S/milage’s “Suki-chan,” Berryz Koubou’s “Maji Bomber!!“, and so on and so forth. When the song calls for a band sound with loud guitars, Itagaki Yusuke is the man you want. A guitarist himself, what has he learned about individuality through working on so many different types of songs?
— Please tell us how you first got started in music.
Itagaki: Back in junior high school we were learning how to play the guitar in music class. It was just the classical guitar, but nevertheless, that was the first time in my life that I got to touch a guitar. Some of my classmates at the time happened to be playing the guitar as well, and I guess I was influenced by them because once I’d touched it, I just got completely hooked. Then I’d try forming bands with my friends… we were really into playing stuff like Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Mr. Big, bands like that.
— Were there any other bands you liked just as a listener, aside from the hard rock stuff?
Itagaki: I listened to lots of the so-called “Being-era” ZARD and Oguro Maki. There was something very catchy about Oda Tetsuro’s melodies — something with his music just clicked with me. Whenever I’m working on idol songs, those sorts of melody lines just pop into my mind naturally.
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