Various Artists Gary Moore,Ratt,Bon Jovi,Mr. Big,Van Halen,Def Leppard,Aerosmith/Japanese Broadcast Treasures Vol.2

This is the second installment in the highly acclaimed “JAPANESE BROADCAST TREASURES” series. While the previous release was excellent, this edition guarantees content of overwhelming quality that surpasses its predecessor in terms of rarity. Whereas the last volume covered a wide range of genres from rock to pop, this one focuses specifically on hard rock and heavy metal artists from the mid-80s to the late 90s. These aren’t just run-of-the-mill clips; the selection, picture quality, and rarity are all top-tier, resulting in a compilation so magnificent that one wonders if it will ever be possible to top it in this series. It kicks off with a live broadcast of “Only Lonely” by Bon Jovi from their second Japan tour on May 1, 1985. A single from the album *7800° Fahrenheit*, this is incredibly rare footage of the band from before they became global superstars. Even those who already own this footage have likely never seen a take this pristine. While the youthful appearance of Jon and the band members is striking, they exude a level of presence and atmosphere that makes it hard to believe less than a year had passed since their “Super Rock ’84” appearance. The second track features Ratt performing their then-current single “Dance” on the same program during their second visit to Japan in 1987; the five members command the screen with an overwhelming superstar presence and their signature flashy style. The footage clearly illustrates the immense popularity they enjoyed among female fans in Japan at the time. Viewers will undoubtedly be captivated by the sight of Robbin Crosby—striking poses at the far left of the screen—at the absolute peak of his form. Even more impressive is the subsequent footage of Gary Moore from July 15, 1987. While the picture quality is astonishing—instantly rendering all previously circulating versions obsolete—the real highlight is the opening 2 minutes and 30 seconds, which appear here for the first time. (This is distinct from the conversation segment previously included in the “TV Appearance” section.) While the footage of Gary posing for a commemorative telephone card with the studio band members is impressive (Gary actually directs the poses!), the real surprise comes when a trio of women in swimwear appears—apparently to showcase swimsuits suitable for hot springs. The camera clearly captures Gary looking flustered and unsure of where to look in the face of these women! Next, you can watch “Over The Hills And Far Away” in the best picture quality ever seen, though the impact of the preceding scene is so overwhelming it’s almost distracting. Cinderella delivers an energetic performance of their hit “Somebody Save Me,” dating back to their first visit to Japan in 1987. This is followed by rare footage of Def Leppard—likely appearing on home video for the first time—performing “Hysteria” via satellite broadcast on March 20, 1988. The performance took place on a specially constructed stage in front of Strasbourg Cathedral in France; the fact that a stage was built specifically for this broadcast symbolizes both the immense power of Japanese TV stations during the lead-up to the “bubble economy” era and the massive popularity of Western music at the time. The twin-guitar interplay between Steve Clark and Phil Collen during the instrumental break is truly moving. We then jump forward to 1997. While the earlier 80s footage consisted entirely of mimed performances for the same program, the studio sets by Aerosmith and Mr. Big are genuine live performances that are well worth watching. Aerosmith performs “Falling In Love” from the *Nine Lives* era, while Mr. Big performs around the time of their first greatest-hits album, *BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST!*—a period that marked the end of their initial run as a band. In that sense, too, these are precious live performances. The final segment features a live TV appearance from October 27, 1998, during the “Van Halen III” era—when former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone had joined as the new lead vocalist—showing Gary and Eddie performing “Josephina” as a duo. This is an incredibly rare find in every respect! 1. Bon Jovi – Only Lonely (Tokyo 1985) 2. Ratt – Dance (Tokyo 1987) 3. Gary Moore – Q&A 1 (Tokyo 1987) 4. Gary Moore – Q&A 2 (Tokyo 1987) 5. Gary Moore – Over The Hills And Far Away (Tokyo 1987) 6. Cinderella – Somebody Save Me (Tokyo 1987) 7. Def Leppard – Hysteria (Strasbourg, France 1988) 8. Aerosmith – Falling In Love (Tokyo 1997) 9. Mr. Big – To Be With You (Tokyo 1997) 10. Mr. Big – Stay Together (Tokyo 1997) 11. Van Halen – Josephina (Tokyo 1998) PRO-SHOT COLOR NTSC Approx. 38 min.