Yako (Melt Banana)
SPB: What surprised you the most on your first US tour?
Yako: I was surprised that we needed to show ID to enter the clubs. In Japan, we don't need to be over 21 to enter clubs!
Related features
Dead Pioneers
One Question Interviews • April 2, 2026
Abe Brennan (Dead Pioneers) SPB: How many Nazi teeth do you think you could knock out in a single punch? Brennan: Hi, Chuck, nice to hear from you, and thank you for the opportunity to discuss the dislodging of Nazi teeth. I appreciate it. So knocking Nazi -- or any … Read more
Death of Youth
One Question Interviews • March 31, 2026
Rob David (Death Of Youth – vocals) SPB: What is the weirdest description you’ve heard of your music and could you see where the commenter was coming from? David: One outlet once described our single “Fix Your Heart or Die” as “An emotionally charged piece of heavy rock combining 80's … Read more
Shizune
One Question Interviews • March 30, 2026
Filippo (Shizune – bass) SPB: Breviario d'oblio is something of a comeback after 8 years. What triggered this comeback? Filippo: It was not meant as a comeback. We were almost ready to enter the studio in 2020, then Covid happened and we lost our practice room. It was hard to … Read more
The New York Dolls: Reflections and Legacy
Music • March 30, 2026
I first discovered the New York Dolls in the mid-to-late 1980s, just as I was beginning to stretch the boundaries of my musical journey. Up until then, my exposure to music had mostly come through my parents, aunts, and uncles. They planted the initial seeds, and those seeds quickly grew, … Read more
East End Redemption
Interviews • March 24, 2026
Punk’s never been about polish. It’s about passion, sweat, and the grind it takes to keep going when most people quit. East End Redemption carry that spirit like a trophy. Out of the East Coast underground, they’re mixing hard-earned experiences with the urgency of a band that still believes in … Read more
Related news
Melt Banana: US, UK, new record too
Posted in Bands on May 2, 2024
Napalm Death, Melvins, Melt Banana, oh my!
Posted in Tours on December 1, 2015
Melt Banana plan 2 North American tours
Posted in Bands on May 4, 2015
Related reviews
Melt Banana
Bambi's Dilemma
A-Zap (2007)
Listening to Melt Banana carries a list of requirements: Deal with the vocals. Deal with annoying noises. If you can't handle the speed and the fury, don't even bother. If you can embrace these qualities fully, you can totally understand why Melt Banana is such an important figure in noise rock. They slush together punk and noise rock elements and … Read more
Melt Banana
Cell Scape
A-Zap (2003)
You know Melt Banana, right? Their guitarist has SARS. Doesn't ring a bell? They're arguably the best Japan has to offer in terms of good no wave music? They had a split with (what used to be) everyone's favorite grind-core band The Locust a little more than a year ago? The split was despised by fans and critics alike? Still … Read more
