New Tak Matsumoto Les Paul in June & Koshi Harmonica Reissued
News 
Tak Matsumoto Gibson Les Paul Reissue Inbound
As hypothesized previously, it has today been announced that the Gibson Custom Tak Matsumoto Les Paul Standard Canary Yellow 2018 is being released as part of the thirty B’z 30th Year promotions. The guitar is a reissue of his very first produced by the prestigious Gibson Custom Shop from 1999, which at the time made him the first artist from Asia to be bestowed a signature instrument from the company. Both Custom Shop and Gibson USA versions of the original guitar were produced but were in time supplanted by the “Tak Burst” finish of the same guitar. More recently, Tak has been seen with a large number of Double Cutaway signatures that have seen both private and public varieties prepared.
The 2018 revision will feature the same neck profile as the 2016 True Historic 1959 Tak Matsumoto replica as well as a pair of Gibson Custom Bucker pickups, both styled with zebra bobbins. The original guitar featured a combination of Gibson Burstbucker 2 & 3 pickups, which has been used in numerous Tak signatures in recent years. As with most others produced for him, the guitar features black binding and a rosewood fretboard.
With regard to the reissue, Tak commented:
“Almost twenty years later, the Canary Yellow appears again. I used a prototype during the “LIVE DINOSAUR” tour, which this time features a lightweight chambered body and a tight neck. It can cope with a wide variety of sounds, from the heaviest to cleanest of tones. I am very pleased to have my first signature model reissued in commemoration of the B’z 30th Anniversary Exhibition.”
The limited run guitar—with only 150 to be made—is set for release in June 2018 at a premium price of 678,000¥ ($6,360 USD) not including tax. Additionally, an autographed version will be available to purchase as part of a lottery program at the upcoming SCENES exhibition.
Hohner Koshi Inaba Signature Harmonica Reissued for 30th Anniversary
Those that missed the B’z PARTY fanclub-exclusive Koshi Inaba harmonica will have a second chance, as a B’z 30th Year-labeled version will also be made available.
Koshi Inaba Signature Blues Harp Sold Exclusively to Fanclub Members
Analog Vinyl LPs of All 20 B’z Studio Albums Available Exclusively at 30th Anniversary Exhibition
News 
In commemoration of B’z 30th anniversary, it has been announced that all twenty original studio albums will be available on analog vinyl LPs for a limited print run. For the duration of the exhibition, they will be sold exclusively at the venue where B’z 30th anniversary exhibition “SCENES” is held. The FAQ reveals that select merchandise / items may also be available for purchase on-line or through other channels once the exhibition wraps up on June 15. Furthermore, a valid ticket is not required to enter the shop and buy the merchandise.
Each of the albums features an LP-size sleeve with their original album cover on it. Each album will cost 5,000 Yen — with the exception of The 7th Blues, which will cost 8,000 Yen. As a special present for purchasing one copy, one receives a “clear file holder” with the cover of the corresponding album that was purchased printed on it. Additionally, one receives a special voucher per purchase. Once five vouchers have been collected, it is possible to receive a special B’z-themed LP storage cardboard box, which can fit up to 13 LPs depending on the thickness of their package.
For more information check out the post on B’z Official Website.
B’z 30th anniversary exhibition “SCENES” is scheduled to run from April 1, 2018 to June 15, 2018.
B’z x WOWOW Special Program to Start Airing in April
News 
Japanese pay-TV channel WOWOW is going to air a series of B’z specials starting from April 12, 2018 to commemorate the band’s 30th anniversary. The first in the series to air on April 12 will feature the band’s history from their debut in 1988 to the year just before their 15th anniversary — 2002. In addition, they will present live footage of all the singles released within that time frame. Furthermore, the program will provide an early look at the upcoming 30th anniversary exhibition titled “SCENES”. Further special programs will be announced on the channel’s dedicated WOWOW x B’z webpage.
WOWOW has previously aired a special program commemorating their 25th anniversary titled “ONLY TWO” in 2012.
Burnout Paradise Remastered To Feature English B’z Song “FRICTION”
News 
Racing video game Burnout Paradise by Electronic Arts will soon be re-released in remastered form for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The original version of the game, released ten years ago in January 2008, featured a celebrated soundtrack that included “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses as its opening theme. Portions of the soundtrack for the original release were sourced from an earlier game in the series titled Burnout Dominator for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable in March 2007. Both games and the latest version feature an original English song by B’z entitled “FRICTION” which was written specifically for the 2007 edition.
Notably, “FRICTION” became one of the relatively few B’z songs available on international iTunes store fronts though it has since been delisted. It was also later utilized as a second B-side for the fall 2007 single “SUPER LOVE SONG“. A revised version would be featured on the 2007 album ACTION.
Burnout Paradise Remastered will be available worldwide March 16, 2018 for $39.99.
Mr. Big & B’z Guest Drummer Pat Torpey Dead at 64
News 
Drumming icon Pat Torpey of Mr. Big fame passed away on February 7, 2018 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Torpey had been battling the disease for several years and was eventually rendered without the ability to play the instrument, though through his bandmate’s insistence he took on a percussion role for tour dates thereafter and would contribute vocals. On the band’s 2017 album Defying Gravity, he would act as “Drum Producer” while Matt Star joined the band in the role.
Torpey had sustained friendships throughout the music industry and served as an influence on many, including the current B’z drummer Shane Gaalaas who took to Instagram to mourn his passing. For the 1999 B’z album Brotherhood, Torpey and Mr. Big bandmate Billy Sheehan contributed to “girigiri chop (Version 51)“—an album-only version of the year’s number-one single. On October 8, 1999, Torpey and Sheehan appeared alongside B’z on Music Station for a live rendition of the song, which also included “Brotherhood“.
Mr. Big remains one of the most successful international acts in Japan where the bulk of their touring efforts are focused. Apart from the aforementioned B’z collaboration in 1999, bassist Billy Sheehan also appeared on all dates of B’z LIVE-GYM 2002 “GREEN ~GO★FIGHT★WIN~”, and frontman Eric Martin would team with Tak during his 2004 solo project TMG (the Tak Matsumoto Group) alongside Night Ranger bassist and vocalist Jack Blades. Both members also appeared in the 2012 Only Two documentary covering B’z LIVE-GYM 2012 -Into Free- in North America.
Gibson to Release Reissued Tak Matsumoto Signature Les Paul?
News 
In recent live appearances, including those for television and as part of B’z LIVE-GYM 2017-2018 “LIVE DINOSAUR”, Tak Matsumoto has utilized a litany of guitars from his massive collection. This includes several of his signature models from the Gibson Custom Shop, but an inclusion that caught particular attention was what appeared to be the 1999 Gibson Les Paul Tak Matsumoto signature guitar in Canary Yellow. This was unusual because the guitar was last used as part of B’z LIVE-GYM 2001 “ELEVEN” and has not seen the live stage in the years since.
Distinguished music webzine Barks today published their customary report on the equipment used by Tak during the tour. Along with specifying the guitars used for each song along with the amplifiers and effectors, there are accompanying images of the exact instruments played. Most interestingly, the photoshoot did not include the aforementioned Canary Yellow signature, nor did it identify the guitar by a specific name. A blurb accompanying the article explains the omission thusly:
“Although it was not possible to photograph due to being a prototype, a Gibson Les Paul signature model in Canary Yellow was used during four songs. This appears to be a different model from that used in the past, so stay tuned for additional information in the future.”
Tak’s history with Gibson guitars dates back to the early 1990s. In 1994, after B’z had topped the Japanese music industry, Tak became the owner of an extremely valuable guitar: an original 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, serial number #9-1156. The instrument, now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, is not used live as a precaution but has been used during recording over the years. A reproduction of this guitar was made as a limited edition for the Japanese market in 2016.
Left: Tak Matsumoto in promotional photo for his first Gibson Les Paul Signature in 1999.
Right: Autographed edition of the guitar donated to the Hard Rock Cafe in Japan.
By 1999, after B’z made headlines with B’z The Best “Pleasure” becoming the best-selling album in the country’s history and its similarly successful companion B’z The Best “Treasure”, Gibson approached Tak with the prospect of becoming their latest Les Paul signature artist, and the first from Asia. In time, Tak has become the guitarist with the most signature instruments produced by Gibson.
Whether the guitar will be reproduced and released akin to his past signatures or is a limited reissue prepared to commemorate the band’s thirtieth anniversary has not been confirmed.