(11-13-2009, 12:43 PM)Tokio Wrote: I just snagged this from muirin @ livejournal (at Larc community).
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On to the really, really sad: even though as far as I'm informed no actual official statement has been made yet, we still can say for sure, that one of L'Arc~en~Ciel's roadies has died. Kondo-san died on November 7th after a motorcycle accident. If you have seen one of L'Arc's many concert DVDs I'm sure you have come across this blond roadie - he has always been there. Nearly from the beginning.
He was also working for other DangerCrue records' musicians, such as MUCC and SID. Some of them, like Yoshinori Sugimoto, have issued a personal statement, expressing their grief. For further reference: a Japanese article reporting on his death.

I'm shocked and sad about his death. He's a true loss and my thoughts are with his family and friends. Thank you for always making sure those L'Arc lives have been as great as they were! Rest in peace.

A big thank you to Viktor-HYDEist on the Ark BBS, who has collected and provided all those links, information and screencaps on that matter. I hope it's okay that I have used and relied on those so excessively.
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RIP Kondo-san. I hope you had a great life.

(11-15-2009, 06:07 PM)mamikochan Wrote: Takuya "Comet" Kondo was not just any old roadie for L'Arc. all the way back to the "Heavenly Final" 1995 at the Budokan, he was listed as the Tour Production Director and on the most recent tours as the "Total Producer". i know he did the same job on SID's most recent Hikari Tour, and i believe for Ken's In Physical tour as well, just this past summer.

he is the guy you would always see and hear on the concert backstage footage giving the final instructions during rehearsals, or calling the members together for their final pre-show ritual, usually holding the flashlight if it was dark on set. in the L'7 Documentary film, he's in the opening scenes of the tour planning meetings going over the various options.

one of the best places to see a lengthy piece of footage is on the ark and ray 15th Anniversary version dvds. he does a full discussion in "Recollection 4" of both albums of the production of 1999's Grand Cross Tour. unfortunately, it isn't subbed and i don't have a translation. but if you're curious about what he looked or sounded like, that's a good place to check it out.

so, he will be sorely missed by not just all of the members of L'Arc~en~Ciel, but all of the production and touring staff for L'Arc and solo ventures, as they all come from the same base company, and many of their fellows on the Danger Crue label and Maverick DC management staffs. not to mention all of the fans who had gotten to know him in his lesser roles, which is probably why he's often thought of as a roadie by fans who saw him packing instruments, greeting familiar faces in the crowds.

i think i would have really enjoyed getting to know this devoted man. i'm so sorry that there will never be an opportunity to say thank you for all of the hard work he has done over the years to make L'Arc's concerts such a pleasure to watch, even if just on video. my thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones, family, friends and co-workers. Rest in Peace, Kondo-san.

(11-15-2009, 06:37 PM)Hedelex Wrote:

(11-15-2009, 06:07 PM)mamikochan Wrote: Takuya "Comet" Kondo was not just any old roadie for L'Arc. all the way back to the "Heavenly Final" 1995 at the Budokan, he was listed as the Tour Production Director and on the most recent tours as the "Total Producer". i know he did the same job on SID's most recent Hikari Tour, and i believe for Ken's In Physical tour as well, just this past summer.

he is the guy you would always see and hear on the concert backstage footage giving the final instructions during rehearsals, or calling the members together for their final pre-show ritual, usually holding the flashlight if it was dark on set. in the L'7 Documentary film, he's in the opening scenes of the tour planning meetings going over the various options.

one of the best places to see a lengthy piece of footage is on the ark and ray 15th Anniversary version dvds. he does a full discussion in "Recollection 4" of both albums of the production of 1999's Grand Cross Tour. unfortunately, it isn't subbed and i don't have a translation. but if you're curious about what he looked or sounded like, that's a good place to check it out.

so, he will be sorely missed by not just all of the members of L'Arc~en~Ciel, but all of the production and touring staff for L'Arc and solo ventures, as they all come from the same base company, and many of their fellows on the Danger Crue label and Maverick DC management staffs. not to mention all of the fans who had gotten to know him in his lesser roles, which is probably why he's often thought of as a roadie by fans who saw him packing instruments, greeting familiar faces in the crowds.

i think i would have really enjoyed getting to know this devoted man. i'm so sorry that there will never be an opportunity to say thank you for all of the hard work he has done over the years to make L'Arc's concerts such a pleasure to watch, even if just on video. my thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones, family, friends and co-workers. Rest in Peace, Kondo-san.

WOW ._. sounds like he was a great person, a hard-working humble man that enjoyed what he did. It surely is a great loss for the band and for everyone that knew him in any way. Thanks on the info, Mamikochan.