"MUSICA" has not been in existence for a long time. It mainly introduces singers and bands. In terms of qualifications, it is new but not old. Its sales volume is above average among music magazines.
However, the content of the magazine is well done, and it has a good reputation among the industry and music fans.
At the beginning, Shinichi Iwahashi chose "MUSICA" as the subject of his interview because he valued this.
Komoto, a loyal supporter of THE BLUE HEARTS, had long expected to interview Shinichi Iwahashi to gain his trust and help. After the interview, he mentioned it once, but Shinichi Iwahashi had no reaction to the matter at that time.
Not without disappointment.
After returning home, while drinking with the editor, I even complained once or twice while I was drunk.
Of course, it's one thing to complain verbally, but it's not that I don't know in my heart that asking Shinichi Iwahashi to respond to his requests is actually willful and unreasonable. But the reason for such a reaction is partly because Komoto admires and respects Shinichi Iwahashi in his heart.
I feel that although the halo of my idol has not been shattered, it is actually not as bright as I imagined.
On the other hand, it is better to say it is a way to escape the reality of one's own powerlessness.
However, the momentary loss turned into loss. After Komoto finished his rant, he continued to do whatever he had to do. The article he wrote after interviewing Iwahashi Shinichi was published in the subsequent magazine.
Most of the readers who bought the magazine did not know who the man in black behind the scenes was. However, after listing the projects he had participated in and the singers he had produced, they discovered that this man was "the most familiar stranger."
The legendary "friend of the underground music circle" has now connected half of the industry with famous producers who cooperate with his plans.
He has working experience in the underground music circle, has a record of producing best-selling singers, and is now the head of a record company. Such an identity of Shinichi Iwahashi is fresh enough for ordinary readers, and also for underground musicians who aspire to make a mainstream debut, as well as those who still want to make a mainstream debut.
Ordinary people who are just music lovers and have not taken any action have one more choice.
When Shinichi Iwahashi chose "MUSICA", he could also advertise for himself and his record company.
"I've read the magazine, and it's very well written."
At the beer hall near Komoto's house where we agreed to meet, Shinichi Iwahashi praised, "After reading it, I feel that it is the right thing to accept an interview with your magazine."
"ah."
"We are the ones here. It is a great honor to be allowed to interview Iwahashi-san... After the magazine was published, we received many calls and letters from readers." Aben responded to Iwahashi Shinichi in a quite satisfactory manner.
Was it because you originally asked me to meet you for the last interview?
"Last time..."
As soon as Iwahashi Shin opened his mouth, Komoto thought, "It's true," and waited to continue to say kind words to him. As a result, what he heard next was not what he was thinking.
"The BLUE HEARTS that Komoto-san mentioned last time." Shinichi Iwahashi said.
Amoto opened his eyes wide, reacted, picked up the beer glass, and took a big sip. Along with his words at that time, his disappointment, his incompetence, and his secret complaints to the editor came to mind.
——
"Although he is a friend of the underground music industry, not everyone is that person's friend, right?"
At that time, Komoto, who was half-drunk, complained about Shinichi Koiwahashi like this.
"Afterwards, I went to find out about the situation." Iwahashi Shinichi saw Komoto's unexpected expression and didn't understand why this young man had such a big reaction.
Maybe it's because of the band's ardent fans? That's probably it.
"Yes." Jiaben sat down obediently, like a student listening to the teacher's lecture.
Iwahashi Shinichi did not regard him as a student, and discussed with him, "I have an idea. What if Komoto-san joins the plan to work for the members of THE BLUE HEARTS?"
"Me?" Jia Ben asked.
"Yes." Iwahashi Shin nodded, "I read the magazine and liked your manuscript very much. This time, the same thing happened with THE BLUE HEARTS. Firstly, I thought you had the talent to do well, and here, you are good enough.
Get to know the band.”
"My idea is whether Kamoto-san is interested in writing a special report on the THE BLUE HEARTS incident."
Shinichi Iwahashi extended an invitation to cooperate with Komoto.
…
Mineshima accepted Iwahashi Shinichi's arrangement, and then went on to arrange others.
First, he contacted Mashima Masari and told him his boss's idea, which came to him immediately. As if Iwahashi Shinichi had expected it, Mashima Masari agreed to the proposal without much hesitation.
"Of course it's a wish to have free venues available." This shy young man, who was a little nervous, confirmed with Minedao with a harmless expression, "What about the split of the tickets?"
Shinichi Iwahashi proposed that the venue be free of charge, but the money should still be negotiated.
From this point of view, there is no need to worry about the band's current status - they are probably more optimistic than anyone else.
Fengdao laughed, and simply got down to business, "If the number of people attending is less than fifty, we will pay a fixed salary, and for those after fifty people, we will give 50%."
Of course, for THE BLUE HEARTS, there will definitely be overcrowding and a bunch of people waiting outside.
"correct."
Masari Mashima confirmed with Mineshima, "Since he is the lead singer prepared for us, can he do anything?"
It’s not like Mineshima didn’t know that lead singer Komoto Hiroto was on stage with a typhoon that was like stepping on a switch with the sole of his foot, and agreed, “Please do whatever you want.”
After communicating with Mashima Masari, Mineshima went to coordinate the performance time and publicity. These were familiar things, and they were quickly arranged.
Wait until the day of the performance to set up a camera in the venue.
During this period, Mineshima did not fail to contact Shinichi Iwahashi. He reported that Mashima Masari agreed to the new performance plan and reported on the coordination of the venue.
"You can do anything?" Shinichi Iwahashi heard this and found it interesting.
Mineshima explained to him that the band's lead singer was going crazy on stage. Listening to Mineshima's description, Iwahashi Shinichi vaguely remembered the performance he had seen at that time, where the lead singer was jumping up and down on the stage like a frog being strangled by the neck.
"Let them do whatever they want," he said.
After Mineshima finished reporting the situation, he also wanted to ask Shinichi Iwahashi what he was planning this time.
Iwahashi Shinichi told him, "I want to leave as much information as possible. Mineshima-san might as well assume that I am making preliminary preparations for making a TV documentary about the band's encounter."
Fengdao sweated, "TV documentary?"
"It's just an analogy." Shinichi Iwahashi reassured him, "Anyway, I just wanted to take a picture of the band singing the song that was said to be a counterattack against Mitsubishi cadres."
All right.
Fengdao stopped worrying and turned to curious about another thing, "If you want to take this photo, you don't have to be so hasty, right? You haven't even heard the song, so you want to take a photo of the band in such a big way?"
"It doesn't matter." Shinichi Iwahashi and Mineshima explained, "It's precisely because I haven't heard it before and the band has never performed it in public that I wanted this 'first time'."
After they sing the song dozens of times, they may become more comfortable and powerful. However, the song born under such circumstances is actually more realistic, simple and moving in emotion when it is sung for the first time.
…
With the band's current reputation, it would be a piece of cake to fill up a mere LIVEHOUSE. In fact, just as Fengdao thought, there were still a bunch of people who came here because of the reputation, but were not allowed in and stayed outside.
Naturally, Iwahashi Shinichi didn't have to worry about the issue of admission. When it was time to start the performance, he changed his admission number and entered the venue.
Outside the venue, a notice was posted that tonight's performance would be recorded.
However, judging from the looks of the audience who came to watch the performance, no one cared about it.
Supporting the victims evokes a bit of heroism in people. This atmosphere is permeating the audience who are watching the performance now. Those in the know greet each other like comrades, waiting for the performance to start.
Finally, it was time to start the performance, and the four members of the band stood on the stage. The audience immediately burst into cheers.
"Good evening! We are THE BLUE HEARTS!"
After Hiroto Komoto said hello, the band immediately started playing without delay. After singing three songs in a row, the atmosphere was heated to the peak, both on and off the stage. Hiroto Komoto himself was jumping up and down on the stage.
, and his face turned red.
After three songs, the band stopped.
Komoto Hiroshi said with a cynical expression: "I have something I want to show you." After he finished speaking, he turned back to Mashima Masari and took a portable recorder from his hand.
"Do you mean to ask us to abandon our own thoughts?"
"It's far from that level. What you have written is, at best, just nonsense from people who have no understanding. If you had a little understanding, you wouldn't have written something like that. It would be ridiculous to talk about your thoughts."
It's a recording of Mashima Masato's phone call with Mitsubishi executives.
"Are you kidding! Who do you think you are?" Mitsubishi's cadre scolded.
The entire recording lasted about two or three minutes. As it went on, the tone of Mitsubishi's cadres became tougher and more arrogant, almost threatening.
"...It's true that we are idiots."
Masari Mashima said in the phone recording, "Idiots will continue to sing, no matter where they are."
During the recording, the audience in the audience made commotions from time to time. Unexpectedly, the band was actually threatened in this way. Iwahashi Shinichi was in the audience, and after listening to this recording, he felt quite calm.
The fact that the band recorded the phone call and played it back at the performance is more concerning than the content of the recording.
After the recording ended, Komoto Hiroshi faced the audience with various emotions in the audience and said: "You can't keep your mouth shut because of something of this level."
"The idiots will continue to sing, no matter where they are. But I will always stand here."
Looking at Komoto Hiroshi, who always looks like a child immersed in his own world, at this moment, the expression on his face when saying these words is particularly touching. There is both excitement and determination that will never bow, and there is also a child who is about to face the unknown.
The anxiety about the matter.
There are also other members of the band, their expressions are different, but they seem to have something in common with Komoto Hiroto at this moment.
After Komoto Hiroto finished speaking, the band played the prelude of the song.
"You called me to force me to buy or sell. You set up a trap to threaten me."
Komoto Hiroshi stared at his slightly hesitant but determined eyes and sang this song written by Mashima Masari.
"Even if you force someone with a knife, even if you force someone with a gun."
"I also want to say to you, 'Fuck you!'"
Are you afraid? Of course you are. Are you worried about the future? Of course you are.
However, before being threatened and having a bleak future, there are still things that must be persisted.
"I will never forget the principles I adhere to throughout my life."
I shouted loudly and wouldn't stop until I became hoarse.
As this song is sung for the first time, there are some flaws in the performance, and the handling of some places is rough. But the more it is like this, the more simple and moving it becomes.
Iwahashi Shinichi was in the audience. Listening to this song, he felt that these people really had a bit of "uncle" aura.
Not only that, in his opinion, even though he is nervous, uneasy, and even trembling, he still has to shout "Fuck you!", rather than taking on a risk-taking attitude and nonchalantly cursing "Fuck you!"
”, which is even more touching.
That's why he made sure to film the band singing the song for the first time.
This band is a sure hit -
Just be prepared for an opportunity.
…
After the performance, Shinichi Iwahashi went backstage to meet the band members.
We had communicated with each other beforehand, and both parties were well aware of the meeting.
"Iwahashi-san, thank you for your hospitality." Masari Mashima is in charge of the band's external relations. He refers to the free use of the venue.
Iwahashi Shinichi returned the favor, "I would also like to say thank you for your hospitality." This was referring to tonight's performance.
While the two of them were having a conversation, Komoto Hiroto remained silent and looked at Shinichi Iwahashi. This made one wonder if the lead singer really had some mental problems.
"As for the dispute between the band and the record company, it seems that termination of the contract is inevitable."
Majima Masari nodded, "Now, even if they say, 'You can put that song in the album,' we will never keep it."
If there is one, there are two. The band has completely lost trust in the record company.
“Does the band have a manager now?”
"After the stalemate with the record company, the manager went back." They did not sign with an agency.
Iwahashi Shin nodded and thought for a moment, "If you can trust it, how about I serve as the band's agent for the time being?" He didn't want to give up on this matter.
Time is limited, so it’s best to get it done in one go.
"Do you want to be our guardian?"
Komoto Hiroto, who had been sizing up Iwahashi Shin for a long time in silence, suddenly interrupted.
"It's a protector." Shinichi Iwahashi said.
"What's the difference..." Komoto Hiroto muttered.
Masari Mashima showed an unhappy expression, as if he was blaming Hiroto Komoto. Shinichi Iwahashi watched the interaction between these two good friends and felt a subtle amusement.
…
After chatting for a while backstage, Shinichi Iwahashi treated the band members to a late-night snack.
After having a big meal and drinking, the concert ended happily. After the band members left, Mineshima sent Shinichi Iwahashi to take a taxi.
While waiting, Mineshima was curious, "Iwahashi-san plans to pay liquidated damages for the band and sign them?"
Iwahashi Shinichi laughed after hearing this, "This is a hot potato."
