Aaron Rubin photo
The first time I saw Guitar Wolf, the band arrived at a beloved Adelaide venue on Hindley Street on a stinking hot day, straight from the airport, heavily clad in black leather, black T-shirts and dark glasses.
The audience they drew pretty much all knew each other - Guitar Wolf is a delightful gift from Japan shared by word-of-mouth. They gave us all the finger while arriving and immediately went to the stage ... and rocked like you always wanted to when you were an impressionable little kid.
There were only two pauses during the two-and-a-half hour set: one, when main man Seiji pulled up members of the audience and made them form a human pyramid (it collapsed, frequently), and the second when Seiji took his guitar off and demanded a guitar player from the audience. Numerous local musicians scrambled frantically toward the stage, only to be told, “No. That guy!”
Chuck Livid photo
Dear reader, 'that guy” was someone none of us knew, some scruffy character who had somehow bumbled in off the street. God knows he had no idea where he was, he was so damn drunk he probably couldn't remember his name.
Seiji got him up on stage and put the guitar around his neck. The result ... no, he didn't suddenly light the air with power chords. The poor boob had no fucking idea what he was doing.
He looked utterly bemused and bewildered at the guitar as if he'd never seen one of the things before ... he dropped the pick about eight times, and simply had no clue about what he was about. From memory, Seiji held his fingers on the pick and moved his hand enough to strum.
It was a wonderful, life-affirming gig, one of very few that I've seen. We walked out onto Hindley Street coated in sweat and filled with the joy and love of humanity.
That Guitar Wolf gig is crammed into my Top 10 Gigs (er, sure, so there's about forty or more of those, but whadda ya gonna do?).
Guitar Wolf have 13 (international) studio LPs, numerous singles, a live LP, a DVD compilation and roles in B-movies to their credit and - British motorcycle jacket maker Lewis Leathers have released Guitar Wolf leather jacket, known as the “723 Memphis”.
Seiji describes shis band's music as “Jet Rock”.
Now then, if you think you love rock'n'roll and have never seen Guitar Wolf - even though they've toured your town - listen up: you don't love rock'n'roll. In fact, your kind of “rock” is clearly the likes of Foghat, the Nicks-era Fleetwood Mac, and lame-period Bowie (and probably the Grateful Dead's commercial LPs). Please stop reading this piece and go put your mac'n'cheese into the blender and pull out your straw, and then go back to your beige-rebel drink of choice: heavily diluted bright red cordial. I'm sure a nurse will be around soon to tuck you back into bed and make sure you take your handful of Tramadols.
From the Guitar Wolf website:
They are Rock’n roll heroes in existence. They are special to us like no other.
They have been making a lot of legends and playing sound the impulse as always from '90s. Their music is very extreme and very loud; just like Rock’n roll should be. Seiji’s lyrics have a sense of individual humor and evoked a sense of “Galaxy” & “The Showa”. The three guys cover themselves with a black leather that their sound is the same as a long time ago. They are always pursuing their style. Their perseverance had an effect on each others.
Guitar Wolf has always pushed forward, beyond the boundaries of any one-dimensional rock trio. They will go on increasing Guitar wolf avid fans all over the world.
Anyway, Guitar Wolf are heading to Australia one more time and, since they're not touring Adelaide (who can blame them, eh?) I thought I'd fire off a few questions to band leader and leather shamen, Seiji.
Rob Coon photo
I-94 Bar: What first captured your heart about Link Wray?
Seiji: His wild eyes shining beneath his ducktail and the strange, vase-shaped guitar he was holding. I later found out it was a Danelectro Longhorn, but I was instantly captivated by his jacket as he stood there holding it.
I-94 Bar: You once said that Link Wray's 'Rumble' saved your life. Can you explain in more detail?
Seiji: I've given up on guitar so many times because I couldn't even hold down an F chord. If it was that difficult at such an early stage, I thought I'd never be able to play guitar. Then I heard "Rumble". Just changing the chord from D to E turned into such a cool song. That was the moment I realized that guitar was good enough! So "Rumble" saved me from my many setbacks. If I hadn't had a guitar back then, I wouldn't be who I am today.
I-94 Bar: Link Wray isn't your only influence, is he? Are there any songs or musicians that have a special meaning to you?
Seiji: Also, Johnny Thunders. I can't get enough of his unique coolness. Whether I like or dislike a band today depends largely on whether they're influenced by Johnny Thunders or not. Also, I was deeply influenced by reading an interview with Johnny Thunders. I practiced a lot after I got a guitar and was pretty good. But after reading an interview with him saying that he hardly ever practices guitar, I stopped practicing too. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I think it was probably good. Thanks to that, I've developed super technique. That means even when I cover a song, it doesn't sound like the song.
I-94 Bar: Surf music is sometimes inspired by the sound of waves crashing in the waves. So is Jet music is, Is it the sound of a jet engine?
Seiji: That's right. The sound of takeoff, when you can't go back. I love the sound of flying off into the distance. If surfing is the wave, then JET is the sound of tearing through the sky.
I-94 Bar: Do you have a favourite jet engine? I don't know much about engines, but I love the sound of the two Turbo Union RB199 engines and the two Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour engines that power the Sepekat Jaguar. I also like the two Pratt & Whitney TF30 engines that powered the old F111 Aardvark...
Seiji: I don't know the name, but those old military aircraft engines you mentioned are amazing. New ones are too quiet. JETs are loud, dangerous, and old are better.
I-94 Bar: What's your favorite big explosion?
Seiji: The "Bang! Whoosh!" sound when an amp goes overboard at a live music venue. That's more beautiful than fireworks.
I-94 Bar: What about guitars? What kind of guitar do you play? What pedals do you use?
Seiji: I currently have about five guitars: four SGs, one Longhorn, and one Stratocaster. I don't use pedals or distortion, or rather, I can't use them. That's why I plug the cords directly into the amp. I can't make subtle adjustments.
I-94 Bar: What's your favorite amp?
Seiji: Marshall JCM800.
I-94 Bar: If you weren't a musician, what would you like to do?
Seiji: I wanted to be a haunted house builder.
I-94 Bar: You've been touring Australia for over 15 years. What keeps you coming back?
Seiji: Well, 27 years. To marry a beautiful Australian woman, of course.
I-94 Bar: Do you have a favourite or least favourite Australian city?
Seiji: Every city is amazing! Seriously!
I-94 Bar: Is there a country you've always wanted to visit that you haven't been to yet?
Seiji: I'd love to play a show in Egypt. And LIVE, I want to record in Egypt. The cover would feature Guitar Wolf riding a camel in a leather jacket and pants in front of the Pyramids.
I-94 Bar: Every time I've see you, it's been scorching hot. How do you perform wearing all those thick leather clothes?
Seiji: That leather is actually edible. I eat it from the back while I'm performing, so it gets cooler from the back towards the end of the show.
I-94 Bar: How do you care for your leather clothes after a tour?
Seiji: I wash them in the washing machine. They're fine for about three washes. After that, they become hard like plastic and I'm done. I put a flat cockroach on my balconette. There are about 10 leather jackets hanging like corpses. I'm thinking of using them as soup stock when I open a ramen shop someday.
I-94 Bar: Do you ride motorcycles? What's your favourite bike?
Seiji: Of course! I was a rider before I played guitar. My favourite bike is definitely a KAWASAKI 750RS, commonly known as the VII. If you look it up, it'll say it's the coolest bike in the world.
I-94 Bar: What are your five favourite Japanese bands?
Seiji: Teengenerate, Sakuronzensen, Gedo, RC Succession, Sunhouse.
I-94 Bar: What are your five favourite Australian bands?
Seiji: AC/DC, The Saints, MACH PELICAN, Radio Birdman, Hot Machine
I-94 Bar: What are your five favourite American bands?
Seiji: MC5, The Cramps, Johnny Thunders, The Heartbreakers, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Oblivians
I-94 Bar: What are your five favourite European bands?
Seiji: The KIDS, Shakin Street, Chin Chin, Sex Pistols, Rolling Stones.
Guitar Wolf's new album MOREJET will be released on Australian label Sorcerer Records to coincide with the tour.
On The Loose Presents
Guitar Wolf Australian Tour
MAR
14 - Perth, Seasonal Brewing Co.
15 - Fremantle, The Buffalo Club
all WA shows with Aborted Tortoise
18 - Gold Coast, Vinnie's Dive Bar
w/ supports TBC
19 - Nambour, The Ramp
w/ supports TBC
20 - Brisbane, Season Three
w/ Future Shocks & Evil Dick Industries
21 - Sydney, Factory Fusebox
w/ supports TBC
22 - Wollongong, La La La's
w/ Itchy & the Nits
25 - Bendigo, Trash Cult
w/ supports TBC
26 - Castlemaine, Bridge Hotel
w/ The Freedom Wave
27 - Melbourne, The Tote
w/ Alien Nosejob & Cujo
28 - Frankston, Singing Bird
w/ Split System & DJ Centipede & The Worms
29 - Balnarring, Social Club
w/ Cry Cyclops
Tickets
