ayafujimiya2

Tour 08 Death Over Blindness

May 4^th – They finished appearing on the event and then moving…

After finishing “hide memorial summit,” Dir en grey headed to their next venue in Okayama without having any time to rest. Few hours later after leaving Tokyo, they met with Mr. Takahashi, the event promoter of Candy Promotion in Okayama, and by then, everyone was tired and silent the entire time.

May 5th - Crazymama Kingdom

Osaka-fu: Death Over Blindness tour has begun with three consecutive show at Namba Hatch.   Originally, 5/4 was a moving day, but due to their appearance on the event (hide memorial), the show in Okayama became the 5^th day of the 6 consecutive shows. Due to the venue’s situation, we could not use the backdrop from Namba Hatch. However, the emblem that was on the tour goods (t-shirts and stickers) appeared behind Shinya’s drumset. It was difficult to create the same impact of a large venue, but because this place was compact, the emblem helped to bring out liveliness. 

In backstage, there was no space for many people, and the staff members were taking a break near the hallway where you can see the audience waiting for the door to open. By the way, this venue is on the fourth floor of a nice-looking building. No one would even dream of such an intense show happening on the upper floor. During the show, the audience began to jump with the music’s beat and the floor began to shake. On the last song, The III D Empire, the staff near the stage had to hold up a “no jumping” sign. 

May 6th - Crazymama Kingdom

The line for entrance began to move as the time was 6pm, and the sky made us think of summer dusk. People were slowly filling in the venue, and the camera and speakers set up here connected to the band members’ room as they were able feel the excitement of the audience directly. The venue filled with more heat than yesterday, and from the first song, Ryoujoku no Ame, the band members and audience seriously took on each other. Especially with small stages, one can feel the raw and concentrated condition between the staging of 5 members and the reaction of the audience. Near the front stage, the fence could not withhold the push from the back, so the front row audience had their feet up near the front edge of the stage.

During this performance, dead tree left an impression where Kyo sung serenely and eerily as he stared at one spot while the audience stopped their movement and stared back in awe.

May 8th - Club Diamond Hall

It has been a while to come to Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya city, Club Diamond Hall as the red wall is covered with foreign artists’ flyers, and this appearance reminds you of a live house in Europe and the United States. Before, we had more shows at Zepp Nagoya, and because of that, it feels strangely refreshing of having a different Nagoya atmosphere. After 3pm, the stage was not big, but the Tech team took their positions and checked everything carefully. On the floor, there was Toshiya watching them. This tour has 2 new songs included and they were performed at Club Diamond Hall as well. Glass Skin was performed where Kyo had a spot light on him while the overflowing sound of piano resounded. Kyo began to sing with an ecstatic facial expression, and with the guitar parts, the hue of the band’s sound was oozing out. The left-hand side was overlapping with the song, and shakes inside the small amount of light. This song has a smooth texture, and it brought a moment of silence to the heated floor. 

May 9th - Club Diamond Hall

We are half-way through the tour. The other new song, Stuck Man was a contrasting song from Glass Skin as it had a vibrant tempo, and shook the ground. During this song, Kyo counted together with the audience and raised their fists into the air, heightening a rush of blood to the head. Toshiya strummed the strings sharply with his slap-bass technique, and from the performances during the tour, his sound seemed to become fuller. Also, the lighting matched with the song as it shined the back drop; and it sometimes changed into a shady form and lured people who watched it into a peculiar world. It felt like Stuck Man during Nagoya’s second date had brought itself together. It was a new song before and had some rawness, but from this day, this new song changed into a combination of maintaining freshness and stability. 

May 16th - Zepp Sendai

Heading into summer, the surroundings of the Sendai train station near Zepp Sendai have paper lanterns and pennants hung on street lamps and stands that appear florid because the “Aozora festival” is coming up on the weekend (Apparently, this festival will take place on the day of the second show here). Sendai was infused with energy and the sunny May weather welcomed Dir en grey. In the venue, a large banner was put up on stage as it has not been used since the Namba Hatch shows; once again, one is blown away by its presence. The audience that will gather in front of this banner and create a critical state must be a superb view. A few hours later, on the stage with that banner hung, Kyo’s voice ringed in the air. 

“Sendai, you guys are better than this! Can you do it?”

The voltage of excitement was rather easy on the first day at Sendai, but after being aroused by Kyo’s voice, one does not even have to guess that the show became more intense.  

May 17th - Zepp Sendai

On the second day of Sendai, there was a completely different set-list from yesterday. The venue’s spirit was as if it was continuing from yesterday’s encore. Around the middle of the show, there was a special effect with the lighting and backdrop during Conceived Sorrow that was eye-catching. We used a special machine, which makes Kyo’s form appear on the backdrop and change with the song’s style and tempo. One should note that Kyo’s overlapping forms several times was not a projected image, but a creation through special light effects. 

“It was all right…”

Kyo spitted out some water and after commenting about today’s show to the audience, he left the stage. After the show, there was news that one band member lost his jewelry he wore during encore as it flew into the audience floor. But few minutes later, an audience came up to the staff asking,

“Does this belong to one of the band member?” 

This band member thought that his jewelry would never return, but he was very happy about the miraculous happening. We would like to use this moment again to thank this audience. 

May 19th - Aomori Quarter

We were nearby the ocean, and around the venue, one could smell the salt. In front of the venue, a large blue truck with the band name and title awaits sonorously for visitors. Because it’s the beginning of the week, we did not see too many audiences waiting near the venue. However, before entrance time, many Dir en grey fans surrounded the place. Like Okayama, this venue is built compact, so we can anticipate vivacity. In this show, one would feel strongly of how Dir en grey considers the time between songs to be very important. During the time between songs, Kyo’s voice delay would disappear, and you can say that the superb timing from each song determines the live itself. The timing to begin Obscure’s SE after Kodoku ni shisu yueni kodoku was brilliant. As Die’s guitar sound continues to echo, in which timing does the SE begin…? This is possible through the communication and sensory link between the manipulators: Mr. Furuta and Dir en grey.

May 20th - Aomori Quarter

Stormy day. There was no space to have a tour goods booth in the venue, so as the winds were getting stronger, staffs outside had to hold on to the tent that was getting blown away (basically saying they had to sell tour goods outside). Even with the bad weather, fans were coming up to the booth seeking tour goods. Meanwhile, in the band member’s room (which is usually a fancy bar), preproduction for the next album was going on. The tour and music production were happening at the same time, and the members must have been very busy, but their source of power is the view they would see in a few minutes: the live and the audience. When the storm was finally over, the tour’s last regional date, the show in Aomori, began. During Dozing Green, smoke rose up, and it became a creature manipulated by Dir en grey’s music, which changed shape according to the 5 member’s movements and attached onto them.

Near the end of the show, behind Kaoru, there was Die reaching his arms to play on Kaoru’s guitar. This was a rare scene that could only be seen in an extra time of encore. 

*This date was Manager Inoue’s 36^th birthday, and after RH (rehearsal?), birthday song filled up the venue. A cake was brought to Mr. Inoue who seemed somewhat surprised and embarrassed, and a small birthday celebration took place. We weren’t notified at this point, but after 4 shows later at Shinkiba Studio Coast, we celebrated birthdays of Mr. Tomochi (or Tsuchimochi?) who is in charge of flipside and Mr. Yoshida who is in charge of the manipulator. Dir en grey staff team has a lot of people born in May. 

May 23rd - Yokohama Blitz

Before the show, Kaoru had a big package, and peeking into it, as we have touched about this topic during vol. 39, Nine Inch Nail’s new material had arrived. Looking happily and checking out what was inside, Kaoru could not help but be amazed by its splendor. During the summer of 2007, Nine Inch Nails and Dir en grey appeared together in the Ankkarock festival. Today’s set list included Shokubeni, Karasu, and with that flow, the nursery rhyme, Kagome appeared. Kyo almost weaves out the melody bringing fear and sadness. Lurking with eeriness, Kagome became a splendid introduction for Karasu. Nursery rhyme and Dir en grey does not seem to go together. Yet, the lyricist and composer are unknown, and this song has many stories due to its mysterious origin (one may check this up on Wikipedia or I can translate Dr. Nemunemu that actually talks about Kagome in the earlier Haiiro no ginka), which may actually link with Dir en grey’s world. 

When looking around at fans calling encore, there was one man who left an impression where he held onto his head and looked dazed out. 

May 24th - Yokohama Blitz

On the second date, it was unfortunately raining, which may had been signifying tsuyu(rain season) coming up. During Kigan, people were jumping up and down as it shook the floor and vibrated the walls that spread to the projector and the image on the backdrop with many kanji on the screen also swayed heavily. The audiences participated actively, and their action reflected back to the stage, making it a rare occurrence to watch. After the show, people were waiting at the cloak area where rain was pouring onto their heads just like earlier before the show started. However, was that wet and elusive shine emitted from rain or sweat…? These audiences covered the outside of Yokohama Blitz. Finally, the tour only has Shinkiba 3 Days left. What kind of growth would happen within these 3 days?

May 28th - Shinkiba Studio Coast

Today is the first day of Shinkiba Studio Coast 3 days. Shinkiba Studio Coast has a good sound, and at the rehearsal stage, the song and delay had a distinct echo, which was impressive. Before the show opening, we were called by Toshiya.

“I want to give my mic stand as a present for the newsletter (Haiiro no ginka).”

Toshiya’s mic stand has followed his moves and acted with one heart and mind as they shared joys and sorrows together, and next to his bass, it has been a sub-partner existence. It has flown high during The IIID Empire (ex: hide memorial summit) and received Toshiya’s shouts during Agitated Screams of Maggots. Such an important possession will become a present from Toshiya’s sincere courtesy (Please look at the application page [応募ページ] for more information). Mr. Fujiki, the stage director and Manager Inoue could not hide their surprise when they heard Toshiya’s request. Even before the start of the show, this live was filled with air of hunger and crisis. The lights went out, the SE began from darkness, and the members appeared. The show began with this first voice: 

“Tokyo――!!!”

Dozing Green began with a ground-shaking rhythm, and guitar riffs gushed out, making the place move along with the music. During Kodoku ni shisu, yueni kodoku, Kyo repeatedly kept saying “Love you,” and the entire place froze. “Love you, love you…” What is Kyo calling for…? These words are emotional yet, as they begin to lap over, they change into something lifeless. A mantra seemed to surround this space while the guitar painfully echoed, leaving an afterglow.

May29th - Shinkiba Studio Coast

As the show is about to start, the atmosphere of the venue began to change. Being the middle of the 3 days, the second day’s show was about to begin. Going downstairs towards the stage, the 5 members with intense ardor huddled up; it’s time. The first song was the new song, Glass Skin, and right after, Grief began. The set list had a smaller dynamic, and it had many medium heavy numbers. And as Kaoru expected, there was a different feeling and slight frustration that seemed strangely new. Due to this set up, Hydra 666 turned into a detonator. In real time, Kyo’s figure was shown through the special effect onto the backdrop, and it showed a subliminal world. Kyo got up onto the standing platform and raised both arms high in the air, and the audience responded by raising their arms, and screamed back “6! 6! 6! ” The 2 lapping figures of Kyo did not only make the audience, but the staff including the one doing the special effect impressed. It was indeed a stunning view. After finishing encore, Die had a clouded expression on his face, and he smashed the guitar head to the ground, stopped moving, and crouched on the floor for some time.

May 30th - Shinkiba Studio Coast

“It’s a fight between each one you and me.”

The last day has arrived. In Dir en grey’s lives, cozy relationships cease to exist. It is better to say that the members’ and audiences’ life energies collide into each other. During Ryoujoku no Ame, Kyo began to scratch his chest as if something has awakened inside of himself; it is difficult to put in words, but this sense of atmosphere began to eat away the entire space. Kyo uses his body to propose the “meaning of life,” and the depth of these words to the audience. Dead tree sings about human’s frailty, and from Kyo’s wound, the oozing blood mixed with sweat, trickled down to his abdomen. Kyo released everything of himself into this moment without any lies or deceit. Following this, Karasu started with Shinya’s pulse-beating rhythm together with the resonating guitar sounds that make you imagine of amplified spots. The backdrop sometimes had cracks that looked like streaks of lightning. These cracks increased, and when the countless fissures covered up the eye, Kyo got up onto the standing platform and got seated in a kneeling position (Zen meditation), and looked up at the sky. This view was frightening, and it would make a person shiver. There were no use of explosives or weapons, but a sensory fear ran loose. We now witnessed how the 5 members had finally gone into “some territory.” After the show was over, Kyo still had blood and sweat dripping down from his left chest.

Death Over Blindness took place parallel to the music production, and in actuality, the band would have wanted to focus on their song composition as their feelings of weariness, pressure, and impatience are beyond our imagination. However, for the members who have been distant since the last show near the end of 2007, the existence of stage has allowed them to seriously take on the audience that has great meaning, and perhaps they have been able to get new stimulations. In September, the mother body (Dir en grey) would reach its trimester and you will be able to feel the new life’s (new album) heartbeat. From the day of the Glass Skin single release, Tour 08 – The Rose Trims Again will begin. Would the band be able to find a clue in this tour for their 7^th album, Uroboros?

Music Clip Shooting of Glass Skin

Raining season is near the end, and while the moist air covers the cloudy sky on this day of July, somewhere in Tokyo, the shooting for Glass Skin has begun. Last time for Dozing Green, many screens were set up at the shooting location, but this time, everything was done in the studio. Everything became CG footage, and there were no props or big sets; there was only blue screen that would process the image composition. This was not at a far location and the traveling time was short, but being in the same place for hours, it was a battle against the gradual tiring air circulating and barren background. 

While Shinya’s drum set was getting set up, the staff team began to wrap white tape onto the silver parts of the frame of the drums. The basic color of this drum is white, the same with the bass and the surface of the snare that has no problem, but all the frameworks supporting the set is silver. Silver colors is like a mirror, and without taping, when you shoot the drum set, the blue will reflect and make the drum set look like it’s floating. All the artists who use a blue screen do this procedure, but for Visual Trap (Production Company) the amount of work they do is top notch for Dir en grey. 

After 12pm, the members arrived. This shooting took place in the midst of their music production when they worked every day until early in the morning. We asked Die who was smoking at the lobby about how they were doing and he mumbled, “My hard disk memory inside my head is so full.” The five member’s desire for the extreme must have brought this suffering…

In the member’s room, Mr. Ohno who is in charge of costumes and Kaoru were discussing what he should wear. Mr. Yamaguchi who is in charge of make-up was observing the two and made a remark. “You look like a cool, modern-looking vagabond Tora-san!” (note: Tora-san is the main character from the Otoko wa Tsuraiyo series) Kaoru’s fashion was coordinated innovatively wearing everything black with black-framed glasses and sandals. Kaoru was trying on a hat, but in the end, he gave up wearing the hat and sandals, and wore his usual black boots and headed for the studio.

1:30pm  

Shooting began. Kaoru was first, and a total of 6 cameras were set up left, right, up and down in the middle area in rows. First, the camera shot the member from the front. Because we were using blue screen the entire time, there weren’t anything striking about these photos, and the changes that happened during this shooting were difficult to express. However, using multiple cameras, changing camera angles and positions, and shooting various patterns would definitely result into low-key efforts and long hours. How were these shootings and procedures going to be compounded? After the first shoot, the staff began to composite the shots with the CG they had prepared beforehand. Many staff and Kaoru surrounded Mr. Kondo, the director, and waited nervously. Then, behind Kaoru, the background had a world of white painting spreading before their eyes. Even though this was a rough image, one cannot be amazed by its high quality, and the daily evolution of CG images. 

3:00pm

Kaoru ->Die have finished and next was Toshiya’s turn. There was something different about Toshiya’s bass. The bass’ body was tattered up, and it was finished with a posh taste and looked like an aged vintage. The band members and staff all focused their attention the bass’ “broken” qualities. While the shooting continued, the taping for the drum set continued. The drum appeared as if everything was white all along. The schedule started to delay due to the adjustments of blue screen and the shoot, and various takes even though there was no actual moving of location.  

4:30pm

Kyo’s shooting began where his top part of the body was bare, and he wore a a purple adidas jersey that had yellow stripes. This time, Kyo did not have a clip where he sings. This time, all 5 members did not shoot together, and they only had separate shootings. Kyo’s shooting was slightly different as he moved his body slowly along with the music you could barely hear. He tried looking up and down, spread his legs, and covered his face with his hands, and expressed himself through body language. At times, when there was the music playing in the studio, you could only hear Mr. Kondo’s direction.        

After taping for 5 hours, Shinya’s drum set was finally ready, and it was set up at the blue screen. Checking the monitor, there were some parts that were still silver, and needed adjustments. For complete CG, this detailed work is extremely important. Afterwards, the music video shooting went on by positioning the camera, moving them, and shooting various shots. Each time, it was checked under the monitor for different angles and adjusted them. Mr. Kondo and the staff continued to check whether it was “all right or not” as the angle of the reflecting board (white board) could change the way the shot look. They even used a rotating platform to shoot the band members 360 degrees. 

The date had changed and the time was now three in the morning as the grasses and trees were asleep. A thick clear acrylic board was laid down and the drum was being set up. Why a clear acrylic board? This is because we can shoot from beneath. Underneath the acrylic board, a rail was set up so that a pulley would move forward. No shoes were allowed on the acrylic board because although it’s thick, you can see through what’s beneath, that may make one cringe. The band members were amazed by the intricate structure of the acrylic board setting. Seeing the band member’s shoe sole was rather strange… Everyone began to finish one after another. Each time there was a loud applause from the site. Simultaneously, the drum set was getting broken down. All the taping neatly wrapped was getting ripped off. Last was Kyo who sat on top of a boxed cart to shoot him in a perched position, but on top of the acrylic board, he did not use the cart. In order to look like he is sitting on something, subtle leg opening and angle became important. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched this shooting. 

“Okay, that’s a wrap!”

After Mr. Kondo’s approval, the shooting finished. The clock’s needle now points near four in the morning. All the members were getting sleepy due to the long hours of music video shooting and music production. Outside, gusty rain was hitting the concrete ground. There was no time to remember about the shoot as the band members got into the bus and went off. After the main characters were gone from the studio, the staff quickly broke down their equipments. 

As for the music video, what kind of image would lapse over their movements? Later on, the footage that was shot today combined with CG would be checked many times and be finished. We yearn for the entire picture. 

Making of Artistic Photography- Glass Skin

While shooting a music video for Glass Skin, near the studio’s elevator hall, preparation for Glass Skin’s photo shoot began. Ms. Ogata was our camera woman. Her photos maintained a fragile part, a characteristic particular to females, and had a wild manly texture, which established a good reputation from the band members. The elevator hall used to be a normal place to stock big props and equipments for the studio. However, once everything was removed and the concrete floor was exposed and was ready for shooting, it became a lifeless space with roughness, which was extremely off the hook. 

The shooting was in the order of Kaoru->Die->Toshiya->Shinya->Kyo. Of course, while the solo photo shooting took place, other members had to be in the next studio and work on the music video concurrently. Die changed his ambient atmosphere from the music video, and tied his hair back, and his exposed skin and expression stirred up even more sharpness. Kyo was shot standing, but he also took shots on a crouching position. His hat and sunglass made a good shadow, and his tattoo on his body stood out from darkness. All five members’ personalities were brought out, an austere elegance ran, and the photos were turning out well. After finishing solo shots, group shots began. Since this place was usually for a transportation company, if one was off from their position, the warning lamp would go on. When this went on, you couldn’t stop the red light reflecting into the photo. Everyone including the staff was careful not to go near the sensor. The width of the space was narrow, and it was difficult to decide on the best alignment for the 5 members. “A little up. A little to the right. Good, good, good…” Ms. Ogata instructed the assistant with the hand-held light. This place had a situation to adjust lighting and shadow, but it turned out to be a good work with atmosphere.

The photo shoot finished and everyone surrounded Ms. Ogata’s computer. The member and staff were looking with intense concentration. A few minutes later, everyone gave an approving look and the artist photography session ended. The photos shot on this day was given to the staff immediately, and later on, after the members looked over, the photos released right now were decided.