Interview with VAMPS

Rock duo VAMPS have returned for their second London live in six months. They will be playing an exclusive one-off show in KOKO, Camden, but K.A.Z and a slightly undead-looking HYDE took time out from their packed schedule the day before to speak to JaME about UK domination, speaking English and remaining ever youthful.


Welcome back to London. London is the only European city that you're playing in - why did you choose to come back here? And why so soon?

K.A.Z: We came back to get something we forgot.

HYDE: We want to concentrate on the European market, and when it comes to that London is a central starting point.

What will be new this time?

HYDE: The stage will be larger and that will be closer to what we're used to for lives, so we can show off our own style more this time.

Have you had more of a chance to explore the city this time, or will you later? Anything that you want to see in particular?

HYDE: We don't have any time!

K.A.Z: We don't have the time this time, but we can enjoy the view from the car when going to and fro between locations. London's a very stylish city, with fashion and everything. So even if we're here only to play the one live we can still enjoy everything around us.

We just heard this week that you'll be playing at the Download Festival in June! How do you feel about playing at a big UK rock festival?

HYDE: We have a lot of confidence in our live shows and that's what we want to show everyone, so we're very excited to have the opportunity to play a large scale festival.

Do you plan on appearing at any other festivals?

HYDE: We'd like to.

At your "London Pre-Live" concert at Zepp Tokyo earlier this week you said that you'd be shooting a music video here. Can you tell us any more about this?

HYDE: Well, normally I don't have these fangs (opens mouth to demonstrate, and he is also covered in white make up with dark veins painted on).

So that's a bit of a hint then!

HYDE: Yes! And these too...(shows his hands, with fake pointed nails).

You recorded all the songs for SEX BLOOD ROCK N' ROLL in English. What have the fans' reactions been to it been like, and do you think there's a difference in how you are perceived since putting out an all-English release?

HYDE: I'm not really sure about the reactions of the Japanese fans, but playing in the European countries after the release of the album I really felt a positive difference in the reactions of the fans. They were able to sing along, which showed that they understood the lyrics and embraced them. A spontaneous sing-a-long happened and things like that so it was obvious from playing live how positive the reaction was. For us the album is not an "English version"; it's a separate thing altogether, it's our first overseas album, like a name card. It's to help spread our music over Europe and tell everyone what we're about.

Does this mean all your future releases will have English equivalents? Do you think it's affected how you write your songs now?

HYDE: We'll always look at both the overseas and Japanese market, but the main thing is that we're trying really hard with the English, and it makes us cooler in a way.

You're debuting WORLD'S END, the fully English version of AHEAD, at KOKO tomorrow. AHEAD was already almost completely in English, so why did you decide to release an all-English version?

HYDE: Now that I look back on it, I think that since so much of it is in English I might have as well have written it in English! But it was important to keep a bit of Japanese in it as it makes it more catchy and I didn't want to lose that effect.

Has your English improved a lot since you started doing this?

HYDE: No, not at all! When I'm recording though I'm tutored very harshly by an English tutor so pronunciation-wise it's much better.

K.A.Z: It's easier to pick up things like English lyrics by foreign bands now that I've been abroad, and being able to pick up these things is important.

The live in KOKO tomorrow will be aired in Japan, which is the first time a band will do this - it's normally the other way around. You play so many shows in Japan, what was behind the decision to do this?

HYDE: It's very rare for Japanese bands to play overseas, so it's more of an interest for Japanese fans to see a Japanese band playing abroad.

Do you think you'll do this again in the future?

HYDE: As long as the demand is there!

I'm sure it will be! You've covered some UK artists - Shampoo's Trouble, Life on Mars? by Bowie. What sort of impact has British and also Western music in general had on you?

HYDE: We listened to a lot of music in the '80s - UK rock and American pop rock. I consider bands like Depeche Mode quite a central influence, and I hope it shines through in my music.

K.A.Z: During the '80s and early '90s there was a music flourish in the UK. The same thing was happening in Japan along with the UK music, it was simultaneous and UK music was big in both places at the same time. There was a big influence from UK music because of this but since, being Japanese, we were also influenced by Japanese music it would be a mix of the two that's behind our music.

Is there anyone you would like to cover?

HYDE: Something like Depeche Mode.

K.A.Z: Duran Duran (laughs)!

What about other Japanese artists?

HYDE: We have covered other Japanese artists in our lives but not really properly. We covered foreign artists based on what overseas fans would take an interest in, and it was a way to get them into our music. Having said that there is a lot of good Japanese music out there and we're not against doing that at all. It might be a good idea to cover a Japanese song in English.

You're called VAMPS after vampires. As vampires, who would you want to bite?

HYDE: Hmm...any female.

K.A.Z: Someone English! An English girl.

The two of you never seem to age. Can we take this as evidence you really are vampires?

K.A.Z: I have a zip going down my back. This is just a costume.

HYDE: Yes, we are vampires.

HYDE, you've just had your live at the National Stadium with L'Arc en Ciel and K.A.Z you'll be touring with OBLIVION DUST later this year. Do you guys ever take a break?

HYDE: Sometimes I feel I need a break, but I feel a responsibility to make the fans happy, make good music and play lives. This responsibility is more important to me than taking a break. So even though I don't have time to take a break I'm okay with that.

K.A.Z: Working too hard and concentrating only on work is not productive, so I want to balance out hobbies and work. Finding that balance is the hardest thing.

What would you like to do in your spare time, if you had any?

HYDE: I'd like to go to an onsen (hot spring).

K.A.Z: I want to go snowboarding.

What's next for VAMPS?

HYDE: We really want to improve the recognition of VAMPS in the UK. This is just the starting point and we want to develop that much further.

We're looking forward to that very much. And finally, do you have a message for your fans?

HYDE: Now we're in the middle of a songwriting session in Japan, so being able to come to the UK is refreshing and a nice change. I'd like to suck some blood and then go home.

K.A.Z: Now we have more opportunities to play abroad and we want more opportunities to do so. It might be nice to live here even. For everyone to have access to our music is a big deal to us, not only in UK but in different countries. Having these opportunities is really important for us at the moment.


We would like to thank VAMPS, their management, and the Metropolis studio for making this interview possible. Thanks also to Risa Mori at Metropolis for her help and for translating.