Guitar Wolf will be playing an all-ages show at Pearl Diver tomorrow, and you’d better be ready for anything. At Chicks Hotel in 2013, an audience member — driven loopy by Guitar Wolf’s self-branded "jet rock and roll" — absconded with the band’s backdrop. A clued-in local had to shimmy up a drainpipe and rescue it. This is the kind of wild behaviour this high-octane band, who have been playing shows and forming human pyramids onstage since 1987, still inspire.
When I finally get a chance to have a chat with guitarist and vocalist Seiji — the self-proclaimed "bad boy" is harder to pin down than his guitar riffs — he doesn’t remember the billboard incident. "I’m always drinking, I don’t remember things," he says.
Seiji talks to me from his studio in Japan, wearing his trademark dark glasses. Shelves of records line the wall behind him and a motorcycle helmet sits on a ledge. His English is rudimentary (although better than my non-existent Japanese, of course) which lends our conversation an air of mystery. When I ask him why Dunedin is "strange", he waves his hands around — "ahh you know, it’s just strange ... and the albatrosses" — he says.
On the other hand, he has buckets of enthusiasm and conviction in the power of the rock-and-roll lifestyle. After 40 years, most people would’ve hung up their leather jackets by now, but Seiji hasn’t lost the passion. "I just love rock and roll. It’s the most exciting sound," he says. In fact, it’s even more exciting than it used to be, because a Guitar Wolf show has even more action and energy now, he says. Even the constant touring is still a blast — "I drink too much to get bored".
Rock and roll is huge in Japan. Seiji says Japanese kids saw this counter-cultural movement spring up in the west and grabbed onto it. "All Japan has big dreams for rock and roll," he says. His own rock and roll dream started after falling in love with Rumble, by Link Wray, a song dripping in attitude and danger, yet beautifully simple. He had never played the guitar before, and the primitive style felt achievable.
These days Guitar Wolf’s brand of rock and roll is still primitive and punk flavoured. They’re equally inspired by early punk bands, such as the Ramones, and by 1950s-era rock, like Elvis Presley. "They’re so similar," Seiji says. The simplicity of this style allows the band to send the passion of the songs directly to everyone, without the distraction of extra musical fuss, he explains, before adding matter-of-factly "and it’s easy".
If Guitar Wolf privilege the raw emotion of their music over technical skill, the same can be said for their style. The band is never seen without their black leathers and dark glasses. Fittingly, Guitar Wolf’s first rule of rock and roll is "The band has to have the looks". Rules number two and three call for "fighting spirit" and "action". Next, in appropriately punk rock fashion, comes "there are no rules four or five" and at the very bottom of the list is "technique", placed at rule number six.
Guitar Wolf certainly make-good on their call for "action", delivering exhaustingly dynamic stage shows. The highlight of this is the human pyramid they infamously form during their song High Schooler Action. It’s dangerous business, but Seiji is unconcerned. "There are always accidents," he shrugs, blase.
Seiji tells me about an incident at a recent show in Norway. The bass player climbed the lighting rig, which promptly toppled over, sending him down with a thump, shocked but unhurt. At least Seiji thinks it was in Norway, or maybe New York. He says it’s hard to remember after so many decades playing gigs around the world.
While we’re on the subject of accidents, the helmet draws my attention. Does he drive sensibly, or does he ride his motorcycle like he plays his music? "Of course I drive fast," he says, looking slightly baffled that I could imagine anything else.
The veteran musician says he’s pleased that the vast majority of Guitar Wolf’s New Zealand shows are open to all-ages. "In Japan, it’s always all ages." It’s important for young people to have access to music, he says.
So, come along, bring your kids, bring your first-aid kits, but Seiji asks one thing — "Please don’t steal our backdrop".
The gigs
Guitar Wolf play ...
• Pearl Diver, tomorrow 6.30pm, with Vagina Dry and Dale Kerrigan.
• The Penguin Club, on Monday 7pm, with Mads Harrop and Cuticles.
