Album Rating: 2.0

@CalculatingInfinity



I agree some of those songs could work pretty well, but in a 1 1/2 - 2 hour set there's only so much you can fit in. Macabre and songs from the 3 best albums are the best use of that time for me.



Their fan relationship is just bad on both sides in general. I've never cared about it much, since I've never been interested in the VIP events.

I could make a list of my perfect Dir setlist, that would be awesome but it would take a while for me to make. I care about the fan relationship since I'm invested enough to try and make a positive change in it.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

you guys can't both be Dillinger albums I don't think

Album Rating: 2.0

That's fine, because I'm an EP.



I think the band are stuck in their ways at this point. They're sick of dumbarse fans bothering them, and they're unlikely to change that in their 40s.

Less 'stuck in their ways' and more they've done this for so long and want to do different projects and/or have better working conditions probably.

Album Rating: 2.0

I'm just thinking I can't imagine Kyo being any more friendly at Sukekiyo fan meet ups. It seems like he generally hates fan interaction, with good reason at times.

I think he could be a bit friendlier since Sukekiyo is his pet project and is very happy with them. Plus it's a different management, thus there may not be a VIP at all.

Album Rating: 2.0

Hopefully not. The whole idea of paying to meet musicians is pretty lame in the first place, especially if they obviously don't want to be there.



Having a pint of Trooper ale with Toby Driver in London when Kayo Dot did a free show there was great, though.

Isn’t Kyo just kind of a shy dude outside of performances?

That and I’ve heard he’s had some bad experiences with fans as I’m sure a lot of them have, but there’s one in particular that I read about where a fan killed themselves or something and he’s tried to distance himself from them

Could be wrong about that though I don’t remember where I read it

I'm not going to speak on Kyo's behalf on his personality, however I can say he has had multiple bad experiences with fans. From that fan who killed himself, people recording/harassing him as he's walked to hotels (video is on Youtube somewhere), being grabbed by his balls in 2007 (Facebook comment on a VIP photo) are the ones I can name off the top of my head.

Album Rating: 3.0

@Irony I think the idea of paying to meet musicians is horrible and unethical. It’s forced and none of the parties generally feel comfortable during said events. Meeting musicians during and after shows FOR FREE however usually ends up being a better experience cause it comes across less forced and everyone are on equal footing for lack of a better word. That’s awesome you had a pint of ale w/Toby Driver. He’s awesome and his music is too.



@Calc I remember seeing the video of him being filmed walking to and from the band’s hotel. IIRC it was in Chile back in 2011. The time where he was grabbed by the balls though...that’s news to me. Where and when did it happen?

I'll have to do some serious digging to find that comment again. I'll give it a go when I get home.

Yeah, the fanbase in general is pretty embarrassing. At every show I've gone to I've felt embarrassed just to be there because the general fanbase looks like the inside of a Hot Topic.

Putting musicians on pedestals has always been weird as fuck to me. Of course I have admiration for the skills and accomplishments of my favorite bands but in the end they’re just people. It’s no wonder Dir en grey is apprehensive about their fans when they’re often so rabid while the band just wants to enjoy what they’re doing without being worshipped like gods

Album Rating: 2.0

@Acme Definitely. At smaller shows it's pretty common for the band to come down afterwards. I also met the guys from Vektor after their show in 2016 and got three of their signatures. David said it wouldn't be another 5 years until the next album .. we'll see how that turns out.



Toby talked about how when he was touring in Eastern Europe, people tended to offer constructive criticism, which he found somewhat unsettling. He definitely likes going there, though, since his next tour is going to Georgia and Armenia of all places.



@jesterhead I've been incredibly impressed with Kyo's vocal acrobatics ever since I first heard Vinushka in 2014, but I certainly never saw them as gods. I've always thought TMOAB was bloody awful, so I've never thought they could do no wrong.

No band is made of Gods.

Album Rating: 2.0

@Calc This should go without saying, but given what you've said about DEG fans, I guess it has to be said.



I must have been pretty unobservant when I saw DEG in 2015, because I didn't really see much fan cringe. I was at the back, though, so I guess the weirdos went up to the front.

Yeah they're mainly at the front, also I can't find that Facebook comment damn it.

Album Rating: 2.0

Standing at the back probably explains why I didn't see much of what people are complaining about here. It really wasn't much different from other shows I've been to from my perspective, so hearing all these horror stories is a bit of a surprise. I'd definitely have been annoyed at the problems with the last show if I'd gone, though. I've never had anything like that happen at a show I've been to. The closest was when Devin Townsend had technical problems for 15 minutes at a festival in Spain and had to keep everyone entertained. He still played the full set, though.



https://youtube.com/watch?v=pYQmUNzkYAQ

Dude's a professional, well played to him.