As of today, it's completely official: Tak and Koshi have been working on solo projects.
Tak Matsumoto's Solo Project
As previously reported, Larry Carlton is working on a new album with Tak. According to B'z Official Website, the album is due for June 2010 along with a tour! And here's the thing, the album will probably be available internationally!
Koshi Inaba's Solo Project
Not so much is known about Koshi Inaba's solo project, not even a release date! However the song we reported about is called "Kono Te wo Totte Hashiri Dashite" (Take this hand and run), it will be the theme song for the renewed news show "NEWS 23X" on TBS. Tour has been planned, too.
Now, I know you all hate the small videos on the B'z website... well, I took the time and upsized them a bit... Look who's in the Koshi video! Shane and Stevie Salas! If anyone knows the other guy there, let me know in the comments!
So, wow, I just spotted this on a Japanese blog. The guitar looks pretty amazing. It's named "TAK'S MACHINE #0005".
Well, if you look at the pictures, it's only obvious, that it's called "a machine".
Tak Matsumoto of B'z (one of the greatest Japanese rock bands in history) and Stephen met in March of 2009 in Los Angeles. Tak visited the shop and decided that he wanted to play McSwain guitars. He and McSwain designed a smaller version of the original McSwain body shape for the guitars Tak ordered. This is what is now affectionately referred to as the "McSwain Jr." Domo Arigato Tak-san!!!! See you in Tokyo!
Apparently this has been around for some time, and it has not been officially announced yet, however, we do have a source to confirm it: WBA Entertainment Inc.
For those who don't know Larry Carlton, he's an American jazz fusion, pop, rock guitarist and a singer. Throughout his career he's earned 3 Grammy awards for his works.
And here's what they write in the announcement:
Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto
Recording a new album together in September 2009
Touring together in 2010 & 2011
Carlton's melodic yet aggressive approach to writing and playing on this CD blended with Tak's proven ability to write and perform Hit songs make for a unique Guitar experience. Drawing upon their knowledge and different music backgrounds Larry & Tak have forged Eastern and Western guitar styles to create a truly magical and unique album unlike any other. The best of East and West!
[...]
Now, in February 2010 Larry Carlton announced, that the projects with Robben Ford, with Keb Mo, with Tak Matsumoto and his album honoring Gamble & Huff’s Sounds of Philadelphia (T.S.O.P) are already completed or in their final stages of completion.
as you probably have noticed, the overall look of the design has changed.
This design, however, is not completely done yet. It's an early alpha version of the final site.
But I would like to get your thoughts/ideas on the new design! So, if you have any ideas or suggestions on what to change, etc. feel free to comment and share your opinion with us!
Things that have yet to be done:
Adjust styling so it gets properly displayed in Internet Explorer (lol)
Style the Sidebar
New footer (current one is not very nice)
Custom comments display
Banner: Feel free to create your own custom one! I'd love to add it if it's good! Dimensions are 998x123 pixel
Language bar in the top right of the banner (Yes, there's going to be localized versions of OFF THE LOCK)
Things that I will be working on in the future:
Tak and Koshi Profile / B'z Profile
B'z Database
And also, if you encounter any errors, please let me know!
Right after the tour is over, B'z official website got updated to show a new opening video stating that the live video will hit in both DVD and Blu-Ray (Yes, that's high-definition B'z!!) flavors soon.
Kine Naoto has been famous in the 80's with the band TM Network, which he also founded together with Komuro Tetsuya and Utsunomiya Takashi in 1983. Tak Matsumoto also used to support TM Network with his guitar skills by producing some songs that involved an electric guitar.
To no surprise it seems that Kine Naoto has been keeping in touch with Tak ever since. So now Tak has collaborated with an old friend from the pre-B'z days, and it's going to be track number #6 on the new album "Chuo-Line"(that's a train line in Tokyo) by Kine Naoto. According to his official site, it's going to be a folk-style album.
The title of the song Tak is collaborating on is "Mitaka Blues". One can imagine that it's no surprise that Tak is called in for a blues session on the spot.
The album will be out April 7th, 2010 and will be priced at 3060 Yen.
