The GazettE 10th Anniversary Live at Makuhari Messe

Over 20,000 people applauded the GazettE’s entrance on their tenth anniversary. “To convey the love of ten years, we present you the GazettE!” The words echoed throughout the venue before the lights fell and the band’s logo came descending from the wall behind the drums.

Silver tape fell with a blast announcing “Miseinen.” Guitarist URUHA stole the show with a hot solo as, flashing his guitar to the sky, he bent his head backwards, fingers flying over the strings. “Lend me your voices!” RUKI yelled, opening “Akai Onepiece.” The fierce guitar lines continued with URUHA and AOI challenging each other as they moved forward. The motions got more intricate for “Harunichirikeri, Miwakarerudegozaimasu,” RUKI traversing fast lyrics to growls with ease. The hall went silent for a powerful guitar and vocal duet for which URUHA traded his electric guitar for a classic one yet instead of ending on that tone, the funky beat resumed and the song ended with the audience dancing.

Candles lit the stage and RUKI faced the crowd for the night’s first emcee. “Welcome! It’s been ten years!” he exclaimed as if surprised. “We want to convey here tonight ten years of hard work. Can you keep up? Let’s have fun!”

With an English “Come on!” the vocalist called AOI to the front and they dove into “~zetsu~.” The band took complete control of the crowd who gave all for the number. “Let’s dance!” RUKI shouted for “Psychedelic Heroine” and the crowd complied while URUHA thrashed his head and swayed his body like a snake.

“SWALLOWTAIL ON THE DEATH VALLEY” opened to claps and shouts of “Oi!” REITA tapped the bass hard for some hot lines while RUKI danced, moving his hips sensuously.  “Ganges ni Akai Bara” was visually scalding with the band bringing out some heavy artillery, flames dangerously surrounding the central platform.

From roaring inferno to warming glow, candles twinkled by the drums, setting the atmosphere for the coming ballads. “Sumire” and “Kareuta” left the crowd motionless. The calm songs allowed the audience to fully appreciate the vocal work. The moment the vocalist stepped forward, guitar in hand, a yell rocked the venue. The audience stirred in anticipation for “Cassis.” Jumping from acoustic to electric guitar AOI contributed with some powerful riffs. Rather than sticking to the original version, the band was true to their current style, re-arranging the song with improved guitar and bass lines. Less pop, more grit, the song testified to the vocalist’s versatility as he simultaneously played and sang in a haunting solo that took the piece home.

“It’s difficult to express the feeling of ten years” RUKI confessed.  “I was actually nervous before stepping onstage but once I saw you all here in front of me, I realized nothing changed,” he added. “Let’s make this the hottest live of our ten years!”

Trademark evil laughter opened “The Social riot machines.” Clouds invaded the screen and the band’s logo for the album Disorder dropped behind the drums and the crowd headbanged, pulsing to the fervent beat and growls. While KAI smashed the drums vigorously, the four men in the front stomped their feet, thrashing heads violently. RUKI introduced the next song, asking, “I am?” The answer rocked the venue as 20,000 people yelled “Ruder.” It was fan-service heaven with RUKI whispering the lyrics in URUHA’s ear and AOI wriggling his hips audaciously. Teasing each other, the two guitarists took the forefront for a battle.

The heavy numbers rocked on with “VERMIN,” “VORTEX,” “HEADACHEMAN” “IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS” setting heads swinging before the set ended with the popular “Filth in the beauty.” The choreography got the crowd moving to the catchy beat, the hall jumping in unison as the gospel voice-over sang “wooohow wow!” “Atama(heads)!” the vocalist yelled. The band thrashed their heads in a circular movement, RUKI squatting down, legs wide apart, and elbows resting on his knees for the final image.

The encore demand was loud and effusive, REITA and KAI returning promptly for the instrumental “Ride with the Rockers.”

“It figures the weather would be bad for our tenth anniversary live,” the bassist exclaimed, referring to the heavy rain that had started earlier in the day and showed no signs of stopping. As if not to lose to the rain, drums and bass engaged in a puissant duet. “I want to thank you all for being here today! I must say that if there was a typhoon today it would be cool, I guess, but rain…” KAI trailed off with a shy smile. “Please have fun! Let’s go!” The instrumental number continued for a few more minutes, now with both guitarists growling while the crowd pumped fists.

RUKI returned and the four men congregated around the drums for the opening of “Nausea & Shudder.” Very dramatic, RUKI moved to the song, arms contorting slowly to emphasize the lyrics. REITA took over “14sai no knife,” the vocalist yelling out his name and rolling the “R” as he called him for a feisty bass solo.  The demanding ballad ended in pain-filled rumbles that eased the transition for “Dorodarakeno seishun.” The heavy bass lines continued with the guitarists close behind.

“Thank you for coming today!” The vocalist pronounced the words solemnly. “After ten years we are here! We had our first live at Meikan (famous live house in Meguro, Tokyo) at around this time ten years ago. We had about ten people watching at that point!” he remembered. “We were a strange band… Well, we are still weird!” The crowd laughed with RUKI before he continued, “We came from nothing but we kept positive and came a long way. Many good things and many bad things have happened over these years. There were times we thought we could do anything and others where we thought maybe we should give up. It is thanks to all of you who believed in us that we kept going and are here today!” With an effusive “Love you!” the vocalist thanked the fans for their support.

URUHA opened “Anata no tame no kono inochi” and stole the spotlight throughout the song as he took the podium, legs apart and shoulder bared, for some strong riffs and fierce solos. With the traditional shout of “Welcome to hell!” RUKI summoned the headbanging for the outrageous “Kanto Dogeza Kumiai.”  It was imposing to see 20,000 people following the choreography, arms moving right and left before the collective headbanging. The band made full use of the stage and engaged in some warmly welcomed fanservice. AOI tried to take REITA’s bandage off, scaring him in the process, but the antics were topped by URUHA and RUKI’s tender interactions with the guitarist slapping the vocalist playfully on the head.

The show ended with clapping and mosh for the classic “LINDA~candydive pinky heaven~.” Hair flew and bodies clashed for the last song of the night. Between claps and cheers, the band bowed, bidding farewells but the crowd shouted “Encore!” over and over again. One last time, the band returned to show their appreciation.

“There is a song we would like to play for you! If it wasn’t for this song, there would be no the GazettE! It was our first song and for us it is very important!” With these words, RUKI announced “Wakaremichi.” With no dramatic intros, the song began bluntly, strong and sweet. The audience waved hands upon hearing the word “Sayonara” (goodbye) and URUHA embarked on a guitar ride, head tilted back as he savored the song.  It was a touching performance with the crowd singing in unison, the instrumentals silencing as the voices echoed hauntingly in an emotional and nostalgic number. The live ended with another classic, “Shunsetsu no koro” with fast drums and guitars for old-style “Gaze-rock.” White paper descended upon the crowd like snowflakes for a beautiful ending.

Before leaving, each member shared a few words with the fans, AOI and REITA playing “rock, scissors, paper” to decide who would go first. “As I get old, I cry easily” the guitarist confessed. “I told you I would do good today!” he said proudly, looking at the crowd before RUKI cut in with a grin, complaining about the long emcee. The guitarist tried to continue but the others teasingly ignored him while the fans reacted with shouts of “You are so cute!”

“Yes, yes, I am cute!” the guitarist agreed with an impish grin.

“I never thought we would go on for ten years. It seems like an illusion!” RUKI confessed solemnly, adding with a smile “Yes, there are a few of us about to cry!” The hall went silent. “We are a band but mostly we are five people heading together towards a dream. Thank you all, we have had a blast! With your support we will continue and celebrate twenty, thirty, forty and fifty years together! I would like you all to hold the hands of the people next to you. Yes, they might smell, but you are all friends!” he added. “Let’s head to space, all together in a jump!”

Set List

1. Miseinen
2.  Akai Onepiece
3.  Harunichirikeri, Miwakarerudegozaimasu
4.  ~zetsu~
5.  Psychedelic Heroine
6.  SWALLOWTAIL ON THE DEATH VALLEY
7.  Ganges ni Akai Bara
8.  Sumire
9.  Kareuta
10.  Cassis
11.  The Social riot machines
12. Ruder
13.  VERMIN
14.  VORTEX
15.  HEADACHEMAN
16.  IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS
17.  Filth in the beauty

Encore 1

1.  Ride with the Rockers
2.  Nausea & Shudder
3. 14sai no knife
4. Dorodarakeno seishun
5. Anatanotamenokonoinochi.
6.  Kanto Dogeza Kumiai
7.  LINDA~candydive pinky heaven~

Encore 2

1. Wakaremichi
2. Shunsetsu no koro

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