Guitar Magazine December 2021 Feature: Shigeru Suzuki and Happy End Japanese

2021/11/12

[Feature]
Shigeru Suzuki and Happy End

50 years since "Kazemachi Roman".
An unforgettable 3 years that a genius guitarist walked.

A band consisting of Haruomi Hosono, Eiichi Otaki, Takashi Matsumoto, Shigeru Suzuki,
Happy End.
They built the foundation of Japanese rock in just three years of activity,
After the dissolution, each of them led Japanese pop music on the front line.
So to speak, it's a legendary band... so far, it's a famous story.
What this magazine wants to say out loud is
“Happy End is one of the best guitar bands in Japan”.
The main character of this issue is Shigeru Suzuki.
At the time of joining, he was only 17 years old. He was said to be a "genius guitar boy",
Vividly colored the world created by those individuality clumps.
This year marks 50 years since the band's masterpiece "Kazemachi Roman".
This magazine once again reaffirms the value of Happy End with a guitarist named Shigeru Suzuki,
We wanted to reconsider it in our own way.
Therefore, we carried out an unusual interview with Suzuki for more than 8 hours,
I decided to ask him to tell me everything about Happy End.
Shigeru Suzuki's strong passion and affection for Happy End,
I would appreciate it if you could read it while turning the pages.

■ Foreword

■ Special contribution: Haruomi Hosono

■ Shigeru Suzuki talks down three original works
Well, from here is the main feature of this special feature. We will ask him to look back on the three works "Happy End", "Kazemachi Roman", and "HAPPY END". While listening to all 31 songs again, I will talk about all the songs carefully.

・ "Happy End" commentary on all songs / phrase commentary
・ "Kazemachi Roman" commentary on all songs / phrase commentary
・ "HAPPY END" commentary on all songs / phrase commentary

■ New work "SKYE" and the future of Shigeru Suzuki.
"SKYE", the band that Shigeru Suzuki formed before Happy End, has released a debut album. In addition to original members Rei Ohara (b) and Tatsuo Hayashi (d), Caramel Mama's sworn friend Masataka Matsutoya (k) has joined. Everyone is a super important person in Japanese city pop, and it is the birth of a large rookie band. Let's hear your thoughts on the new album, which includes country, rock'n'roll, and mellow ballads with an exquisitely urban feel. He also talked about his future musical activities.

■Column: Reunion Live and “Rain City”

■Column: The charm of the rearrangement and the recommended performance that can be enjoyed on the live album.

■ Shigeru Suzuki's good work when he was a member of Happy End!
Here, we will introduce the gem session work that Shigeru Suzuki, who is currently enrolled in Happy End, participated in. Starting with Nobuyasu Okabayashi and Enken, who have supported the band since its early days, we have picked up a number of masterpieces that are still loved by many people!

■Column: 3 Happy End singles

■ Shigeru Suzuki's favorite equipment
From here on, the equipment that Shigeru Suzuki used during his Happy End era is divided into three albums: "Happy End" (1970), "Kazemachi Roman" (1971), and "HAPPY END" (1973). I will introduce. Unfortunately, there are many pieces of equipment that no longer exist, but I was able to take special measurements of my 1965 Firebird V and 1969 Telecaster, which I have owned for nearly 50 years and continue to use with great care. . Be sure to check out the string height settings and precious internal photos.

A visit to Shigeru Suzuki's latest live equipment

■ GM SELECTION (* Not included in the electronic version)
・"Haikara Hakuchi" Happy End
・"Hanaichimonme" Happy End
・"Sketch of Hyougetsu" Happy End

STUFF "Live At Montreux 1976" "Episode Zero" of the craftsman group
Formed in the mid-1970s, the crew released 3 studio albums and 2 live albums before disbanding in the early 1980s. It was an expert group of super-selling studio musicians, but when you opened the lid, it was a familiar R&B sound that attracted music fans from all over the world, including the United States (especially the East Coast). "Live At Montreux 1976", which was discovered in 2008, is a live sound source and video just before their album debut, and it is exactly like an "R&B instrumental band fronted by twin guitars". Before winter arrives, let's get your heart pumping with two virtuosos, Cornell Dupree and Eric Gale!

■ Encounter with an unknown sound 20 irregular tunings in a row!
The standard tuning for the guitar is lined up with [EADGBE] from the 6th string. However, since ancient times, many irregular tunings have been used in the rock world, and even today, advanced players continue to create their own tuning styles. This feature is a data-based project that introduces a wide range of variations of such irregular tunings, from standard open tunings to modal, drop, and innovative alternatives. Now, let's jump into the profound world of irregular tuning with this special feature as a guide. You're sure to encounter an unknown sound!

■ Roland GR-500/GS-500 Japan's first vintage guitar synth
Have you heard of Roland's GR-500/GS-500 guitar synthesizer? A so-called guitar synthesizer in which a guitar-shaped controller (GS-500) is connected to the synthesizer's tone generator (GR-500) to manipulate the sound. It is a model that should be called the founder of This time, let's take a closer look at the complicated mechanism of the GR-500/GS-500, which was born in Japan in the 70's.

■ INTERVIEW
・Tom Misch

■PICK UP
・Ken Stratocaster Galaxy Red 2021
・FINAL FANTASY XIV Stratocaster
・IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-GEAR series

■ Serialization
・My Boss/Kana (CHAI)
・Toshi Yajima's LONDON RHAPSODY
・Galaxy to Galaxy Vol.1: Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers)
・Workshop Path Gitamaga branch office
・Sequel to Ken Yokoyama ・Sweet Little Blues
・I did it again with a 9mm waterfall ~From the waterfall workshop in the world
・Opening Act / Hiroto Mori

GM FINGER-BOARDS
・Aoshi Sakiyama's "Encounter with the Unknown"
・"Somewhere Not Here" by Mark Speer (Kruangbin)
・Songster
・Kyoto and East-West Cutting Expert Retsuden
・Mahogani Wood Exploration
・ The world of guitar performance that you can admire with pictograms
・Pedal Dig monthly report
・Jacqueen!
・My heart's favorite listening board. / 1st: Corey Wong
・Soreyuke! Gitamaga Detective Song

■ NEW PRODUCTS REVIEW
FENDER/REDONDO MINI
MICHAEL KELLY GUITARS/FORTE PORT KOA
TRAVELER GUITAR/ULTRA-LIGHT ACOUSTIC STANDARD (GLOSS BLACK)
IK MULTIMEDIA/AMPLITUBE X-DRIVE

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