seiji

 _{Aaron Rubin photo}

The first time I saw Guitar Wolf, the band arrived at a beloved Adelaide venue on Hindley Street on a stinking hot day, straight from the airport, heavily clad in black leather, black T-shirts and dark glasses.

The audience they drew pretty much all knew each other - Guitar Wolf is a delightful gift from Japan shared by word-of-mouth. They gave us all the finger while arriving and immediately went to the stage... and rocked like you always wanted to when you were an impressionable little kid.

There were only two pauses during the two-and-a-half hour set: one, when main man Seiji pulled up members of the audience and made them form a human pyramid (it collapsed, frequently), and the second when Seiji took his guitar off and demanded a guitar player from the audience. Numerous local musicians scrambled frantically toward the stage, only to be told, “No. That guy!”

Tokyo's incredible Guitar Wolf are returning to Australia on a five-state tour in March and April 2025.



Since forming in 1987 and releasing their first album on Memphis's legendary Goner Records in 1993, Guitar Wolf have taken their wild and dangerous sound to the world, working with labels like Matador and Third Man in the process.

Guitar Wolf have released 12 albums and are signed to a major label at home in Japan. They first toured Australia in the late '90s, when mainman Seiji (pictured right) rode onto the stage of a packed Tote Hotel on the back of a borrowed motorcycle.



Inspired by the ultra-violent records of '50s guitar wielding maniac Link Wray as well as motorcycles, Ramones, Johnny Thunders, the Cramps and Joan Jett,

Seiji has called their sound "Jet Rock'n'Roll". He explained in a 2012 interview: "I love jet plane. I love noisy music, too. So...there were records...many records...every record have no big sounds. So...easy to listen. I hate that! So! I add jet sounds. Bwaaaahng! Explosion!"

Guitar Wolf are icons. They have their own branded motorcycle jacket, the 613 GW (made by Schott NYC of New York, who made the iconic 613 Perfecto jacket worn by the Ramones) and are movie stars, starring in the 1999 low budget sci-fi horror movie "Wild Zero".

Photo by @alltoz696 

Japanese madmen Guitar Wolf are bringing their brand of high energy rock ‘n’ roll to Australia for the umpteenth time. Inspired by ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll and ‘70s punk, Guitar Wolf always put on a balls-to-the-wall show, with energy and intensity that no-one can match MATT RYAN spoke with Guitar Wolf mastermind SEIJI via email on the eve of the tour.

I-94: I saw you guys at the Gaso in Collingwood back in 2023, and you’re coming back. I take it you must love coming here to come back so often and quickly?

Seiji: Of course! Australia is paradise for Japanese people, and I love the rock that was born from this country.