Maximum Rocknroll interview (10/94)

Guitar Wolf are a mind-blowing, spasmodic, sloppy, hilarious rock'n'roll trio from Japan. They all wear leather pants and have enough cool moves to teach their own class of classic rock'n'roll posturing. Some people think the band is so bad they're good. Others, myself included, prefer to think they're plain brilliant. I mean, what can you say about a band where the singer has a room in his house that is a Joan Jett shrine where he meditates. This interview transpired after their San Francisco show June 11th at the Bottom of the Hill with The Rip-Offs and Teengenerate. Interview by Devon Morf, Eric Bradford and Nori and Rebecca Korzuma. Photos by Jennifer Simpson.

MRR: Let's start with band member introductions...

S: Seiji, guitar.

B: Billy, bass.

C: Cracker, drums.

MRR: So this is your second trip to America, last year you played at Garage Shock among other shows. This tour, which cities have you played so far?

S: Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco...

C: Vancouver.

S: Vancouver.

MRR: How did you arrange booking the tour?

S: Last tour we only intended to play Garage Shock, but after that we managed to pick up more shows.

MRR: How was Memphis?

S: Great. I love Memphis.

MRR: You played only one show there?

S: Yes, one show.

MRR: How did you get that show booked?

S: Do you know The Oblivians? Eric works at a record shop there and they asked us to come. He made it happen. A great guy. I'd do anything for him.

MRR: Did you know before you left Japan that he intended to release a live album of Guitar Wolf, or was that a surprise?

S: Eric recorded us. Just "Ramble" is recorded live. I just handed a bad cassette tape and we recorded in my basement to him. He used that to press the record. His sense is great! I love Eric.

MRR: Is that your only release or does Guitar Wolf have other records?

S: Our new CD will come out on a Japanese label called Less Than TV. Our third release will be on Bag Of Hammers.

MRR: Do you think there is a difference between crowd reaction in Japan and America?

S: Maybe it's the same, I don't really know because my sunglasses get all steamed up when we play and I can't see anything. (laughter)

MRR: Is it mandatory that you all chew gum when you play live?

C: I wasn't chewing gum, I just make it appear that I am. (laughter)

S: He doesn't chew gum, but he works for a company in Japan that manufactures gum!

MRR: Really?

S: I'm joking. (laughter)

MRR: So Seiji, you're originally from Kyshu (Japan's southern island); when did you move to Tokyo?

S: After high school.

MRR: Did you move in order to form a band?

S: I moved because I was inspired by the band Carol and wanted to play in a band that was like them.

MRR: So how about your style? You seem to incorporate the styles of Eddie Cochran, Heartbreakers, Link Ray and transform them into something new.

S: I never thiught about it deeply. All we try to do is recreate the images we have of great rock and rollers, great rock and roll musicians. All we want to do is jump around with the guitar playing.

MRR: Tonight you had a member of the crowd come up and play guitar while you sang. Did you know that person?

S: I didn't know him. Usually every time we play we take someone on stage to play with us.

MRR: (To Seiji): So you seem to have the serious Joan Jett action going, a Runaways shirt and pin!

S: Yes, Joan Jett! Johnny Thunders, Ramones, Elvis...

MRR: So which show in America has been your most favorite?

S: We like to play with the Devil Dogs. They're great. Though we'll play with the Oblivians in Memphis tomorrow.

MRR: So you're flying to Memphis tonight?

S: No, tomorrow morning, last night we played Chicago, after Memphis we'll play more.

MRR: So you're flying between all the shows?

S: Yes, we got really cheap summer tickets for foreigners. Only $500 to fly to any city in the US for an entire month. But it's all on standby. So we have to wake up early in the morning. Goodnight!

Guitar Wolf c/o Seiji 2-3-8 Tamagawa-dai, Setagaya-ku Tokyo, Japan