Meet Shion, owner of Babel Entertainment. Shion has done much to connect artists in Japan to their fans in the U.S. He’s ran JSHOXX radio for many years, brought bands, seiyuu, gaming personalities and more overseas. His ever expanding reach and influence has made many aspects of entertainment accessible and it just seems to grow more each year. Learn more about him here!
In the course of many of your panels, you’ve given a lot of good information on the history behind Babel Entertainment as well as your background of eventually bringing bands to the U.S. For those who might not be privy to that background, can you give us a brief introduction?
In a nutshell, a convention who listened to my radio show contacted me to bring a band that was on my show over. Once I saw the non Japanese audience positive reaction to a Japanese band, it was something I wanted to continue to do to help spread Japanese rock music to the United States. It showed me the U.S. has come a long way since I was a little kid being hapa and being born and raised in the States. I wasn’t lucky enough to have Pokemon when I was growing up lol.
Your musical tastes have run the gamut of rock, metal and more. On the Western side of music, who were your biggest influences? When did Japanese rock or Visual Kei step into the arena?
KISS and the Hollywood Rock scene such as MOTLEY CRUE, LA GUNS, Faster Pussycat, Guns N Roses, etc did it for me at a very young age. Anything visual such as MOTLEY CRUE or album covers such as Black Sabbath “Heaven & Hell” always grabbed my attention as well. Loudness, & SEIKIMA II were the Japanese bands that came not long after. EZO was then added to the mix when they came to the U.S. Being produced by Gene Simmons of KISS. Then a friend introduced me to X when Jealousy came out. It just started piling up with bands such as Ziggy, 44magnum, Luna Sea, Zi:Kill etc. I took a long break from music just listening to what I had already known and not experimenting when one day an ex gf of mine was playing Dir en grey, and I was like “Whoa” sweet”, then started picking out more stuff and found bands like the GazettE and other bands, and later opened a small record label called IRONWERK Records in which ALSDEAD happen to be the first band on it, however they were called DICE & JOKER then.
You’ve said before that fans had made the initial push to inspire you to bring bands overseas. In the last few years, what else have fans inspired of your work?
Pretty much to also bring other aspects of Japanese Pop Culture over, such as Gaming, Fashion, JPOP, DJ’s, and Anime related talent. It’s all one big Japanese Pop Culture circle, and everyone is connected some how within each genre. If it was only my choice, it would definitely be Rock all the time lol. But, I do this more for the Japanese Pop Culture fans.
Looking at your earliest bookings — what was one of the most difficult hurdles that you had to overcome? What made it so hard? Has anything like that happened since?
I’ll avoid all the direct issues and finger pointing, and just say “culture clash”, “loyalty”, “egos” tend to be always an issue.
Keeping with the early years, what was one of the best stories that you have about that time? Good or bad.
It was a lot of fun in the early years with big dreams and ambition. My over all funnest period was when I was broadcasting JSHOXX Radio out of San Francisco. As for stories, I’d say the first time I brought a band over I was such a rookie. I went all out with getting a Limo, & Endless Drinking. On the last night we all went out to party. We were drinking so much. Someone handed us some medicine and we thought it was so we wouldn’t get a hangover the next day (popular in Japan) since we had an early flight. I don’t know what that was, but it was no hangover medicine. All of us were completely sick on the flight. I hurled so much in the bathroom that they had to have someone clean it up. Thank god my GF was with me to hide my head in her lap from embarrassment. I remember the bands lay over in SF, we were completely silent.. Then when it was time to go, hugs and goodbyes. We’ve been friends ever since. That whole trip included a fire breaking out in my hotel room almost burning the guitarist hands off, pictures that I will never show of the night we all went out, and massive hurling on an airplane. A most recent one, is funny as hell and is “Bad”. Apparently there is a rumor that I conduct orgies at conventions for myself and the bands. I thought that was hilarious, but even more so people would believe it lol. I just ask, the next orgy I have, please invite me, or at least let me know about it ahead of time. It’s like my main man David Skylark says “They Hate Us, Cause They Aint Us” but you have to take the good with the bad I guess…..lol
In the last decade, a lot has changed in the world of Japanese rock and Visual Kei. What have been some of your favorite trends or styles musically?
I really started getting into the female hard rock / metal movement and actually less Visual Kei. Also focusing more on just JROCK/ JMETAL as a whole. Watching bands grow such as ONE OK ROCK who I use to crank when they were barely nobody and to see them now is awesome. VK has lost a lot of spark with me with so many bands fading away. So instead of focusing so much on VK, I’d take the highlights and mesh it with the other JROCK or JMETAL bands I have gotten into lately. Lately I’ve been hearing some awesome Party Rock bands such as DIABLO GRANDE that have been catching my ear as of late. Marina ex DESTROSE formed Mardelas, and Nocturnal Bloodlust is making noise for the VK scene. But I still have my favorites from before as well.
You have met and worked with a number of prominent artists. Who was the biggest surprise for you to meet? What’s your favorite first meeting story?
Wow, I’ve been so lucky to meet so many of my childhood heroes. SEIKIMA II members. I was such a huge JAIL fan, from not just SEIKIMA II but his U.S. Hard rock band CATS IN BOOTS. He was the first artist I got actually star struck for the very first meeting and practically stuttered when I said hello lol. Since then its been pretty much just “WOW, IS THIS REAL?” feeling with Pata of X Japan, Sugizo of Luna Sea, Phil Lewis of LA GUNS, and Brent Muscat of Faster Pussycat. I mean these are the dudes I had posters of or pretended I was with my tennis racquet guitar and my crutches as a mic lol. One favorite thing about everyone of them, is that they were all super cool, and didn’t ruin any image I had of them. You know when you are a fan or admire someone for so long, then meet them and find out they are a dick is pretty heart breaking. I’ve been very fortunate that all have been more epic than I could have wished.
You’ve been featured and interviewed for a number of publications, online and offline. Can you tell us a little of where we might find you?
I’ve been featured in a few Japanese magazines such as SHOXX, CURE, and recently was hired as a spokesperson for a Japanese language school in JAPAN lol. I recommend not watching that….can also be found in issues of LINKS which is JAIL O’HASHI of SEIKIMA II official fan club magazine, ANIME INSIDER when it was around. Was a guest on a Hawaiian radio station called KZOO, MIND O Nation FM Radio in Japan…and …. god its been so long, can’t remember all the internet ones lol. Well this one lol. Or just you can find me on social media platforms directly lol facebook, instagram, twitter, and youtube \m/
How much more difficult or easier has it been to simply move to Japan? What is your favorite culture shock story?
It has its ups and downs. When in the U.S., I miss Japan, and when in Japan, I miss the U.S..
Honestly being half , and already familiar with customs and what not, I really didn’t have any major culture shocks. Wish I did for you….or maybe I just forgot lol
You’ve been a DJ, a promoter, a liaison, an artist manager and representative and a producer. What other areas of music are you interested in tackling?
I like to continue producing but also like to start doing my own projects as well sometime soon.
What can you say about your current projects?
Can’t say too much about the details, but a lot of exciting stuff is being worked on. Whether it pans out we have to wait and see. On the smaller end, I am putting focus back into JSHOXX Radio as well as video Youtube feeds on gaming, anime, and music. Something we’ve always done in the past, but never uploaded any of it LOL we have so much video that will never be seen LOL
Many people are eager to bring more bands overseas; what advice do you have for these aspiring promoters and industry people?
Have a good plan as well as a budget towards that plan. A schedule is very important. Although the perception for me is that I’m always partying, where in fact each band or entertainer that has been booked has been worked on about 8 to 12 months prior to the actual event, and tons of hard work is put into it. Of course we always like to show we are having a good time, but honestly about 5% is party and 95% is work. People just don’t see the endless nights, travel expenses, meetings, frustration, etc that goes along with it. They only see the 1 to 3 days of fun. Prepare to lose your life in this and dedicate it to it if this is what you really want to do.
Does your beanie have a name?
Jibanyan1, Jibanyan2, Jibanyan3
What are your favorite brands?
Chrome Hearts, G Star, The Saints Sinphony
Shion says, “If you visit Japan, you have to try______”
Basashi & Robot Restaurant
Where do you see the Japanese music industry and its placement in the world stage?
Years ago I promoted East Meets West fusing the two rock countries together on JSHOXX radio. I even dedicated a print magazine to East Meets West. In fact back in San Francisco, I had a script for a movie that actually focused on the Japanese visual kei scene, and in the movie Nikki Sixx was in the script as a kind of passing the torch or giving his blessing to JROCK being international. So awesome now, that Nikki’s band SIXX AM is touring with VAMPS in the U.S.. I feel if JROCK is to grow, it will need blessings like those with Major U.S. Influences such as Nikki Sixx. I think it will grow as long as its consistent, but at the same time I still feel Japan has a lot to learn about making it in the major international market and working with those outside of Japan. It will always have its niche market around the world, but its up to management companies in Japan to sometimes let go of their ways and compromise, and dish out a few dollars to make it happen.
What would you want to change about the industry as it is today between Japan and the world?
There is a lot one can answer to this, but I’ll just give a small .02cents. The music scene is not what it was world wide as far as $$. So bands/management/labels/venues need to make it easier for bands to perform and be heard around the world live.
Fans are the lifeblood of any band. What advice can you give fans about supporting their favorite bands?
IMO I say support official sites of the band, do all you can to actually purchase their music and not fall into the temptation of getting it “free”, and if they are near you, go see them LIVE. There is nothing better than a live experience of a band. As long as they are good lol. Share your love of the band with others. One thing what was so cool about records and CD’s is that when friends came over, first thing you did was check out their CD or record collection. Instead you have your phone or mp3 player…..great for yourself, but sucks to hear someone say “check out my mp3 collection” boring. Support your local record shop as well, and ask them to carry CD’s or records they do not have. If they know they have a customer base willing to buy, I’m sure they will stock it. Again, IMO.
People want to work with you; what are you looking for most in those who really want to try?
For the Japanese side, mainly passion to really make it internationally, and to 100% trust in what I do and decisions I make. Of course I’m always open to take constructive criticism or to have other ideas thrown at me.
For the U.S. Side, really those that trust in what I do. I’ve gotten U.S. Events major exposure in Japan by bringing groups I know will help them (U.S. Event) grow. There are so many disappointments when it comes to many U.S. Events that its really sad. There are also some great ones, and we are glad to bust our asses to support them all we can.
Let’s say you get to put on the event of your dreams. What kind of event would it be?
Oh man, I don’t think I have time for that LOL. What would really be cool I think is a full blown EMW Festival hosting bands from the East & West. I recently did a small version of it in Japan, where I represented two Hollywood Heroes, LA GUNS front man Phil Lewis, & ex Faster Pussycat Axe Man Brent Muscat. Phil and Brent was backed by DIABLO GRANDE band members, and guest bands included legendary rock groups EARTHSHAKER, & SABER TIGER as well as the all female rock band DESTROSE. Was an amazing 3 stop tour of Tokyo and Yokohama. I plan on doing much more of that as well.
Give fans a message about the industry and its future.
As the two great ones before me have said “Be Excellent to each other, and Party ON DUDES” ok just kidding…kind of. Keep spreading your love of Japanese Rock music. I know at times it can be frustrating when bands don’t come to your area, or conventions don’t bring jrock bands, but keep pestering them as fans. Let them know how many are out there. Then tell them to contact me LOL The future be bright if that happens!
JSHOXX:
24/7 Streaming Radio: JROCK – Hard Rock – JMETAL – Heavy Metal – Visual Kei – Classic Rock – Talk Shows
http://station.voscast.com/4d4cafd011739/
Find Shion on social media here:
Shion Francois Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/shion.babelradio
Babel Entertainment Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/babelentertainment
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BABEL_ROCK
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/babelvideomag
Instagram:
https://instagram.com/shionfrancois/