Have you ever attended a Japan concert?

[Silver Moon]

I was fortunate to see Japan 23 times, which i guess makes me very old, on the last tour alone i saw them 14 times, too many nights sleeping on trains and at stations, but very fond memories, met and am still in touch with so many great people. Funny thing is that the majority are still fans - which proves form is temporary, class is permanent!!!

Oh my gosh! You are so lucky! Did you meet any of the band members? Get any pictures- You must have some awesome stories to tell! That is so cool! I would have been psyched to see them once!

-Kera-

[kinki]

Art of Parties, I am so jealous - like Kera says - do share any pics/stories you may have...

[lastgoldstar]

I was fortunate to see Japan 23 times

*drops dead 23 times*

I'm with the others on the sharing bit. How fabulous.

[Art of Parties]

Now i really do feel guilty, i did originally think my message might come across as boasting a bit - on the plus side for you guys, i bet you have seen David Sylvian live solo more often than me (a very poor 2 occasions), in my defence i was working in New York and Jbourg for a large proportion of his live solo tours.

Only met them once , but it was a very special once! - Backstage before their last ever concert in the UK - i was lucky enough to get a signed drumskin from Steve Jansen. There is a photo of me and said drumskin on the very fine Nightporter website, it is ironically shown as from a concert in Manchester (Ironic, because it one of the few i did not attend on that tour)

Im still a huge fan, so i guess they did not shatter my illusions when i met them - although i was quite surprised how short (in height) they all were!!!

[kinki]

Is that you with the drumskin in the last photo, bottom right? What an experience to see their last concert in the UK - must have been tinged with sadness...

I've always wondered how tall they are..hehe....how short are we talking here? 5'10"ish? That's about how tall I imagine them to be...

[Silver Moon]

In Japan Photo Story David Sylvian says he's 5'8'' Forget how tall the other members were- And I can't look it up because my friend is translating it over the summer. Art of Parties- So awesome you got that autographed drumskin! I would have it placed high in my Japan Shrine... Er, I mean closet...

-Kera-

[krausy]

wow, I don't even have 23 dreams to brag about

That is awesome. I can imagine some of your train rides, etc were long and interesting---what an experience....but great memories!!!!

[kinki]

In Japan Photo Story David Sylvian says he's 5'8'' Forget how tall the other members were

In photos they all look more or less the same height - so quite short really...short but perfectly formed.

[Art of Parties]

Obviously reluctant to comment whether they were as you say, perfectly formed, but i guess the fact that i spent quite a lot of time back then trying to look like the Batt brothers (it rather depended on what colour i had dyed my hair that week) suggests i admired their style.

Not wishing to shatter any illusions here, but i am of the opinion they are generally about 5'7", which i would never have guessed before i met them, they always looked quite tall on stage.

I do have some fairly funny memories of the actual concerts, two come immediately to mind and both were on the Sons of Pioneers tour.
As usual i had managed to get to the front of the stage, so generally missed the effect of the light show, however it did allow me some fairly close contact with DS

The first was that i untied his white dance shoe whilst he was standing in front of me singing. (i know ban me from the forum)

The second was when again he was standing directly in front of me, he bowed after the final song before the encore - i cheekily patted him on the head, he smiled back, i guess he was relieved that i did not try to rip his hair off (my girlfriend at the time would have!!!) - by the way interesting fact no. 1000080 - he had a lot of hairsray on , either that or his hair is made of bark.

Finally, can confirm drumskin in Nightporter website photo, is the one given to me by Steve Jansen.

[Poisoned_Apathy]

That's really funny!!

I would love to have any memories like those ones but, like the fellow young fans in this forum , I was born in the wrong decade

But I would love to read more like that ,please!!

[Art of Parties]

I doubt if you were born in the wrong decade - i bet you don't regard getting out of bed without pulling a muscle etc as a major achievement -

I am so surprised how many young people seem to like Japan et al, how the hell did you discover them - at my age it is a bit like me finding someone cool in the 60/70s.

Case in point - i was not wild about Japan even after Quiet Life, but a friend of my brother commented that i looked like the lead singer of Japan, so curiousity got the better of me, and then one night i am listening to the radio and this great DJ called Annie Nightingale played a studio version of The Art of Parties (3 years before it was finally released)
I was hooked and it has been an obsession since that day.

[heartofdavid]

What great memories! Love hearing about them.

[godisinthesilences]

wow what fantastic memories to have! You sound fun!!!!
And I know what you mean about getting out of bed and worrying about pulling a muscle! HA HA...

[Silver Moon]

The first was that i untied his white dance shoe whilst he was standing in front of me singing. (i know ban me from the forum)

One more story like that, buddy, And you're getting the boot!!

Ahhh... I'm just kidding- I thought your stories were really funny! I laughed hard about the part his hair being stiff as bark! Thanks so much for sharing them- They are great!

But I just have to ask you... I'm just curious- Why'd you untie his shoe?

-Kera-

[Art of Parties]

I have no idea - call it youthful bravado - I am not pleased with my self in that respect - Looking for answers i have none - sorry

But at this point, should David be interested i am very sorry!

Good Lord (and David likes religion)

Should i share my other two funny moments!