Billboard - News - BIGBANG Reflect on Their World Tour in Exclusive Q&A

"We really shine when we are on stage together. We are the most passionate when performing BIGBANG music. It was a new feeling for us to perform in so many different countries," the K-pop princes say

So, really, how big are K-pop sensations BIGBANG? The indomitable boy band has been covered extensively in the media for international chart success (their Korean "Alive" EP charted on the Billboard 200), YouTube clicks (over half a billion official views) and scandals (usually a career killer in Korea). But, perhaps, the stats from their first world tour speaks loudest.

BIGBANG has seemingly locked down their title as one of K-pop's reigning megastars with one of the highest-grossing tours in K-pop history. The five members--G-Dragon, T.O.P., Taeyang, Seungri and Daesung -- embarked their very first, world tour, "BIGBANG Alive Galaxy Tour," on March 2, 2012.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: BIGBANG in Concert

The outing hit markets in 24 cities of 12 countries for a total of 48 shows (19 shows in Japan, six in South Korea, four in the U.S., three each in China and Hong Kong, two each in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and the U.K. and one each in The Philippines, Malaysia and Peru). In 10 months time, the group traveled 89,000 miles through the Americas, Europe and Asia.

The tour played arenas, domes and stadiums across the globe, wowing an estimated 800,000 fans with a large-scale, over-the-top production featuring bedazzled LED stages, stage props and costumes. At their East Coast stop, Billboard spent time with the boys backstage and got a sense of the massive production.

BIGBANG sold out tickets for each original show and had to add additional dates due to high demand in places like New Jersey, California and Peru; an incredible feat for their first time performing outside of Asia. In Peru, BIGBANG caused quite the pandemonium. The fans (know as VIPs) that have gathered weren't just Peruvian locals; some traveled all the way from Brazil, Ecuador, Columbia, and South American countries.

Reports said thousands of fans and local press waited outside of their hotels and pitched tents more than a week before the actual concert that was held Nov. 14.

BIGBANG completed the tour with an emotional three-day finale concert in Seoul at the end of January.

After successfully concluding the tour, BIGBANG found the time to regroup and talk to Billboard for an exclusive Q&A.

Billboard: Hello BIGBANG! Congratulations on completing such a long and successful tour! How does it feel now that it has come to a close?
BIGBANG: We realized through this world tour that we really shine when we are on stage together. We are the most passionate when performing BIGBANG music. It was a new feeling for us to perform in so many different countries. We were really excited.

You hit so many different countries, visiting four different continents. Can you tell us some of your experiences in the different countries?In Peru, we couldn’t believe that there were thousands of fans lined up at the airport, hotel and concert venue. They were outside singing our songs! We thought we were in an amusement park while we were resting in our rooms because of all the screaming. We are extremely thankful to all the fans. It is an amazing feeling to be so welcomed.

For the concert in New Jersey, due to the storm (a week after Hurricane Sandy), we had to change our flight three times and eventually get on the last flight available. 30 minutes before landing, the pilot announced that we would be rerouted to Buffalo because JFK Airport conditions were unsafe. This sent our staff into a panic because we were only 14 or so hours away from the concert. Even if we were somehow to get on a bus, it would get us to the concert venue just in time to get on stage and perform. Luckily, after we landed, there was a 50% chance that we could take off again and head toward JFK. After about an hour of anxiously waiting, we took off to JFK. The landing was very turbulent and scary but we landed safely and all of the passengers applauded the flight crew. We were concerned if people could actually come and see us perform. After seeing the venue packed with people and seeing all of our fans that day it really touched our hearts.

So many of your shows sold out so quickly, you needed to add more dates to satisfy all the fans. What is your reaction to such a big, global response?It's clear that not only in Asia, but that many people from countries across the globe love BIGBANG and K-pop. We were so proud that many fans came to see our concerts. More shows were being added because the original dates were selling out so quickly. When we heard that news, that’s when we realized that we were actually on a full-scale world tour.

Did any one country's fans stick out to you?Actually, it’s hard to pick one country because it was our first time visiting many of these countries. No matter how big or small the concert was, we were happy to meet our fans from all over the world and to feel their energy

source: Billboard via UKBIGBANG