: So the one band where I can just enjoy playing, that's CLOUD NINE.

Shu: As a band we really enjoy ourselves - well, enjoy ourselves while doing our best.

Taiji: It's important to enjoy [what you're doing].

Shu: If sad things happen, pleasant things happen, too. Lots of
things, things that you like, things that you don't. I think it needs
experiencing both to create something good.

Taiji: Shouldn't you be talking about our upcoming schedule?

JRR: Please do.

Shu: Okay, well then, first of all, we'll go on stage around 8
P.M. (Laughs.) Well, just now-is that what you want?-we're doing this
interview and then I guess we have to catch some food.

Taiji: Uh, not that kind of schedule. (Laughs.)

JRR: So really, what are your future plans [for CLOUD NINE]?

Shu: Future plans? There are lot of places still in Japan we've never been to. Places Taiji Sawada hasn't been to yet. Those are the places I want to go to. Maybe because besides CLOUD NINE, I'm also Taiji Sawada's fan and I want to introduce him to people waiting there.

Taiji: You were my fan? That's amazing.

Shu: A total fan. I wanted to join your fan club. Only there isn't any...

Taiji: Let's make one. You can have number one. No, that's really too much. (Laughs.)

Shu: I'm serious about that. People in or close to Tokyo might
have a chance to see [him], but people from the country can't come that
easily [to Tokyo]. So I want to go there and bring them the sound of
that bass.

JRR: Finish [that tour] with a concert in L.A.?

Shu: That sounds good to me.

Taiji: Sound good to me, too, the final concert in L.A.

Shu: I've been [over there] two years ago, for recording. Well, I think I'd want to play there if I'd go again.

Taiji: Yes, rock.

Shu: Well, with the beautiful weather we have today, that really
is a bit like California. (Laughs.) And just like Japanese players are
now making it in the US [baseball] Major League, why shouldn't rockers
do he same? I'd like to take up that challenge, well, after we're done
in Japan.

JRR: I think people will be looking forward to that, overseas as well [as in Japan].

Shu: That's good to know.

Taiji: So let's go.

Shu: We'll have to get passports first - mine's expired.

JRR: That shouldn't be all that difficult, right?

Shu: Maybe they won't let me in?

Taiji: Well, it's not like going to some hot springs. (Laughs.) I don't get into those, actually.

Shu: Though really, there's recording first and regular lives to
try. Maybe we'll get criticized because we aren't good enough yet,
maybe we'll make it.

Taiji: That's the process to have to go through to grow.

Shu: Yes, repeat things as necessary. Well, we're newcomers, a new band just starting today.

JRR: But you are "Origin."

Shu: No, no, no. Not at all. Today, in a way, I really feel like a beginner.

Taiji: Let's go for it.

weno yo entendi algo del ingles ademas q use a google traductor jejeje..pero ps por loq entendi Taiji esta muy feliz de tener sus 2 proyectos tanto cloud nine y dirty trashroad y en vdd q las dos bandas me encantan uno es como rap metal y el otro mas heavy pero igual taiji se hace notar mucho, ahora con respecto a taiji junto a alan opinabamos q se veia reviejo...incluso màs que todos los integrantes de x japan, no se si sera por el alcohol o el cigarro pero ps neta q mala onda..se ve abuelito taiji pero igual sigue tocando super..yeahh...

ah tambièn lei por ahi q taiji habla de las nuevas bandas q ahora sin mucho esfuerzo llegan a cualquier lado gracias al mundo globalizado y el internet, y hace recordar como los de su epoca, como loudness,X y otras bandas sufrian para llegar al mundo, tambièn en muchas partes de la entrevista menciona mucho a loudness lo cual se ve q admira profundamente esa banda q bien por taiji, tiene buenos gustos yeahh...

foto actual taiji

Yo iba a traducir solamente el
pedazo en donde taiji habla de X
(ya k para el solo vive X y no X JAPAN)
segun la entreviste

Weno, kreo k eso lo hare a mas tardar
el domingo

weno Taiji es yeah q decir!!!
mi bass y mi ser favorito del mundo si si si

q feliz me pusiste Xboy cuando me la pasaste jajaja thanX thanX hace rato q no sabia nada de Taiji (desde como febrero) y es q a mi Taiji si me importa mucho jajaja soy una fan actual
habrá q ver eso de CLOUD NINE siiiii
ojala siga DTR tb xq me encanta tá ahi en mi mp4 jejeje
oye thanX again me arreglaste una semana horrible q tuve
ok! pues q opino? q Taiji nuuunca va a cambiar ni a defraudarme, q nunca se va a rendir xq es un phoenix! (o al menos su bass jajajaja)
yaaa q me volé asi q creo q es suficiente

mi felicidad desborda, X (japan) a vuelto y Taiji no se queda atrás tampoco... promete un buen año!

Si pienso lo mismo, parece q es cierto loq dicen, q gallina vieja da buen caldo..esq si, los señores ya son de experiencia, han madurado en todos los sentidos asi q su mùsica es mas trabajada ademàs que son mas responsables y todo eso ....asi q ps a esperar las nuevas de taiji y x japan yeahhh

TAIJI ES MIO!!!!!!!

de exo me dicen desawada
¬¬

no es muy lindo ke te digan asi pero wenu...

xD


para mi taaiji es el mejor bass
de X