A rock musician's life?

A drummer's life story?

To survey it all in a single night might be an exaggeration, but
from his early twenties, when we first met, through his thirties
given our work often intertwined, I recall now that I was involved in his private life, even leading up to his first marriage... well, I never sensed any pretense in his character. Of course, I haven't been in touch since his success in his forties and fifties, so I don't truly know him, but my impression from a recent dinner suggests his unpretentious, natural self remains unchanged. In short, perhaps he has a generous spirit; he's the type to get things done without sweating the small stuff. Otherwise, I doubt any Japanese rock musician, aside from Tets Yamauchi of Free and Faces, has ever achieved the feat of touring the world as a member of the globally renowned British band Simply Red. I suspect not.
And that expansive talent was clearly palpable from the stage at last night's event. In fact, perhaps last night was when I finally recognized that talent with my own eyes. The truly audacious aspect of this birthday celebration is that he's involved in everything through his drumming, connecting with all the guest performers. I saw him from the middle, having arrived with Kan-chan and Toshi-chan. To perform non-stop from beginning to end requires an extraordinary level of physical and mental stamina; he is clearly a rare presence among Japanese musicians.
I offer my utmost respect to Gota for performing it all with such nonchalance. Still, or rather, I imagine the green room, filled with such a gathering, must have been the antithesis of a chaotic, overwhelming, deeply emotional, and tumultuous scene.

At the venue, I was asked by
Mr. Ishii of Riddim, who knows those times well, "Aren't you going to the green room?"
But I declined this time, feeling that if I went, the past might overwhelm my present.
Nostalgic memories should remain just that,
and the past, with all its happenings, I wish to leave behind for now.

When I have transformed today into a more confident present,
only then will I want to look back at the past.

Oh, right, I'm currently producing PIRATE RADIO.

Change the channel now!

Just as I was about to wrap up, I received a voicemail from Toshi-chan.
Curious, I called him back, and as expected,
he said last night's green room was like Pitecan...
Still, it was a dense two years.
Toshi-chan said that about Pitecan.

GO BACK TO 1963 for PIRATE RADIO !!

ps. Video memories to follow.


← Diary-T 219–224