purple SKY - A Japanese Rock Magazine

Purple SKY Web Exclusive

Love Psychedelico - This Is Love Psychedelico

Interested in trying out Love Psychedelico for a cheap price? Or are you a huge fan eager to get your friends and family into their addictive retro rock? Victoria Goldenberg checks out how well Hacktone Records' compilation This Is Love Psychedelico initiates new fans in a web-exclusive review.

Taste of Chaos Tour 2008

boo broke the seal on his samurai pen, and dusted off the old pad of yellowed paper to head down to the god-forsaken lands of Asbury Park, NJ to catch Mucc, D'espairsRay and Underneath on the Taste of Chaos tour. Would fans of different bands get along, or would it be World War III?
Look further to find out.

This year's Japan Nite tour is only a month away and the intriguing lineup promises a wide variety of artists who specialize in everything from guitar rock to bluegrass ukele playing. There are fresh faces like the pop-friendly girl rock of Scandal and the island rhythms of Beaches and artists new to the tour like the redhot punk act Ketchup Mania and the hardcore Detroit 7. Plus a revamped Petty Booka and rock n' roll tour veterans The Emeralds. purple SKY had a chance to speak with several of these artists for an exclusive web feature.

Our Japan Nite special comes to an explosive finale with our final two profiles on pop/rock high schoolers Scandal and detroit7, the keepers of garage rock.

Don't forget about our other Japan Nite coverage with The Emeralds, Petty Booka, and The Beaches.

Winter 2008 - Sold out

Copies of the winter 2008 issue of purple SKY are still available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Hot Topic and independent stores across North America. You may also purchase a copy from Lolita Kisama.

See the Store list for more information.

Winter 2008

Gothic rockers Versailles on the cover of purple SKY's final issue

After two and a half years, seven issues and a whole lot of Goldschläger, we are sad to announce that North Americas first all English Japanese rock magazine will be ceasing operations following the publication of our Winter 2008 issue.

It may be the end, but we're going out with a bang. The issue features an interview with hot, up-and-coming visual-kei act Versailles, who brings their aristocratic resplendence to the cover. Also in the issue are eye-opening interviews with several big names such as Boris, Melt Banana and Ellegarden, as well as a special visual-kei section featuring young bands like the high energy SuG, Guy's Family and Oz. Be sure to check out the special choose your own adventure personality test to help you choose the right J-rock artist for you.

It's all in the final issue of purple SKY coming to you in March 2008.

Features

Cover: Versailles
Boris
Melt Banana
Ellegarden
V Section (featuring SuG, Guy's Family, Oz)
Anti-Feminism x Hagakure
Japan Girl's Nite (Falsies on Heat, GitoGito Hustler)

Special: Which Band is Right for Me? A Choose Your Adventure.

DEPARTMENTS

Our Penpal: Sugizo
Industry: Kevin Lyman (Taste of Chaos), Jonathan Platt (Jrock Revolution)
Love Buzz: Angelic Pretty, The American Gothic and Lolita Bible
Tied-in: The Wallflower
Part IV of Peelander-Z is Fun
Live Reports: Kiyoharu, Balzac + more
Reviews: Kagrra, Fuji Fabric, Bump of Chicken, Girugamesh, 12012, Alice Nine, B'z + more...

Fall 2007 - Sold out

Copies of the Fall 2007 issue of purple SKY are still available at Lolita Kisama.

Fall 2007

The Captains bring Romantic Garage Rock to New York, the World

If you've never been romanced by a man with a "rose that never wilts" or seen three men in identical red jackets jumping in unison on one leg while playing their instruments, well sisters and misters, have we got a band for you. Purple SKY Magazine introduces our cover artist for fall 2007, the self-proclaimed "Last Group Sounds" band, The Captains. In an exclusive interview with Kizuhiko, the eccentric leader takes us through Japan's early rock history and discusses, among other things, why he's earned the nickname "The Prince of Roses." Be prepared to swoon at the sight of the lush, full color photos of the band taken on location at Statue of Liberty Island.

The Captains aren't the only ones rockin' the boat, other indie acts are fighting for top billing, from fan favorite visual-kei artists like SID and Ayabie, to fresh faces like Back-On, Thee Out Mods, Sadie and ex-Psycho Le Cemu members seek and Aya's new monster mash, Mix Speaker's, Inc. But don't think the majors aren't in the mix, we have an exclusive you'll-never-see-this-in-Japan photo shoot and interview with hard rockers 12012, as well as Acid Black Cherry, Anna Tsuchiya, LM.C and Plastic Tree's Arimura Ryuutarou, following the band's groundbreaking performance at the Nippon Budokan.

Add a little indie love to your life this fall.

Features

Cover: The Captains
12012
SID
SADIE
Mix Speaker's, Inc.
Plastic Tree
Ayabie
Acid Black Cherry
Back-On
Anna Tsuchiya
LM.C
Thee Out Mods

DEPARTMENTS

Radar: Featuring Speed Disk Records (LiZ, Wizard, D=OUT, Unsraw, Pure Q&A, more)

Love Buzz: Cosplay Chameleon

Tied-in: Sakuran

Part III of Peelander-Z is Fun

NEW! Billy's Choice: Billy Goss likes lists. His picks for 10 standout album covers.

Live Reports: Plastic Tree 10th Anniversary live ZERO, Fuji Fabric, The Captains, Sadie, Ayabie, The Birthday, 12012

Reviews: GO!GO!7188 (with track-by-track album commentary by the band!), Rentrer en Soi, Tokyo Jihen, The Birthday, The Captains, Buck-Tick, Cocco, Plastic Tree, Kirito, Wrench, Gackt