VAMPS North American Tour 2016 with Special Guest Citizen Zero [ TORONTO + JAPAN MAGAZINE ]

12/6/2016

Special Interview with HYDE & K.A.Z by Toronto+Japan (TORJA) magazine
http://torja.ca/interview/vamps-hyde-kaz/

English translation by: VAMPS Canada
© TORJA magazine (English version published with permission)

We grew up with American music. Becoming like these artists is our dream. [HYDE]

Creating music that transcends differences in race and language is cool. [K.A.Z]

VAMPS started their headline tour “VAMPS North American Tour 2016 with Special Guest Citizen Zero” on November 6th. This is their sixth North American tour and it has been a year since their last visit to the US and Central/ South America.

This headline tour includes Citizen Zero, an American hard rock band from Detroit, Michigan, with six stops in total, spanning across USA, Canada and Mexico. Toronto was the fifth stop for them in this headline tour, and TORJA had the chance to sit down with HYDE and K.A.Z right before the show to talk about their ambition overseas, methods of relaxation and their general impression of Toronto.

This is the first-time VAMPS has come to Toronto and Canada. Did you have any initial impressions or expectations?

HYDE: I have a good impression for Canada basically. There was some really beautiful scenery as we arrived, and I felt “Ah-, I would like to live here someday...”. Toronto is close to New York as well, which is good.

It’s been a year since you toured in Central and South America and the West coast of USA last year. And it’s the sixth time you’ve come to North America. What feels different this time around?

K.A.Z: This time, out tour is bit shorter, but there were new fans who came last tour. So, we have been getting some good reactions and results little-by-little in this tour. In addition, the audience reaction differs a lot from place to place. For instance, North Americans and South Americans might listen to completely different music genres in their daily lives. So, the audience reaction reflects that.

HYDE: Yeah, that has been awesome. I hope this headline tour will set us up for next year. We will do an overseas tour next year too, so we would like to come back to Toronto.

VAMPS has not only been playing in Japan, but also joining foreign musicians’ tours as guests and participating in foreign music festivals. What’s the drive behind doing this??

K.A.Z: We started VAMPS not to just limit ourselves to Japan. We have been listening to music from foreign countries. And foreign musicians tour in different countries, including Japan. So, for us, it seemed natural. I think it would be so cool if we could make music for everyone, no matter the race or language. And there are so many unique scenes that we have witnessed, and it’s even had us playing baseball and football. We enjoy doing interesting activities in different places, and that’s why we perform in foreign countries.

HYDE: We grew up listening to American music and after all, I do want to be like these musicians. So, that is the purpose of overseas tours.

There must be some marked differences between shows in Japan and in foreign countries. Do you have anything you do consciously or are particularly careful about in overseas shows?

HYDE: I guess English pronunciation. In Japan, I do not much care about accuracy of my pronunciation for English lyrics - but it is very obvious if I’m not careful about that in North America (laugh). So, usually, I spend more time practicing English pronounciation. However, I memorize scripts for MC through overnight cramming (laugh). I checked previous shows data to remind me what I said before or just ask people.

Both of you, HYDE and K.A.Z, belong to another group, but you have been doing VAMPS and other side projects for a long time. What is your motivation?

HYDE: I believe, as I mentioned before, because I have a dream, which is to be like the musicians who I listened to when I was a kid. If I don’t have this dream, I might not be a musician now, but instead like a creator of traditional goods (laugh). Or, maybe I have lived in Toronto already!

K.A.Z.: This isn’t specific to music bands, but if a group member has changed, what we do also changes. I enjoyed these differences…like if a band member changes, the sound would also change.

During long periods of work, how do you take your mind off?

K.A.Z: I believe I take my mind off work through my hobbies, like going snowboarding. I heard the snow is very nice in Canada. I would like to do snowboarding next time!

HYDE: For me, drinking in the evening. And feeling good (laugh). It cheers me up and is a good refresher for the next day.

It has been eight years since you started VAMPS. Where do you see yourselves in the next 5 years? 10 years?

HYDE: After five years, I will live in the Trump Tower and will have blond girls (laugh). Well, I don’t know what our goal will be, but we would like to be the band who can play and handle audiences in the main stage of music festivals in foreign countries. I would be honestly impressed if bands we know accomplished the same thing, so it would be our first target to hit.

K.A.Z: After 10 years, I will have pension (laugh).

HYDE: Ah, pension (laugh).

Please give a special message to TORJA readers who are following their dream.

HYDE: I would like to do language studies abroad, too! I would like to study with you guys!

K.A.Z: That is not a message, but your desire (laugh).

HYDE: That is true (laugh). I heard Toronto will be snowed up, right? Sounds awesome to study in this great environment. That is so nice. I want to study! However, actually it is hard to find time to study, so please live in the moment and let’s try our best together!

K.A.Z: I think it is really great that Japanese have traveled to foreign countries and there are a number of successful Japanese in different places and positions. It may be different what we are striving for, but we are the same in that we go out into the world (doing something outside our comfort zone). So, let’s try together!

LIVE REPORT

There were easily line ups for over two blocks from the venue, ‘Lee’s Palace’, with some enthusiastic fans who had been waiting even since the night before. At 8pm, once the venue opened, it soon became a full house. The first opening act was Second Pass, a local Hard Rock band from Toronto. The second band was none other than VAMPS’ tour guest CITIZEN ZERO. Audiences were heated up.

Just past 10:30 pm, VAMPS finally showed up on stage! The venue shook from screams and cheers. VAMPS started with their hit song ‘INSIDE OF ME”, ramping up the audience and quickly building excitement. Suddenly, only after 10th section of the song, there was no sound from one of the speakers. VAMPS went to backstage and had to restart.

However, audience started chanting for the band, and VAMPS came back on stage without much delay, and warmly welcome back onstage as if nothing happened. VAMPS played ‘LIPS’ and ‘REDRUM’ strongly. When they performed ‘SIN IN JUSTICE’, the whole venue united together to shout “JUSTICE!” with raised hands. Heating up more in the middle of the show, VAMPS’ version of ‘DIAMONDS’ (Rihanna) draped the venue in a gentle atmosphere. Following that, ‘WORLD’S END’ had the whole venue jumping with excitement.

There was screams and shouts again when HYDE said, “Nice to meet you, Toronto!”. He spoke fluently in English for his MC, but shouted “ Sugoi! Atsui! (Really hot!)” unable to contain his excitement.

In the encore, HYDE wore the Canadian flag covered in signatures of Canadian fans. HYDE did another MC and thanked the audience, ending the night with ‘DEVIL SIDE’ and ‘SEX BLOOD ROCK N’ROLL’. After the show, K.A.Z had the crowd going crazy again by throwing his guitar picks out to audience.

A total of 17 songs in a two hours’ gig came to an end, even though the audience was left in a high they would not soon come down from. This successful show was the first time for VAMPS in Toronto, Canada. With another overseas tour, next year, our hopes are high that they will be back.

See clips of VAMPS Live in Toronto:
Youtube「Move Canada Japan」

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