In 2019, under the slogan of "work style reform", the rock band Unicorn ran through the memorial year with the theme of "100th anniversary". Their first exhibition, "Unicorn 100th Anniversary Exhibition-Hyakka Gotoku-" will be held at OMOTESANDO HILLS Main Building Public holidays), 2020. Will be done.

A corner displaying selected works from the huge collection of photographer Kenji Miura, who continues to chase unicorns, a number of items related to the album "Hattori", musical instruments actually used by members, stage costumes, etc. Furthermore, the "100th Anniversary" of the unicorn that emerges three-dimensionally through various exhibits such as valuable images and sound sources that can only be experienced here. We asked all the members of the unicorn to look back on the angry days of 2019.

Interview text = Masaki Mugikura
Shooting = Nobuyuki Seki
Editing = Kei Kawaura (CINRA.NET editorial department)

unicorn
1986年に広島で結成。翌1987年にメジャーデビュー。1989年のアルバム『服部』でABEDONが正式加入してからは、全員が楽曲制作に携わりボーカルも取るようになる。また、担当以外の様々な楽器も使いこなすフレキシブルなスタイルで、独自の路線を突き進む。"大迷惑""働く男""雪が降る町""すばらしい日々"など、名作と呼ばれつつもイマイチ売上に繋がらなかった数々の曲を残して1993年9月に解散。解散後は、バンドやソロでそれぞれが活動していたが、2009年年始に突如、再始動を発表。シングル"WAO!"で鮮烈な復活を果たし、名作アルバム『シャンブル』を発表、大成功をおさめた。その後も、アルバムリリースや全国ツアーなど、コンスタントに活動。ライブでは、圧巻のステージを見せたかと思えば、独特の寸劇が始まったりするなど、個性豊かな5人の異才達からなる、日本を代表する唯一無二のロックバンドである。
https://www.unicorn.jp/

---- This time, the band's first exhibition "Unicorn 100th Anniversary Exhibition-Hyakka Gotoku-" will be held at OMOTESANDO HILLS What kind of exhibition is this?

ABEDON:Last year, we toured nationwide for a year with the theme of "100th anniversary (* 100th anniversary = 10th anniversary of restart + 30th anniversary of release of the first album" Hattori "as a current member + Koichi Kawanishi Kanreki! 60th anniversary)" I was doing this, but I was always talking about wanting to exhibit in a way that accompanies it.

Since we are singing "100th Anniversary", we have the opportunity to see not only live performances but also the history of unicorns, things related to the album "Hattori", stage costumes, and so on. I wish I had it. That's why this project was born and I was starting to prepare various things, but with the trend of the new corona, various things changed.

Kawanishi:Originally, I was thinking of starting with Yamagata. Just this spring, a unicorn live was organized in Yamagata, so I decided to hold it accordingly.

ABEDON:I was planning to do the first one-man operation for a unicorn this year on April 30th and May 1st at the "Yamagin Prefectural Hall" in Yamagata Prefecture, where I am from, and that is the new Corona. I couldn't do it because of the influence of.

Kawanishi:However, I was talking about wanting to do something about that exhibition. If it were an exhibition, it wouldn't be so dense.

ABEDON:I had been looking for a chance for a long time, but then I was told that I could do OMOTESANDO HILLS So this time, it feels like the event has been officially decided.

---- So that's it. It was a lot of meetings that led to this event. By the way, how about a place called Omotesando?

ABEDON:I didn't expect to do it in Omotesando, so I'm afraid of it (laughs).

EBI:I'm really honored. With this, we are also Hills (laughs).

Okuda:(Lol). So where do you look good on us?

Kawanishi:After all, isn't it around Hachioji?

Teshima:How about Shimokitazawa?

ABEDON:Is it Tama-Plaza?

EBI:It's a residential area (laughs).

Okuda:Tama-Plaza, it's quite far.

Teshima:Then, Futakotamagawa?

---- The unicorn has a rather urban image, though.

ABEDON:really?

Teshima:Then, is it around Kawasaki?

EBI:Well, it's a countryside (laughs).

Okuda:But Omotesando is in front of Jingumae in terms of address, right? Then we are quite familiar with it, aren't we? Well, it's just that the office used to be in front of Jingumae (laughs).

ABEDON:Oh, that's right! It's also an exhibition that looks back on the history of unicorns, which is just right.

---- (Lol). By the way, did you know that this year is the 100th anniversary of Meiji Jingu?

Okuda:Oh, that's right! It's amazing (laughs).

EBI:Last year, it was just the same 100th anniversary as us (laughs). Was it a year late?

Teshima:We are 101 years old this year.

Okuda:No, it's not 101 years. This year is 103 years (laughs) because it will increase by three. But, well, this exhibition itself is the 100th anniversary exhibition, so it's very good.

Tamio Okuda

---- As you can see in this exhibition, Unicorn was really energetic last year with the theme of "100th Anniversary", a national tour of all 50 performances, and the release of 2 original albums and 1 single. We developed activities in.

Kawanishi:As for the tour, I spent quite a long time doing a good number of them, but it was a lot of fun. It feels like it's over in a blink of an eye. I also performed at the "Kure Credit Bank Hall (Kure City Cultural Hall)" in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, but in fact, Mr. Teshima from Kure City is a special envoy for tourism in Kure City.

Teshima:You're haze!

Kawanishi:Well, I am too (laughs). Personally, I was very happy to be able to perform a unicorn live for the first time there.

Koichi Kawanishi

Teshima:Having said that, by going to Nara Prefecture on last year's tour, Unicorn achieved live performances in all prefectures. I think this was a big thing in the history of unicorns.

EBI:What's more, the venue was called "Nara Centennial Hall".

---- Such a meeting.

Okuda:Well, it's a 100th anniversary tour, so I feel like I chose that venue (laughs).

Kawanishi:Also, Yamagata, which I went to in November, was the last one in that hall.

ABEDON:"Yamagin Prefectural Hall".

Kawanishi:It closed last year, but at the end we had a live performance. It was also very emotional, wasn't it?

---- How about ABEDON?

ABEDON:You were very busy last year, weren't you? To that end, I had been preparing for a long time. Everyone thinks about what to do to do such a long tour.

To that end, I thought the new album was absolutely essential. Fortunately, it was expected that a good number of songs could be recorded, so I was able to prepare for releasing two albums a year, including the production period. In that way, not only our members but also the staff were actually preparing for a long time.

---- From the stage of 2018.

ABEDON:so. That's why I was able to move quickly last year because I was prepared for that. In the year before the 100th anniversary, there wasn't much public activity. That's why I was enthusiastic last year, and personally, I felt that I was quite done.

So, I was thinking of taking it a little slower this year, but then I ended up in this situation. Even if I took a rest, I was in a situation where I couldn't live in the first place.

ABEDON

---- How about EBI looking back on last year's activities?

EBI:It's the 100th anniversary, so I really wanted to do 100 live shows, but at most 50. That was just right.

It was also possible to have an album recording period between tours. So last year, both live performances and productions were extremely fulfilling. Really, it passed in no time. Compared to that, this year, not only us, but the whole world has become like this, so I'm glad that we were able to perform so grandly last year.

EBI

---- How about Mr. Okuda?

Okuda:I think what was amazing about this 100th anniversary tour was that we set a limit of 100 minutes per performance. That was a really groundbreaking idea, and the result was perfect. At first, I think the customers thought, "Isn't it a little unsatisfactory?", But when I tried it, it didn't happen. It only takes 100 minutes, so I think I'll do it properly.

Teshima:Yeah, last year's tour was really tight.

EBI:There was no place to mess around.

Okuda:Yes, it's set to 100 minutes, so I can't mess around (laughs).

Kawanishi:When I did a drum solo once, the members got very angry (laughs).

Okuda:Anyway, I think this was a great idea. 100 minutes is just the right time, and after the live, everyone goes out to eat and drink. When I measured that time, it was 100 minutes.

---- (Lol).

Kawanishi:Well, after that, I'm starting to get a little bored. I repeat the same story (laughs).

Okuda:Yes Yes. That's why I think it's a very good pattern to play 100 minutes live and eat 100 minutes. It feels like I can't go back to normal anymore. I'm thinking of bringing it solo as well (laughs).

ABEDON:It's a "new lifestyle" (laughs). It is said that he adopted it a little earlier.

---- If the time is fixed from the beginning, the viewer will also concentrate on watching.

Okuda:That's right. The audience isn't messing around, and you can make plans after the live. Customers can also make reservations for meals after the live performance. No matter who says what, the unicorn will go with this.

ABEDON:is that so. Well, I think it's good (laughs).

---- Finally, each message.

Kawanishi:Regarding live performances, I think I'll do it someday, but I still don't know how to do it. Even though we don't have live shows, we can watch our live shows on DVD, so I hope you can look forward to seeing them again.

EBI:First of all, there is this exhibition, so I would like you to come and see it. We have released a lot of videos and songs, and we also have solos for each, so I hope you will take this opportunity to review and listen again and expect future unicorns.

Teshima:As for unicorns, I have no choice but to follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare ... Well, I personally work alone.

Okuda:No, let's follow the guidelines even when we are alone (laughs).

Teshima:I will obey. But, basically, rock isn't something someone asks you to do. We do it because we want to do it. That's why I think that the time when such feelings will match among the five people will surely come out soon. If that happens, we will be fast.

Isamu Teshima

Okuda:Well, if you can't live, you can't do it, and you're thinking about various things.

ABEDON:That's right, Mr. Okuda became a YouTuber during this period. YouTuber in the unicorn world (laughs).

---- That's right. Mr. Okuda personally continued to upload videos on YouTube one after another even during the self-restraint period.

Okuda:After trying it, I realized that I couldn't eat this alone (laughs).
But, well, for the times these days, the timing will probably come when this is all right. If that happens, you can just shake the big guys and do a live performance, and you have to think about things that you can't do until then. Isn't it a unicorn's art style to see how interesting it is to take advantage of such a situation? I would like you to see such a place as well.

ABEDON:I think our fans know a lot. Probably no one would say why they wouldn't play live in this situation.

Okuda:It won't be there (laughs).

ABEDON:It feels like I'd like to have a TU-KA there (laughs). It's been a long relationship.

Okuda:But lately, it seems that there are some young people who listened to it for the first time last year or went to live for the first time.

ABEDON:That's a great pleasure, isn't it? So now, what we have to keep in mind is to learn a lot about digital relations so that we can reach those new people properly ... Take this opportunity to learn it and get more power. I hope I can do various things in the improved form.