Japanese superstar HOTEI releases Strangers (Special Edition) today, through Spinefarm Records. The new release is an expanded format of his international debut album, which originally came out in October last year and features an array of guests including the godfather of punk Iggy Pop, Emigrate/Rammstein’s Richard Z. Kruspe, Bullet For My Valentine’s Matt Tuck, Noko from UK electronic band pioneers Apollo 440, and acclaimed Texan singer Shea Seger.
Strangers (Special Edition) features four bonus tracks including ‘Power’. A long-time live fan favourite, this is the first time that Hotei has recorded a studio version and the track has been released in Japan as a single to celebrate his 35th anniversary as a recording star. The accompanying video features him performing the song to a sold-out crowd of 10,000 people at the Yoyogi Gymnasium, Tokyo.
Strangers (Special Edition) features four bonus tracks including ‘Power’. A long-time live fan favourite, this is the first time that Hotei has recorded a studio version and the track has been released in Japan as a single to celebrate his 35th anniversary as a recording star. The accompanying video features him performing the song to a sold-out crowd of 10,000 people at the Yoyogi Gymnasium, Tokyo.
Also featured on Strangers (Special Edition) is ‘Trick Attack’, which was originally released on the New Beginnings album in Japan in 2014, and was the theme song for ‘Lupin The 3rd’, a smash hit Japanese detective movie in 2014. The new package is rounded off with another live favourite, ‘Black Ships’, and ‘Move It (Hounds Remix)’ which features the afore-mentioned Richard Z. Kruspe on vocals and was remixed by Olly Burden, who is known for collaborating with The Prodigy on their latest album.
2016 marks Hotei’s 35th anniversary in music. To celebrate this milestone Hotei has a wide range of events in Japan throughout the year including over 60 live dates, ranging from intimate club shows in the kind of small venues Hotei hasn’t performed in since the start of his career, to a free open-air concert in his hometown in front of 25,000 fans. Hotei will also be playing special shows in the areas devastated by the Tsunami in 2011 and will end the year with a very special fan request show at the Budokan in Tokyo on December 30th.
Not one to rest on his laurels Hotei will also be playing US shows in July including his first-ever LA show, at the legendary Troubador which is already sold out, and the Highline Ballroom in New York. These follow his live collaboration with Italian legend Zucchero, who visited Japan for the first time in his career in May. Hotei also features in the latest Zucchero video (from his new album Black Cat) and will join him on stage in September at his arena show in Verona.
Heralded by Time Out as “iconic”, and a genuine superstar in his native Japan where he has sold more than 40 million records, Hotei is best known internationally for his Kill Bill theme ‘Battle Without Honor or Humanity’ and is sought-after as a collaborator both in the studio and on stage.
Now living in London Hotei has headlined sold-out shows in the capital at the Roundhouse (2012), and Shepherd’s Bush Empire (2013), and more recently played special intimate shows at The Lexington, North London and the Islington Assembly Hall where he showcased Strangers material.
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