DIESEL

As highlighted in Lost In Translation, there's an interesting sideline for Hollywood actors in Japanese adverts.  Just like when a band becomes that cliche 'big in Japan', which has often been used to justify the fact that an act is less than well-endowed in the Western fanbase area, it's both a nice little earner yet something of an embarrassment for the actors concerned.  Careful not to be seen as sell-outs in their own country, the actors will take a big payday to advertise washing powder or somesuch in Tokyo, whilst keeping it quiet lest the people back home see them for the whores that they are.

We don't b elieve in do ing things by the rulebook here, so we've flipped the script for Tokyo's xXx.  Our latest additions ar en't using their reps to get a big ad campaign and make tons of Yen, cos they've already soundtracked two of the most influential and iconic adverts ever made.  Whatever you think of the unholy business of marketing, you've gotta admit that this and this are goddamn brilliant adverts.

Since the Flat Eric commercials, Mr Oizo has been a key player in establishing Ed Banger as one of the most important record labels in the world.  Still making music every bit as funky and filthy as the Levi's track 'Flat Beat', he makes regular appearances on the Ed Rec compilations, and dipped back into advertising by doing the music for the Ed Rec Vol. 2 promo, which itself is both sonically and visually a work of utter genius.

Junkie XL's remix of Elvis' 'A Little Less Conversation' brought about a new wave of enthusiasm for The King back in 2002, as well as a deserved appreciation of the Dutch producer who over the years has remixed absolutely bloody everyone.  In fact, the Elvis remix was the first to ever be approved by his estate, whilst Coldplay, Fatboy Slim, Avril Lavigne and Justin Timberlake have all at some stage felt the tender caress of his beat-driven remix fingers.  He's also been big in the computer game soundtrack... err... game, contributing to tons of EA titles.  He's currently prepping his new album 'Booming Back At You', which we're guessing isn't going to be a delicate acoustic affair.

Two more of the world's most sought after musicians added to Tokyo's bill then.  You don't need a multi-million dollar marketing campaign to know that xXx is gonna be awesome do you?

xXx takes place on October 11th 2008 in: Tokyo, Beijing, Dubai, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Athens, Milan, Zurich, Paris, Munich, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Oslo, Helsinki, London, Sao Paolo and New York.  More acts to be confirmed soon.

For your chance to play at Diesel xXx, sign up to Diesel:U:Music before August 31st.