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Aired: October 21st, 2010
Stan Lee is known to millions as the man whose Super Heroes propelled Marvel Comics to its preeminent position in the comicbook industry, Stan Lee’s famous co-creations include Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Daredevil, The Avengers, Silver Surfer and Dr. Strange among many others. Lee first became publisher of Marvel Comics in 1972 and is presently the Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Enterprises, Inc. and a member of the Editorial Board of Marvel Comics. In 1977, he introduced Spider-Man as a syndicated newspaper strip that went on to become one of the most successful of all syndicated adventure strips. Spider-Man now appears in more than 500 newspapers worldwide — making it the longest running of all Super Hero strips.
X Japan is the most successful rock band in Japanese history, and the heart of X Japan is Yoshiki – a songwriter, drummer, and classically-trained pianist who also plays guitar, bass and trumpet. Referred throughout his professional career by his first name only, Yoshiki, “X Japan” has sold more than 30 million albums, singles and videos. He is uniquely both an iconic rock star/drummer for the band, as well as a world renowned classically trained composer/musician who has performed for the Emperor of Japan. Yoshiki is arguably Asia’s most influential musical artist and biggest rock icon and has now set his sights on the U.S. But, it’s not only his music! Yoshiki is extremely influential in the U.S. with American fans of Japanese culture be it fashion, anime, visual kei, music, J-rock and J-Pop! ~NYAF guest info
Please note that we have discovered-if it wasn’t known already-that Stan is VERY hard of hearing. Speaking to him directly is one thing, but if someone is speaking in to a mic…I guess the mic absorbs all of the sound and Stan hears nothing. *takes notes* Another note to make is that every once in awhile, one of Yoshiki’s Japanese fans calls out ‘Yoshiki!’…Stan fans will be saying ‘Stan the Man!’
The panel opened with a video about X-Japan’s world tour. Then they introduced Yoshiki and then Stan Lee. *gasps at the two legendaries* Truly, the scale of awesomeness in the room increased to an immeasurable amount. They bow and hugged each other in greeting Then they jumped right to their big announcement.
Stan: This absolutely great musician has consented to do some work with me. And we’re going to make a motion comic. That’s just the beginning! That’s the start of it! He’s going to do the music, I’m going do whatever else that has to be done. *audience cheers* I can’t tell you how excited I am about it, because I have seen this man play. I have heard this man play and he is going to be so big in America that I’m latching onto his coattails! *more cheers* See, he is gracious also.
Q: Stan, why don’t you tell us, how did you two meet?
Stan: Well, we were introduced by a mutual friend. And I said, ‘Oh gee, another guy, I don’t need another friend. Who needs him?’ But then, I heard him play. I saw him play piano. I saw him play the drums. I saw a video. Maybe you saw-I don’t know what the hell you were looking at. But I said ‘Oh man! I want to team up with this guy! I want to exploit him and take advantage of him!’ *audience laughs*
Q: Yoshiki, you recently taped a music video for ‘Born to be Free’. Tell us a little bit more about it.
Yoshiki: Well, first of all, it’s such an honor to work with you, Stan Lee. And…what’s the question? *audience laughs*
Q: Tell us a little bit more about the video ‘Born to Be Free’ and who was the cameo apperance made by?
Yoshiki: Yeah, we just the video in Los Angeles. Then Stan was kind enough to do a cameo apperance.
Stan: Wait til you see it!
Yoshiki: He did the music video. He did an Academy winning acting. Right?
Stan: I didn’t hear a word you said. Academy award acting? I’m going to get an award from the Academy and he is going to get one from whoever gives out music awards. And we’ll be too big and important to come to these conventions. *audience laughs*
Q: Come tell us how you came up with this amazing superhero idea.
Stan: Well, the superhero idea was really Takashi’s. [Yoshiki] So I’m not going to steal the limelight. So how did you come up with the idea?
Yoshiki: I am a superhero anyway. *audience cheers* Do you want me to make you disappear? I’m joking.
Stan: If you can see this guy jump from the piano, to the drums and back and back and he doesn’t lose a beat, rolling…he is a superhero! I don’t like him being more than a superhero than me, but we’ll work that out.
Yoshiki: You’re beyond a superhero…you’re the creator of superheroes.
Stan: I don’t know why, for some reason my hearing…. I can hear him when he talks, but when he talks into this thing up here, it sounds like this mahmuahba…it sounds awful. I can’t hear him when he talks into the mic. But if doesn’t talk into the mic, you can’t hear him so boy! Do we have a problem. *more laughter*
Q: Stan, the superhero, is it going to be a movie, a comic book or what?
Stan: Well, it’s starting out as what. We call it a motion comic. It’s more than a comic. It’s a little less than an animated film. It’s somewhere in between but that’s just the start of it. We’re doing that so we’ll get familiar with the story, so that we can see how it looks in the proper form. And then we’ll sit back and wait for the movie studios and the television networks to come knocking at our door. And we’ll wait for the best offer and we’ll argue about whose name comes first and the usual with two major stars.
Q: Stan, can you tell us a little bit about how you can Pow! Entertainment thought, about what the characters will be, the storyline?
Stan: Well, the storyline we haven’t worked out fully yet. But what it is, it’s really his show. Yukashi [Yoshiki] is going to be a superhero.
Yoshiki: Yoshiki.
Stan: You won’t believe this. I have two Japanese friends. One is called Takashi, one is called Toshiki. He is Yoshiki…I’m going crazy. I’m trying to remember. Another funny thing, I asked him in English, if a guy’s name is Stan Lee, and you’re a good friend, you might call him Stan. Or if it is Herbert, you might call him Herb. So I said to make it easy for me, can I call you ‘Yo’. *pause* ‘We don’t do that.’ I gotta remember, Yoshiki and don’t you forget it! What was the question? lol
Q: What is you and Pow! Entertainment’s idea of the storyline going to be?
Stan: Well, the storyline is really, Yoshiki is starring in it. He is a super hero with a very unique, very strange power. Then I’m going to see what I can do, taking his idea and making it into the best damn motion comic that anyone has ever seen. With great characters, great motivation, great personality and picture a super hero that we’ve never seen before and unlikely, he may just be a musician in this thing. Because to deprive the world of this man’s music, oh, it would be intolerable.
Q: Speaking of which, Yoshiki, tell us what your music contributions will be to the comic.
Yoshiki: Well, I’m composing music for this motion comic. Sorry, I’ve been touring North America so I lost [my voice]. I usually have more of a voice.
Stan: He said he is losing his voice?
Yoshiki: Yeah, Stan, don’t worry, no one understands what I’m talking about. *laughter* We both need a translator. I should speak in Japanese.
Stan: You can just tell by listening to us. This is going to be a project. And this is going to be fun. Believe it or not, we like each other! I have no redeeming virtues, but still he has heard good things about me. He can’t help but like the guy. If all the toughest thing is remembering, it’s Yoshiki! I may test you all later! The product that we will come up with, it won’t be like anything you’ve ever seen. It won’t be like ‘Spiderman’ or ‘The Hulk’, but it will be just as good but in a different way. Because we have it all worked out, but we’re not going to tell you what it is. You saw that video before? The next time we come here, there will be a video of what our idea is and there won’t be a sound in the place. Because you all will be so startled and shocked and pleased. Oh, I wish it was that night now!
Q: Yoshiki, when can we see the character?
Yoshiki: When can we see the character….
Stan: He’s right there!
Yoshiki: I’m here!
Stan: You mean when can we see the product?
Yoshiki: Next year? 2011?
Stan: Well, will it be the beginning of 2011, the middle, the end…let’s be specific! That’s about as specific as we can get.
Q: What language will it be in? Japanese?
Stan: Good question. It will be translated into all languages all across the world because we don’t want one group of people ANYWHERE to be deprived of the wonderment of what we’re about to create. *cheers* I meant it!
Q: Stan, where does your interest in the Japanese market stem from?
Stan: Well I have been to Japan many, many years ago and I just fell in love with the country, the people, the customs. I couldn’t believe-I’ll tell you one funny thing. This was many years ago and I was carrying a briefcase. My Japanese host invited me into a restaurant. And at the entrance to the restaurant where there was an open door, there was alot of briefcases. I started to bring mine in and he said, ‘You don’t need to carry it, leave it right there.’ I said, ‘I’m not going to leave my briefcase at an open door, just sitting there!’ And then I realized that I shouldn’t said because he looked at me like ‘What’s the matter with you?’ So I left the briefcase and all during lunch I was worried. If this was America, not only wouldn’t the briefcase be there, the whole stand would’ve been gone! I had lunch, we came out and there was the briefcase. These people are great! And anyway, I’ve been there a few times and I love them. Maybe it’s because they treat people well. You like people who are nice to you. And I have alot of Japanese friends. But none of them ever were like Yoshiki. None of them had this incredible talent. And now I get a chance to team up with him, and impress the hell out of all my Japanese friends with what we’re doing. So I can’t wait.
Q: Yoshiki, what are some of your favorite comic book characters?
Yoshiki: Well, before the suitcase thing. I just came from Toronto yesterday. *fangirls screams* Anyway, I lost one of my luggage…here in NY. Well, I found it just an hour ago. So, America is great as well. *applauds*
Stan: I hate it when he tops me.
Yoshiki: What is the question?
Q: The question is what is your favorite comic book character.
Stan: Better be a Marvel. *audience laughs* Or Pow! Entertainment new products.
Yoshiki: Well, of course Spiderman. And I have a band called, X-Japan, so I have to say X-men. *applauds*
The host thanked Stan who will be leaving and Yoshiki can answer questions. I really like Stan’s style of speech. It’s witty and humorous with a touch of class that is absent in the way celebrities speak now. Perhaps its because Stan is a creator, a writer…that he is able to speak in such a way. But there is honesty in his speech and a passion that I admire greatly. Gia Manry, the associate editor for ANN moderated the rest of the panel. She asked questions that were written on the cards, given out and collected while we were waiting in line.
Q: To what do you attribute the lasting popularity of X-Japan?
A: We’ve been in the industry for a very long time. Not as long as Stan, but because of people here, each one of you that is here, you guys supported us. That’s why we are here.
Q: And when was your first concert?
A: First concert? In anywhere? I think we were in Japan when we were 14 years old. We made X-Japan when we were 15 years old.
Q: That’s incredible. When did you guys decide to establish yourselves in America?
A: We’ve been wanting this tour for a long time. But alot of things happened to our band. So every time we try to do this American tour, something happens. So we finally doing it this time.
Q: Speaking of concerts and tours, how did you Lollapalooza?
A: Ah, that’s a good one. Anyone from Chicago today? Yeah? We were just in Chicago a couple days ago. We didn’t eat pizza though. *audience resounds with ‘NY pizza is better’* I just ate pizza here. Well, anyway, that festival gave us confidence to keep doing this. Actually, that festival gave us confidence to do this North American tour.
Q: You mentioned, you ate pizza. What is your favorite food?
A: I have to say Japanese.
Q: Is there a specific dish? *audience calls out with ‘sushi’*
A: Sushi? Why not?
Q: We definitely have alot of your American fans here. We have some of your Japanese fans as well. What do you think are the differences between the fans in American and your fans in Japan?
A: I love both of them. They’re very passionate. *audience starts naming countries, Mexico being one of them* I love you too…. Que pasa!
Q: Why did X-Japan decide to do an English album?
A: Because now we can speak English. *audience cheers* 10 years ago, we couldn’t speak at all. We’re still studying, still learning. I think we can communicate now.
Q: I think your English is pretty good. Maybe better than mine….
A: Thank you.
Q: So your tour seems to be going great. Can you talk a bit about how it’s gone?
A: We just came from Los. Angeles and Vancouver and San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto. Am I forgetting somewhere? I’m not forgetting that…it’s hard to pronounce. So far, we’re doing great. I mean, I’m sorry, I’m losing my voice. They screamed alot, so I screamed even more. So, we really appreciate all your support.
Q: We always know you’re a rock artist…but how does it feel to play for the emperor of Japan?
A: Well, I’ve been studying classical music since I was 4 years old so to me, rock and classical music is the same thing. It was such an honor to perform for the emperor. And also it is such an honor to perform for every single one of you guys as well. *audience cheers*
Q: When is your English album coming out and what songs will be on it?
A: Very soon. I’ve been saying this the past 10 years. Actually, we’re releasing early next year. I promise. The songs are 50% from our old hits nd 50% from our new songs.
Q: What are you going to do after the tour ends?
A: Rest. To get my voice back. Well, we are planning on doing another North American tour *cheers* as well touring Europe and South America as well.
Q: So you’ll be traveling alot.
A: I guess.
Q: Where can you get Yoshikitty?
A: People don’t know about Yoshikitty which is Hello Kitty meets…me. So it’s called Yoshikitty. Well, I’ll try to become famous before Yoshikitty becomes famous in America. So, I don’t know yet.
Q: Tomorrow is the final date for the tour of X-Japan?
A: Yes, we’re performing in NY tomorrow night. *audience cheers* It’s at-it’s hard for me to say-Roseland Ballroom. *more cheer* It’s hard for Japanese people to pronounce ‘l’ and ‘r’. And Roseland Ballroom has fucking 4 l’s and r.
Q: Do you when your next concert in Japan might be?
A: Next April or May in Japan.
Q: What are you thinking when you dive into the audience in a X-Japan concert?
A: Well, 3, 4 days ago in Chicago…I don’t know. I got huge scars on my back. I thought I was a super hero. Stan can fix those scars.
Q: When will you be back in Japan? Not just for a concert but in general.
A: Maybe next week. I don’t know actually….
Q: Last question, do you have any messages for your fans?
A: Thank you very much for coming to this event. Also, it’s such an honor to work with Stan Lee. And I really appreciate all your support, performing and showing up to something like this. Its a dream come true. Tomorrow is the last date for our first North American tour. But I hope it’s going to be our new beginning. Thank you so much!
They ended the panel by showing the X-Japan vid again…but I exited as quickly as possible since…the Chihara Minori concert is underway!
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