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All Music Guide:
Tokyo's Guitar Wolf plays loud, fast, dirty punk rock. The trio -- which consists of guitarist Seiji, bassist Billy, and drummer Toru -- formed in the late '80s. Though the group's first two albums were released only in Japan, imports of the records and word of mouth about Guitar Wolf's incendiary live shows secured U.S. distribution for their next two releases, Wolf Rock and Kung Fu Ramone. An in-store performance at a New York record store impressed Matador Records enough to offer them a contract; 1996's Missile Me! was their first release for the prestigious indie imprint. In 2003, Guitar Wolf took their high-octane punk-a-billy to the punk-friendly Narnak label for the American release of 2003's UFO Romantics; Loverock followed in 2004. The busy noise-mongers managed to drop a second album by the end of 2004, the manic Rock 'n' Roll Etiquette. After completing a U.S. tour in early 2005, Guitar Wolf returned to Japan and Billy suffered a fatal heart attack on March 30 at the age of 38. The band soldiered on with new bassist, Ug.
Wikipedia:
Guitar Wolf (Japanese: ギターウルフ) is a Japanese garage punk power trio founded in Nagasaki in 1987. The band is known for songs with piercing vocals and an extremely loud style of noise-influenced punk which emphasizes heavy distortion and feedback. They coined the phrase "jet rock 'n' roll", which they also use to describe their musical style — an energetic cross between the Ramones, rockabilly, 77 punk, and garage rock. The band is part of Sony Music Japan's Ki/oon Records division.
Guitar Wolf has released nine studio albums internationally as well as a live album, numerous singles, and a retrospective compilation called Golden Black. The band members have also been featured in two B-grade science fiction horror movies: Wild Zero and Sore Losers. A collection of Guitar Wolf's most popular videos and live performances have been compiled into a limited edition DVD entitled Red Idol. In March 2005, bassist and founding member Billy, also known as Bass Wolf, died of a heart attack at the age of 38. His replacement in the band, bassist U.G., has become a permanent member of Guitar Wolf and now rounds out the trio which currently consist of band members Seiji (Guitar Wolf): U.G. (Bass Wolf); and Toru (Drum Wolf).
History [edit]
Formation [edit]
Guitarist Seiji and bassist Billy became friends while the two were in Harajuku. The two worked across from each other, Seiji in a used clothing store and Billy in a punk rock shop nearby. Realizing they shared similar musical tastes, the two decided to join together to play rock and roll. After convincing Seiji's coworker Narita to accompany them on drums, Guitar Wolf formed in Harajuku in 1987. After creating the band, each member adopted a Ramones-style surname reflecting their instrument of choice: Seiji became Guitar Wolf, Billy became Bass Wolf, and Narita became Drum Wolf. In time, Narita left the band, apparently to become a fortune teller, and was replaced by Toru, a drummer suggested by Enocky from the band Jackie & The Cedrics.
In time the band would come to develop its own unique strain of punk rock music, fusing multiple genres together into what the band described as Jet Rock 'n' Roll. The term Jet Rock 'n' Roll was coined by the band to describe their musical style; a conglomeration of punk, traditional rock, heavy distortion, feedback, and screamed vocals. The name is derived from the last name of musician Joan Jett, whom Guitar Wolf frontman Seiji considers his greatest influence. To date, the term Jet Rock is infrequently applied to anyone other than Guitar Wolf itself. Nevertheless, the members of Guitar Wolf would eventually begin to tout themselves as "The World's Greatest Jet Rock 'n' Roll Band."
First releases [edit]
After releasing two vinyl albums in Japan, the first of which, Wolf Rock!, was recorded in guitarist Seiji's basement, the band started a tour of America. Guitar Wolf performed at the 2nd Garageshock festival in Memphis, Tennessee, where Memphis local and Oblivians member Eric Friedl first saw the band. Impressed with the band's set, Friedl approached the band and received a demo tape which he decided to self-release, forming his own label, Goner Records, for the specific purpose of exposing Guitar Wolf to an American audience. After placing a call to the band in Japan in order to get permission to issue the album, Goner Records released "Wolf Rock!", Guitar Wolf's debut LP, in 1993.
Later work [edit]
Guitar Wolf released their first CD, Run Wolf Run, in 1994, distributing it through the Japanese Less Than TV label. [1] In 1996 an in-store performance at a New York City record store secured the band a contract with Matador Records, who issued the band's fourth album "Missile Me!" that same year. Guitar Wolf would continue releasing albums with Matador until 1999's "Jet Generation", an album which Matador Records claims is the loudest CD in history.
Film appearances [edit]
In 1997, all three original members of Guitar Wolf appeared in the John Michael McCarthy's The Sore Losers, as the "mysterious strangers" alongside Memphis indie rock musician Jack Oblivian. McCarthy also directed the music video for their song "All Night De Buttobase!! (Roaring All Night!!)". In 2000, Guitar Wolf starred in the Japanese rock ‘n’ roll "zombie horror" movie, Wild Zero, directed by Tetsuro Takeuchi. The band plays themselves as they take on crazed fans, zombies, and an alien invasion. Guitar Wolf recorded the soundtrack to the film as well, releasing it in 1999 under the title, Wild Zero. Guitar Wolf has begun looking for a sponsor for the sequel, Wild Zero 2.
Death of Bass Wolf [edit]
In 2002 the band made the move to Narnack Records where the band continued to release material until 2005 when the band released their greatest hits album, "Golden Black." That same year after completing a U.S. tour, the band returned home to Japan where bassist Billy/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, and is survived by his wife and two children. In September 2005, Guitar Wolf played their first show with their new bassist, U.G.
Live experience [edit]
Guitar Wolf are well known for their frenetic live shows. They sometimes rely on elaborate stage productions, including lighted banners, comically oversized speakers, and microphones that spew fire. There is little-to-no time in between songs and the band has been known, on many occasions, to play completely non-stop through their entire set.
Jet clothing [edit]
The band have their own line of Jet clothing consisting of jackets, pants, T-shirts and belts. The Guitar Wolf motorcycle jacket, a variation of the 613 Perfecto called 613GW, is manufactured by Schott NYC.
