Japan fans
Star-Bulletin
follow bandJapanese surf band Tube's first American concert at Aloha Stadium at 7:30 p.m. June 1 will add nearly $20 million to Hawaii's economy, Gov. Ben Cayetano announced yesterday.
The popularity in Japan of the four-member group -- lead vocalist Nobutero Maeda, lead guitarist and keyboardist Michiya Haruhata, bassist Hideyuki Kakuno and drummer Ryoji Matsumoto -- so far has led to the sale of 12,000 tickets in Japan for the Hawaii show, promoter Tom Moffatt said.
The elaborate staging and its transportation here will cost about $2 million and include special effects and high-tech pyrotechnics that have never been done before in Hawaii in such a venue. Staging reportedly will include an exploding volcano.
The Hawaii concert has been intensely promoted in Japan for more than a month.
Tickets will go on sale April 28 locally, with locations to be announced. Field seats will be $75, and seats in the stands $25.
To commemorate their Hawaii appearance, Tube is releasing in record stores Monday an English version of their hit "Sha La La" to benefit Easter Seals Hawaii's education program. The recording also features local singers Robi Kahakalau, Jeff Rasmussen, Robert Kekaula, Natural Vibrations, Malani Bilyeu and Jennifer Perri.
"Blue Reef" was the group's 1999 album. In Japan, the group has become identified with Hawaii because its album covers usually feature a local beach scene. They have been recording their albums here since 1990.
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