News

Some five months after the close of the tour, we finally have confirmation of the first release for the B’z 30th year commemoration: B’z LIVE-GYM 2017-2018 “LIVE DINOSAUR” on DVD & Blu-ray! Their most recent tour, the eighteen-date stand featured all but one song from the titular twentieth studio album DINOSAUR alongside a slew of classics including “ultra soul“, “BANZAI“, and “MOTEL“.

Recent double A-side single tracks “Seimei” and “Still Alive” were likewise joined by the long-awaited return of 1997 single “FIREBALL” after lying dormant for fifteen years. The 1994 album ballad “Akai Kawa” from The 7th Blues receives similar treatment as it not only makes its home video debut but also is performed for the first time in twenty-three years!

As previously reported, the taping was done at the Saitama Super Arena.on January 13 and 14. Both the two-disc DVD and single disc Blu-ray packages will be available on July 4, 2018, for a price of 6,800 Yen ($61.28 USD) with 21 songs performed in all—thirteen of which are making their home video debuts!

B’z LIVE-GYM 2017-2018 “LIVE DINOSAUR” on DVD & Blu-ray
Release: July 4, 2018 (6800 Yen)

Pre-order DVD Edition: CDJapan / Amazon.co.jp

Pre-order Blu-ray Edition: CDJapan / Amazon.co.jp

1. Seimei ★
2. CHAMP ★
3. Kodoku no Runaway
4. Haruka ★
5. Rooftop ★
6. FIREBALL
7. MOTEL
8. Akai Kawa ★
9. SKYROCKET ★
10. Sore Demo Yappari ★
11. Itoshiki Yuurei ★
12. Yowai Otoko ★
13. Purple Pink Orange ★
14. Ichibu to Zenbu
15. DIVE
16. Dinosaur ★
17. King Of The Street ★
18. Fukiarenasai ★
19. Still Alive
20. ultra soul
21. BANZAI

★ Denotes a song receiving its home video debut

B’z will again be touring later this year for B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI- with the first date coming three days after the release of today’s home video package. The tour will run through a two-night event at
Ajinomoto Stadium where B’z famously performed with American rock legends Aerosmith in 2002.

Tak Matsumoto News

As part of preparations for the ongoing B’z 30th Year exhibition “SCENES”, B’z staff were tasked with gathering hundreds of artifacts from the band’s history to present to the public. The staging follows the band’s full career with props never before displayed, including the original lyric sheets for various songs such as “ultra soul” and various costumes worn through the years. Of special interest to guitar aficionados was the prospect of seeing all of Tak’s instruments in one place. Yet, one of his iconic guitars is missing, and with good reason: it disappeared without explanation in 1997 and continues to be lost.

In the mid 1990s, Tak had taken a liking to Ernie Ball’s signature “MUSICMAN” EVH—Eddie Van Halen—signature series. One covered in a striking pink finish was used as part of numerous tours including Pleasure’95 “BUZZ!!”, LIVE-GYM ’96 “Spirit LOOSE” and Pleasure’97 “FIREBALL” as well as being pictured on the cover of double A-side single “Mienai Chikara ~INVISIBLE ONE~/MOVE“.

Staff first noticed the guitar was missing sometime after the close of B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure’97 “FIREBALL”. It was being entered into storage when it simply disappeared. As a well-documented, stage-used guitar, its value would be immense on the second-hand market. Even with twenty years gone, it has never surfaced publicly as staff search for its location.

■ Manufacturer: ERNIE BALL
■ Model: MUSICMAN EVH model
■ Finish: Pink
■ Serial No.: 86255
■ Period of Use: 1995-1997
■ Primary Usage:
・B’z Single「Mienai Chikara ~INVISIBLE ONE~」 Cover
・B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure ’95 “BUZZ!!”
・B’z LIVE-GYM ’96 “Spirit LOOSE”
・B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure’97 “FIREBALL”
■ Characteristics:
・”GO NO FURTHER” logo painted onto headstock.

UPDATE: The guitar has been found! Within days of putting out the call on social media, numerous tips came in that eventually led to the recovery of the long-lost instrument. For the past two decades, the guitar has been stored in a prominent guitar manufacturer’s warehouse under careful conditions. The entity in question has not been named but were happy to return the guitar to Tak, who now has it in his possession once again:

The guitar will be on display as part of the second half of the B’z “SCENES” exhibition for fans to see for the first time in twenty years.

News

The thirtieth anniversary tour, B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018, finally has a title: HINOTORI. Translating to “Phoenix”, this is the first time in which a mainline B’z tour has included a Japanese word in its title. Given the precedent in both 2008 and 2013, one could reasonably expect a new song entitled “HINOTORI” to be included during the shows.

The tour’s proper logo has not yet been unveiled but should follow in the months ahead, along with information on the band’s thirtieth anniversary releases. B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2018 -HINOTORI- begins on July 7 at the Okinawa Convention Center and runs through September 21 and 22 at Ajinomoto Stadium. A home video release should reasonably follow in January or February of 2019.

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

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.

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.