Makoto Ayukawa of Sheena & the Rokkets told this magazine at the COVID-19 crisis, “Rock is a vaccine for the mind.

It has been 50 years since he formed “Sun House,” a blues-rock band in Hakata that pioneered “Mentai Rock. Makoto Ayukawa, who formed the band “Sheena & the Rockets” with his late wife Sheena in 1978, died of pancreatic cancer on January 29. He was 74 years old.

In 2006, Mei Nagano played the heroine in NHK’s morning drama “Half, Blue,” in which she was the heroine. The song was also a hit in the NHK morning drama “Half, Aoi,” in which Meiku Nagano was the heroine. According to her office, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of last year and told by her doctor that she has only about five months to live. However, he has been working hard to get his life back on track.

Last year, he held his 45th anniversary live concert at Shinjuku Loft, toured 47 prefectures in Japan, performed on Miyako Island in Okinawa, and performed at Christmas on London Night.

As his office revealed, Mr. Ayukawa remained active as a rock star until the end of his life.

In June 2008, Mr. Ayukawa, a guitarist who had led the Japanese rock world for half a century, gave an interview to this magazine. Dressed in a black leather jacket and wearing sunglasses, he is a rock star in his own right.

How did Mr. Ayukawa view the music scene, which was being called for self-restraint due to the “COVID-19 crisis”?

Here is a transcript of a telephone interview with Mr. Ayukawa, guitar in hand.

Sinaloke is releasing a new album “Live for Today” on February 14, the anniversary of Cena’s death. I’ve been doing some promotional activities in advance of that, but I’ve cancelled all live tours scheduled after April, and I’ll be staying home from April 1.

While appreciating such activities, Ayukawa said, “If you move, people will get involved.

In 50 years of music, it is quite common to be out of work for a month or two. I think it is our duty to be well prepared until the day we resume our activities. Corona is an unknown entity, so I don’t go out at all, except to walk the dog. Thanks to you, everyone in the Sinaloquet family is doing well.

While staying at the house, Ayukawa spends his days listening to YouTube, CDs, and records until dawn, researching until he is satisfied, and playing the guitar until he is satisfied. During this “stay-home” period, he also made a great discovery.

A fellow member of the Facebook community told him, “I found what is probably the oldest blues video in Japan. It was a program titled “Negro Soul Blues,” filmed by a British film crew and broadcast on NHK in September 1971.

It featured Batty Guy and Muddy Waters singing at a live music club along with the streets of Chicago. At the time, the Japanese version of the blues was just beginning to appear on record. The video of the legendary bluesman was like watching a living god. I was blown away by that.”

The conversation also went on to Little Richard, the rock and roll pioneer who passed away on May 9 at the age of 87.

Little Richard, who had stopped rocking out after becoming a pastor, made a comeback in 1962 and was fronted by the Beatles. Little Richard’s greatness can be understood by the fact that he was supported by a young Jimi Hendrix.

I remember when I was in the eighth grade, I went out to buy records to listen to “Jenny Jenny” and “Lucille. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the rock and roll of the time. The stay-home period was a good time for me to reflect on my musical life, which began in junior high school.

However, the COVID-19 crisis is depriving musicians not only of music but also of their lives. Ayukawa is concerned about this situation.

Music and theater are live performances that are only possible when people gather together. Now, not only music, but everything is so busy. All I can do is pray that Corona will go away soon. Some live music clubs are also closing their doors, and it’s hard. I hope that somehow they will be able to hold out.

In talking with fellow musicians and staff of live music clubs, I have been told, “Let’s be healthy and READY TO ROCK. The safety of the audience has to be our first priority, but when the show resumes, even if it’s only a third of the audience, we want to do it. I’m going to blow them away right away.

Although support for culture and the arts is finally being heard at press conferences by Prime Minister Abe, he said, “Music is not necessary and not urgent, so it’s not a priority.

But he said, “Music is not necessary or urgent, so it may come much later. But music is unnecessary and urgent, so it may come much later,” says Ayukawa.

But I have changed my mind. However, he has changed his mind, and now speaks of his feelings as follows.

Even if you don’t shout, music is in everyone’s heart and life. Rock music is wonderful. Rock music is wonderful. I want people to listen to rock music that they haven’t had time to listen to in their daily lives. I want you to recharge your energy with music. Rock music is a vaccine for the soul.

He concluded his speech with this honest comment: “The year of Sheena’s death was April 7.

Sheena’s Day” started on April 7, the year she passed away, and every year, she has held a memorial concert for her friends to gather in memory of her late wife. This year, the event was postponed to July 4. I will be very happy if we can resume the live performance on this day.

“Stay home! Stay Rock!” Makoto Ayukawa said over the phone, strumming his guitar and speaking to us. He must be “blowing off” the best rock music with Sheena-san in heaven. I am sure he will “blast” the best rock music with Sheena in heaven.

Makoto Ayukawa (Born May 2, 1948, age 74, in Fukuoka Prefecture)
Vocalist, guitarist, composer, and actor. Leader of the rock band Sheena & the Rockets.’ One of the pioneers of “Mentai Rock” that emerged in Hakata in the 1970s, he is known as a pioneer of Japanese rock music.