Impress L’Arc~en~Ciel’s Hyde with Chocolate
Valentine’s Day – that celebration of love, romance, and Catholic martrydom – is almost here. Whether you cherish it or despise it, you can’t really get away from it, so we asked a few of our favorite bands to share their own experiences. Funny, bitter, sad, romantic, tragically awkward...they didn't hold back. So if you're dreading V-Day, read on! You're not alone.
Is love easier if you’re a legendary rockstar? We turn to J-rockers L’Arc~en~Ciel for an answer.
On the heels of their 12th album release and on the verge of a massive global tour that includes a headlining performance at NYC’s Madison Square Garden on March 23rd, lead vocalist Hyde took a minute to talk to us about Valentine’s Days past, present, and future.
We expected epic tales of fireworks watched from private airplanes and decadent baths in tubs filled with champagne, but it turns out that size (of your fanbase, pervert!) really doesn’t matter. Much like our other rockstar love confessions, Hyde’s memories are of private loneliness.
Hyde of L'Arc~en~Ciel. Photo courtesy artist.
Someone get the man some chocolate, stat.
What’s your most memorable/worst/funniest Valentine’s Day date?
Well in Japan, Valentine’s Day is a day when girls give chocolate to boys, but the only thing I remember about that day is my mom and my grandma gave me chocolate. That’s it.
What is the most hated Valentine’s Day tradition in your country?
I didn’t care if I get chocolate from girls, but I didn’t like to be believed I was expecting to receive some.
If you really did want to impress someone on Valentine’s Day, what would you do?
As I said, Valentine’s Day in Japan is “girls giving chocolate to boys” day, so if a girl I like gives me a chocolate, that’s enough to make me impressed.
If you HAD to pick the most romantic song ever, what would you pick and why?
Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home”