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
Commerce or Amusement?
Regular Columns / Commerce or Amusement? • January 26, 2026
Howdy out there! Welcome to the introduction for a new interview series I’ll be helming. Thanks to SPB for having me. My interviews are going to revolve around “music biz” kinds of things. Before I keep going, I need to tell you something…I am not actually in the music business. … Read more
The Rousers
Interviews • January 26, 2026
A dripping handful of Brylcreem and a well-used black comb situated in the pack pocket of the rolled up Levis, the clicking rhythm of bubble gum and fast cars, fast girls and twangy guitars while engines from a Ford Thunderbird rev in the sunset. Enter The Rousers blasting out energy … Read more
Greg Soden
One Question Interviews • January 22, 2026
Greg Soden (Unscripted Moments: Conversations with Propagandhi) SPB: You’ve obviously followed Propagandhi for many years – what was the biggest surprise or revelation to you about the band as pieced the book together? Soden: To me, the greatest joy in interviewing members of Propagandhi for five years was the mutual … Read more
Hooch
One Question Interviews • January 21, 2026
Scott O’Brien (Hooch, Smut Peddlers) SPB: How is the approach to your solo work different than with Smut Peddlers? O'Brien: My solo work, which has actually turned into a new collaborative band called Hooch, was a way to work on music I wrote that was somewhat stylistically different from Smut … Read more
Storm Boy
One Question Interviews • January 20, 2026
Storm Boy What is your favorite 1990s artist? God there’s so much to draw from in so many different scene: much of which we consciously incorporate into our creative process -- like Fugazi, Jesus Lizard, the Cure, and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, but also bands that influenced us simply by … 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
