THE SOUND BEE HD's Fan Q&A at Katsucon 19 Full Transcript

Back in February, industrial visual kei band THE SOUND BEE HD returned to America as musical guests of Katsucon 19! Their panel began at around 2:30 in LIVE 2 in the far back of the large resort. It wasn't difficult to find if you knew your way around, but to first timers, it may have been quite an adventure!

KEY:
[~] = Actions

Right to Left: Ds. HIRO, Ba. YOU, Vo. DAISUKE, Gt. Kazuha

MC: Ladies and Gentlemen, THE SOUND BEE HD!

[Everyone cheers]

What are some of the inspirations for the music?

DAISUKE: I like heavy metal music; my favorite artist is Nine Inch Nails.

HIRO: Mine is...Sailor Moon.

[Everyone laughs]

Kazuha: ahh... DAISUKE!

[Everyone laughs]

YOU: I like Punk music, classic... Yes, yes, I like it. Sex Pistols and grunge--I love it.




MC: Actually, you know what guys? I'm kind of jumping ahead of myself because I'm only surviving on about six hours of sleep for the last three days. I didn't give them a chance to introduce themselves, so why don't we go straight down the line starting with Kazuha!

Kazuha: Wah, really?

MC: Yeah, 'cause I'm bad at this! I'm a terrible Emcee.

Kazuha: Hello, I'm Kazuha!

DAISUKE: I'm vocalist DAISUKE.

YOU: I'm bassist YOU.

HIRO: Hello, Sailor Moon.

[Everyone laughs]

HIRO: My name is HIRO, the drummer of THE SOUND BEE HD. I am so happy to meet you; have a good time. Thank you!

[clapping]

MC: Next?

Where did the name THE SOUND BEE HD come from, anyways?

DAISUKE: I just put together my favorite things--things that I can't live without in his life which is just sound plus music. And I like bees!

[Everyone laughs]

Why do you like bees? They're terrifying!

[Everyone laughs]

DAISUKE: Ah... I like bees because they are really small and I am also really small! Bees are small, but they also have that scary, dangerous kind of contrast to them.

Fan: You don't look small...

DAISUKE: [stands]

Fan: [stands]

DAISUKE: Wahh!

Fan: Oh my God!

[Everyone laughs]

What is your favorite place you've traveled since being in the United States?

DAISUKE: To Los Angeles and also when we went to Nekocon in 2010.

[Everyone cheers]

MC: DAISUKE, all of those people saw you at Nekocon!

[DAISUKE nods at them and claps and people laugh]

MC: Next up!

What originally got you into visual kei?

DAISUKE: I originally like make up and stuff... It was also right around the same time that X JAPAN and LUNA SEA were getting big and visual kei was kind of just coming into existence. I'm actually friends with the X JAPAN and LUNA SEA band members. I started in visual kei around that time.

How long have you guys been together?

DAISUKE: YOU and I have been together for about 10 years now.

MC: YOU and DAISUKE are the consistent members of the band, they have been together since the beginning and, uh, the other guys joined on later.

This is a question for everyone... When is your birthday?

Kazuha: July 28th

DAISUKE: October 18th

YOU: 13th of September!

HIRO: I am Precure!

MC: What?

[Everyone laughs]

MC: Is anyone going to follow up on that?

Um, this is a question to YOU; Why do you drink so much?

[Everyone laughs]

YOU: Because you drink water everyday, so me too!

Fan: No, wait, I mean alcohol! lol

YOU: Ah, for me, alcohol is called water!

[Everyone laughs]

MC: Wait, YOU, I have a question. I've seen you drink so much, but I've never seen you drunk; how do you do it?

[Continued laughter]

MC: No, I'm serious! You're never drunk, how do you pull it off?

Fan: It's because she listens to punk music!

[Continued laughter]

MC: How did that stop Sid Vicious? He was drunk all the time!

Fan: He's English!

YOU: hmm... I consist of many, many alcohol!

[Everyone laughs]

YOU: I'm full of Alcohol!

Fan: Instead of 97% water, you're 97% alcohol.

YOU: No, 100% alcohol

[Continued laughter]

Fan: I love you!

YOU: Thank you!

This is another question for YOU. Where can I get your juice boxes filled with sake?

YOU: Ahh, in Japan.

Fan: In convenience stores.

YOU: I have a pack with me (in Japan).

MC: Do they have that in vending machines?

YOU: No.

MC: Ahh... next... New face, you go!

Fan: Really? I'm new face?

MC: Yes!

This one's also to YOU... You say you're never drunk, but have you ever gotten a hang over?

YOU: Ah, no, never!

[Everyone laughs]

Another question for YOU: How do you like being on Facebook, do you like connecting to your fans through that?

YOU: Are you on my Facebook? What's your name?

Fan: Katie, I've talked to you a few times.

YOU: Ah, really? Thank you! **waves**

(Note: We implied this as a "Yes" in the end!)

This is another qustion for YOU... Do you have super powers?

[Everyone laughs]

YOU: I have a super power with alcohol!

[Continued laughter]

YOU: Alcohol changes into water in my body!

I have a question for DAISUKE. How does it feel to be the shortest member of the band?

DAISUKE: Ahh... [Laughs] (to Kazuha) aren't you shorter?

(both Kazuha and Daisuke stand)

MC: Ah! So Kazuha is shorter!

Kazuha points to DAISUKE's shoes and lifts up his foot to show he's wearing sandals--implying DAISUKE's height is boosted by boots before they sit down.

MC: So, Kazuha, how does it feel being the shortest?

Kazuha: I just have a huge presence myself, so I don't worry about it.

[Everyone laughs]

This is an extension: If everyone could have a super power, what would it be?

Kazuha: Teleportation.

DAISUKE: Star Wars Force! [makes movements]

YOU: I want to be invisible man to do wrong things.

[Everyone laughs]

HIRO: [points to random person] You, you are kawaii. (cute)

Fan: Thank you!

MC: He just likes to answer his own questions. Next?

[No one raises their hand]

MC: Oh, you don't wanna do this in one of my panels! No, somebody's gotta raise their hand or they're getting called on.

Kazuha, how does it feel being a support member of the band?

MC: Oh, no, he's a real member of the band!

Fan: Oh, he is?

MC: Yes.

Fan: Oh!

[Band tells MC he's support]

MC: Oh, he's support?

[They all nod]

MC: Their Record label owner told me he was an actual member of the band, so I'm about to kick him in the throat next time I see him!

Fan: Kiwamu told you that?

MC: Yes.

Fan: Oh wow.

MC: Kiwamu's a very angry man... For those of you that don't know, Kiwamu is the guitarist of BLOOD, former guitarist of GPKism, and he also owns their record label Starwave Records.  They have a big website where you can buy all of their CD's on the internet; it's starwaverecords.jp

This is a question for Kazuha, can I have a picture of you in this hat?

[Evryone laughs and Kazuha gets up to take pictures of Kazuha in the silly hat and he turns in a slow circle]

MC: Photo-op, everybody! ...and the panel comes to a grinding halt!

[Continued chatter and laughter]

Kazuha in a silly hat

MC: Alright who's gonna top that one?

Fan: I will! I actually have a question...

Last night we were discussing 80's JPop Idols... I'm curious, who is each member's favorite 1980's idol?

Kazuha: I was born in '86, so I don't really know any.

YOU: I wasn't born in 1980's...

MC: Were you born in the 90's?

YOU: Yeah! ...I hope.

[Everyone laughs]

What is the best thing you've eaten since coming to America?

HIRO: Taco Bell! [thumbs up]

[Everyone laughs and claps]

YOU: American Beer

Fan: Which one?

MC: Ying Ling! Ity's always Ying Ling in Tainted Reality!

DAISUKE: McDonald's!

Kazuha: Me too!

[Everyone laughs]

Back in 2007, there was a Jrock Revolution festival and big acts such as X JAPAN were involved and they said that they would never be about to pull that together again. Were you involved in that or would you like to be involved in something like that?

MC: JRock Revolution? yeah, these guys weren't involved in that, i went out there for that myself. It was a good concert, but I can';t tell you what happened because I was only out there as press, but I know they triend to make a second festival, it just didn't pan out, so...From what I understand, the remnants of what would be the second Jrock Revolution festival wound up being The Underneath, MUUC, and D'espairsRay on the Rockstar: taste of Chaos tour, so um... we got something out of it!

If you were to turn on your iPods right now, what would be the top played songs on there?

HIRO: Sound Bee

YOU: Me too, Sound Bee!

DAISUKE: Ozzy Osbourne!

Kazuha: D'espairsRay and... Evanescence!

If it's karaoke, what are you guys singing?

Band: We don't really go to Karaoke, so... sorry.

MC: Well, you guys are gonna be judges on Katsucon Idol and... well, we'll leave that as a surprise! For those of you who don't know, 9:30am on Sunday, they will be judges at Katsucon Idol and they will also be having a short, special stripped down performance. So you guy better be there. No excuses.

This is for everyone. If you were to pick one period of time in the past to live in, what would it be and why?

Kazuha: Samurai in the Edo period.

DAISUKE: Me too.

YOU: I love ninjas, so.... ninja war was when? When were ninjas?

MC: Anybody know their Japanese history?

Fan: Edo period.

HIRO: Hmm...

MC: You know you're gonna get a good answer!

HIRO: Hmm..... Sekki!

YOU: Caveman era

MC: Caveman HIRO... I can see the mental picture right now!

When are you guys releasing a full album?

MC: Ah, they already have one, it's called "Hachi"!

Fan: No, when is the next one.

DAISUKE: We don't have any immediate plans for right now, but we were thinking around next year, sometime.

MC: Alright, since we're t the halfway point, ladies and gentlemen, i wanna do some quick promo here! (passes flyers and promotes Tainted Reality panel and Fixer comic)

My question is kind of a two part question. I started a visual kei band and I was wondering if they could give advice on how to make the band successful, etc. and the second thing is that, unlike the rest of my members, I'm only half Japanese, I'm not completely Japanese. When we go to Japan this fall, would that cause an issue with our band because I'm only part, not full?

Kazuha: To be successful in a visual kei band, you have to keep it up for a very long time and to be successful in Japan, just talk to Kiwamu!

[Everyone laughs]

Do any of you have plans to, maybe, one day get married and have children?

[Kazuha makes a face and everyone laughs]

MC: Kazuha's like, "I'm too young to worry about that!"

Kazuha: No.

MC: Is it no all around?

[HIRO and YOU shake their heads]

Kazuha: Would anyone here like to marry one of the band members?

[Everyone laughs]

MC: No, don't ask that question! [laughs]

How are your experiences at Katsucon right now? What do youu think of the Cosplayers? Have you gone to DC yet?

DAISUKE: We had a lot of fun at Katsucon, to see all of the cosplayers, we really enjoy it! We haven't had the chance to check out DC yet.

Who are your favorite American bands?

DAISUKE: Nine Inch Nails

Kazuha: Evanescence

[Someone enters the room]

MC: There's a face I haven't seen in years!

[The band stirs]

HIRO: [waves] Hi! [continued waving] Hi!

[DAISUKE also waves and eventually everyone turns around to see while laughing]

Do you like crabs?

DAISUKE: [laughs] Yes!

Have you tried any of the Maryland oysters from the Chesapeake?

DAISUKE: Ah, no, sorry!

YOU: I have actually gotten food poisoning 5 times from eating oysters, so I'm not really eager to eat oysters.

MC: Next question! Zombie, right here!

(Note: Earlier that day, there was a zombie in the Artist Alley that approached the band. They were very entertained! He showed up at the panel and the band was pretty happy to see him!)

Zombie: Uhhh.... I'm a Zombie...

[Everyone laughs]

THE SOUND BEE HD with the aforementioned zombie cosplayer

Have you performed in or with any other bands? And which ones?

DAISUKE: I performed with other band that are on the same label as Starwave Records.

Were you ever bullied when you were younger and, if so, what advice would you give to someone if they are being bullied?

DAISUKE: I was bullied occassionally when i was young because I was so small and I learned Karate, Kendo, Judo and martial arts like that so that I would be strong enough not to lose when I got picked on.

This is for Kazuha. Do you like American model guitars or Japanese model guitars and, also, what's your favorite chord?

Kazuha: I like any guitar, no matter where it's made, as long as it has seven strings. My favorite chord in A minor.

This is for everyone: If you could be a fish, what kind would you be?

Kazuha: Salmon.

DAISUKE: Shark.

YOU: Angel Fish.

HIRO: Shark.

When you guys were in high school, were you planning on becoming a band or did you have other career goals?

Kazuha: I have been performing in a band since I was in highschool.

DAISUKE: I actually wanted to be an actor when I was in high school. And action movie actor.

YOU: I thought that if I failed my extrance exam in high school, I would become a pro-wrestler, but I ended up passing, so that didn't happen. Instead, I enjoyed riding the motorcycle a lot and fom there I just kind of took an interest in rock bands and ended up joining a band myself.

HIRO: I just wanted to be an otaku.

[Everyone laughs]

MC: We did this once before, and it turned out kinda interesting, so a lot of times at these Q&A panels it's a little one-sided, y'know, you guys ask them questions and they answer. We're going to turn the tables; we're going to let them ask you guys questions!
 So, take it away! What would you like to know about the fans?

Kazuha: Your pink hair, is that natural?

Fan: No.

[Everyone laughs]

DAISUKE: Do you guys come to these conventions for the cosplay and things like that? Because there's a lot of cosplayers around here.

Fans: Mainly for the bands. And the environment. It's like an ocean here, we're all connected like droplets of water.

DAISUKE: I really love the atmosphere of the convention. I really love the essence.

YOU: What is visual kei to all of you?

Fans: Life!

MC: Be more specific! We'll choose three of you.

Fan: There was a quote from Jasmine You (Versailles) and it said "Visual kei can not be expressed, it is how you express yourself." It really meant something to me, I can't thnk about it off the top of my head, but he explained it perfectly.

Fan: Visual kei has inspireed me a lot, especially since me best friend introduced it to me, and I'm also thinking of starting a band when I'm older and make a band in Japan so I can meet people.

Fan: Visual kei, it's more than just about fashion, it's the blending of elements like classical culture with rock music and that creates a very good assemblence and a good movement and creates new perspectives on 14th century fashion and what became "Jrock".

HIRO: What? Oh! Are you going to the concert tonight?

Everyone: Yes! [cheers]

MC: And you're gonna bring friends right?

Fans: Yes!

MC: And you're gonna have your friends bring their friends, right?

Fan: Hell yeah!

MC: Alright, sounds good! We wanna pack that concert tonight! Have you seen that hall? It's huge! I'm worried that even if we have 500 people, it's gonna look empty, and we wanna show these guys a great time! Anymore questions?

YOU: Ah, hai!

MC: YOU-san!

YOU: What is your favorite animation in Japanese?

Fans: Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Kuroshitsuji, etc...

[HIRO raises his hand]

MC: HIRO!

HIRO: Pokemon!

[Everyone laughs]

MC: Zombie friend!

Zombie: Highschool of the Dead

Fan: Rurouni Kenshin

Fan: I believe the answer, HIRO, is Sailor Moon!

[Everyone laughs]

Fan: ONE PIECE.

YOU: Me too!

Fan: Beck!

MC: Any other questions?

HIRO: What are other cities of America that we should visit?

Fans: Austin (TX), Washington D.C., New York, Virginia, Baltimore, Toronto (Canada),

Fan: That's not America... (Refering to Toronto)

Fan: It's North America!

Fans: San Diego, Boston, Colorado, Philadelphia

HIRO: What do you have the most fun doing?

Fans: Singing, furitsuke, Parapara, drawing, reading manga, listening to jrock, playing violin, eating, parkour, watching anime, videogames, Eating people

MC: I was gonna say, that was his answer! (refers to Zombie)

Fans: Going to concerts and photographing them, doing Becky's job (translating), studying Japan, moshing.

MC: Normally I would encouraging moshing, but Katsucon has a no moshing policy. What about conga line, security? Conga line is fine!

Kazuha: What are you doing tonight?

HIRO: Going to the concert and the rave tonight!

[Everyone cheers]

MC: One last question from the audience! Make it good!

Coke or Pepsi? (Asked by a fan)

[Everyone laughs]

YOU: Coca-Cola?

[Kazuha, DAISUKE, and HIRO raise their hands for Coke.]

YOU: [raises hand] Pepsi!

MC: Alright ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out here! Tonight at 10pm, THE SOUND BEE HD will be in concert and you're all gonna be there, let me here it! come on!

[Everyone cheers]

People quickly shuffled out of the room, heading to other events they had scheduled for themselves, where as we headed right down to th Artist Alley for our interview...
Check it out here!

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