JAPAN: JAPANESE ANTI-GRAVITATIONAL ROCK BAND "JOHNNY" WOW CROWDS IN TOKYO

Record ID: 505939

  • Title: JAPAN: JAPANESE ANTI-GRAVITATIONAL ROCK BAND "JOHNNY" WOW CROWDS IN TOKYO
  • Date: 7th July 1999
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JULY 7, 1999) (REUTERS) LV CURTAIN RISES ON BAND, ANTI-GRAVITATIONAL GROUP JOHNNY, SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN, CAMERA SHOT ALSO UPSIDE DOWN VARIOUS OF BAND MEMBERS HANGING FROM METAL FRAME AND PLAYING A SONG CALLED "ANTI-GRAVITY BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM" (10 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 22nd July 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAEOYGCP18DLOLGLVDC58Z4BUN
  • Story Text: One Japanese band does its act on stage with a twist
    -- a 180 degree twist.Their whole show takes place hanging
    upside down from metal frames.

    "Aren't you guys topsy turvy?!" reads the white curtain
    seconds before its rises --- or rather falls to the floor.

    The curtain reveals the five member band of the latest
    wacky performance to come out of the Osaka-Kyoto region -- the
    "Anti-Gravitational Group - Johnny".

    All members of this glittering punk, rockabilly group--
    Koji Johnny, Gacchi Johnny, Johnny Johnny, Yasu Shooting Star
    Johnny, and Zone Johnny -- perform hanging from metal frames,
    upside down.

    The audience seemed unfazed by the contortionist antics
    of the band as they head- banged to songs such as "Bam Bam
    Anti-gravititation."
    The band, an eccentric medley of school friends, began
    seven years ago at Kyoto University.From then on , its
    following in the Kansai region (Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto) grew year by
    year.

    Recently, they made their debut on the Tokyo scene.

    Despite their limited advertisement budget an unexpected crowd
    gathered -- many die-hard fans who'd heard of the band by word
    of mouth.

    Koji, the lead guitarist and band leader, is adamant
    that they are not suspended upside down but in a state of
    anti-gravitation - a state which they say even NASA would be
    jealous of.

    The band can only perform 30 to 40 minutes at a time and
    take no breaks in between songs.They ended their gig with
    their classic hit "Bang Bang Big Bang".

    Many in the audience were new to the band, but some were
    impressed enough to rush to the counter after the concert to
    buy a copy of their CD.

    Nevertheless, even the usually unfazeable Tokyo rocker
    was surprised to see them hanging from the rafters.

    The band's performance is not expected to be repeated
    anytime soon -- it take its members some time to recover --
    but they promise to be back.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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