NOT suitable for sales promotion #5: ROCK 'N' ROLL I LOVE YOU?!

As part of the promotion for the upcoming NOT CD release, Private Scandal's Japan Representative, Kiichi-Vader has conducted a series of interview with NOT's vocalist/guitarist, Hidde. These interviews are being published in Japanese on the Mr's Instagram account and in English here.

NOT suitable for sales promotion #5: ROCK 'N' ROLL I LOVE YOU?!

"This song was written when I was pissed off at Ryosuke* for all the the trouble he'd caused. It's a bit like me saying, "You don't really know much about rock 'n' roll, do you? Me neither!"" - Hidde

Hidde (left), Kengo (right), Kiichi (bottom).

Kiichi: So this song was about Ryosuke (laughs). Ryosuke was definitely a drunkard back in the day.

Hidde: He was awful! He'd constantly pick fights with Kengo (the C&C) and cause trouble for everyone. I hated him!

Kiichi: What caused the fight?

Hidde: It was over a Terrano (a type of car).

Kiichi: What do you mean it was over a Terrano...?

Hidde: Do you remember Kengo used to drive a black Terrano back then?

Kiichi: Yeah, but... was that the reason for the fight?

Hidde: That was it! He started a fight saying, "A punk driving a Terrano!?"

Terrano, the cause of the fight.

Kiichi: What! Seriously? That was it? (laughs) Oh! I remember it now! It was when Kengo and Ryosuke first met.

It was when me, you, Yuda (ex. Samurai Delicatessen Band, now 汽笛と犬 (Kiteki to Inu)), and Kengo went to Joan**, Ryosuke was already there, completely drunk with a runny nose.

Joan.

Hidde: So Kengo was like, "Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" and the atmosphere between us became tense.

Kiichi: I had no idea what Ryosuke was talking about, and I was wondering why the blood drained from all of your faces (laughs)

Hidde: Then Ryosuke started picking a fight with me, and that pissed me off.

Kiichi: I tried to calm them down by telling Kengo, "You're a boxer, so you shouldn't pick a fight with a drunk idiot like that." then I grabbed Ryosuke by the collar and lectured him, too. (laughs)

Hidde: Is that right?

Kiichi: Yeah! Why did you forget the most important part!?

Apparently, Kengo was talking to a friend about it later, saying something like, "Ryosuke started a fight, but Kiichi didn't stand up for me..."

Hidde: Hahaha!

Kiichi: I was shocked! I immediately went to Kengo and complained, "Why would you lie like that?"

Hidde: What did Kengo say?

Kiichi: He was silent (laughs)

Hidde: Hahaha! That's typical Kengo (laughs)

Anyway, when Ryosuke was being an arrogant drunk saying things like, "I'll teach you real rock and roll" I got annoyed and said, "Oh yeah? Rock and roll? I don't know anything about it. I can't stand listening to your nonsense!"

Nowadays, I don't dislike Ryosuke at all, in fact, and we get along quite well!

Ryosuke.

Kiichi: Ah, so that's why you had an aversion to rock 'n' roll? (laughs). You didn't even listen to the Rolling Stones did you?

Hidde: Now I listen to them. I don't know that much about them, though.

Kiichi: I still don't know anything about the Rolling Stones. I only know Japanese rock bands.

Hidde: Shogo (the drummer of THE STINKERS) introduced me to all kinds of music, so I started listening to the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. That's why Jimi Hendrix is ​​my favourite guitarist now.

Kiichi: Is that true?

Hidde: Yeah, really!

Kiichi: I see...So, back in the day when Kengo and Ryosuke had that argument about the Terrano...It was the same day you were completely drunk, and you suddenly stood up and tried to open a cupboard next to the bar.

I said "Hidde, what are you doing?" and you said, "I need a piss..."

The bartender told you off, and said, "Hey! That's not the toilet!!" (laughs)

Hidde: Oh! That's right! I forgot that happened!

Kiichi: I was shocked because it was the first time I'd ever seen someone confuse a cupboard with a toilet. You were holding tightly to the small handles on the cupboard doors with both hands (laughs)

Hidde: Fuck... So, did I piss there...? 

Kiichi: No! If you did, we'd never be able to go to Joan again!

* Ryosuke was the vocalist for the Chiba-based rock and roll band THE SHOUTS. More recently he's been in in a band called RYOUSUKE & THE VILLAGE (although they're currently on hiatus). He was known as a guy who gets drunk, has a runny nose, and picks fights with people for no reason (he's probably chilled out a bit now).

He went to the same junior high school as Yuda, and is two years older than him and one year younger than Hidde and Kengo.

** Joan is a small jazz bar located near Tsuga Station in Wakaba Ward of Chiba City. This legendary venue has been open for over 50 years and is a popular hangout spot for local musicians. At the time, Kengo was in ヨンブンノイチ (Yonbunnoichi), Kiichi was in The Johnny Five, and Hidde was in NOT, it would’ve been around 2003.

THE SHOUTS, Ryosuke's old band, he's top left in this pic.