Japanese Magazine IN ROCK
July 1995

INTERVIEWER: I heard Van Halen will support you at Wembley. They are one of the greatest bands in America. What did they say when you asked them to be the supporting act?!

JON: They just said "yes". Van Halen is a really great band. We are good friends. They are really nice.

INTERVIEWER: Do you think it will give your biggest rival a chance to invade the European Market?

JON: We are not rivals at all, we are just friends. But I think they are going to draw a big audience there. There's no competition between us. People always want to make us compete, but I don't think about it that Way. I just want to have great shows for as many people as possible.

INTERVIEWER: How were the live concerts in Japan?

JON: Great! We played more than 3 hours.

INTERVIEWER: 3 hours! The audience must be really excited!

JON: We didn't mean to play so long. But the shows and the audience were so great, and we couldn't stop playing! We really enjoyed it!

INTERVIEWER: When the show ends and you go back to backstage, what do you do?

JON: I said to the band "Let's get out of here", and we turned back to the stage... and then, I think we played about 12 songs after that....

INTERVIEWER: I heard you think of Alec sometimes.

JON: Yeah, Alec is a great guy. He's so sincere and he's the kind of guy who will take a bullet for his friends.

INTERVIEWER: Yeah, I heard from Alec that he will lie and do anything for you.... I think you are amohng the few really great rock stars, what is the key to success?

JON: Working hard, luck, and writing good songs. We don't play the kind of music that the masses prefer. All the popular songs are similar these days, aren't they? We keep on doing what we have been doing. There are various changes and ups and downs, but there are many bands that stick to what they are doing. For instance, "Guns 'n Roses" are still doing well as a big band...I definately believe that they have talent. Slash & Axl are a good team, so are Sebastian & Rachel of "Skid Row". Rachel is a good writer, and Sebastian is a big star....

INTERVIEWER: I heard that you went out for dinner with Tom Cruise?

JON: (laughing) Yeah, we did.

INTERVIEWER: Is there any plan for co-acting?

JON: No, it's just gossip. We just ate dinner together.

INTERVIEWER: Didn't you become shy when you were doing love scenes with such beautiful actresses?

JON: No (laughing)

INTERVIEWER: I heard you are going to donate to Kobe from the proceeds of the Japan Tour. How did you come up with that idea?

JON: I saw the scene of the earthquake in Kobe in TV. I have many friends and fans in Kobe, and they have been supporting us continuously. I wanted to do something for those people. I can't go there and dig with a shovel....so I wanted to send money instead of that.

From: LDesim@aol.com

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