Interview with MUCC in Finland

MUCC arrived in Finland on June 15th just a few hours before their gig at Provinssirock festival in Seinäjoki. After finding the members, who were sitting around a table full of sandwiches, strawberries, and salmiakki, the interview began.

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Last time you played a one-man in Helsinki, and this time you're taking part in a festival. How do you feel about this change?

Miya: I really like this. We already played at a festival in Germany last year, so this isn't that new.

During festivals there certainly are a lot of people in the audience that have never heard about you. Are you going to play normally or do you have something special planned?

Miya: We'll play like we always do; performing for new people is always fun.

Your single Flight that was released in May was considerably more light and pop-like than, for example, your previous single Libra. Do you intentionally create this variety of styles or does it just come naturally?

Miya: The songs from Libra and Flight were written about the same time, and we didn't consciously try to change styles. We find it nice when our songs are different from each other.

It's been over ten years since MUCC was founded. How did you meet each other and start a band?

Miya: We were in the same school and we've been friends since primary school. We started the band in high school.

How have your attitudes toward each other changed in the last ten years?

Miya: At the beginning, we did this playfully and for fun, but nowadays we take each other more seriously. That's the only thing that's changed.

What have been the most memorable moments with MUCC?

Miya: Now is the best time. Of course the feelings vary sometimes, but it's hard to name a specific moment.

And what's your best concert memory?

Miya: Every gig has been good.
Tatsuro: I guess today we'll have our best performance ever. (everybody laughs)

You spend a lot of time together, particularly on tour. What are the most annoying characteristics other members have?

Tatsuro: Everyone smokes but me, which is a bit annoying sometimes. That's the only thing.

What kind of goals do you have?

Miya: We want to gain an even bigger audience in Japan and overseas.

How do you see MUCC in ten years?

Miya: (thinks for a while and everyone starts laughing) I don't know...

What do you do when you're on holiday from the band, or do you not have time for that kind of thing?

Miya: We don't have time to be on holiday.

Isn't that pretty tough?

Tatsuro: Tomorrow we'll have a day off. (laughs)

On some of your tour shirts you've replaced the last C from MUCC with K. Why?

Miya: Muck means 'shit' in English.

What do you think of Jrock becoming so popular, especially here in Europe?

Miya: We are, of course, happy. We hope it'll be permanent so that we and other Japanese bands can come here again.

If you hadn't become musicians, what would you be doing?

Tatsuro: Several of my family members are in the beautician business, so I suppose I'd also do that.
Miya: I'd probably fix cars.
YUKKE: I'd work in a super market. (everybody laughs)
SATOchi: I'd do something that requires physical labor. (mimics using a street drill)

You just released the collections Best of MUCC and Worst of MUCC. How did you pick the songs for these records?

Miya: Best of MUCC includes songs that have been singles. Worst of MUCC has indie and rare songs in general.

On your latest tour in Japan you played songs from your old albums. How did it feel performing songs you normally don't play anymore?

Miya: Even though they're old songs, they've changed along with our playing style. So in a way, they feel new.

Thanks a lot for the interview!
MUCC: Kiitos. ('Thank you' in Finnish)

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We would like to thank MUCC for taking time to answer our questions, photographer Marianna Laitinen, Maako Makia from Supersounds and all the fans who sent us questions for this interview.