Since their skull shattering appearance at J-rock Revolution, girugamesh has been strangely quiet on the western front, but they haven’t been resting on their laurels. Having toured Europe and their native Japan, they will embark on another European Tour this May. After hitting several cities across the continent, they will be at the Metaltown Festival and the Tuska Open Air Festival, sharing the stage with a veritable “who’s who” of famous metal bands.
Still, we here in the states have been eagerly awaiting their triumphant return and were ecstatic to learn of their forthcoming appearance at this years Sakura-Con. When we talked, I immediately had to ask whether a U.S. tour was in the cards. After the entire band agreed that they would all want to do it, Shuu, their bassist, elaborated, “Right now, no opportunity has presented itself, but we would really be interested if it did.” Vocalist Satoshi was even more optimistic,“We’re going to do more tours, more lives. If you hold on, it’s definitely going to happen.”
Girugamesh clearly enjoy music, both as a band that produces it and as fans themselves. They were almost giddy to hear that Limp Bizkit, one of their favorite bands, had gotten back together. When I asked what kind of bands they might want to tour with in the states, Shuu pointed at their guitarist, Nii, and mentioned that he would really like to go on the road with Story of the Year. They’ve done covers, including their well known version of “Glamorous Sky” and have expressed interest in doing more. Drummer Ryo mentioned that he’d like to do Linkin Park’s “Faint” while the other members really want to do Metallica’s “Master of Puppets.”
I think they might still be a little awestruck by how western fans react to them, something that many Japanese bands are often surprised by. The fan reaction in Europe has been huge and no doubt the reception they would receive in the States would be the same. Ryo described it as “hot.” Satoshi added, “It’s impressive. The fans sing the songs even though they might not understand the lyrics.”
Having just come off a 47 prefecture tour, they found the time to write a song, “Alive,” that will be released as a single in June. Ryo described it as a direct result of their experiences on the road and could be thought of as more of a collaborative effort from the band, as Satoshi came up with the “speed part” while Ryo wrote the more melodic sections. The tour will also be documented on their very first DVD release, allowing those of us who can’t afford a trip to Japan the opportunity to witness girugamesh first hand. The DVD “Crazy Crazy Crazy” will be produced by Ryo himself and — though the band had a good chuckle when I suggested that he might use the opportunity to turn down the rest of the their instruments and turn his all the way up — he was a little more modest in his approach. “Since it will be for sale for our fans, I’m focusing to clean it up and make it sound really
good.”
Until then, fans have been keeping busy listening to their third
album, Music. Though they’ve been around for a couple of years now, their approach to songwriting has remained consistent. As Ryo explained, “I write the music in the studio — drums, bass and guitars — and then I bring the finalized version to the rest of the band. That’s when they add their own style to it.” Though it may seem like a simple title, Music had a deeper meaning. Shuu explained, “This was the first time we released something simultaneously in Japan, Europe and the U.S. We wanted to say to the world that this is our music.” He then added, Music is a little more digital, the albums before that were more rock based.” Though shorter than either 13’s Reborn or their self-titled album, they didn’t think it needed to be any longer, because as Ryo described it, “it’s really hardcore.”
Interview courtesy of JapanFiles.com
Tags: girugamesh, japanfiles, jrock revolution, metal
I just can’t help myself (sorry!), but I have to say this.
I love girugamesh (and alot of other bands like dir en grey, gazette, sid, mucc and so on) and they do look REALLY good (well, not everyone), but I like them for the music!
I go crazy at the live shows b’cuz of the music not by their “good looks”.
The only thing I have heard of their looks were about Shinya from dir en grey, that he was cute. But when I see vids from youtube or stuff from myspace what people have wrote about them, it’s just wrong.
I listen to the music b’cuz I want to and I really like this music!
And I HATEHATEHATE when the girls say that the guys are “kawaii”, please, grow up. >_<
I feel like kick their ass really hard and scream at them and try to make them understand that they never ever will be a girlfriend/wife to any of those guys. so they can stop daydreaming and go back to their real life…
AND it’s about their music, cuz they are musicians NOT models, right?
To be honest, I hardly know their names or how old they are.
I can’t call myself a fan, b’cuz in these days you “have” to know everything about them, and I don’t, I live for their music, not their personalstuff and so on.
What I just wrote probably didn’t make any sense. Haha!
Hope I didn’t offended anyone… o_O’
And sorry for my really poor english, I suck at writing. ^_^
btw I’m a 18yr old girl from sweden.
From what I’ve seen they have quite a few fans who are in the 13-16 year range, so I’m not surprised when they act like kids. And this is because they still are! I’m all for growing up and being mature, but let’s not be too hasty. They’ll get their dose of adulthood soon enough and there’s no going back to childhood after that.
people say I’m mature, many people think I’m 25-30 years old, I don’t look that old.
Even though I’m very childish.
At the Metaltown fes the 27th june in Sweden, when Giru was playing, there were ALOT of girls. I was probably one of the oldest of them and the tallest… and the only one who didn’t wear “emo makeup”. Haha.
Many of the swedish jpop/jrock fangirls who like for ex an café and miyavi are mostly under 16, sure there is older girls too, but most of them are really young. And even the guys are really young too, but if they care more about the music then the bands personallife, I’m all for it.
Their record label decides they want the band to play outside of Japan and this usually starts with some small shows in Europe.
And you should remember that Japanese girls also like bands for their looks. It’s certainly not something that is only happening in North America.
Girugamesh loved the response from the North American fans and it was a profitable event.
yeah but sometimes these bands from Japan say these things to be nice & cause they are being paid to do it, my cousins went up to seattle to see them & had the chance of the lifetime to actually talk to them with no fans around it’s a different story.
I’m Japanese & I’m different from other Japanese girl fan, I love them for their music only! yes! Japanese girls do like them for their looks to! but please understand this! when they come to the u.s to do these types of thing
at least treat them with respect & not act like complete dogs in heat.
& I also agree with that too why do they make these bands perform in Europe & other places? it something that I’m not happy with & I’m not trying to sound like a complete mean person but, you can’t help but be mad at some fans treat them! these bands write & work hard on the music they give us! & fans just want to buy their music for their looks.
What I’m about to say I do not mean to offend anyone in anyway but when they were up in Seattle which was great in all!, but! a lot of the fans ruined their image by saying really rude & disrespectful things about them, I cannot believe how many disrespectful girls were there, & this has been for any band that has come to the U.S I think these bands should be left alone! I’m not happy when they bring them over, I been to too many shows & I can’t stand how some fans treat them like their only good for their looks! whoever idea it was to bring them over it wasn’t a really swift move.
I’m sorry I do not agree with bands from Japan coming over if that’s how fans are going to treat them!
yes it is true that A LOT! of girl fans only like Japanese music for the men! & I as well have been to many Jrock show’s & Oh my! I to have herd foul things come from girl’s fan’s mouth
it sad! I will never understand why? & how? Jrock music got the u.s,… but I wish that it didn’t.
After seeing girugamesh in Seattle & also seeing how girl’s posting up videos of them on youtube & just saying slutish behavior about them!
it’s a big disappointment for the fans who have been fans of them from the very beginning when they first started.
I do not think the bands from Japan should come over to the u.s anymore if that is how fans are going to be treating these bands, & not to mention it does in fact give them a bad image. That I will
agree on with you.