How are you and what have you been up to recently?
Fine, but a bit tired and still jet-lagged. We are in Japan touring and just played at the launch event for a compilation album on Sony. All the bands on the album played at a big all-day event in Tokyo, it was a really good one!
 
What are the five albums that have most influenced you?
Delete Yourself - Atari Teenage Riot
Freedom of Choice – Devo
Rumble Link - Wray (Yes I know it’s not an album, but I’m not sure he made any - other than collections - and it’s such a good record)
77 - Talking Heads
Fair Warning -  Van Halen.
 
Where did you grow up? What was it like for a budding musician?
Tony: Hiroshima, Japan and Oxford, England. I know Oxford has a history of great bands and that’s inspiring, but it’s still a small town so it’s a bit limited, anyway I moved to London as soon as I could.
Mari: Hiroshima was pretty good. There was a good and pretty varied scene with good opportunity for young bands to play.
 
If you could be a musician in any era when would it be and why?
Probably the 50s when all this was still fresh, or maybe late 70s. Basically any time there’s an exiting change and a throwing out of what has become stale. That could of course apply to more recent times, or now, too.
 
Is there any particular venue you’d like to play and why?
Would have liked to have played CBGBs. Otherwise Brixton Academy: having seen some great bands there I would love to be in a position to be the one on stage.
 
What was your first musical instrument?
Mari: Piano
Tony: Guitar

What books have you read and what films have you seen recently?
Mari: Okini Matsu (book) and I’ve seen Syonen Merikensack
Tony: “Thank You For Not Smoking” and I want to see ‘Anvil’

If not a musician, what job would you have had in the real world?
Tony: I can’t exist in the real world.

Do you prefer playing live or recording in the studio?
Playing live.
 
Any burning ambitions?
A world tour?