SCANDAL to Paris – and beyond

SCANDAL takes a break before a gig in San Francisco on March 21 (Photo ©2008 by G.A. Carroll).

OK, so the Japanese schoolgirl sensation SCANDAL is set to appear in Paris this summer at Japan Expo. Details are forthcoming, but this should not come as a surprise.

The big reason why the SCANDAL phenomenon is spreading like wildfire globally is that the group's handlers are well aware how this type of schoolgirl-type J-rock (SCANDAL has the feel of, say, AKB48 or °C-ute, but with a traditional rock ensemble format with the girls playing their own instruments and not relying strictly on their looks, dress, dance and digital tracks) will just explode.

This is a direct result of companies like Pony Canyon, Defstar and UFA dropping the ball. They had their shot, as Morning Musume and its ancillary groups became more and more interesting to the Western audiences, but they have blown that chance to expand here and SCANDAL will fill that gap very nicely, thank you.

Don't think SCANDAL can fill a US arena? Watch when Japan Nite 2009 snares one arena date, if not two or even three, next year. SCANDAL made a hell of a lot of noise on the Japan Nite 2008 tour. They were fresh and interesting, and wisely learned the ropes while under the wing of Ketchup Mania, Detroit7, the Emeralds and the other gracious, veteran J-rock diehards on that same tour.

SCANDAL will explode in the US if Sony Music lets them loose (Photo ©2008 by G.A. Carroll).

SCANDAL's handlers were stunned at the wild reception the group received in the US this past spring. On every stop, they sold out of merchandise. They underestimated the sales pull of Japanese schoolgirls. Plus, the band is just a killer. They are loud and raucus, hell on wheels, just as bad-ass as anyone out there. They are semi-cute, but that is strictly secondary. Their headbanger tunes resonate with undisciplined, bored US audiences. There is something new in the air.

SCANDAL reminds me of a skinny kid wearing boxing gloves in the ring with, say, Mike Tyson in his prime. The skinny kid taunts Tyson, and even sticks out his chin. C'mon! Gimme your best shot! And ... the champ has to back off. What the hell is going on here?

Taking SCANDAL to Europe is the next logical step – but the big bucks will flow SCANDAL’s way in America, a market Morning Musume and the Japanese idol-music business have missed the boat on.

This is Radicalipton signing off – for now.