I have been working hard this Halloween. Here is a treat. The Crazy Monsters interview from September 2024 Vijuttoke.
Crazy Monsters Interview [MSTR (Chisato) x Mana x Dancho]
--This year, "Crazy Monsters Halloween Party 2024" will be held again, but looking back, last year's Crazy Monsters was the first official event since the COVID-19 pandemic. As the organizer, MSTR, how have you been planning and progressing with the event so far, thinking about how to make Crazy Monsters, which has been safely restored, even more special this year?
MSTR: As the basic theme, we have in mind a Halloween event unique to visual kei… but we always let each person express themselves freely. One funny episode from last year was when KAMIJO-kun went out of his way to wear the Spongebob costume or headgear that Dancho wore on the first day during the encore session (LOL). I think that kind of thing is unique to Crazy Monsters, and it was an interesting moment where we saw a side of KAMIJO-kun that we don't usually see.
Dancho: It's exactly what they call a game of the gods (lol)
MSTR: (lol) Well, I thought that if you trace KAMIJO's lineage (roots), you would naturally find Mana-san there. So this year, I wanted the original Mana-san to appear, so I made an offer.
--Also, speaking of your connection with Mana-sama, you were wearing clothes from Moi-même-Moitié, the brand that Mana-sama presides over, when you performed at Crack6 at Crazy Monsters DAY-1 last year, right?
MSTR: That's right, last year I thought I might try a vampire-like outfit, so I wore Moi-même-Moitié clothing. It all started last year, I think? I had a conversation with Mana-san, and then I asked the staff at Moi-même-Moitiê for advice. And then this year I asked Mana-san to be at Crazy Monters. I want to act with courage, whether it's love or work, and nothing leads to success (lol), so when I asked him if he'd like to appear, I was glad that he readily accepted.
ーーBut it seems quite rare for Moi dix Mois, the band Mana-sama leads, to perform at an event live.
Mana: It's true that Moi dix Mois hasn't performed at many joint events up until now. But we've had a lot of contact with MSTR recently, and last year I went to see PENICILLIN perform at Shibuya Kokaido (LINE CUBE SHIBUYA), and I also went to eat yakiniku at a restaurant in Koenji (Shishimaru, run by MSTR's older brother). So, when they invited me, I said "yes."
ーーJust to be sure, did you hear anything from MSTR about the purpose of this event, Crazy Monsters?
Mana: I've heard that it's a Halloween event.
Dancho: Ah. If that's the case, that might be a serious lack of explanation (lol). The event, Crazy Monsters, is about how to get to the top.
MSTR: Every year, the event is called the Crazy Monsters Awards, and the MVP of the costume contest is decided by a vote of the audience.
Dancho: There are other awards, like the ** award, as well as the MVP.
Mana: Oh, so that's what it is. I see.
MSTR: I'm really interested to see what happens when Moi dix Mois is included in this Crazy Monsters event, and I think there will be some audience members who are seeing Moi dix Mois for the first time, so I think this Crazy Monsters will have a stronger impact than ever before. Oh, one thing to note… even if Ricky from DASEIN dresses up in some crazy outfit on the day, I hope Mana-san doesn't get too surprised (lol). He'll probably be there to win the MVP (lol).
--First of all, have you ever participated in a Halloween event?
Mana: I've never initiated one myself. Aside from Halloween, I have done a lot of different costumes for magazine shoots. For a personality interview, I wore a stuffed rabbit headdress that only showed my face (lol). I even went to a kindergarten and dressed up like the kindergarteners to take photos with the kids. I think that was Vicious.
MSTR: I feel like I've seen that kindergarten before (lol).
ーーApart from what direction you will take with the upcoming Crazy Monsters, this episode shows that Mana-sama has a lot of potential in terms of costumes. On the other hand, when you think about performing at an event live as Moi dix Mois, are you thinking of any strategies that are different from a solo performance?
Mana: I haven't thought about it that deeply or in detail yet, but as Moi dix Mois, we will be performing at an event that we have never performed before, so I hope we can do something interesting.
ーーAs MSTR, who is both the host and the one who will be welcoming us, what aspects of Crack6 do you plan to bring out with the upcoming Crazy Monsters?
MSTR: Not at all (lol). It's about time to think about it, and every year, I end up doing it at the last minute and the staff gets angry at me (bitter smile). But this year, I'm having Mana-san perform on the first day, so I think the atmosphere will be quite orthodox on that day. Ah, maybe it's better to say everyone except DASEIN (lol)
--DAY-1 has a great lineup of Crack6, Moi dix Mois, DASEIN, CASCADE, and XA-VAT.
Dancho: To be more precise, everyone except Ricky-san is orthodox (lol)
MSTR: XA-VAT is Hidehito-kun, formerly of SAKRUN's Cali=gari, and Közi-kun is there too.
Mana: Hidehito was a roadie for MALICE before SAKRUN.
MSTR: Oh yeah?! I had no idea there was such a connection.
--Have Moi dix Mois and XA-VAT ever been tied together before?
Mana: No. I think it's quite fresh and good.
Leader: This is pretty hot!!
MSTR: The MALICE family will be gathering on the first day, that's interesting. Mana-san, what about CASCADE?
Mana: I've known them since Youka. We did a tie-up in the early days of MALICE MIZER.
MSTR: Naruhado (lol)
Mana: I knew the early days of CASCADE, or rather, their predecessor band D.D.T. The vocalist there was not Tamamizu's later TAMA-kun, but the vocalist of Kneuklid Romance.
MSTR: What, I didn't know that.
Mana: Yukino and the keyboardist were the bassists of a band called Beyond the Rein Sight that Közi was in. That D.D.T transformed into CASCADE.
Leader: Wow, that's the first time I've heard that. I'm learning something new!
--By contrast, DAY-2 will feature Crack6, THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S, Metronome, CLOSE, Little Vampire, Neu:NOIZ, and VAMPIRE ROSE, the band of Vampire Rose, who is also the owner of the restaurant where we're interviewing. not able to read the kanji after this
MSTR: The lineup on day 2 is pretty chaotic (lol). THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S are the usual group so I look forward to them every year, Metronome has Fukusuke, and before they became Neu:NOIZ, NOIZ even won the grand prize with some weird costume of "everyone dressed as Chisato" (lol). It's been a while since we've seen CLOSE. My JIRO also had a great reaction to Little Vampire, who was making a limited comeback on this day, and they were also quite nostalgic. Mana-san, do you know Little Vampire?
Mana: I knew them in the past. I remember them often performing at Ichikawa Club GIO and Omiya Freaks.
Dancho: Anyway, the lineup for both days is amazing, and it's a combination that you definitely won't find anywhere else. This casting, which is impossible for Shindo, is a must-see!!
MSTR: I think Ricky will probably stand out on the first day (lol)
Dancho: It's okay, I'm the one who stands out (lol)
--However, Dancho-san has also performed MALICE MIZER's "Gekka no Yasōkyoku" in a lively radio orchestra performance at "Do you know V-kei? Powered by MARVERIC DC GROUP" in 2022, to thunderous applause. I'm sure he'll once again show off his talents as a vocalist, not just as a host, at the upcoming Crazy Monster.
Dancho: By the way, the first time I ever performed at the Budokan was to sing karaoke, but the title of the event was "Do you know V-kei?", so I had to sing a famous Visual Kei song! I had a strong sense of mission, so I sang the first song, "Gekka no Yasōkyoku", very seriously and without any jokes. Even so, some people laughed a little, and I was like, "Why??" (bitter laugh)
MSTER: That just shows how excited the crowd was.
Dancho: The "Kyaa!" cheers when the intro started were especially amazing. I really felt the power of the song. In the end, from our perspective, MSTR and Mana-sama are such great beings that we would say, "If it weren't for our brothers, we wouldn't be in a band now," so I'm very grateful and really happy to be in a position to watch "Gods' Play" up close this year.
--As the facilitator, you will likely be talking with each band member on stage, but how will you communicate with Mana-sama, who doesn't speak in public?
Mana: I think there will be an interpreter on the day.
Dancho: Through the interpreter, I will of course ask Mana-sama about the key points of his costume, and I think it will be my important role to dig deep and bring out sides of him that we don't normally see. Leave it to me!
--I'd also like to see an encore session for Crazy Monsters.
Mana: Seriously? There's something like that?! I hadn't heard about that (lol)
Dancho: MSTR, you really didn't explain a lot of things (lol)
MSTR: That's right, there is. There's a session at the end.
--As Mana-sama, would you be okay with a lively session? ?
Mana: Ah, this time the event itself is conceptual. I think that's okay in itself.
MSTR: It's fine if Mana-san is just there as a symbol. Dancho and I will take care of the rest (lol)
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