NOTE: Evidently Japan's immigration authorities didn't share our enthusiasm about Lew Lewis's return to the country. Promoters Vinyl Japan have announced that Lewis was denied entry into the country, owing to his prior criminal record, meaning that all dates of his tour have been cancelled.
Everyone remembers Cyndi Lauper, but the pop chanteuse wasn't the only overseas performer who insisted on playing in Tokyo during the dark days immediately following March 11. After being convicted for armed robbery, developing a heroin addiction while in jail and later getting diagnosed with bipolar disaster, Lew Lewis wasn't going to let earthquakes, tsunami and a triple nuclear meltdown keep him away from his first-ever Japan gigs. And bravo to that. A year on, the harmonica-wielding R&B survivor is returning for a victory lap of sorts, with three dates scheduled in Tokyo this weekend. The Lew Lewis Band also play at Fever on Friday 9 and Sunday 11.