Mitch Ikeda
MI: Thank you for coming. In Japan they wont have the same exhibition. Itll be one third the size and only for one night. CBL: I saw the book, Forever Delayed in the U.K. Has this book been released in Japan? Will it? MI: They are not going to sell it in Japan, so people will have to get it as an import. CBL: Do you have any activities planned to coincide with the Manics tour of Japan this month? MI: I havent thought of it yet? CBL: How did you get to become the Manics official photographer? MI: It was destiny. CBL: What is your approach to photographing the Manics? What do
you look for or focus on? CBL: What are the problems photographing a rock band? MI: None. CBL: You have been photographing them for a long time. How has the band changed in that time? MI: Theyve got older. CBL: How aware were you of Richey cracking up? How did his disappearance affect the other three? MI: Laugh. Please ask the other three about Richey. CBL: There are a lot of Japanese touches in the pictures, e.g.: James Dean Bradfields Mishima crucifixion pose; Nicky with a kanji ring, wearing Super Lovers clothes, and posing with a noren; Sean wearing Final Home clothes, etc. How much of this is due to you? MI: Theres no influence from myself. CBL: Do you think Sony tried to make the band appeal to Japanese audiences by appointing a Japanese as the official photographer? MI: Ive never thought of that. This is very stupid question. CBL: The Manics often come to Japan. How do they react to Japanese culture and society? MI: Laugh. I dont think they come that frequently. I think it might be the opposite. Incidentally, doesnt Paul Weller comes many times? Maybe both dont come enough. Are they reacting to Japanese culture and society? I dont really know. CBL: Which is your favourite picture? MI: I love them all because they are mine. CBL: I particularly liked number 165, the picture of Richey jumping with a guitar. Its a truly iconic image of him, suggesting crucifixion and suicide. How did this shot happen? MI: I took this photo at a photo shoot. CBL: What did you think of this picture later? Did you feel there was a kind of prophecy of his self-destruction in this image? MI: No! CBL: Do you think the camera is capable of sometimes catching mysterious aspects of a person, things that we cant normally see, like their ghost, spirit, or a prophecy of their future? MI: No! CBL: Which photographers have influenced you the most? MI: Ken Domon, Eiko Hosoe, Kishin Shinoyama, Daido Moriyama, Penny Smith. CBL: How much time do you normally spend with the Manics every year? What do you do when you are not with them? MI: Every year its decreasing. Though I used to live in London, now Ive got children. Its decreasing more and more because of children. CBL: How was the trip to Cuba? What was your impression of Fidel Castro? MI: It was the best. Hes a totally wonderful person. CBL: What did Nicky and Castro talk about? MI: After the concert, they met Castro. Nicky asked Castro, was it loud? Castro replied, the sound of battle is louder. CBL: When my brother interviewed James Dean Bradfield earlier this year, he told him that he was hoping to cut back on his smoking and climb Mt. Fuji with you. Did he? MI: Laugh. No, he hasnt said that yet. I would definitely do it. Perhaps hes the kind of guy who can see the god. |
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