JAPAN: ANTI GRAVITIONAL PUNK ROCK GROUP "JOHNNY" PERFORM THEIR TOKYO CONCERT UPSIDE DOWN

Record ID: 545867

  • Title: JAPAN: ANTI GRAVITIONAL PUNK ROCK GROUP "JOHNNY" PERFORM THEIR TOKYO CONCERT UPSIDE DOWN
  • Date: 7th July 1999
  • Summary: ANTI-GRAVITATIONAL BAND PLAYING THEIR LAST SONG CALLED "BANG BANG BIG BANG" AND CURTAIN RISES AND BAND MEMBER SAYS "We'll be back."
  • Embargoed: 22nd July 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA8BZ70LNSOXVS2K6LWTFX08L54
  • Story Text: One Japanese band has arrived in Tokyo performing 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.
    Behind it is revealed 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 and 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 and from then on its following in the Kansai region (Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto) grew year by year.
    On Wednesday, they made their first foray 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 takes its members some time to recover -- but they nevertheless promised to be back.
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