Here's some stories about Yoshi Takada - who is the guitar designer/guitar builder - and Jamie.

Yoshi has his own brand guitar shop "FLAMES" and sells the custom guitars. He is a big fan of QUEEN, and he first met Jamie in 1998. Since then he is also a big fan of Jamie.


FLAMES
2F, 3-97, Hanasaki-cho, Naka-ku,
Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken,
231-0063 Japan

TEL&FAX: 81-045-242-2064


Mr. Flipper - this is the name of the guitar that I gave Jamie while he was in Japan with Brian May 1998. Here's the stoy of the guitar and Jamie...

At first, I was supposed to give "Mr. Flipper" only to Brian. It was at the backstage of Shibuya Kokaido in Tokyo, I gave Brian silver "Mr. Flipper" and talked with him.

Then Jamie came to us with saying "Woow!!" In fact, he was always smiling and came up to me when I was talking with someone. I felt as if he was just a little boy.

I gave Jamie a T-shirt featuring my company logo "FLAMES". I supposed he wanted to have the guitar as well. But to be honest,  I hesitated to give him the guitar, as it was NOT a cheap gift and he was just an unknown musician to me, although he was a good guy.



And then it was in Nagoya. Just before the show had started, I was with Eric Singer in the passage of the left side of the stage. Then when the rest of the band came there, I found that though Jamie was wearing my gift T-shirt a short while ago, he had change his clothes! So I said to him "Hey! Where's the FLAMES name?"

This is our conversation at that time.
Jamie said "Oh, blah-blah....." (It seems that Yoshi couldn't catch what Jamie said well. According to Jamie, he JOKED that he would only wear it again if he could have a guitar too.)
Eric "Hey, he wants that guitar too."
Yoshi "Oh really? You really want one?"
Jamie "Yess!!"
Yoshi "Umm, alright, maybe Osaka."
Jamie "Oh yes! Maybe Osaka, thank you!"

And I decided to give Jamie the guitar.

I had to go back to Tokyo once for my business. So I was late for the show in Osaka and I gave him blue "Mr. Flipper" after the show.

I think if only I gave him the guitar before the show, he might play it at the show.


coming soon....


coming soon.....