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We came away from our privileged audience with the brilliant, bold, insightful, delightful Sugizo wiser, more worldly (- and definitely much warmer) than when we went in. The founder of the legendary rock band Luna Sea and a successful solo artist in his own right, Sugizo made a rare appearance in New York City as part of the electronic trance group Juno Reactor and graced Gotham with a concert it won’t soon forget. Dig our chat with the JRock legend and god of sexy six (& four & eighteen) stringed things who imparted his thoughts on the amazing Juno Reactor, courting controversy with open activism, sex (!) and S.K.I.N.
Sugizo
The Lady Miz Diva: Watching you at the Juno Reactor concert last night, I could see so many different influences in your playing, Dick Dale, ska, funk, Duane Eddy, metal, all of those styles during the show. After the concert, I spoke to Ben Watkins and said "Sugizo looked like someone who’s been freed," and he said “Exactly! That’s what I want.” Do you feel like you have the freedom with Juno Reactor to play whatever you wanted to play and do whatever you wanted to do?
LMD: It sounded like one long jam session. S: Exactly!
LMD: Being new to Juno Reactor, I had to ask Ben if all the songs were actually tracks from the CD, or was it one big gorgeous jam session? He said, “They are tracks from the CD, but I wanted it to feel like a jam session”.
LMD: I told Ben that the first line of my review of the concert would be “I’m going to run away from home and join Juno Reactor.” S: Good!
LMD: It’s like a circus. S: Exactly!
LMD: There’s so much going on onstage, you don’t know where to look. A friend said she put her hand in the air and she could feel the energy in the hall. Do you feel that, too? S: Yeah. Of course.
S: Definitely, it’s different with the New York audience. They are so fantastic. Usually, on the stage I like to collect the cosmos. No think, just feel. You said to me last night, I was dancing….
LMD: You were. S: I didn’t know, I just move with the music. It’s very natural for me.
S: Yes. He’s a great conductor.
LMD: On to other things, you have a concert coming up in December in Shibuya, don’t you? Is the concert to celebrate your 10th anniversary as a solo artist? S: Yes, December 19th. 10 years solo was last year. Last year, I really wanted to do my anniversary work, it was impossible. I was too busy. For example, last year I had S.K.I.N.’s work, you know S.K.I.N? And last year I had Masi’s {sic – possibly Miyavi’s?} work, too, so I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t do my solo work. The timing was so bad, but it’s very important for me. I mean, this December {will be} fantastic. My solo band’s new drummer is Greg {Ellis}.
LMD: He’s got to be one of the hardest working drummers I’ve ever seen. S: Definitely, he’s a great drummer. He’s the best drummer in my life.
S: What I want to pass on to young people, to the younger generation is just spirituality for peace. Weapons no, music is good. No more machine guns; play the guitar. This is very important, no more weapons, play music. We are oneness. Just now we don’t need any borders for any race, any country, any religion, any culture. Just now it’s our point of view, it’s very beautiful, but for government, for politicians, they still have big borders, they still have big problems for each country.
LMD: One of the things that I find fascinating about you is that you say these things. You are an activist, you don’t hide who you are, you are what you see is what you get. S: I don’t hide.
LMD: A lot of other people do. A lot of other musicians put up a very polished front, are afraid to say anything controversial and you’re not. Why? What is that confidence? S: I think being a musician; we have so many responsibilities for people. I mean, definitely Bob Dylan, John Lennon, definitely they are truth for me, they are not hiding. They talk to honesty, it’s very important. I mean, we are musicians, it is our responsibility, but just now, exactly, most music {isn’t}. I don’t know why. Usually, I will be honest for my mind, for my truth, but it is very risky for my life, for this society, but we need - we need – {to} be honest. We need to talk to the truth. We need to talk to the mind. Most people {have} forgotten.
LMD: So… what’s up with S.K.I.N.? S: Definitely, we want to continue S.K.I.N. A few weeks ago, we had a meeting for S.K.I.N.’s future. Of course, all the members want to continue to do that. Maybe from next year summer, we can join in… maybe. All the members are too busy.
S: Yeah, The Dark Knight, I really loved it.
LMD: I wondered what are some of your other favourite movies? S: I have so many favourite movies, it’s very difficult. For example, Blade Runner, 2001 {A Space Odyssey}, A Clockwork Orange. Of course, Star Wars is my life, too. Star Trek, too.
LMD: Did you like the prequels, the most recent films, too? S: I liked them. I mean, George Lucas is our god. He made up Star Wars; Star Wars is just his world.
LMD: Sugizo, I know you’re very tired, but I really appreciate your taking the time to talk with us. S: No problem, no problem, this is very important work for me.
LMD: I just wanted to say
lastly that I thought that Juno Reactor should be in a Broadway theatre
and I think it’s something that everyone should see. I’ve never seen
anything like it in my life. S: I think Juno is one of the best live performers {I’ve been involved with} in my life. It’s really important to me.
LMD: I’m glad you’re a part of it and exposing the music to so many new people and the young people in your fanbase. S: Thank you, very much. Thank you.
~ The Lady Miz Diva Sept 29th, 2008
Special Blessings to Ms. Megumi Sato & our luvvies at Samurai Beat Radio for allowing us to get these shots.
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