That group, their fans will step back and you can go up. Also, what I love about the idol performances, it’s like… say you’re at a taiban – a taiban is like where many idol groups are? And let’s say your group is like second and the first group has all their fans here. And fans are like, if you want to be lifted up and pushed to the stage, you just have to tap someone on the shoulder and they’ll lift you up. If you want to go crazy for a group, no one is going to make fun of you for that – in fact, it’s encouraged. So, that community element is a big reason why I like it, because we all know each other, we all support each other. I know a huge majority of the foreign fans, because there’s not that many, but the ones that are there, I know them. So, in the idol world, there’s a similar thing going on. That’s what we were known for, especially me. We’d show up, you’d have a case of beer, we’d get drunk and have a good time. My group particularly, we were known as the party group. Well again, because my background is hardcore and metal, the world that I came from is very community-based, meaning every show we went to we knew everybody, everybody knew us. What is it about the idol scene that engages your interest? Then, once their fans accepted me, I just fell down the idol hole (laughs) and from there, I was like “Oh I like this group, I like this group, I like this group!” and eventually ran into Necroma. I was hooked – and from that point on, their fans started to accept me because I’d go to their shows. On my next trip to Japan (again I was going to Japan to do research for my books and stuff) I went and it was some show I found and they got on stage and as soon as I saw them, one girl Yura smiled at me – and then I got crushed by all the fans! (laughs) It was like chaos and insanity. This one girl in the group would swing a baseball bat with barbed wire at her fans and I was like “What is this?” And the group was so heavy, they were called Guso Drop – now they’re known as Bakuretsu Joshi (Burst Girl) and I went to one of their shows. Then I read on a blog a couple of years after about an underground idol group. I didn’t really understand it, but it was cool – it was different. ![]() First it was via AKB48, they were a major idol group – and still are. I went over and that’s when I discovered the music world and then, little by little, I started getting into the idol world. Ever since I was a little kid, I had an interest in Japanese culture. So, I didn’t know anything about Japan and I always wanted to go. ![]() I have this motto when it comes to writing, it’s like “Write what you know, but live what you don’t.” I was coming to Japan because I was writing a novel, it was a horror novel. Then after that, I gravitated into more of a Japanese cultural thing. We toured the world a couple of times and I played guitar and I wrote a good majority of the songs for the first two albums. What was your background prior to getting involved in the idol business?īasically, I used to be in a band called From The Second Storey Window. Taking time out from his busy schedule at Hyper Japan, Derek spoke to J-Pop Go about his background, his work with Necronomidol and plans for Idol Underworld… But it’s also an enthusiasm that extends to the world of blogging and idol coverage ( “We’re big fans of J-Pop Go!”) and a keen desire to spread the word. The most striking aspect of Derek Vasconi is his general enthusiasm and energy, particularly for the idol fans that patiently line-up for chekis and merchandise. ![]() As well as being on hand for Necroma’s shows, Derek also looks after the recently-launched online site Idol Underworld which serves to deliver idol merch directly to western fans. Like many of the players in the underground idol scene, there’s a strong connection to the world of metal. Orion’s team dovetails quite neatly with the Necroma team of idol guru Ricky Wilson as well as Derek Vasconi, international tour coordinator for Necronomidol, who could often be spotted wielding cameras for Necroma’s performances or liaising with fans on the merchandise stall among his many roles.ĭerek (the be-hatted gent seen above next to Orion’s Dave and Chris), has an intriguing story predating his idol work. The Orion Live team of Chris and Dave has already been established through a series of other underground idol shows (including 2018’s Indie, Idol & Infamous tour). For those attending any of the recent UK Necronomidol shows, a few familiar faces were always there to ensure a smooth process for both performances as well as the post-show cheki sessions.
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