A rare sight – but not undeserved! Brian May uploaded a video to Instagram showing Japanese autograph fans struggling to keep them in check. The Queen guitarist is also completely amazed, as he writes:
“Signing Signing Signing – but these good people don’t do autograph business on E-bay. Thank you to this lovely group – the Japanese fans ALWAYS made us feel like rock stars!!! 💖 Bri 💥💥💥💥 There’s always a lot to think about in the background. There was a good chance to return the energy here – but it was a limitless window of opportunity, but it’s not always possible to do this – and I’m always aware that someone will be disappointed and that I don’t have the chance to thank everyone for the kind gifts. Life isn’t perfect – you just do your best and hope you understand. I am always grateful. Great! Japan hasn’t lost its spark!!! Bri.”
When will a 76-year-old man, rock star or not, experience something like this that fans can no longer bear? Japan, says May, has always been a special place for the band. The clip also shows him trying to calm the men and women in the front row.
Brian Mays’ Instagram followers are also completely over the moon. “Aren’t the Japanese simply the best fans ever? Her energy and adoration for all things Queen is a masterclass in fandom. And they are always so accommodating! I can’t imagine your autograph ending up anywhere other than in their precious keepsakes. There’s mine too. ❤️Get some rest, Bri❣️”
Another quips: “I think the man with the ‘News of the world’ album has been waiting to get it signed since 1977.”
The story of Queen in Japan
The documentary “Queen in Japan,” which the band uploaded to their YouTube channel, highlights their first arrival in Japan.
In the 1970s, Queen were busy building a fan base in Great Britain and the USA, but demand also grew in the Far Asian country. “We knew there was a demand there, so we scheduled a few shows at the end of our American tour,” recalled Roger Taylor. “We were also on vacation in Hawaii and it made sense for us to continue there.”
Roger Taylor: “There were thousands of people there who wanted to welcome us”
Queen spent their first stay in Japan in April 1975, where they played eight consecutive gigs. Their first concert took place at the Nippon Budakan in Tokyo. The rush that hit the band at the airport took them completely by surprise: “We arrived at the airport and suddenly realized that the bar was much higher — there were thousands of people there wanting to greet us,” explained Rogers. “You don’t have anything like this anywhere else.”
The band’s label owner, promoter and long-time friend, Kaz Utsunomiya, recalled Queen’s arrival: “I don’t think anyone expected there to be three thousand people at the airport. Any person who saw the spectacle would have thought this was the second coming of the Beatles.” Utsunomiya noted: “At that time, rock groups were supported primarily by a male audience. But the fact that Music Life magazine included photos of Queen in their issue opened the band’s door to female fans. This is how they gained listeners among men and women.”
“Teo Torriatte (Let Us Kling Together)” written for Japanese fans
The enthusiasm of Japanese fans also inspired Brian May to write “Teo Torriatte (Let Us Kling Together)”. The song appeared on the 1976 album A Day At The Races.
Utsunomiya noted: “Nobody expected such a song from the band, which seemed more aimed at the Japanese market. Queen have different songs for a global audience, but ‘Teo Torriatte’ was clearly written for the Japanese fans.”
Queen: Tours throughout Japan made them even more popular
Queen toured Japan regularly from then on until 1985. Utsunomiya continued: “In the beginning we toured various cities throughout Japan. We went to Sapporo in Hokkaido, the northern part of Japan, and then to Sendai, a southern region. That was really interesting because not many bands toured all over Japan. Many international bands only played in Tokyo and Osaka.”
Finally, Utsunomiya highlighted how Queen significantly stood out from other international bands for their listeners in Japan: “Many people never had the chance to see international bands in cities outside of Tokyo and Osaka. However, Queen also played outside of these cities, which made them bigger and more unique in Japan. I also think it helped the band better understand Japanese culture, history and their fans.”