USGKZ Interview Chapter4. Formation of the LARGE400

▶ Nowadays, the members of LARGE400 are scattered all over the place. Did you originally meet Uchi, the vocalist, in Osaka?

USGKZ: Yes, we actually met in Osaka. We were classmates at the music school. Also, NAN-CHANG, the drummer, was from the same class as well. Since we didn't have a bassist, we invited JUNKI, who was my childhood friend and had moved to Osaka, and that's how LARGE400 was formed.

▶ While SK8NIKS regularly performs, there was a period when LARGE400 wasn't that active. Was this because everyone was too busy after graduating from school to focus on the band?

USGKZ: After graduating from the music school, there was a period when Uchi moved to Tokyo, and the band became a long-distance thing. For about two years, we didn't perform at all. It wasn't a formal disbandment, but I did wonder if we were just going to stop like that. Then, after a long time, Uchi called me and invited me to perform again. I thought, "Why not?" So, that's how we resumed. At that time, there were no members other than Uchi and me. We tried to find new members, and Uchi had many friends in Tokyo. We had a performance at Shelter in Shimokitazawa with whoever happened to be available at the time. You know, there have been over 40 people who have stood on the stage as members of LARGE400.

▶ I had actually planned to ask about all the past members today, but I guess that's impossible (laughs).

USGKZ: Yeah, it's quite impossible (laughs).

▶ I remember seeing LARGE400 at Nishi-Ogikubo Watts(西荻ワッツ), probably during the event named " PING!PONG!!PUNK!!! ", and there was a female member. I'm not sure if it was the current member Osawa-san or not.

USGKZ: Well, there were a few female members at that time.

▶ I see. On that day, a female member was playing the recorder, and the member from Space Kung-Fu Man had a trombone. Once the performance started, it was so loud that I couldn't hear the recorder, and the trombone seemed to break down with every song. I thought it was a shame since trombones can be quite expensive (laughs).

USGKZ: Back then, when we played in Tokyo, we'd go to a studio, and there would be people I didn't know. They would be like, "Nice to meet you," and they'd say, "This person is performing today." So, it was like, "Oh, okay," and we'd just roll with it. That's why there are so many people who can say they've been part of LARGE400. Whenever we played in Tokyo, Uchi would bring in people I didn't know.

▶ So, it's just you and the vocalist as the core members, and other members have been changing?

USGKZ: Yes, that's right. We've been quite stable for the past few years, fortunately.

▶ Since keyboardist Osawa-san joined, the atmosphere has changed quite a bit, and there's a sense of orchestration.

USGKZ: Yes, having the keyboard added a new dimension. Osawa can even play the saxophone, so there's been a significant positive change.

▶ The arrangements of the old songs have changed quite a bit as well. I hope you consider re-recording them.

USGKZ: I definitely want to. I've been thinking about re-recording them with the current members.

▶ There was a time when you had a triple-drum setup, right?

USGKZ: Yes, but we only did that for one or two shows. There was also a period of twin drummers.

▶ Is LARGE400 a 5-member band now?

USGKZ: Yes, it's a 5-member band now. The drummer and bassist are in the Western Honshu, while Uchi and the keyboardist live in Kanto region (Greater Tokyo Area).

▶ How do you manage rehearsals?

USGKZ: We don't really rehearse (laughs). We gather on the day of the performance, go to the studio, and just give it our all.

▶ LARGE400 once changed its name to "LARGE," right?

USGKZ: You know that (laughs).

▶ I thought "400" disappeared for a while, but before I knew it, it became "LARGE400" again.

USGKZ: Well, Uchi came up with that idea. He wanted to change it to "LARGE." I'm not too attached to band names or anything like that, and since "LARGE400" was a name Uchi came up with, I thought if the person who came up with it says to change it, then that's fine.