Tour Diary #6 - The Works (1985, Japan)
Aug 30, 2020 23:32:27 GMT
NathanH, Chopin1995, and 8 more like this
Post by deathtoming on Aug 30, 2020 23:32:27 GMT
This is Tour Diary #6 (The Works Japan tour, 1985).
Most of the text is a direct translation from Japanese by me from the 2019 book Queen Live Tour in Japan 1975-1985, which has notes originally published by Music Life magazine 1985. Some other information comes from recent interviews in another Japanese publication, Queen in Japan (2020), as well as Japanese magazines, plus other Japanese sources online. I try to find relevant photos to match the tour diary, but it’s not meant to be exhaustive.
Text in brackets [like this] are my own comments or taken from sources outside of the Tour Diaries.
1984 promo tour
In the last Tour Diary, I said I would also include stuff from 1984, when Roger and John did a series of magazine and TV interviews in Japan. I ended up doing a separate thread for 1984 in the Newspapers and Magazines section instead:
queenchat.boards.net/thread/1059/roger-john-works-promotional-japan
Monday, May 6, 1985
Brian, Roger, and Freddie arrive at Narita International Airport and head to the Hotel New Otani [most other sources say Hotel Okura]. John is already in Tokyo, having chosen to come here on April 30 after their Sydney show instead of returning to London.
[Brian receiving flowers from a fan outside the hotel -- undated from Japan, 1985]
Brian is hooked on scuba diving these days, and injures a finger on his left hand after coming into contact with some coral while diving in Australia the previous month. Hearing that after-effects are common with coral-related injuries, he goes to several hospitals when he arrives in Japan. Naturally a worrier, Brian hears one day that there is a doctor in Okinawa that specializes in treating coral poisoning, and says that he wants to go to Okinawa. [Okinawa is a tropical island about a 2.5 - 3 hour flight away from Tokyo.] Perhaps there is a connection to when Brian declared in January 2019 that he wanted to preserve the beautiful coral reef ecosystem when he voiced his opposition to the Henoko military base there.
Meanwhile, Roger, John, and Freddie start going clubbing every night starting this night. Packing in clubs and discos in Shinjuku, Akasaka and Roppongi every night, they would typically party until 3 or 4 am.
Tuesday, May 7, 1985
Freddie and Roger go out shopping, while Brian has a magazine interview, shopping, and a hospital visit. John is hungover and gets some rest. At night, John and Roger go to Roppongi’s Lexington Queen (well known to Western musicians) and then to Minami Aoyama TOKIO. Freddie has an interview and heads to the gay district in Shinjuku. Brian visits a friend’s place.
Wednesday, May 8, 1985
After the show, Roger, John, and Brian go to the Fuji TV’s studios and appear on the music show Yoru no Hitto Sutajio and promote their remaining upcoming shows.
[The female TV host says, “Oh my, they’re not wearing makeup!” in Japanese seven seconds into the video. At the 17 second mark, the male host mentions they came here just after their show at the Budokan. The female host then interjects, “Kao..!” but doesn’t finish. Kao means “face.” It’s pretty clear that she got Queen confused with Kiss.]
[I think this clip is well known for John not getting flowers. The male host, Jun Inoue, explains to him, “This was a sudden decision, and we only have two, so please don’t be jealous, please don’t be jealous.” And as John starts to bow, the host says, “He understands, he understands, thanks.”
After this TV appearance, they head to an izakaya in Roppongi, and then to Lexington Queen. Brian heads back to the hotel at 1 am but Roger and John continue going to one more club and disco.
Thursday, May 9, 1985
After this day’s show, Toshiba EMI hosts a social at the Roppongi steakhouse Serina. Brian returns to the hotel afterwards, but the other three go clubbing.
Friday, May 10, 1985
Freddie likes the brand Arrston Volaju by Japanese fashion designer Koshin Satoh. A cutting-edge brand loved also by the likes of Miles Davis and Andy Warhol, Freddie wears a shirt by that brand on the back sleeve of Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow. On this day, he heads out to the Arrston Volaju store in Nishi Azabu, and also goes shopping at the JUN Boutique in Roppongi.
[Arrston Volaju shirt]
[Freddie fan shot in Nishi Azabu from this day, and a photo of him in JUN by that same fan.]
John has a magazine interview, and Freddie and Roger go shopping. Brian goes to another hospital for coral poisoning, and then goes to the Aoyama Recording School in Shibuya as a special guest instructor, and conducts a guitar seminar. The school’s alumni include Yoshiki, Toshi, and others, and past guest lecturers have included REM, Bon Jovi, and Stevie Wonder. After leading a seminar for about 30 students, he goes out for Chinese food to celebrate his wife’s birthday.
[Brian at the Aoyama Recording School]
Saturday, May 11, 1985 - Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyogi-jo Dai Ichi Taiikukan
[This show is televised on the NHK TV show Yangu Myujikku Sho (Young Music Show), and a longer version is broadcast on NHK-FM. After Freddie’s death, it later becomes the Japan-only release, We Are the Champions ~Final Live in Japan.]
After this night’s concert, Freddie dines on Chinese food in Roppongi. The other members go to a party in a suite room used by Roger at Hotel New Otani. Afterwards, they go to the Lexington Queen in Roppongi as usual, and have fun on their final night in Tokyo.
[Roger outside his hotel, and/or in Akasaka]
[John outside the Lexington Queen]
Sunday, May 12, 1985
The band travels to Nagoya and checks in at the Nagoya Kanko Hotel. At night, there is a games tournament in Freddie’s room. The Queen team faces off against the staff team, and the game is played by winning points by answering the other team’s questions correctly. The staff team does exceptionally well.
Monday, May 13, 1985 - Aichi-ken Taiikukan
After the concert and back at the hotel, the members have another game tournament in Freddie’s room. Although the group enjoys going out, they spend a quiet night in Nagoya.
Tuesday, May 14, 1985
The band travels to Osaka, and after each member finishes up shopping, they have a dinner party at a Korean-style BBQ restaurant in Umeda. Freddie goes from table to table, taking commemorative photos with his Polaroid camera. The dinner party is followed up with going to discos and clubs in Shinsaibashi.
Wednesday, May 15, 1985 - Osakajo Hall
After the concert, they have a final dinner with their manager at a Chinese restaurant in Umeda. That evening, Freddie heads out into town, while Roger, John, and Brian have a drinking party at the hotel bar. Later on, they have a coaster-throwing contest with the servers, and enjoy their final night in Japan.
[Story from an interview with Itami-san, Freddie’s personal bodyguard every time he was in Japan: “When we were gathered at the Plaza Hotel in Osaka, Freddie decided that he wouldn’t go out today. I happened to see Roger in the lobby, who said, ‘I’m going to head out for a bit,’ so I decided to join him. We headed out into town, had some beers, and then came back to the hotel. Then, one of the staff members comes to me and says, ‘Itami-san, Freddie was looking for you. Apparently he wanted to go out.’ I thought to myself, ‘This is bad!’ And it turns out that when I came back to the hotel with Roger and his bodyguard, Freddie saw us from the hotel cafe. I went to apologize, but Freddie did not smile back. The next day was their last day, but Freddie wouldn’t even look at me. <strained laugh> Oh boy, I had made a big mistake. The following year, when Freddie came to Japan on his own, he gifted me a Japanese sword, probably because he knew I practised kendo. So, maybe our relationship was repaired with that gesture, haha.”]
Thursday, May 16, 1985
Each member does some last-minute shopping before boarding their afternoon flights to London.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Works is Queen’s first album with Toshiba EMI after switching from Warner Pioneer. Ten fans were chosen by lottery to meet the band backstage. There were no such events on the previous five tours in Japan, showing the new record company’s extraordinary ambition.
- The media at the time reviewed the concerts positively, but I [the writer of these Tour Diary notes] saw them in person on May 15 and definitely do not share these sentiments. Freddie was like a one-man army, whereas the other three’s performances lacked energy and cohesiveness. Of course, the band would deny rumours of their split up in interviews, but having watched them in Osaka, I felt that even if they didn’t split up, a long break seemed likely. Indeed, there were no activities scheduled after the Japan shows, and had it not been for Live Aid 2.5 months later, they truly may have taken a long break.
-Roger and Freddie are scheduled to do an interview with Music Life magazine, but Roger complains of stomachaches and postpones, so the interview proceeds with Freddie only. In the evening, the Music Life staff run into Roger in the hotel lobby. Both of Roger’s arms are full of shopping bags from the Kiddyland store.
- [1985 MTV Japan promo clip]
- [Part of an interview taken from a show called Popper’s MTV, broadcast late at night in 1985]
- [Magazine ad from 1985]
[the end]
Most of the text is a direct translation from Japanese by me from the 2019 book Queen Live Tour in Japan 1975-1985, which has notes originally published by Music Life magazine 1985. Some other information comes from recent interviews in another Japanese publication, Queen in Japan (2020), as well as Japanese magazines, plus other Japanese sources online. I try to find relevant photos to match the tour diary, but it’s not meant to be exhaustive.
Text in brackets [like this] are my own comments or taken from sources outside of the Tour Diaries.
1984 promo tour
In the last Tour Diary, I said I would also include stuff from 1984, when Roger and John did a series of magazine and TV interviews in Japan. I ended up doing a separate thread for 1984 in the Newspapers and Magazines section instead:
queenchat.boards.net/thread/1059/roger-john-works-promotional-japan
Monday, May 6, 1985
Brian, Roger, and Freddie arrive at Narita International Airport and head to the Hotel New Otani [most other sources say Hotel Okura]. John is already in Tokyo, having chosen to come here on April 30 after their Sydney show instead of returning to London.
[Brian receiving flowers from a fan outside the hotel -- undated from Japan, 1985]
Brian is hooked on scuba diving these days, and injures a finger on his left hand after coming into contact with some coral while diving in Australia the previous month. Hearing that after-effects are common with coral-related injuries, he goes to several hospitals when he arrives in Japan. Naturally a worrier, Brian hears one day that there is a doctor in Okinawa that specializes in treating coral poisoning, and says that he wants to go to Okinawa. [Okinawa is a tropical island about a 2.5 - 3 hour flight away from Tokyo.] Perhaps there is a connection to when Brian declared in January 2019 that he wanted to preserve the beautiful coral reef ecosystem when he voiced his opposition to the Henoko military base there.
Meanwhile, Roger, John, and Freddie start going clubbing every night starting this night. Packing in clubs and discos in Shinjuku, Akasaka and Roppongi every night, they would typically party until 3 or 4 am.
Tuesday, May 7, 1985
Freddie and Roger go out shopping, while Brian has a magazine interview, shopping, and a hospital visit. John is hungover and gets some rest. At night, John and Roger go to Roppongi’s Lexington Queen (well known to Western musicians) and then to Minami Aoyama TOKIO. Freddie has an interview and heads to the gay district in Shinjuku. Brian visits a friend’s place.
Wednesday, May 8, 1985
After the show, Roger, John, and Brian go to the Fuji TV’s studios and appear on the music show Yoru no Hitto Sutajio and promote their remaining upcoming shows.
[The female TV host says, “Oh my, they’re not wearing makeup!” in Japanese seven seconds into the video. At the 17 second mark, the male host mentions they came here just after their show at the Budokan. The female host then interjects, “Kao..!” but doesn’t finish. Kao means “face.” It’s pretty clear that she got Queen confused with Kiss.]
[I think this clip is well known for John not getting flowers. The male host, Jun Inoue, explains to him, “This was a sudden decision, and we only have two, so please don’t be jealous, please don’t be jealous.” And as John starts to bow, the host says, “He understands, he understands, thanks.”
After this TV appearance, they head to an izakaya in Roppongi, and then to Lexington Queen. Brian heads back to the hotel at 1 am but Roger and John continue going to one more club and disco.
Thursday, May 9, 1985
After this day’s show, Toshiba EMI hosts a social at the Roppongi steakhouse Serina. Brian returns to the hotel afterwards, but the other three go clubbing.
Friday, May 10, 1985
Freddie likes the brand Arrston Volaju by Japanese fashion designer Koshin Satoh. A cutting-edge brand loved also by the likes of Miles Davis and Andy Warhol, Freddie wears a shirt by that brand on the back sleeve of Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow. On this day, he heads out to the Arrston Volaju store in Nishi Azabu, and also goes shopping at the JUN Boutique in Roppongi.
[Arrston Volaju shirt]
[Freddie fan shot in Nishi Azabu from this day, and a photo of him in JUN by that same fan.]
John has a magazine interview, and Freddie and Roger go shopping. Brian goes to another hospital for coral poisoning, and then goes to the Aoyama Recording School in Shibuya as a special guest instructor, and conducts a guitar seminar. The school’s alumni include Yoshiki, Toshi, and others, and past guest lecturers have included REM, Bon Jovi, and Stevie Wonder. After leading a seminar for about 30 students, he goes out for Chinese food to celebrate his wife’s birthday.
[Brian at the Aoyama Recording School]
Saturday, May 11, 1985 - Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyogi-jo Dai Ichi Taiikukan
[This show is televised on the NHK TV show Yangu Myujikku Sho (Young Music Show), and a longer version is broadcast on NHK-FM. After Freddie’s death, it later becomes the Japan-only release, We Are the Champions ~Final Live in Japan.]
After this night’s concert, Freddie dines on Chinese food in Roppongi. The other members go to a party in a suite room used by Roger at Hotel New Otani. Afterwards, they go to the Lexington Queen in Roppongi as usual, and have fun on their final night in Tokyo.
[Roger outside his hotel, and/or in Akasaka]
[John outside the Lexington Queen]
Sunday, May 12, 1985
The band travels to Nagoya and checks in at the Nagoya Kanko Hotel. At night, there is a games tournament in Freddie’s room. The Queen team faces off against the staff team, and the game is played by winning points by answering the other team’s questions correctly. The staff team does exceptionally well.
Monday, May 13, 1985 - Aichi-ken Taiikukan
After the concert and back at the hotel, the members have another game tournament in Freddie’s room. Although the group enjoys going out, they spend a quiet night in Nagoya.
Tuesday, May 14, 1985
The band travels to Osaka, and after each member finishes up shopping, they have a dinner party at a Korean-style BBQ restaurant in Umeda. Freddie goes from table to table, taking commemorative photos with his Polaroid camera. The dinner party is followed up with going to discos and clubs in Shinsaibashi.
Wednesday, May 15, 1985 - Osakajo Hall
After the concert, they have a final dinner with their manager at a Chinese restaurant in Umeda. That evening, Freddie heads out into town, while Roger, John, and Brian have a drinking party at the hotel bar. Later on, they have a coaster-throwing contest with the servers, and enjoy their final night in Japan.
[Story from an interview with Itami-san, Freddie’s personal bodyguard every time he was in Japan: “When we were gathered at the Plaza Hotel in Osaka, Freddie decided that he wouldn’t go out today. I happened to see Roger in the lobby, who said, ‘I’m going to head out for a bit,’ so I decided to join him. We headed out into town, had some beers, and then came back to the hotel. Then, one of the staff members comes to me and says, ‘Itami-san, Freddie was looking for you. Apparently he wanted to go out.’ I thought to myself, ‘This is bad!’ And it turns out that when I came back to the hotel with Roger and his bodyguard, Freddie saw us from the hotel cafe. I went to apologize, but Freddie did not smile back. The next day was their last day, but Freddie wouldn’t even look at me. <strained laugh> Oh boy, I had made a big mistake. The following year, when Freddie came to Japan on his own, he gifted me a Japanese sword, probably because he knew I practised kendo. So, maybe our relationship was repaired with that gesture, haha.”]
Thursday, May 16, 1985
Each member does some last-minute shopping before boarding their afternoon flights to London.
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Works is Queen’s first album with Toshiba EMI after switching from Warner Pioneer. Ten fans were chosen by lottery to meet the band backstage. There were no such events on the previous five tours in Japan, showing the new record company’s extraordinary ambition.
- The media at the time reviewed the concerts positively, but I [the writer of these Tour Diary notes] saw them in person on May 15 and definitely do not share these sentiments. Freddie was like a one-man army, whereas the other three’s performances lacked energy and cohesiveness. Of course, the band would deny rumours of their split up in interviews, but having watched them in Osaka, I felt that even if they didn’t split up, a long break seemed likely. Indeed, there were no activities scheduled after the Japan shows, and had it not been for Live Aid 2.5 months later, they truly may have taken a long break.
-Roger and Freddie are scheduled to do an interview with Music Life magazine, but Roger complains of stomachaches and postpones, so the interview proceeds with Freddie only. In the evening, the Music Life staff run into Roger in the hotel lobby. Both of Roger’s arms are full of shopping bags from the Kiddyland store.
- [1985 MTV Japan promo clip]
- [Part of an interview taken from a show called Popper’s MTV, broadcast late at night in 1985]
- [Magazine ad from 1985]
[the end]
