Every local music scene has a Big Three. The bands that brought ‘the scene’ to international attention. There is no arguing that Japan’s punk Big Three are The 5.6.7.8’s, Jet Boys and Guitar Wolf. As a band, Guitar wolf created a sound much akin to sticking your head into the engine of a Boeing 747 and we liked it….a lot.
What struck us was their image and an involuntary “these guys are Japan’s answer to ‘The Man in Black’ reaction. Seiji’s random discovery of Link Ray’s ‘Rumble’ in a Japanese record store, made black leather and gritty garage rock the order of the day.
Everything about Guitar Wolf screamed cult in an almost romantic way: Seiji and Billy cross paths, one works in a used leather jacket 50s clothing/antique shop and the other in a punk rock shop in Harajuku, their love of B-grade cult movies lead to them to appear in the pop-culture sci-fi flick “Sore Losers” and zombie cult classic “Wild Zero”, they slog it out for 6 years, after enlisting (second) drummer Toru they head overseas to be ‘discovered’, and then?
Well ‘then’ is when the magic happened.
After playing at an in-store in New York they hit the big time. And by big we mean MASSIVE. Tours abound, Goner Record label is founded if nothing else than to self-release ‘Wolf Rock!”, appearances with legends such as Iggy Pop become the norm, and their 1999 release “Jet Generation” came with the now infamous disclaimer: “Warning: this is the loudest album ever recorded. Playing at normal volume may cause irreparable damage to stereo equipment. Use at your own risk.”
However in true rock and roll style, tragedy struck. After the completion of a tour in 2005, the band returned home to Japan where bassist Billy (aka Bass Wolf) suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 38. Billy (whose real name was Hideaki Sekiguchi) died in Tokyo on March 31, 2005. Such was their international status, Billy;s passing made the music news in Australia.
In 2013 we were fortunate enough to be in Japan and experienced this hypnotic madness up close and personal at the epic Halloween punk festival “Back From the Grave“. Not long after that, there was a second encounter on home turf when they played in Sydney at The Palace Hotel (Haymarket). It was like watching the Ramones play at the Dee Why Hotel. A legendary band in a small space. Visions of what was going through punters minds when they first saw Guitar Wolf in a tiny room are still in played out in our imaginations to this today.
Picture if you will: amid the body slamming mosh, some random ‘I’m going to be famous’ wanker jumps on stage and grabs Seiji’s guitar. Completely unphased, Seiji looks at the dick and yells “Jump!” as the band hit a collective beat, which they repeat one after the other, just so this muppet could hit a power chord, leap in the air, and have his desired moment. Typically, Joe lives up to his name by being less than Average, stands there completely mute, stares at Seiji and the crowd (who are now caught up totally in the moment), without making a move.
Whether in an attempt to encourage or belittle, Seiji continues chanting “Jump, baka, jump!” (Baka in Japanese for idiot). Still nothing. Eventually, our hero puts down Seiji’s guitar and leaves the stage. A moment that will be a definite ‘what was I thinking’ (or not) and one that will reach that level of legendary classic fuck ups never to be forgotten.
Guitar Wolf are back in Australia for tour number six. The band have been on the road, celebrating their thirtieth anniversary, ripping up countries all over the planet with their brand of “Jet Rock ‘n’ Roll”. The band will bring their unrelenting, uncompromising, unstoppable, and unforgettable live show to our sun burnt shores.
