Japanese power-rock trio Guitar Wolf will head Down Under for a national tour this December.
Playing a brand of music they dub 'jet rock & roll', Guitar Wolf were formed in Tokyo in 1987 and currently consists of guitarist Seiji ('Guitar Wolf'), drummer Toru ('Drum Wolf') and bassist UG (Bass Wolf) who joined after the death of previous bassist Billy from a heart attack in 2005.
For people new to Guitar Wolf, what's the most important thing to know about the band?
Three bad boys in Tokyo, Harajuku started this band in 1987. Love. Bike. UFO. Jett. These four words are our motto. Watch out for wolves! They probably bite you. We strongly recommend getting a rabies shot just in case.
How do you describe the sound of 'Jett rock & roll'?
I (Seiji, vocalist) grew up in hell of the bike race with bad boys from Harajuku (sic). So bike sound is always ringing out at full blast in my head. The songs that are called Jett rock & roll are made by it.
What do you have planned for the Australian shows in terms of a setlist?
We’ll play gigs with songs that are on our new record and old standby songs.
How do Australian audiences compare to others around the world?
What!? OMG. Don’t you guys know that Australian audiences have a strong passion for rock & roll! They are awesome. So we wolves are super excited to play our brand of rock in Australia.
This year marks 30 years since the band began; how are you celebrating the milestone?
Thirty years seems long, but it’s actually short. Time flies because we’re travelling beyond space and time. We had a big rock festival, Shimane Jett Fest, at the huge tombstone, which is in Seiji’s home town this year. We invited a lot of great artists there. We want to invite cool Australian bands in the future.
Having been around for three decades, what's the hardest lesson you've learnt about being in a rock band?
Be careful about the beautiful ladies who look like they are in the 007 movies and the guys who wear leather boots.
Have there been any major changes to your sound and style over the years, or are you still faithful to your roots?
My roots are coming from Elvis, Link Wray, MC5 and punk rock. It’s never going to change. But I’m trying to make original sounds. I want to try to make something new as well, but most important thing is a sense of JETT.
Your last album 'T-Rex From A Tiny Space Yojouhan' came out in 2016; are you working on new music at the moment?
Of course.
What have you guys got planned for 2018?
To make a scandal with Australian movie actress.
Guitar Wolf Tour Dates
Thu 30 Nov - The Boston (Perth)Fri 1 Dec - Ed Castle Hotel (Adelaide)
Sat 2 Dec - The Retreat Hotel (Melbourne)
Sun 3 Dec - Bendigo Hotel (Melbourne)
Wed 6 Dec - Transit Lounge (Canberra)
Thu 7 Dec - Marrickville Bowling Club (Sydney)
Fri 8 Dec - Mo's Desert Clubhouse (Gold Coast)
Sat 9 Dec - New Globe Theatre (Brisbane)
