Monday, October 11, 2021

㊙️ ๐๐‹๐€๐‚๐„๐๐Ž ๐ˆ๐ ๐‰๐€๐๐€๐...


๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐˜ฟ๐™ง๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™ ๐™š๐™ฃ ๐˜ผ๐™—๐™ช๐™จ๐™š. ๐™‚๐™ง๐™ค๐™ช๐™ฅ ๐™ข๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ช๐™ง๐™—๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ. ๐™๐™–๐™ฌ ๐™ข๐™š๐™–๐™ฉ. ๐™‚๐™–๐™ฎ ๐™ฅ๐™ค๐™ง๐™ฃ.๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

๐ผ๐‘› 2001, ๐‘ƒ๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘’๐‘๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘”๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ฆ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ ๐‘๐‘ฆ ๐‘ก๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘‡๐‘œ๐‘˜๐‘ฆ๐‘œ ๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘‚๐‘๐‘’๐‘› ๐ด๐‘–๐‘Ÿ ๐ธ๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐พ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘”! ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘š ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘’ ๐‘‘๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ๐‘ .

๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘’ ๐‘‘๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ๐‘  ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘“๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘, ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘œ ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘ง๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘๐‘ฆ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘’, ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘’, ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘’๐‘๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘›๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘๐‘ฆ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐ฝ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘œ๐‘๐‘™๐‘’. ๐ต๐‘ข๐‘ก, โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ... ๐‘–๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘ƒ๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘’๐‘๐‘œ ! ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘’๐‘ค ๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘“๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘›๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘™๐‘™! ๐ป๐‘œ๐‘ค ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘ข๐‘ฆ๐‘  ! ๐Ÿ˜Š

๐ผ๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘’๐‘š๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘ค๐‘œ ๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘๐‘ก๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘’๐‘ค. ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘“๐‘ข๐‘› ๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘—๐‘œ๐‘˜๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘š๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘ ๐‘œ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ'๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”. ๐ถ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘๐‘ก ๐‘™๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘‘ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘š ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘ .
๐ธ๐‘›๐‘—๐‘œ๐‘ฆ !

Photo credit: Pat Pope, edit by Laetitia

๐Ÿ”ป ๐Ÿ”ป ๐Ÿ”ป ๐Ÿ”ป

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ ๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐Ž๐๐„ ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

๐Ÿ”ธPlacebo frontman Brian Molkos loud, drunken proclamation is a great source of amusement to me and ๐‘ฒ๐’†๐’“๐’“๐’‚๐’๐’ˆ! ๐‘ท๐’‰๐’๐’•๐’๐’ˆ๐’“๐’‚๐’‘๐’‰๐’†๐’“, ๐‘ท๐’‚๐’• ๐‘ท๐’๐’‘๐’†. It's not, however, so mirthsome to several hundred Virgin Atlantic passengers who are attempting to sleep.

We're nearing the end of a flight from London to Tokyo and it's eight in the morning, Japanese time. The jet lag involved on such a journey is notoriously vicious - a fact which Molko clearly ignored as he consumed several glasses of red wine, one beer and, far more damagingly, some dodgy Spanish sleeping pills.

"๐ป๐‘’๐‘™๐‘™๐‘œ ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘™๐‘–๐‘’๐‘ ! ๐‘Šโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘๐‘’๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”?!" roars Molko at the rows of eye-masked, blanket-draped travellers, who were hoping to catch some sleep in this darkened cabin.

A stewardess hurries through the aisle towards us.

"๐‘Œ๐‘œ๐‘ข'๐‘™๐‘™ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘˜๐‘’๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ฃ๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘ค๐‘›, ๐‘†๐‘–๐‘Ÿ", she tells Brian."๐‘ƒ๐‘’๐‘œ๐‘๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ ๐‘™๐‘’๐‘’๐‘".

Molko slaps a hand over his mouth, looking genuinely repentant.

"๐น**๐‘˜", he whispers, as the stewardess heads off. "๐ผ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘”๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘ค๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘’. ๐ผ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ค๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘!"

Sixty seconds later, however, Molko is back up to full volume as he notes that long-running Eastenders character Pauline Fowler hasnt had a cock up her fanny in 20 years! No wonder she's got problems'!

Brian Molko started this flight with his tour manager and bandmates in Premium Economy class, which is situated between Business and Economy. He subsequently wandered through to Business class, where he was ejected for excessively foolish behaviour.

Holding my hand, he further claims that he was caught smoking in the lavatory, but managed to avoid the fine by handing a stewardess a signed copy of Placebo's latest album ๐‘ฉ๐’๐’‚๐’„๐’Œ ๐‘ด๐’‚๐’“๐’Œ๐’†๐’• ๐‘ด๐’–๐’”๐’Š๐’„. This claim is, in all likelihood, boozy bollocks.

As Molko's slurred babbling continues, his press officer, Jakob, starts getting worried. He warns Brian that the plane's staff may have him arrested when we hit Tokyo.

"๐ฟ๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘š ๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘’", shrugs Molko. "๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘Ÿ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘‘, ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘“๐‘–๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ฆ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”. ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘› ๐ผ'๐‘š ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก, ๐ผ'๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘š, '๐‘๐‘’๐‘ฅ๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘๐‘˜ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘“๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ฆ'๐‘  ๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ , ๐‘—๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘”๐‘–๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™'."

You get the impression that Tokyo is about to experience yet another Godzilla interface.


๐Ÿ”ธDespite Brian Molko's repeated insistence that we all have to go shopping as soon as we arrive, he isn't destined to join us. We last spot him standing in the immigration queue, with eyes not unlike piss-holes in the snow. He is, however, still grinning.

Brian Molko displays cheery facial features with surprising regularity, even when stone cold sober. It's surprising, because the frontman has long been associated with scowling, tantrums, arrogance and cattily blowing cigarette smoke in people's faces.

Still, he has a lot to be happy about on this trip. Japan is a treat in many ways, whether you're a gourmet gadget-freak or simply a fan of ankle socks. Our hotel is placed in the Akasaka district, which is dominated by straight-looking business buildings and initially looks relatively un-Japanese, save the cigarette and drink vending machines that line the streets.

At around 7 p.m., band and Kerrang! convene in our hotel's bar. Shockingly, Molko has a demeanour bordering on the sheepish. He laughs as he proclaims himself a silly c**t for his plane antics, while bassist Stefan Olsdal, drummer Steve Hewitt, keyboardist Bill Lloyd and diamond geezer tour manager Steve Chapman rip the piss.

"๐ผ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘œ๐‘“๐‘“ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘™๐‘  ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘๐‘™๐‘’๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘™๐‘ฆ", admits Stefan.

"๐ผ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘๐‘™๐‘’๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘–๐‘”๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข", deadpans Hewitt grumpily. "๐ผ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐ต๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘๐‘˜๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข. ๐ผ'๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’."

To add to Molko's humiliation, he has lost his wallet, containing his cash and credit cards, which we initially interpret as an attempt to avoid getting a round in. In the hotel foyer, sits a fan with spiky green hair. The band have met him before on their previous two visits to this country. Stefan strangely refers to him as Blue Boy.

"๐ป๐‘–๐‘  โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘๐‘™๐‘ข๐‘’ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ ๐‘œ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘”, โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘’๐‘ฅ๐‘๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ . ๐ผ ๐‘ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘˜๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘š ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘’๐‘Ÿ, ๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘˜๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ค โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘˜๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ค ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘โ„Ž โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘™ ๐‘ค๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘›. ๐ด๐‘›๐‘‘ โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘‘๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘Ž ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘‘ ๐ผ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”."

As we head out of the bar, two smiling female fans almost eerily emerge from behind a pillar. Molko smiles back and signs their copies of Black Market Music.

"๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ'๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘’ โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’", he grins.


๐Ÿ”ธProstitues stand on most corners of Akasaka's neon-splashed streets. Smartly dressed, they hardly exude sleaze.

"๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’'๐‘  ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘š ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘š๐‘’", says Molko as we stroll. "๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘ž๐‘ข๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”. ๐ผ ๐‘š๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘‘๐‘š๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘Ž... ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘  ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐ด๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘› p๐‘’๐‘œ๐‘๐‘™๐‘’".

Despite being single right now, following the recent end of a two-year relationship. Molko claims he doesn't intend to canoodle during Placebo's Japanese stay.

"๐ถ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘‘๐‘™๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘“๐‘“๐‘–๐‘๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘ก โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’.", he explains.

"๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘“๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ค๐‘›๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ข๐‘๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘Š๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘› ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ก๐‘œ๐‘ค๐‘› ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘” ๐ฝ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘›. ๐ผ๐‘“ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘œ๐‘๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘˜ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘™ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘š, ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ฆ ๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ค ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ข๐‘."

You've experienced this first-hand?

"๐ผ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’, ๐‘ฆ๐‘’๐‘ . ๐ผ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ ๐‘‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘˜ ๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘š๐‘’. ๐ผ๐‘ก ๐‘›๐‘’๐‘๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘Ž โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”-๐‘–๐‘›-๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’-๐‘๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘›."

Disappointingly on the culinary front, we finally descend on an Italian restaurant.

Reasons Molko: "๐ผ๐‘“ ๐‘ค๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘œ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘Ž ๐ฝ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘Ž ๐ฝ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘›, ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’'๐‘  ๐‘›๐‘œ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐‘ค๐‘’'๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ค๐‘’'๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”."

A major part of the culture shock here is generated by the totally alien language, both verbally and written. Whereas in France or Germany, you might recognise part of a word and work it out, Japanese symbols and spoken word is impenetrable to all but those who have studied it for some time. While few Japanese restaurants seem to include photographs of the meal - or even three-dimensional plastic replicas - for tourists to cautiously point at.

Over dinner, conversation is casual enough, with all present raving about the movies Goodfellas and Casino. Molko asks about bands of the moment and professes a liking for Queens of the Stone Age.

Doesn't he wish he'd thought of the drug shopping-list lyrics of 'Feel Good Hit of the Summer'?

"๐‘Œ๐‘’๐‘ ", he smirks.

Photo credit: Pat Pope

Another surprising thing about Brian Molko is that, unlike many people in bands, he actually seems to listen. Good God, he even asks questions based on what you've just said. Quite remarkable.

The meal costs us - or more specifically the band's press officer, Jakob - £180. Being vaguely lubricated with booze by now, we head off in search of one of Tokyo's many karaoke bars. These things are apparently big business, but our search proves fruitless. We take tiny lifts up into one building, only to find that the karaoke bar has closed. As one set of life doors close on Molko, myself and snapper Pope, the frontman cries out to his bandmates left behind.

"๐ท๐‘œ๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘™๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘กโ„Ž ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘Ž!"

The hearty laughter confirms that Molko has finally come to terms with the press and become more comfortable with it.

We enter an up-and-running karaoke bar, only to leave shortly after arriving. It seems that the place isn't communal.

"๐‘Š๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘‘ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘Ž ๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘š", explains the singer. "๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘‘ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ข๐‘  ๐‘‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘˜๐‘  ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘ค๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘‘ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘โ„Ž ๐‘œ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ."

To the nearest pub it is, then. And a pub it quite literally turns out to be, because - after a good 15 minutes wandering around and finding places shut - we shame-facedly settle on an English-style bar called 'The Hobgoblin'.

The moment we go in, the volume of pissed-up chatter is gratingly apparent, after the relatively hushed tones of the Japanese. People are throwing darts and talking loudly, while an English football game plays on TV.

"๐ฝ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘˜๐‘’ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’", grins Brian ruefully. "๐‘Š๐‘’'๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘ค๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘“๐‘“ ๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’ '๐‘œโ„Ž-๐‘š๐‘ฆ-๐บ๐‘œ๐‘‘-๐‘–๐‘ก'๐‘ -๐‘Ÿ๐‘ข๐‘๐‘๐‘–๐‘ โ„Ž' ๐‘’๐‘ฅ๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘’๐‘›๐‘๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘”๐‘œ ๐‘Ž๐‘“๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘˜, ๐‘ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘ค๐‘’?"

Yes. For some reason, however, we end up staying for at least two rounds, as conversation flits through fake breasts (something about how the saline solution in them can leak), Dogme95 films like 'The Idiots' and how ex-Judas Priest singer, Rob Halford allegedly fancies Brian.

"๐ป๐‘œ๐‘ค ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘“๐‘’๐‘’๐‘™, ๐‘€๐‘Ÿ ๐‘€๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘˜๐‘œ?

๐ท๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘๐‘’๐‘‘."


๐Ÿ”ธWhen we leave the bar, the streets of Akasaka are deserted, save an endless stream of taxi cabs with no passengers in them. Weird.

Back at the hotel, Blue Boy is no longer waiting in the foyer - even hardcore fans clearly have their limits.

We set up camp in the press officer's hotel room, fish some beers from the mini-bar and commence that deeply unfortunate all-male ritual: scoring the pay TV channels for porn.

"๐ผ๐‘“ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘”๐‘’๐‘ก๐‘  โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ก", says Brian, "๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘ค๐‘’ ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘š? ๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘ค๐‘œ ๐‘š๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘ ."

"๐‘ƒ๐‘’๐‘Ÿโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘  ๐‘ค๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘‘ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘–๐‘Ÿ๐‘๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘—๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘˜", offers Stefan, probably not referring to a member of the veteran US punk combo.

When we find porn in the shape of an American movie named 'Complicity', it's of the no close-ups variety. Only the first five minutes are free of charge, but we keep it going anyway.

"๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ ๐‘ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘‘ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘› ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘ ", complains Stefan as yet another female head bobs up and down at the bottom of the screen. "๐‘Šโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘š ๐ผ ๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘‘๐‘œ ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘กโ„Ž ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘ ? ๐ผ๐‘“ ๐ผ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘’ ๐‘Ž ๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘๐‘˜ ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘“๐‘–๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘  ๐ผ'๐‘š ๐‘™๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”."

More beer is drunk - thankfully we don't manage to find the spirits drawer above the mini-bar - and things get hazy as we watch a parade of interminable Japanese pop bands on TV.

"๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ค๐‘’'๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘๐‘’๐‘ก๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘กโ„Ž?", says Brian incredulously, as the jangling nonsense drones on...



๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ ๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐“๐–๐Ž ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

๐Ÿ”ธThis is promo day for Placebo, which involves sitting in their record company's building being quizzed and photographed for six hours straight.

By 5pm, more cracks are showing in certain members of the band, than in others.

In a sealed-off room, the trio are facing cameras for a Japanese TV music show. While Molko is a picture of professional behaviour, Steve Hewitt is less amenable.

Asked how Placebo got together, the drummer claims that they met in a Sumo wrestling club - "๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘ ๐‘’, โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ๐‘ , ๐‘ค๐‘’'๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘›."

The most withering moment comes when the interviewer asks what made Placebo start their first tour of 2001 in Japan.

"๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘‘๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘’", replies the drummer blithely, before Brian sweeps in and answers the question nicely. Thank the Lord.

This evening, we commit yet another cardinal sin by drinking solely in the bar of our hotel, Placebo are knackered and plagued by the ever-present jet-lag, which makes you feel like you're not entirely in the right dimension and guarantees waking up at around 6 a.m. The Tokyo show is tomorrow night and they are cautious about burnout.

So we sit for hours, learning that Molko found his wallet under his bed where he drunkenly kicked it, and talking about the late INXS frontman, Michael Hutchence ("๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐ผ ๐‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘š ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘  "๐น**๐‘˜ ๐‘œ๐‘“๐‘“ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘**๐‘ก", remembers Molko fondly) and toilet doors being broken down on cocaine users.

While Molko inevitably takes centre stage even in bar chats, it's generally because he has interesting stuff to say rather than because he demands such status or talks over others. Stefan tends to sit and listen with a faint smile on his face, occasionally throwing in witty comments which sometimes get lost in the mlรŽe due to the quietness of his voice. Steve, on the other hand, adopts something of a protective charade, often attempting to intimidate with a comical fixed stare. Challenge him, however, and he tends to laugh like a drain.

The topic of tomorrow night show keeps cropping up. It is, after all, their first gig in months.

"๐‘Šโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘™๐‘’ ๐ผ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘  โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘’๐‘’ ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘’๐‘Ÿ", says Brian, "๐ผ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘š๐‘’๐‘š๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘‘๐‘ . ๐น๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ 17 ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘”๐‘ ".

Is there any chance at all that Placebo might be as ropy as f**k?

"๐‘๐‘œ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ", protests Hewitt. "๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘Ž ๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ'๐‘  ๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘Ÿ๐‘ก-๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ฅ".

The evening is relatively subdued. At one point, Molko succeeds in getting the bar's management to change the music.

"๐‘ƒโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘™ ๐ถ๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘™๐‘–๐‘›๐‘  ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘š๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘–๐‘๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘’", he explains to a smiling barman, while munching on some steak cubes. "๐ป๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘ข๐‘  ๐‘›๐‘Ž๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ ".

Collins' sonic twattery is promptly replaced by Janet Jackson's. Time for bed.

Photo credit: Pat Pope

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ ๐ƒ๐€๐˜ ๐“๐‡๐‘๐„๐„ ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

๐Ÿ”ธJapan is currently in the process of rebuilding a shattered economy - a fact that surely contributes to 365,000 citizens killing themselves every year. Stefan calculates that this works out as one per minute. It doesn't quite, but it's scary enough. To put it into perspective. The Samaritans latest figures suggest that around 6,700 people committed suicide in the UK and Ireland in 1998.

Japan's people are hoping that their imminent new president will speed up the process of restoring the country to its former financial glory.

Unfortunately, a knackered economy doesn't mean things become cheaper. Companies simply make less products and up their prices. This could have something to do with today's lunch in the hotel's priciest restaurant coming to an obscene £500 for five people.

"๐‘‚โ„Ž, ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘›๐‘๐‘’", laughs Molko as dishes and bowls are brought out. "๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘‘ ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘’๐‘ฅ๐‘๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘™ ๐‘ค๐‘’'๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘’๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘‘."

Eating Japanese is a tricky business. There's a fair degree of hesitation involved - you don't want to do the wrong thing.

Chuckles Brian, peering at wafer-thin slices of raw beef:

"๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘˜๐‘’, ๐ธ๐‘ฅ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘ข๐‘ , ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘‘๐‘œ ๐‘ค๐‘’ ๐‘‘๐‘œ ๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘ค?. ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’'๐‘  ๐‘›๐‘œ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐ผ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘ค."

Then the bowls of steaming broth are activated, and pennies start to drop. Sensing first-timers, one of the waiters explains everything. You take the beef slices and dip them into the bowls until cooked, then into various sauces, amid a frenzy of noodles, tofu chunks, vegetables and Kirin beer.

"๐‘‚โ„Ž ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘ค", exclaims Brian after his first mouthful. "๐ผ๐‘ก ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘‘๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ , โ„Ž๐‘ขโ„Ž?"

We start yapping about Japanese culture and its seedier underbelly. Foot fetishism, for a start.

"๐‘‡๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™๐‘ฆ, ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘› โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘™ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘–๐‘Ÿ ๐‘“๐‘’๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ, ๐‘ ๐‘œ ๐‘Ž ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ก โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘๐‘’๐‘›๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘”๐‘–๐‘ฃ๐‘’ โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘š๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘™๐‘“ ๐‘Ž ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘ก-๐‘—๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘˜", states Molko. "๐ผ'๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ก๐‘œ๐‘”๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘โ„Ž๐‘  ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘–๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘ž๐‘ข๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ".

Another bizarre tradition is allegedly the selling of schoolgirl's underwear from vending machines.

"๐ผ ๐‘Ž๐‘š ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘˜ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ'๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘ฆ๐‘กโ„Ž", says Molko. "๐ด๐‘๐‘๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘ฆ๐‘กโ„Ž, ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘™๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘’, ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘’๐‘ฅ๐‘๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘’".

As some confusing Japanese pickles arrive (which look like chocolate, but taste like fish, then beef) Placebo confess that they have yet to discover much of Tokyo's covert perversion.

"๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘™ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘’๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ฆ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘’๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ ", admits Brian. "๐ผ๐‘ก๐‘  ๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘โ„Ž ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘”๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘Ž๐‘™ ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘–๐‘ก'๐‘  โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘๐‘’. ๐ผ๐‘“ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘“๐‘–๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘Ÿ๐‘ก๐‘ฆ, ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘Ž ๐ฝ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘ข๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘กโ„Ž ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข, ๐‘ ๐‘œ ๐‘Ž) ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘”๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘๐‘๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘œ๐‘“๐‘“ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘) ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘Ž ๐‘‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘”๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘  ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘›. ๐ผ'๐‘š ๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’'๐‘  ๐‘‘๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘”๐‘’๐‘Ÿ โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’, ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘”๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘–๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘˜๐‘’๐‘๐‘ก ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘›. ๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘–๐‘ก ๐ต๐‘™๐‘ข๐‘’ ๐‘‰๐‘’๐‘™๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘ก".

As for drugs in Japan, you may as well stick to ginseng bottles during your stay.

"๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’'๐‘  ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘›๐‘œ ๐‘‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘ข๐‘” ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘’๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’", declares Molko. "๐ธ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘™๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘’๐‘š๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘๐‘™๐‘’๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘ข๐‘”-๐‘“๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘’".

"๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘Ž ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘“๐‘“๐‘’๐‘›๐‘๐‘’", notes Stefan. "๐ด๐‘  ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘‘, ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘“๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘’'๐‘  ๐‘“๐‘ข๐‘๐‘˜๐‘’๐‘‘".

That could well be Placebo's Tokyo mansions out of the window, then. What's their drug policy in 2001?

"๐‘„๐‘ข๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ฆ ๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘„๐‘ข๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ฆ", says Brian. "๐‘Šโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘’? ๐‘Œ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ 21 ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘˜๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘Ž๐‘‘'๐‘  ๐‘Ž ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘ก โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ. ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘Ž ๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘Ž๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘ ๐‘“๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘“๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘š ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘‘๐‘œ ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘™๐‘™, ๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘œ๐‘๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘“๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘œ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘ ".

"๐ด๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ก", pipes up Stefan, "๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข โ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘ก ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘˜๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž ๐‘ก๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ค".

Photo credit: Pat Pope

๐Ÿ”ธTonight's gig takes place at the On Air venue, in the busling Shibuya - a district which looks exactly as you'd expect Tokyo to look, complete with all the 'Blade Runner' trimmings besides floating cars. Placebo admirably spend all afternoon rehearsing on the venues stage. In fact, they spend too long rehearsing. By the time they take to the stage, Molko can feel his voice starting to weaken.

The 1,500-odd teenage fans present have paid £40 a ticket to see this, which only ups the pressure. Hopefully, they haven't paid an extra fee for the interesting locker system, in which kids seal away their possessions until after the show.

The big myth about Japanese audiences is that they are ludicrously reserved, but they bounce around like most audiences as Placebo hit the stage - save any kind of stage-diving activity.

As Stefan put it earlier:

"๐ผ๐‘“ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘˜ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ'๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘’, ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘™ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘ก๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘”๐‘ . ๐ด๐‘™๐‘™ ๐ผ ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘› โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ ๐‘–๐‘  ๐ต๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘›! ๐ต๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘›! ๐ธ๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘’! ๐ธ๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘’!".

Can't say that phrase audibly crops up, but there is a slightly weird low-level hum in-between tracks, which some bands might misinterpret as a lukewarm reaction.

Right now, Brian Molko is more worried about his voice falling apart. It finally does - not so you'd notice, but enough to force Placebo to cut their otherwise impressive set short by 20 minutes after Pure Morning. There's no Teenage Angst or Nancy Boy.

Placebo walk dejectedly back upstairs to their dressing room, which is on a balcony overlooking the venue. There they stay for a good half-hour. Anyone connected with them who ventures inside walks out with an awkward expression on their face.

Molko finally surfaces when the seemingly fulfilled fans have left. In an hour, we will go out for a low-key meal with the gig's promoters - who might well be pissed off with the abbreviated set but are clearly men of honour. Right now, the frontman is leaning on the balcony, visibly gutted. Down below, people are clearing up the rubbish.

"๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘ฆ ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’", โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ , ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘‘๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘“***๐‘˜๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘‘๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘› ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก. ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’๐‘›, ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข'๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”, ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘’๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘› ๐‘๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘“๐‘ข๐‘๐‘˜๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘”๐‘–๐‘”".

Bizarrely enough, this is the only tantrum Brian Molko has thrown in the last 72 hours. And, for once, you can hardly begrudge him it.

(๐พ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘”!, ๐‘€๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘โ„Ž 10, 2001)

๐Ÿ”ป ๐Ÿ”ป ๐Ÿ”ป ๐Ÿ”ป

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