Interview with Guitar Wolf

Before taking the stage at the Parisian venue La Maroquinerie, the three unconventional rockers granted us a short interview. At the dawn of their 25th anniversary, they discussed their influences, powerful stage performances, and a few unexpected subjects.


Hello and thank you for giving us this interview. Could you please introduce yourselves to our readers who don’t know you?

Seiji: Hi, I'm Seiji. Bonjour (laugh). Bonjour! (louder)
Toru: I’m Toru, drummer.
UG: I’m UG, I play bass.

How did you meet back then?

Seiji: Hmm, I don’t know. We've been playing for over twenty-four years, so don't really remember anymore.

Why did you decide to make careers as musicians?

Seiji: We wanted to be musicians but we never thought of becoming professionals.

When did you start playing?

Seiji: 24 years ago.

What artists influenced you?

Seiji: Many great artists like Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Link Wray, Johnny Thunders, Joan Jett and more.
UG: We were influenced by some hip-hop artists too.

You've played many times in Europe. How are the audiences different from Japanese fans?

Seiji: We love Parisians. We love playing in France because of the people. Of course! (laugh)

Is there a special venue you wish to play in?

Seiji: In Egypt, facing the pyramids, or in front of the sphinx. (begins to sing a melody)

Your music seems to grow in the live performances…

Seiji: Yeah, it’s because of the beer! (raising his glass)

What feeling do you wish to share with the audience?

Seiji: We don’t want to say anything in particular, we just want to show that we are cool.

UG, we read somewhere that you did not know how to play bass before joining the band. Is that true?

UG: Yes.

Do you have any advice to our readers who want to learn to play an instrument?

UG: Not really. (laugh)

We can see you often drink beer on stage. How is your alcohol tolerance?

UG: Beer is the force! It's the power of rock!
Seiji: Power!! (laugh) The more we drink, the more energy we have for the show.

How do you feel about this show tonight?

Seiji: Of course we are very happy to play in Europe. We've also played in Japan and the U.S. but we try to give our best at every show.

You recently released a new album entitled Uchuusenkan love, or "Space Battleship Love”; do you feel like some super hero of love?

Seiji: I'm always waiting for telepathic signals from outer space. This time I got a telepathic message from Andromeda so I made the new album.

Could you tell us more about the creative process?

Seiji: Hm... We think of the title first. Then I get the rest from another galaxy so sometimes it's difficult.

How was the recording time?

Seiji: Good. (laugh) Very Good!

You will celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary next year…

Together: Oh really!? (laugh)
Seiji: Maybe.
Toru: We didn’t know.

Do you have any projects, special show, event or releases for the occasion?

Seiji: I don't know, we don't have any plans at the moment, but thank you for remembering. We'd forgotten... (laugh)

After so many years, what goals do you wish to reach in the future?

Seiji: I want to make cool songs and play cool lives. That's it.

Could you leave a message for our readers?

Seiji: For France?

France, Europe or elsewhere.

Seiji: Please Sophie Marceau, come to our show!! (laugh)
Toru: I want to become the husband of this porno actress.
Seiji: By the way what was the movie’s name?
UG: Emmanuelle! (laugh) A Man for Emmanuelle*!
Seiji: We want to be her lover!

Thank you for the interview.

Together: Thank you.

(*The band is referring to the Italian film "Io, Emanuelle" in the French soft porn series Emmanuelle; It is often translated as "A Man for Emmanuelle.")


JaME would like to thank Jostone Traffic, Guitar Wolf and their management as well as Angela Azzarone for the translation.