Interview: Guitar Wolf - New Zealand Tour

Tokyo, Japan's heroes of amps-turned-up-to-11, red hot jet rock 'n' roll Guitar Wolf return to Aotearoa this week for a long-awaited nationwide tour, commencing this Thursday at Whammy Bar with guest supports Ratso. Absolutely unmissable on the live front, with 15 crucial studio albums and countless singles / EP releases in their back pocket since their formation in 1987, the trio's eponymous guitarist / singer Seiji sat down for an insightful chinwag with John Baker which we're proud to present here. A band whose untamed energy has inspired multiple generations of feral rock animals both locally and abroad, Guitar Wolf will be delivering the goods all around the country over the coming week, including gigs with our own reunited The D4 in the super city and Raglan. Special thanks to Yuko Miyoshi (Memory Foam) for being the interpreter for this interview...

Undertheradar proudly presents...

Guitar Wolf

Thursday 30th March - Whammy Bar, Auckland w/ Ratso
Friday 31st March - The Green Room, Thames (all ages, new date)
Saturday 1st April - The Yot Club, Raglan w/ The D4*
Sunday 2nd April - Big Fan, Auckland w/ The D4^
Tuesday 4th April - Valhalla, Wellington
Wednesday 5th April - Space Academy, Christchurch

Tickets available HERE via UTR
*Tickets for Raglan show HERE via UTR
^Tickets for the Auckland gig with The D4 HERE via UTR (all-ages, licensed)

John Baker: Hello Seiji! It’s been a long time, this is your 8th or 9th visit to New Zealand since the first in 1999. What do you remember about the first visit?

Seiji: Hello! Hi! Hi! Hi!
I remember Japanese students in Nelson coming to show who were at flying school, and I remember you swimming in the cold sea (in Taupo), and meeting the D4 of course.
Last time I was there I went motorbiking in West Auckland – great!
I am shocked at Jacinda Ardern quitting. I don’t mind about her politics, but I love her, very cute!

Do you still have your motorbike?

Yes, 1971 Kawasaki 750CC ZZ 22.

Thank you for your advice during covid to eat natto, the fermented beans. How is the Japanese scene after Covid?

Natto is great! Now many younger bands in Japan, scene is great! Teenagers like playing rock and roll in basic style.

Early 70s Japanese rock and roll band Carol has been a big influence on Guitar Wolf. Tell me about them. Their look and sound certainly had a profound influence on the Wolves. (Carol’s last performance ended in disaster in 1975 when firecrackers let off at the end of the set caused the stage to burn to the ground.)

Before Carol, Japanese pop music was like folk music. Carol were like a rock and roll revolution in the early seventies.

Guitar Wolf recorded a version of 'I Love You, OK' written by Yazawa who was the founding member of Carol — and sometimes in a GW set you come back for the start of the encore to play solo. I remember you playing 'I Love You, OK' AFTER the encores at Cassette Nine, and Lucha Lounge.

Eikichi Yazawa is like Michael Jackson fame in Japan. When we were on Sony records we chose to cover 'I Love You, OK' on the tribute record. Guitar Wolf recorded a version.

Did your former bass player Yuji really marry Yazawa’s daughter who wrote 'I Love You, OK'?

Yes – I was part of the bridal party.

What were you like at High School?? What was Seiji the boy like?

Bad boy. Always leader, kendo captain, and class leader. Good student and bad ass who like bad boy culture. Almost all my friends are bad boys.

How did you start playing rock and roll?

I tried to play guitar four times , the first three times I gave up and then I heard Link Wray. 'Rumble' saved me. Just D to E WOWWWW!!! It was easy and cool, and the energy of the song inspired me.

Who was the first band you saw?

Maybe Johnny Thunders, and I saw the Bay City Rollers and The Runaways on television.

What song best sums up Guitar Wolf?

'Love & Jett'.

Are you still teaching kendo?

Yes at elementary and junior high school.

Your daughter Sakura plays bass in bands now?

Yes – I will send you YouTube clip, tonite we are going to see her perform.

After 30 plus years of rock action in Guitar Wolf what is the body like?

After 30 years science is more great thanks to cyborg technology. We can jump higher, and the show is more exciting.

In the last 30 years you have been to many countries. Which country have you not been to that you really want to go to?

Africa , especially Egypt. Would be great to do a show live in Egypt and to ride camels.

What is the Guitar Wolf feeling like for you now?

Always a new storm. Always gives me new ideas. I am looking forward to showing new Guitar Wolf.

What is your message for New Zealand?

I am sad about Jacinda not being Prime Minister anymore, but I am very happy to be going back to NZ and seeing new audience. Seiji is playing for Jacinda!

My son Jett is a huge Godzilla fan — he wants to know who your favourite kaiju is?

Godzilla of course – he is like human.