Interview with Merry at JRock Revolution

The day before their set as part of the JRock Revolution Festival, held in Los Angeles, California, Merry took the time to answer some of JaME's questions about their BLIND ROMANCE/Saihate no PARADE single, their joint tour with BALZAC, and their unique stage shows.

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How did you get involved with the plans for Jrock Revolution?

Gara: We were invited. I don't know who decided on the event's end, but they have nine of the top bands in Japan here, so we're very proud to be included in this line-up.

When we were speaking to one of the other bands, they said they viewed the event almost as a competition, as in who could get the best reaction out of the fans. Do you see it in the same light?

Nero: We've heard about that. We just want to do the best possible show that we can.
Gara: (nods) Mm. We've never had it like this in Japan, with nine famous bands all together.

Since you're here in America for the first time, are there any American bands that you like?

Nero: The Red Hot Chili Peppers seem to have some of the most happy, lively performances in the entire world right now. I like them a lot.

Very early on in your career, you took part in the STAND PROUD! III compilation album and covered a song by Pantera, Strength Beyond Strength. Though it has been a number of years, could you tell us what prompted you to pick that song?

Gara: Oooh, Pantera. (motions to the rest of Merry) They all decided the song, like "Oh, we think Gara can probably sing this." So they picked it. (looks to the other members) Why did you pick it??

(laughter)

Yu: I picked the band and the song; I thought it'd be challenging to do metal.
Nero: Doing the cover was definitely challenging.

Gara, you mentioned in a JaME interview last year, before you went to Europe, that you were looking forward to having beer and sausages there. Are there any American foods you and the rest of the band are looking forward to trying?

Gara: In Europe.... I don't like the food in Europe. Since this is only the second day for me in America, I haven't eaten that much here. But this morning I had an American-style breakfast and it was good, so I think American food is better suited for me (laughs). I want to eat pie, cherry pie. Pie here is kind of famous, isn't it? I love the crust (laughs).

How do you feel about your joint tour with BALZAC that took place earlier this year?

Nero: We really, really loved that. They remixed Hi no ataranai basho and then we had the lives with them.... We were really happy and felt a lot of pride at being able to tour and work together with them.

What's one of your favourite memories from the tour?

Nero: The last session we did with them.
Gara: (nods) At the end, we were able to gather together and play a BALZAC song.
Nero: Also, BALZAC is a punk band so a lot of guys came to the shows and they were kind of scary (laughs). It was different from our usual crowd.
Gara: Our audience is usually female and they tend to want attention, saying things like "Look at my face!" (laughs).

You have some close ties with Kiyoharu, he having been the producer behind your first album and so on. Now you've performed with him on stage during a BAYFM event recently. How did that go?

Gara: Kiyoharu is someone who we all really respect. We'd been wanting to do a song with him, a live with him, and when we were finally given that chance, we were thrilled.

What is it about the Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo live hall that makes you want to do a live there every year?

Nero: It's a really famous live hall for rock bands; a lot of legends have played there.
Gara: We were also thinking that we wanted to play outdoors. Also, at that venue, my view from the stage is amazing; I can see everyone.

What can you tell us about your single, BLIND ROMANCE/Saihate no PARADE?

kenichi: This is the fifth year for Merry. We already have a lot of songs behind us, but we have to keep doing new things too. The single is sort of a combination; the strong points from the past mixed with the current Merry sound.

So Yu wrote the previous single, CALLING, and kenichi wrote this one. Is there any connection between these singles?

Yu: CALLING is sort of a continuation off of the last album, PEEP SHOW. With the b-sides, it was the single to celebrate Merry's fifth anniversary.
Gara: This is the fifth year for us as a band, but it's the same for the fans and everyone else who has supported us. The song that BALZAC remixed was an older one and symbolized the time that's passed. The new single is different, completely different. CALLING wrapped up that time in our lives and.... like a bomb, BLIND ROMANCE/Saihate no PARADE is the start of something new.

Can your fans then expect a new album coming soon?

Gara: There'll definitely be a new one out this year. We're also hoping to get it released here in America.

Speaking of your fans, are you aware that many of them have been lined up for days outside of the Wiltern, waiting to see you?

(the band looks shocked for a moment)

Gara: ....Are they pretty?

(laughter)

What inspired the pinwheel imagery you use in the lyrics of Saihate no PARADE?

Gara: (motions to the rest of Merry) We came up with that together. Everytime we listened to Saihate no PARADE, we got an image of something spinning in the wind. And we wondered, "what is something Japanese with that sort of image we can use?" And we came up with a pinwheel. It's very Shōwa era, very classic Japanese.

You sometimes have very elaborate lives; your New Year's shows, Oriental Circus shows, etc. Where do you get the concepts for these?

Gara: Our new song's theme is 'oriental' and... well, that's why it's titled 'Oriental Circus,' but we all brainstormed as to what a Merry-esque circus would be like. We wanted to make it a stage based on an American's view of what 'Japanese' is. Americans... well, Westeners in general, usually come to Japan, go to places like Asakusa, and buy happis [coat often worn at festivals], right? But Japan isn't all about that. And then the ninjas... Americans will think, "Japan = ninjas." Even when I watch old American movies, when they go to Japan, the rooms would be lined with tatamis, but also full of nonsensical objects. We wanted to use that sort of world view. And we decided, that's what Merry-esque 'oriental' is like. That's why on the stage, we'd have a torii [specific style of gate often found at shrines and temples], because when you think of Japan, you think of torii... But, we'd also have big paintings of a clown's face, elephants, have things like bicycles and unicycles around. So it's a mix of traditional and modern.

Please give a message to the fans waiting to see you.

Gara: This is our first live in America and we're really happy about it. In the future, we want to sell our album here and also do a solo live. (pauses) I think there's some big money and big chances for us here (laughs).
Yu: Please look forward to discovering Merry.
Nero: No one will be able to beat Merry's spirit!
kenichi: We've been given the chance to play our music at this JRock festival and we really want to continue to play here in the future.
Tetsu: We've been interviewed quite a bit, so I guess that means a lot of people are interested in us. To not let them down, we're going to work even harder.

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JaME would like to thank the JRock Revolution staff, the Renaissance hotel, Victor Entertainment Japan, N. Matsumoto, and Merry.