Half Japanese
Encyclopedia
This article is about the band called Half Japanese. For people of mixed Japanese and non-Japanese descent see: Hafu
Hafu
The word ' is used in Japanese to refer to somebody who is biracial, i.e. ethnically half Japanese. The label emerged in the 1970s in Japan and is now the most commonly used label and preferred term of self-definition...



Half Japanese is a punk rock band formed by brothers Jad
Jad Fair
Jad Fair is an American singer, guitarist and graphic artist, most famous for being a founding member of lo-fi alternative rock group Half Japanese.-Biography:In 1974, with his brother David, Jad Fair founded the lo-fi group Half Japanese...

 and David Fair in their Coldwater, Michigan
Coldwater, Michigan
Coldwater is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,945. It is the county seat of Branch County....

 bedroom around 1975. Their original instrumentation included a small drum set, which they took turns playing; vocals; and an out of tune (but quite distorted) guitar. Both Fair brothers sang, although over time Jad moved into the frontman role.

Band history

Jad is well-known for playing an untuned electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...

. After 30 years, he still does not play in any traditional manner; in the documentary Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King he states that "the only chord I know is the one that connects the guitar to the amp."

Their lyrics often deal with monsters and the supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...

 (especially as influenced by campy "creature feature" and scifi movies), in addition to more conventional themes, such as young love. They have stated that all their songs are either "love songs or monster songs."

The band played and recorded as a duo until the early '80s when they began incorporating additional members into the group: Mark Jickling (guitar and vocals) and brothers Ricky and John Dreyfuss (drums and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...

). Since that time, dozens of musicians have come and gone under the Half Japanese banner, including Howard Wuelfing, Don Fleming
Don Fleming (musician)
Don Fleming is an American musician, best known for being the frontman of Velvet Monkeys, B.A.L.L., and Gumball.-Biography:...

, Jay Spiegel, and many, many others. Jad is the only member who has been with Half Japanese from the beginning. David Fair eventually left the band in the early 1980s to focus on his family. He has continued to make guest appearances with the band from time to time.

The next line-up of Half Japanese came together in the late 1980s, proving to be a long-lasting and stable unit recording several albums and touring frequently throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan. This incarnation featured guitarist/multi-instrumentalist John Sluggett (also a longtime member of Moe Tucker
Maureen Tucker
Maureen Ann "Moe" Tucker is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground.- The Velvet Underground :...

's band), multi-instrumentalist Jason Willett
Jason Willett
Jason Willett is an American musician, known largely for his work with experimental rock groups including Half Japanese, Can Openers, Pleasant Livers, X-Ray Eyes, The Dramatics, The Jaunties, The Attitude Robots, Leprechaun Catering, and many more...

, and drummer Gilles Reider. Since then, the group has worked with Moe Tucker from The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...

, who produced and performed on Fire In the Sky (1992), Fred Frith
Fred Frith
Fred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...

, and John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...

, among others.

Fans of Half Japanese include Penn Jillette
Penn Jillette
Penn Fraser Jillette is an American magician, comedian, illusionist, juggler, bassist and a best-selling author known for his work with fellow illusionist Teller in the team Penn & Teller, and advocacy of atheism, libertarian philosophy, free-market economics, and scientific skepticism.-Early...

, who helped the band release some of their albums on his label, 50 Skidillion Watts, and Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...

, who had them open for Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...

 on the group's 1993 tour. According to reports, Cobain was wearing a Half Japanese t-shirt when he died.

The band's history and influence are chronicled in the 1993 documentary Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King by Jeff Feuerzeig
Jeff Feuerzeig
Jeff Feuerzeig is an American film director and screenwriter best known for The Devil and Daniel Johnston, his profile of cult musician and outsider artist Daniel Johnston, for which he was awarded the Directing prize for Documentary at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and which was released...

. The band have been chosen by Jeff Mangum
Jeff Mangum
Jeff Mangum is a musician best known for being the lyricist, vocalist and guitarist of the band Neutral Milk Hotel, as well as being one of the cofounders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company. Mangum, along with the other founding members of the Elephant 6, attended Ruston High School in the late...

 of Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....

 to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....

 festival that he will curate in December 2011 in Minehead, England.

Studio Albums

  • Half Gentlemen/Not Beasts
    Half Gentlemen/Not Beasts
    Half Gentlemen/Not Beasts is the first triple record by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"No Direct Line From My Brain To My Heart"#"10th Ave...

    (Armageddon, 1980)
  • Loud
    Loud (Half Japanese album)
    Loud is a record by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"My Concentration, Oh No"#"2 Hearts = 1"#"If My Father Answers, Don't Say Nothing"#"Scientific Devices"#"Gift"#"Dumb Animals"#"Popular"#"I Know How It Feels...

    (Armageddon, 1981)
  • Our Solar System
    Our Solar System
    Our Solar System is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"Dance When I Say Dance"#"Girl Athletes"#"Because I Love You"#"Danger Danger Rachel Lang"#"E.S.P."#"Classical Music"#"You're Gonna Miss Me"...

    (Iridescence, 1985)
  • Sing No Evil
    Sing No Evil
    Sing No Evil is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"Firecracker Firecracker"#"On The One Hand"#"Too Bad About Elizabeth"#"Dearest Darling"#"Sing No Evil"#"Double Trouble"#"Rub Every Muscle"Side two...

    (Iridescence, 1985)
  • Music To Strip By
    Music To Strip By
    Music To Strip By is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"Stripping For Cash"#"Thick And Thin"#"Diary"#"Big Mistake"#"Hot Dog And Hot Damn"#"The Price Was Right But The Door Was Wrong"#"Blue Monday"#"U.S...

    (50 Skidillion Watts, 1987)
  • Charmed Life
    Charmed Life (Half Japanese album)
    Charmed Life is an album released by punk rock group Half Japanese in 1988.- Track listing :# Said and Done# Penny in the Fountain# Evidence# Vietnam# Roman Candles# Love at First Sight# Snake Line# Bright Lights, Big City# Face Rake...

    (50 Skidillion Watts, 1988)
  • The Band That Would Be King
    The Band That Would Be King
    The Band That Would Be King is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"Open Your Eyes/Close Your Eyes"#"Daytona Beach"#"Lucky Star"#"Some Things Last A Long Time"#"My Most Embarrassing Moment"...

    (50 Skidillion Watts, 1989)
  • We Are They Who Ache with Amorous Love
    We Are They Who Ache with Amorous Love
    We Are They Who Ache with Amorous Love is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"Every Hour"#"Elevator Boy"#"Gloria"#"Ear"#"The Titanic"#"Our Eyes"#"Spin"#"Up And Down"Side two#"All Of Me"...

    (TEC Tones, 1990)
  • Fire In The Sky
    Fire In the Sky (Half Japanese album)
    Fire In the Sky is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Track listing:#"UFO Expert"#"Tears Stupid Tears"#"Always"#"This Could Be The Night"#"Possum Head"#"Frosty"#"Turn Your Life Around"#"I Love A Mystery"#"12 Houses"...

    (Paperhouse, 1992)
  • Hot
    Hot (Half Japanese album)
    -Vinyl version:Side one#"Drum Straight"#"True Believers"#"Well"#"Dark Night"#"Part Of My Plan"#"Vampire"#"Lucky Ones"Side two#"Vast Continent"#"Guess Again"#"Black Fruit"#"Sleep Talk"#"Smile"#"Lucky Town"...

    (Safe House, 1995)
  • Bone Head
    Bone Head
    Bone Head is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"Monkey Hand"#"A Night Like This"#"Sometimes"#"Zombie Eye"#"Song Of Joy"#"Oww"#"Do It"#"He Walks Among Us"#"Diamonds And..."#"Kiss Me Like A Frog"...

    (Alternative Tentacles, 1997)
  • Heaven Sent
    Heaven Sent (Half Japanese album)
    Heaven Sent is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.The title track Heaven Sent was a live recording done for a radio broadcast on Radio 5 VPRO's De Avonden. It's a 50 minute long spoken word track on music...

    (Emperor Jones, 1997)
  • Hello
    Hello (Half Japanese album)
    Hello is an album released by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Track listing:#"All The Angels Said Go To Her" - 2.47#"Patty" - 2.34#"Temptation" - 2.18#"The Legend Of Hillbilly John" - 1.32#"Mississippi" - 3.48#"No Doubt" - 4.01...

    (Alternative Tentacles, 2001)

Live Albums

  • Half Alive (Cassette - live at DC Space and the Red Door, Baltimore - 50 Skidillion Watts, 1977)
  • 50 Skidillion Watts Live (Calypso Now
    Calypso Now
    Calypso Now was part of the cassette culture movement.Calypso Now was founded in 1983 by swiss musician and concert promoter Hotcha alias Rudi Tüscher, located in Biel/Bienne. Until 1989 about 200 cassette releases were produced, mainly from Switzerland, Germany, UK, USA and Canada...

    , 1984)
  • Boo: Live in Europe 1992 (TEC Tones, 1994)

Compilation Albums

  • Best Of Half Japanese (Timebomb Japan, 1993)
  • Greatest Hits
    Greatest Hits (Half Japanese album)
    Greatest Hits is the first compilation album released by punk rock band Half Japanese, in 1995. It features the lineups from all albums released by the band.-History:...

    2 CDs / 3 LPs (Safe House, 1995)
  • Best Of Half Japanese Vol. 2 (Timebomb Japan, 1995)

EPs

  • "Calling All Girls" (50 Skidillion Watts, 1977)
  • Horrible
    Horrible (Half Japanese EP)
    Horrible is an extended play by Michigan rock group Half Japanese.-Vinyl version:Side one#"Thing With A Hook"#"Don´t Go To Bed"#"Rosemary´s Baby"Side two#"Vampire"#"Walk Through Walls"...

    (Press, 1982)
  • Real Cool Time/What Can I Do/Monopoly EP (Overzealous Editions, 1989)
  • Everybody Knows, Twang 1 EP (Seminal Twang, 1991)
  • 4 Four Kids EP (Ralph, 1991)
  • Postcard EP (Earl, 1991)
  • Eye of the Hurricane/Said and Done/U.S. Teens are Spoiled Bums/Daytona Beach EP (1991)

Singles

  • "No Direct Line from my Brain to My Heart"/"(I Don't Want to Have) Mono (No More)" 7" (50 Skidillion Watts, 1978)
  • "Spy" (Armageddon, 1981)
  • "How Will I Know" (Press, 1982)
  • "U.S. Teens Are Spoiled Bums" (50 Skidillion Watts, 1988)
  • "T For Texas"/"Go Go Go Go" (X.X.O.O. Fan Club, 1990)

External links


Listening

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