Rock and roll always carries a dangerous resonance. This sound is like opening a dust-covered porn magazine in the back of a garage. We hope you'll take a moment to enjoy it. / Hisashi Kato (THE COLLECTORS)

The album "HERE COMES THE RICH BEGGARS" by the legendary band "THE RICH BEGGARS," independently produced in a limited run of 100 copies in 1971, is set for reissue by MEDICOM TOY on May 22, 2024. To commemorate this, a special conversation has been arranged between Makoto Ishii, the band's central figure and vocalist/drummer, and Tatsuhiko Akashi, President and CEO of MEDICOM TOY, who spearheaded the reissue. Please enjoy their stories about the band's origins and its unprecedented recording location, filled with the atmosphere of the era. (The full version of this interview will be included as a "Makoto Ishii Special Interview" on the LP/CD).

Makoto Ishii (Right)
President and CEO of Hata Planning Co., Ltd. Born November 7, 1949, in Kyoto Prefecture. After graduating from Doshisha University's Faculty of Economics in 1972, he joined Original Confidence Osaka Branch. He served as Osaka Editor-in-Chief from 1978 and left the company in 1992. He is active as a music critic, radio DJ, and journalist, covering a wide range of music genres from Japanese rock to idols and enka. Under the DJ name "Magnum Ishii," he is a regular on KBS Kyoto Radio's "Get Up Kyoto ~ Magnum Ishii SHOW," Radio Kansai's "Psyche Trip Street," and FM845's "Keep On Running Again" as a DJ and scriptwriter. He also produces events, writes columns for the Nikkei, and contributes liner notes for CDs. He plays guitar and vocals for the industry band "RIZZ."

Tatsuhiko Akashi (Left)
President and CEO of MEDICOM TOY Inc. Born in Tokyo. Founded MEDICOM TOY Inc. in 1996. With the concept of "creating what we want," the company plans and manufactures character figures across a wide range of fields, including movies, TV, comics, and games. In 2001, they launched "BE@RBRICK," fostering diverse collaborations with artists, brands, companies, and characters both domestically and internationally. They also operate the textile brand "FABRICK®," "Sofvi.tokyo," and engage in various other businesses. They manage six directly managed stores with distinct characteristics ("project1/6," "MEDICOMTOY Solamachi Store," "MEDICOM TOY PLUS," "2G") across three cities: Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

AkashiThank you for graciously accepting the reissue of your album after 53 years.

IshiiThe news of the reissue was truly a bolt from the blue. I thought, 'What are they talking about? Give me a break!' (laughs). It was an LP we made ourselves to commemorate the breakup of our student band, and due to our lack of skill and poor sound quality, I was too embarrassed to let anyone hear it after I entered the industry, so I had kept it sealed away. My initial thought was that releasing it was out of the question. But Mr. Akashi's passion was incredible. That was the biggest factor. Frankly, I knew this record was gaining some strange traction on auction and used record markets, so if the offer came from that, I would have definitely refused. However, he said he was genuinely moved by listening to the music, and if that was the starting point, I thought maybe it would be okay. It really made me realize how unpredictable life is.

AkashiTHE RICH BEGGARS themselves are a mysterious and legendary group. About two years ago, a staff member at our company casually asked me, 'Mr. Akashi, do you know THE RICH BEGGARS?' and showed me a jacket photo that was online. He's knowledgeable about music from all eras and countries, but neither of us knew them. Searching online yielded no recordings. While trying to find any clues, I zoomed in on the jacket image online and noticed the Teichiku Records logo.

IshiiAh, I see.

AkashiAround that time, I had worked with Teichiku Records to release "Maboroshi no Parade" by THE COLLECTORS as a 7-inch single for an event I organized called "AKASHIC RECORDS 2021 ~Maboroshi no Parade~." So, I asked the person in charge of production there to search for any remaining master tapes. About a week later, they told me, 'We found something, but strangely, we only have the disc.'

IshiiThat's strange, isn't it?

AkashiEven after searching Teichiku's archives, they said it wasn't their master. We borrowed the disc and listened to it, and I was completely blown away. They had completely internalized the essence of Western music, with THE BEATLES as a base. Back in 1971, I can't think of any other Japanese band singing all original songs in English, perhaps only FLOWER TRAVELLIN' BAND.
Could you start by telling us about the formation of THE RICH BEGGARS? It seems you formed the band in 1968 when you entered Doshisha University, perhaps with friends from the light music club?

IshiiNo, I briefly visited the light music club, but there was some arrogant senior there, so I got into a fight and quit after three days (laughs). I hate that kind of rigid, athletic club atmosphere. So, I formed the band with my own friends. Initially, there were four of us: drums, bass, guitar, and myself on rhythm guitar and vocals. However, the drummer was a good guy but incredibly unskilled, so I had to let him go, much to my regret. Then I found a more skilled drummer, but our personalities didn't mesh. Since I didn't want to continue without a drummer, I reluctantly bought a drum set and started practicing from scratch.

AkashiSo, from there, it became the trio credited on the album: Makoto Ishii (Drums & Vocal), Toyoki Fujiki (Guitar), and Masami Onishi (Bass).

IshiiI'm naturally the type who wants to be out front rocking, but I ended up having to play drums (laughs). As amateurs, our main performance venues were dance parties hosted by university clubs. Initially, we focused on covers of straightforward pop-rock by bands like THE BEATLES and CCR, which was fun in its own way. But eventually, we felt the need to write original songs. At the time, student activism was intensifying with protests against the Vietnam War, and the university was blockaded, so I couldn't attend for the last two years of my four years there. But for us, it was like, 'Lucky! We don't have to go to school' (laughs). With all the free time, we decided to get serious about the band and started writing originals.

AkashiAnd all the songs are in English. On the first track of the album, "Solution," you repeatedly rhyme words ending in "-tion," like "solution," "hesitation," and "revolution." This was quite groundbreaking for a Japanese band at the time.

IshiiFor the rhymes, I drew a lot of inspiration from Bob Dylan's lyrics. Honestly, singing in English was simply because I was too embarrassed to sing in Japanese. I didn't want to say things like 'I like you' directly, so I'd say 'I Love You.' I was in the ESS (English Speaking Society), so I could manage basic conversations, even if my pronunciation wasn't perfect. It would be embarrassing if foreigners heard it, though (laughs). We also performed at rock events at Maruyama Park Outdoor Amphitheater and appeared in a joint live concert at Kyo Kaikan.

AkashiI understand that some live photos from that era have surfaced (as postcards included with LP purchases).

IshiiThat was another accidental discovery. I thought they were lost somewhere, but after Mr. Akashi contacted me, I found a few scattered around.

Akashi(Looking at the photos) They're incredibly cool. Mr. Ishii, you look the most professional (laughs).

IshiiGuitarist Fujiki and bassist Onishi were very serious musicians. I just pulled them into this. They already had their career paths decided after graduation, and we all knew that a professional debut with this lineup was 100% impossible. So, we decided to make an album to commemorate our breakup, which led to the recording.

AkashiI was surprised to hear that the recording location was a film dubbing studio.

IshiiAt that time, there were only a handful of proper music studios in Kyoto, and as a student band, we didn't have the money to rent expensive ones. So, I consulted my father. He was a production manager at Daiei Motion Picture Company's studios, and he mentioned he knew about dubbing studios. We hesitantly asked if we could use one, not expecting much. Bringing rock band instruments into a place normally used for recording dialogue must have surprised their staff.

AkashiIt must have been unprecedented. A place where actors' lines are normally recorded through microphones.

IshiiThe mixer had no idea how to connect amplifiers or balance the sound. I felt apologetic, but we managed to record everything in about two days. So, as an excuse for the poor sound quality and thinness, the fact that it was recorded in such an unconventional studio is one reason.

AkashiIncidentally, why was it released by Teichiku Records?

IshiiThat was a desperate measure. We wanted to make a record but didn't know where to turn. After some research, I found out that Teichiku had a pressing plant in Nara at the time. A junior of mine worked part-time at a large record store in Kyoto called Jujiya (JEUGIA), so I asked him if he could inquire with the Teichiku salesman who visited monthly. The Teichiku representative took the matter to their head office, and they agreed. We handed over the open-reel tapes, and they pressed the records. I'm still amazed they agreed. Those were good times.

AkashiThe jacket design for "HERE COMES THE RICH BEGGARS" is also captivating.

IshiiFujiki designed the jacket, with white lettering on a black background. I asked him to give the lettering a slightly wavy, psychedelic feel. Looking at it now, it resembles BLACK SABBATH's "Master of Reality," but ours came slightly earlier. It's not a copy. Well, if you expect music that sounds like that, you might be disappointed (laughs).

AkashiCurrently, a record company in the US called First & Last Records is reissuing obscure Japanese bands from the 1970s, including graduation commemoration records from universities. However, the jacket for THE RICH BEGGARS didn't give off the impression of a typical university graduation album at all. It's so cool that we've created new T-shirts and can badges as a bonus for CD purchases. The jacket features a flip-back cover, commonly known as a 'pera-jake' (a仕様 where the front jacket is vinyl-coated and the top and bottom of the back jacket are folded back).

IshiiAll European pressings from that era used this style. I dislike the dusty air that escapes when you open the stiff paper jackets of American pressings. While American jackets are easier to preserve, I have more affection for this type.

AkashiThis reissue faithfully reproduces the original flip-back cover. Of course, the liner notes written by Mr. Ishii at the time are also included. We wanted to package it with the authentic feel of the 70s. We also received a wonderful recommendation comment from Hisashi Kato of THE COLLECTORS. We hope that everyone who gets their hands on it will enjoy it, including its depth.

IshiiIn an era dominated by digital technology, the fact that this is entirely analog and handmade might be something new for younger people. Nowadays, you can do anything with the push of a button, but I still prefer the band sound created with a collective 'Ready, set, go!' effort.

THE RICH BEGGARS "HERE COMES THE RICH BEGGARS"
Pre-orders accepted from March 24 to April 10 at MCT TOKYO and the PROJECT1/6 Amazon store. Scheduled release on May 22 at Disk Union CD shops nationwide, other stores, and online shops. Planning and Production: MEDICOM TOY Inc. Distributor: Disk Union Co., Ltd.

LP
Colors: Available in two colors - black and purple (each a limited edition).
Specifications: Features a flip-back cover, replicating the original pressing. Includes a reproduction of the liner notes from the 1971 release. Features a special interview with Makoto Ishii, vocalist and drummer.
LP Purchase Bonus: Set of 3 postcards.
Release Date: Scheduled for release on May 22, 2024.
Price: 5,500 yen (tax included).

CD
CD Purchase Bonus: Special can badge.
Specifications: Includes a reproduction of the liner notes from the 1971 release. Features a special interview with Makoto Ishii, vocalist and drummer.
Release Date: Scheduled for release on May 22, 2024.
Price: 3,300 yen (tax included).

T-SHIRT
Color: BLACK
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Release Date: Scheduled for release on May 22, 2024.
Price: 3,960 yen (tax included).

Distributor
Disk Union Co., Ltd.