Q+A: GUITAR WOLF SEIJI – March 2025

Shane | 26 March 2025 | Reply

Q+A: GUITAR WOLF SEIJI – March 2025
By Shane Pinnegar
Translations by Toshi Maeda, Mach Pelican drummer & rock promoter

Japanese punk legends GUITAR WOLF head back to Australia for another bout of 1-2-3 jet trash rock n’ roll in March and April. Leader Seiji graciously agreed to reply to a handful of quick questions, as translated by Toshi Maeda. Seiji has been the driving force behind guitar wolf for almost forty years, and starred in the movie Wild Zero as – you guessed it – Guitar Wolf, fighting zombies, aliens and gangsters with his magical rock n’ roll samurai powers.

You’re bringing Guitar Wolf’s self-styled JET ROCK to Australia once again. Over the years, have you been surprised to learn that Guitar Wolf is so loved here?

Guitar Wolf loves Australia, but I didn’t know we were loved in return. That’s cool and makes me happy!

You have released many works—about 15 albums, right? After nearly 40 years, how do you keep finding inspiration and making things exciting for yourself?

Cosmic signals strike my head like lightning all the time. So, I’m always getting electrocuted while writing songs.

Your band will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027. Do you have any big plans for the occasion?

I didn’t even realize that! In that case, I should start planning something!

You’ve said you tried learning the guitar four times, giving up the first three, but Link Wray’s groundbreaking Rumble gave you the epiphany to stick with it. After all these years, how do you feel when you hear that song now?

I feel the same excitement I did when I first heard it.

Your style is iconic—black leather from head to toe, motorcycles, sunglasses. Is there anyone on the planet cooler than Seiji?

Maybe Kamen Rider? [Japanese TV character active from 1971 to the present]

I can imagine Guitar Wolf starring in a TV series like The Monkees or a movie like Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. Any chance you’d write or produce one yourself?

Hmmm, interesting idea. I’ll think about it.

Besides Wild Zero, what are your favorite rock ‘n’ roll movies, and why do you like them so much?

Back to the Future! Like everyone else, I love it too!

There are lots of great rock ‘n’ roll movies, but the music in Wild Zero is the best! I personally chose every song on the soundtrack, but we couldn’t use any major-label tracks. Still, I managed to put together an amazing collection of underground rock songs, and that was really awesome!

Remaining tour dates:

WED 26 MAR BENDIGO TRASH CULT (w/ Poppin’ Mommas)
THU 27 MAR CASTLEMAINE THE BRIDGE HOTEL (w/Leon)
FRI 28 MAR BRISBANE CROWBAR (w/The Onyas + Eyes Ninety)
SAT 29 MAR SYDNEY FACTORY FLOOR (w/ Antenna & The Crankees)
THU 3 APR ADELAIDE CROWN AND ANCHOR
FRI 4 APR PERTH SEASONAL BREWING (w/ Zerodent & The Murderbirds)
SAT 5 APR BUNBURY THE PRINCE OF WALES (w/ Turd!)
SUN 6 APR FREMANTLE BUFFALO CLUB (Doors 5:30pm)