Japan live - Methods of Dance with Mick Karn

In my eyes one of the best bass players with his fretless WAL bass.
Because of guys like Mick Karn, Tony Levin, Percy Jones and Pino Palladino I learned to love the bass and play myself now for a long time. Unfortunately Mick past away to soon.
Please support burningshed.com/store/mickkarn/

[@endemycon]

Saw Japans ever last concert. That was in Stockholm. Masami Tsuchiya (the guitarist seen here) jumped off the stage and down to the audience playing his guitar, standing in front of my friend so close that he reached out and toched it. That was magic.

[@takapy-]

Masami accidentally fell because the stage was very dark. He himself said that the kind audience members were the ones who let him onto the stage.

[@lambling]

Mick Karn will be loved until the stars turn cold and nothing less. Even when we burn out, his melody will linger. What a beautiful man. Rest well.

[@Mickkarnn]

WOW. YES!

[@conflictmagazine]

He's already booked to play the end of the universe party.

[@indigojones8]

Makes me wish I'd had kids just to pass along my love for his artistry.

[@pigknickers2975]

I worked with Mick one day in a studio, I'm just a jobbing sound engineer, and I must say that in my whole career he was the musician that impressed me the most with his style and imagination and superb dedicated musicianship. I just watched as a completely extraordinary track came to life from nothing. And I can't even remember the name of it! Weird I know.

[@a51stef]

Wow you're a lucky guy! What a master Mick was.

[@dezziss]

I know the feeling of not remebering, i wish i was you. Did a band from Seattle back in the 80's........In Rotterdam, Well at least we robbed the backstage and dressing room of beer and grapes,, and then Curt wanted weed..... Ok? Do i need to say more.....

[@dezziss]

Maybe i didnt do sound but im shure i made shure the fridge backstage was empty.......

[@laurasilcock5091]

Wow!

[@Vincenzo-wn1or]

thanks for sharing .. what a treat for you .. bless

[@mysticenoctua]

the voices sounds like take a nice nap in a soft velvet

[@cmykrantz]

Karn's bass line in this track is ridiculously good. It's literally a call and response counter melody within the song.

[@javierr999]

fucking amazing mick karn is a bass god

[@marybloomfield2646]

Steve Jansen and Mick Karn were a rhythm section sent from God.

[@marious888]

Masami Tsuchiya is playing guitar, it's really Japan.

[@lizc2023]

No

[@humblegamer7876]

Isn't that ryuichi sakamoto actually

[@haroharoharoharoo]

@@humblegamer7876 no , its masami tsuchiya

[@DickTruth]

I still can't get over how unique, creative, and smooth the Karn/Jansen rhythm section was. Plus, could Sylvian be any more cool? Jesus, they out-swaggered Bowie and Roxy Music.

[@a51stef]

Agreed!

[@olivermarkandmurphy]

Duran Duran straight ripped Japan off!!!

[@Muddyrich]

took it to another level

[@miskelproducts41]

I was a young teen and a musician in the mid-eighties. I know just about ALL the musical imports from England at that time. Japan was better than the majority of all of them. Their songs had a good pop sound and sensibility. And when you consider Steve Jansen's drum beats and Mick Karn's bass style, no one in the pop arena could match them. I could only imagine that it was politics in the industry that kept them from getting the industry attention that they deserved... For old times sake, the elephant in the room is that for a minute Nick Rhodes and David Sylvian looked just alike.

[@mikaelvasararadiopromo9758]

agree

[@Olgaanti]

This is a great discovery for me cause this awesome band is almost unknown in post-Soviet culture, where new wave and new romantics were and still are popular. St. Petersburg, Russia.

[@kagakazunari]

彼らはすばらしかった。from Japan

[@Chrisamusic1]

Just beautiful playing by Mick. It's the subtle finger plucks, the notes he chooses, the notes he leaves out, the slides. What a magnificent musician. RIP Mick.

[@crawford1083]

In a decade full of brilliant bass players, Mick Karn was the best.

[@nivthetool]

One of my all time best song So creative and stylish And we’ll always remember mick karn best ever bassist rip

[@NotAFanAnymore]

Effortless beauty. Let's not forget Steve Jansen on drums. Guys a talent too

[@erictilley2018]

Incredible. I got to see Steve perform a classical piece on a gong... a GONG! It was breathtaking. In Brighton with Harold Budd, John Foxx, Bill Nelson, Jah Wobble... wow.

[@mattma96]

Johnny Red And Richard for creating the atmosphere in Japan's artwork...

[@DiscoFang]

The cameramen and clip director clearly hate the drums and keyboard.

[@Larzemensch]

Exactly what I was thinking of too!

[@Muddyrich]

@@DiscoFang yeah wonder if the whole thing is like that...still life was mostly Sylvian and Karn

[@TMUNobby]

Best rhythm section ever. This is so hard to pull off live and they make it seem effortless. Amazing. Only Tony Levin and Manu Katché come close. Mick Karn playing AND singing. Come on...

[@yoshihirosonoda1654]

Tsuchiya’s guitar is super. It fits to the sounds of band very well. I’d like to listen to just one full album of this line-up. But it will not realize never forever...

[@noi3295]

its sooooo cool that it sounds nothing like the record

[@gordontaylor4184]

I saw Japan live around this time. They were astoundingly brilliant - especially considering that they started out as, basically, a New York Dolls tribute act. I am not really into seeing old bands reform to reclaim past glories but the one exception I would have made would have been for Japan. Unfortunately, without Mick Karn it just couldn't happen.

[@dougiewardlaw5730]

one of the best bass players to have graced this earth, a naturally talented musician and a great loss.

[@a51stef]

Dougie Wardlaw Agreed!

[@mattma96]

Dougie Wardlaw Yeah Mick was so multi-talented. He's also a wind-instrumentalist, a sculptor......

[@zackaroon1489]

good bloke mick

[@zackaroon1489]

I think most people know that Matt

[@Dudderlyful]

@@a51stef could not agree with you more

[@Rwjerr]

Iconic Moments: 1) First chorus, a camera movement that captured Mick Karn wonderfully at 1:24; 2) Masami Tsuchiya's theatrical performance at 3:38; 3) Last chorus, with Mick Karn's steps backwards and subsequently the camera angle capturing at the same time the bass (Karn), the guitar (Tsuchiya) and the voice (Sylvian) at 5:10.

[@vadimislearningguitar4977]

the most original bass player ever - for sure - with an otherworldly technique - i saw him live at a distance of 4 metres in Florence italy

[@arupian666]

Chills.. Choking up.. what a band, what a bass player... R.I.P. Mr Karn.

[@alexthecrow707]

Mick Karn is the reason why i've defretted my bass guitar. R.I.P Mick

[@a51stef]

+AlexTheCrow The same here!

[@ivanhozjan7137]

...And I thought I'm the only one. Well, there are a few other guys also (Doug Lunn, Mark Egan, Jaco...)

[@a51stef]

Same here

[@edchuckndoug]

Exact reason here as well.

[@spookygoo]

bloody hell thats me to the list :) relax and swing brothers! x

[@worldcitizengrendel]

Absolutely amazing, could listen this track 1.000.000 times and never would be enough.

[@a51stef]

Yep

[@josemellado6565]

Lo escucho todos dias en mi trabajo este tema

[@a51stef]

How great this is. So many positive reaction for Mick Karn. So there are a lot of bass lovers left!

[@crystalwaters8852]

Absolutely! Bass is the ❤ of a song.

[@n10hairbear]

30+ years on and they still sound as fresh and original today as they did then. I have more reasons than most to appreciate them - my wife of 25 years and I first got talking through our shared love of Japan. As for Mick Karn, a genius and a genuinely humble guy. A musician's musician as he was once described to me.

[@CusterFlux]

It's worth it to read Karn's auto-bio - I actually came away liking him as a person a lot more, while discovering a few things about myself at the same time. But I must admit, it's only for serious, serious fans who are very reflective people themselves, as it's definitely not all "rainbows and sunshine" if you know what I mean. That aside, god-dammit, they're pretty much still kids here, yet they're still making music this fantastic and sophisticated: they really where just so incredibly talented, that it was a little freaky.

[@Maxiclaudi]

CusterFlux I only know too well. I always thought the Japan guys were way ahead of me but in the end, I'm from 1962 and not that much younger than they were at the time. It's just the God-like status I attached to them, which made an enormous difference.

[@johndavis5484]

the original alternative band

[@ravisrinivas]

Karn never got the credit he deserved for his bass playing. The bass line on "Swing" stopped me dead in my tracks and made me switch to playing bass. I believe he initially played a Travis Bean fretless and then moved over to Wal..

[@Doyouhavetoask]

He did indeed

[@Parky1964]

@@Doyouhavetoask Swing is amazing and absolutely blows me away..

[@ajadrew]

Stunning! This track & Swing never left my turntable - saw them at The lyceum Ballroom as well. RIP Mick

[@Ezzerguru]

Swing… I’m with you all the way.

[@ajadrew]

@@Ezzerguru 👍

[@DahcipheR]

Karn is such a bassists bassist. I love scrolling Japan vids and reading the love. RIP

[@Scotty-P]

That panning shot past Mick Karn at 1:27 when the music changes is just magic!

[@amberstonehouse9288]

Mick’s bass pared with Steve’s drums is a match made in heaven

[@a51stef]

Period

[@xprs1257]

Mick Karn !!! What a sound.

[@DonHaka]

Gosh i love Sylvian's melodies. They are so unique especially going for the very low notes in some phrases.

[@larrymccue8097]

This album is one of my favourites. They were doing stuff nobody else was and doing it very well. Miss those days.

[@joshjones597]

saw Japan live on two occasions,, now many years later they still blow me out of the water,, simply superb.

[@a51stef]

Wish I had seen them live...

[@lotuselise4432]

Saw them at Hammersmith Odean a few times, amazing live.

[@briancox8518]

Fantastic band and Richard barberi is a legend in porcupine tree

[@martmako1]

multi-talented Mick Karn, monster on the bass and sax player too, just so effortless along the strings, pure class.

[@user-ei6xx8qb2b]

途中の土屋昌巳氏の「ギターを弾かない姿」が、カッコ良すぎて何回、見ても涙が出そうになります。教授等の盟友が旅立って行ってしまいましたが、一度は、生の御姿を拝見（ギターを拝聴）したいです。

[@briz1965]

stood in front of the great mick karn at de montfort hall leicester 1982 - witnessed 'the shuffle' first hand - what a great night that was

[@trawlerboyjay]

briz1965 I was at that concert too. Not as close as you but it was a great night nonetheless

[@thepanel2935]

*_What's a good video where I see Mick doing his strange tip-toe 'glide' thing? I've seen it vaguely in a Japan video somewhere, but I want to take a proper look at his way of shuffling around on a stage._*

[@briz1965]

@@thepanel2935 I'm pretty sure he does this on a song on the old grey whistle test. search OGWT or see Canton from this video

[@blackendwiththeend]

土屋さんが完全に溶け込んでいるのが凄い！

[@mattma96]

Masami Tsuchiya is the perfect guitarist for Japan~

[@manami2981]

Thank you for uploading. This is my favorite song from Japan. It was great live too. Love,from Japan

[@jasonhilbert6466]

My favorite from the album.

[@thecozystorm]

Mick Karn was the king of fretless bass. A lot of people do not know what a difficult instrument it is, not just from a playing standpoint, but to replicate the work each time is nearly impossible. He pulled it off though, in spades. Love you Mick.

[@bovinedowie2803]

He plays off many times. You can hear it on the numerous live tapes of concerts

[@hexyko4850]

@@bovinedowie2803 He might play off sometimes but I urge you to try, don't think you could play like him.

[@bovinedowie2803]

@@hexyko4850 I know that and I do own a fretless bass and have done so for many many years. It IS hard to play live. I simply said you can hear many mistakes or off notes on the numerous live tapes out there.

[@hendog5667]

@@bovinedowie2803 das what makes the fretless sick tho is even tho it's slightly off it gives a different vibe every time and it just feels like there is more freesom

[@DrZacsAstrology]

Brilliant band.Jansen was a seriously good drummer too.

[@Maxiclaudi]

Still is!! Never forget him, he's been performing on loads of other albums too, apart from working with his brother David.

[@DrZacsAstrology]

That's good news,i enjoyed the Dolphin Brothers,plus the solo/collaboration stuff on 'Medium' records.

[@glynwilliams1786]

RIP Mick you wonderful bassist.

[@ivonepereira8838]

This is the most pure expression of thr New Romantic style. They were amazingly gorgeous gorgeous, but Mick Karn was not only so stunning beautiful and sexy but the most talented bass player. As a daughter of the European New Romantic movement this band was a big love and Mick Karn my darling crush of the band. 🥰😍💋💋💋

[@markuselipka]

5:10 watch mick karn - that`s where st.vincent`s annie clarke got that move from...

[@deidelx2463]

Years by years I still thinking that this is the most beautiful thing ever in music (and not only), the most perfect, nobody has never reached this aesthetic alien highness in music…goosebumps, for ever

[@Velvet0Starship2013]

I sat next to David Sylvian in a cafe in Mpls in 1995 (he was with Ingrid) and got his autograph for a friend who was singing in a German band, at the time, that was "strongly influenced" by Japan. Sylvian was super nice. However, I still think Mick Karn was the most talented musician in Japan! Absurdly over-looked bass prodigy.

[@thecozystorm]

I lived in Sonoma for a time when Sylvian did as well. Happy you found him nice, because he was a total prick (aka "don't you know who I am" style) in that don't notice me, why aren't you noticing me sort of way.

[@Velvet0Starship2013]

dvz2333 Yes, behaviour like that is usually indicative of a certain insecurity... they're afraid you know that they know that they aren't as good as they're hoping you think they might be! laugh

[@PhillipJohnsonZENOPHILE]

Velvet-Starship-NOW Feet of clay anyone? (Know the feeling.)

[@thecozystorm]

.

[@thecozystorm]

thecatspajamasny Sylvian is many things. Shy is not one of them.

[@Lyons010101]

Got to love Mick Karn's bass playing . Along with Simple Minds' Derek Forbes, two of my favourite players

[@a51stef]

Lyons010101 Funny you said that. I am now in a Simple Minds Tribute band !! Never made the link..

[@tommym1966]

My two favourite bands and two favourite bass players at the time

[@andreaprodan5616]

Lyons010101 exactly!!!!

[@thomassharoniard4629]

0:33 Masami is blazing I've shivers along in the spine

[@isaacatkybrown]

I remember seeing Japan perform live and Mick Karn was mesmerising on stage: he would sort of shuffle across the full width in perfect time with a strobe light effect and he moved without appearing to move!

[@Fifty1stState.]

I had Oil On Canvas on VHS & CD, wore them out!

[@citic101]

vinyl oil on canvas and still have it at home

[@ericamacleod7245]

Me too. Still have the 2nd set of vinyl in my collection. I had to buy it again after wearing out the 1st set. Spent many a fine hour enjoying Oil on Canvas. These guys brought something new & exciting to the western musical landscape. They were a phenomena, well ahead of their time. What a pity they couldn’t have negotiated or worked out their professional/personal issues. Just when Japan was really gaining some traction on it’s skyward journey, they had to call it a day. Was a sad time for steadfast fans, that’s for sure😔

[@JamboLinnman]

Me too... VHS, CD, vinyl and DVD (included on a later release with all their music videos). Still play the vinyl record regularly. Takes me back to the Edinburgh gig in ‘82!

[@puroleguy]

god i love this band so much.. i’m 16 and i wish i could have seen them live

[@user-uq2dj1zc5w]

今見てもめっちゃかっこいいわ

[@1Cortexiphan]

Mick Karn's bass is amazing. RIP Mick.

[@grahamheard1102]

Well said darling, you obviously have great taste when it comes to music.

[@CusterFlux]

Impeccable performance & image by Karn - for which he probably got paid barely enough to dry clean his suit.

[@johnadedoyin6866]

This song has one of the craziest rhythm sections of all time. This is not an exaggeration if you think about it.

[@grilka2000]

Visual and musical excellence

[@trembling3674]

I never use the word sophistication to describe much but I'd describe this song writing as such. I love it.

[@takaa4159]

すごく好きな曲です。当時を思い出す…

[@a51stef]

?

[@maezan3313]

Today july 24 Mick would have turned 64...

[@helfmeyerglenn491]

My favorite band from that era... along with simple minds, souxie, and ultravox... Never got to see Japan live unfortunately.... Still follow Sylvian although it's a lot more mellow. Have always loved his voice tho'....

[@juandemm1976]

Incredible band and marvelous bass player Mick Karn will live forever in our souls

[@andresetc]

Only the good die young. RIP Mick.

[@a51stef]

+Andres Etchenique Agree

[@pamir-alichortv7291]

Iron Maiden

[@LeviTate2000]

He was 52 and smoked his entire life.

[@fabrizioruzza6244]

MICK KARN SEMPLICEMENTE IMMENSO

[@tttappin]

Last performance and with a member of Y.M.O. wow!!!

[@stuartfrance811]

Masami Tsuchiya was not a member of YMO... (Ippu Do)

[@Parky1964]

A band I have loved since first hearing Polaroids in 1980, to this day I still love to listen. I agree with many on here that Mick was amazing, his bass lines were sublime and so creative. Saw them at Leeds Queens Hall 1981 I believe and so glad i did..

[@richcorn1]

Saw Japan on this tour 1982 - and there it is all of my teenage years in one place one band one style one hair cut - phenomenal

[@TheNuevafuerza]

🔥so cool

[@thechronicnoizeco.6675]

Never seen this but have been listening to it since i was a kid. Fascinating.

[@nboni100]

because of this song i felt in love with the group and all their music, great musicians and great songs

[@elis__nbnb]

that middle eight breaks my heart, perfect song

[@williamz0]

Just utter genius bass playing...... can never be replicated.

[@Mikeyp1054]

rip mick,south London based school days up the road from me.may you rest in peace

[@jamesbromfield9070]

Such a groove

[@briz1965]

it's too soon. Saw them at Leicester 1981-2? and was in front of Mick. Very musically good live, Dave was a bit off but at least he showed up. Mick must have lost two pounds in sweat skimmying around all night. Great times.

[@a51stef]

Wow never saw the man live..

[@antonioskoutsoyiannis5319]

RIP, Respect, see you sometime, Mick. Mr Sylvian, we are lucky to have you with us. Tony, Thessaloniki, Greece.

[@desaderridian]

At their peak. Stylish glam even for their times. Crazy-ass time signatures! Such great memories.

[@kronossonork6994]

All the early 80s new wave acts were superficial commercial guff. Japan were truly the exception on so many levels, the kind of harmonic chemistry between Sylvian and Karn was rare even then, unlikely to be seen again.

[@danavixen6274]

When beauty and talent are combined. Much love to Japan! ❤️

[@lewischange9470]

One year for Christmas I received a fretted bass guitar. A few years later I got into Japan and yanked all the frets from the bass and glued strips of wood veneer into the empty fret slots. I wanted to sound like Mick Karn. Nope!

[@user-tb8kx1oo5d]

素晴らしい、最高のバンドだ。何回見てもイイ‼

[@andrewmountford3608]

It's quite phenomenal how unique and brilliant they were...and still are. It stands up today.

[@prillewitz]

Lovely crazy synth.

[@Roman-gi1gi]

Really interesting bass guitar player!

[@always_weltschmerz]

I can't describe my feelings while listening to this. And when they sing together.. omg it's something amazing ♥

[@hhaannnnaahh222]

Just a spectacle in the best way, so strange and beautifully captivating. I'm 27 and just got into Japan this year but I'm totally in love with all their albums!

[@Ronaldo_ga]

This is a performance!!!

[@anhedonia2078]

its so fucking good

[@stefanaslin4196]

Absolutely fantastic!! Such talent..

[@MrToonfish]

If you guys listen carefully to this Mick bassline, you'll probably not hearing a bassist and a bassline... you'll hear a genius and one absolutely beautiful signing bassline. Mick will stay one of my top 5 bass player of all time. As a bass player myself, there are so many bassists I can't stand (like Jaco for example ! yeah I know, I'm stupid) but Mick Karn, oh god... I miss him so much even these days. No one will replace him, never.

[@a51stef]

Ahh I have the same with Jaco. Great great but did not do to much for me. MK did. I spend nights practising his uniqiq slides. I even ruined 2 bass guitars by getting the unfret.

[@GAIVSCALIGVLA]

Do you ever see something and immediately know that it’s the work of a genius?

[@mobiuspaw494]

Mick karn one of the greats !

[@adrianthompson9615]

Mick is a legend RIP. its such a shame that personal and musical differences ruined such a great band, who were years ahead of their time!

[@arielnaif]

What a precious version of Method of Dance. Mick is a god!

[@MB-ke9mi]

While I am remiss to say that I missed this band back in the 80s. I listened to KROQ all day and night but somehow missed Japan. I'm extremely happy that I found them now what an amazing treasure.

[@gregjay1537]

Top shelf no doubt. Mick fought a long protracted battle against cancer. He fought until the end. Bravo My Son... One of the best ever!!!

[@georgelee8914]

Beat cancer at any cost in memory of mick kahn rip

[@georgelee8914]

David love mick

[@ericamacleod7245]

What type of cancer did Mick die from? Have heard different stories...

[@andytrezise4830]

Never been a band like them. Way beyond their years. Mick Karn was a true genius and then one that gave the group their distinctive style. Pity Sylvian split the band up. RIP Mick.