HYDE [INSIDE] LIVE 2024 -EXTRA- at Makuhari Messe

On October 26th, Halls 9-11 of Makuhari Messe gradually filled up. In their usual calm manner, fans settled into their seats or the designated standing areas.

The show was scheduled to start at 5:06pm. As that time approached, a red countdown appeared on the stage’s screens, continuing past "16:60" and ending in a red "666". Fans rose to their feet, greeting the musicians with cheers.

The band members wore dark masks with glowing red eyes. HYDE sported a sparkling peaked cap and sunglasses. He mounted a platform at the center of the stage that was decorated with a logo featuring a snake and cross.

The show kicked off with the perfect anthem: LET IT OUT. The fans responded enthusiastically, raising their hands into the air. The stage was bathed in red light, framed on each side by garlands of lights, creating a circus-like atmosphere. On his platform, HYDE looked like a ringmaster, whipping up the crowd.

After the first track, men in white hoods carried the platform away, clearing the stage for the energetic AFTER LIGHT. The crowd was fully engaged, providing backing vocals and full-on headbanging to I GOT 666 and DEFEAT. Whenever the lights went out, only the backing band’s glowing red eyes were visible, adding a touch of mystery to proceedings.

Multiple cameras and a drone relayed the performance on two screens beside the stage. HYDE sang directly into these cameras at times, filling the frame as if he were shooting a live music video. He also gestured along with the lyrics and removed his sunglasses, confronting the audience with his intense eyeliner-framed gaze.


© Takayuki Okada

Before BLEEDING, he roused the crowd with a powerful "Makuhari!", sending the audience into a frenzy. Amid much jumping and headbanging, the first mosh pit could be seen on the screens. During TAKING THEM DOWN, circle pits formed. HYDE charged energetically across the stage in front of the backdrop of a red setting sun.

The pace slowed briefly for ON MY OWN and its atmospheric intro. HYDE removed his hat, standing at the center of the stage like a warrior, holding a mic stand adorned with a flag bearing his snake-and-cross logo.

The ballad THE ABYSS followed. The spotlights focused on keyboardist hico, with the other musicians visible only by the glow of their red eyes. HYDE remained hidden in darkness until blue lights revealed him. He hit every note perfectly, be they soft, powerful or raspy.

This dramatic mood continued into Tokoshie. For this solo take on HYDE’s collaboration with MY FIRST STORY, torches were lit and red spotlights heightened the intensity. The fans rewarded the band’s efforts with thunderous applause.

During MIDNIGHT CELEBRATION II, a blood-covered HYDE stormed across stage in a white shirt, ending the song on the floor in theatrical fashion. Then, LAST SONG brought the main set to an emotional close in a storm of confetti. The black curtain dropped.

Guitarists Yas Nomura and Julian performed a short solo before drummer Kado Shuntaro was rolled from the side of the stage to the center of the hall on a cart along with his drum kit. He enjoyed his moment in the spotlight, basking in the crowd’s applause. As his performance ended, a box opened in front of him. Out leapt HYDE in a dark striped outfit.

The newly-created B-stage was framed by sky dancers and flags bearing the words “HYDE INSIDE”. PANDORA and the sudden shift of focus sent the fans into a frenzy. With a loud “jump!”, HYDE encouraged the audience to give their all during INTERPLAY. A disco ball in the rafters cast sparkling pink and blue dots across the hall.

Armed with a water gun, HYDE playfully sprayed the crowd as he made his way back to the main stage, going out of his way to drench as many people as possible. In a short MC, he humorously reassured any concerned spectators that the ‘blood’ seen in MIDNIGHT CELEBRATION II was just ketchup.

For MUGEN, HYDE compensated for the absence of MY FIRST STORY’s Hiro by getting right up close to a camera, making it feel as though he was dancing with the audience, giving everyone goosebumps once again.

He kicked off the nostalgic classic GLAMOROUS SKY standing head-to-head with guitarist Julian. The band members darted across the stage as the entire hall sang along.

The grand finale came with SEX BLOOD ROCK N’ ROLL, a track originally performed by VAMPS. HYDE went all out: headbanging, jumping across the stage and generally reaffirming his status as a true rockstar.

The HYDE [INSIDE] Tour will continue onto Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu, Beijing, Seoul, and finally the United States, with a stop in New York on November 27th, before concluding in Los Angeles on the 30th.

Set list

01. LET IT OUT
02. AFTER LIGHT
03. I GOT 666
04. DEFEAT
05. BLEEDING
06. TAKING THEM DOWN
07. ON MY OWN
08. THE ABYSS
09. Tokoshie
10. 6or9
11. MAD QUALIA
12. SOCIAL VIRUS
13. MIDNIGHT CELEBRATION II
14. LAST SONG
15. PANDORA
16. INTERPLAY
17. MUGEN
18. BELIEVING IN MYSELF
19. GLAMOROUS SKY
20. SEX BLOOD ROCK N’ ROLL