INTERVIEW - KOSHI INABA, B'Z

By Todd Jolicouer

ToddStar: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule for The Rockpit. If it is okay, I would love to jump right into discussing your newest release, B'z. What can you briefly tell us about that disc, that most people may not know on the surface?

Koshi: This is our first full-English album. We picked 5 songs from our catalog, added English lyrics and new arrangements and re-recorded them.

ToddStar: What types of writing, production, and studio experiences that you learned while making previous discs did you know you wanted to carry over to this disc? Which did you know to scrap and move on?

Koshi: As a singer, I might have to change my singing style a little when I sing in English because I'm not a native English speaker. But that is what makes this album different from our other albums.

ToddStar: Are there any favorites of yours on the new disc that you find yourself going back to? Any you wish came out sounding different?

Koshi: I like Love Bomb. It's simple and powerful.

ToddStar: After going back and checking out your back catalog after loving the last full disc (2011's C'mon), I find that your music is sonically consistent, but there are still subtle changes that show growth as a band. Having been at this for 24 years, do you still feel and hear the growth in this band?

Koshi: Actually it's pretty difficult to keep growing all the time as a band. But looking back over our 24 years, I think that we've been rendering ourselves in each era in the best way. And we're still trying new things like this album.

ToddStar: If you had to describe the sound of your band, B'z, to someone who had never heard of you, how would you do that?

Koshi: Japanese-born rock, influenced by rock music from the US and England.

ToddStar: When performing live, do you find that you mix the material evenly from your earlier albums, or do you tend to play more of the newer material? Are there any songs from your earlier releases that you feel will always be a part of your live show?

Koshi: When we tour for a new album, we put most of the new songs into the set list. But we also do tours when we just play all our hot-singles. We also like to play old songs we never played before.

ToddStar: If you had to pick possible pairings for an ideal tour, what other bands would you like to see B'z out on the road with?

Koshi: No idea. I'd like to ask our fans who they would like us to tour with.

ToddStar: What is next for the band? Any plans to record anytime soon or is there going to be a big tour cycle surrounding the new disc?

Koshi: We'd like to have a big 25th anniversary tour!

ToddStar: Do you find any of the other arts affect your music or the way you approach writing, recording, or playing live?

Koshi: Art, books, movies, travelling, meeting people... Many things affect our music and lyrics.

ToddStar: If there were one piece of music in the history of time that you wish you had written, what would it be and why?

Koshi: Bohemian Rhapsody. It's simply overwhelming.

ToddStar: What is the meaning of life?

Koshi: A consecution of determinations.

ToddStar: Thanks again for taking the time and we look forward to 2012 and more B'z!!!

Review posted 24 August 2012