AT WETLANDS, NYC, 4.29.96

OPP: Please explain the meaning of the name "Zeni Geva."

KK: "Zeni" is an old Japanese term for money, and "Geva" is German: Gevalt. So, "Money Violence."

OPP: That sounds like a sort of anti-capitalist statement.

KK: No, I took this name from a Japanese cartoon, "Zeni Geva." It is a very serious, dark cartoon. I just liked the name, because of the sound and the letters. I didn't expect any political meaning, something like that.

OPP: Then what are some of the themes you express in the lyrics?

KK: Actually, the lyrics are just a reflection of my personal thinking and opinions. Not a message to the other people. I don't want to force anybody to think this way or that.

				IN WFMU STUDIO, 4.30.96

OPP: How is this tour going?

KK: So far so good. Audience is nice.

OPP: You've been in America several times before.

KK: We had 2 short tours and a big tour, so this is actually the fourth tour. And it's getting better and better.

OPP: How do people treat you in this country, compared to Japan?

KK: From my experience, Europe is best. We are treated best in Europe. We get free food, free accomodations, good crowds, promoters take care of everything, we are treated like a king in Europe! But here, actually on this tour, we had some miscommunication, disorganization, on booking, between the band and booking agencies. Sometimes we fucked up. But this tour is the best so far. We can make good money.

OPP: A lot of people say they make good money on tour in Japan. They go and play just a few shows and make a lot of money. I wonder why bands aren't treated as well in this country.

KK: Well, I think basically--it's kind of the wrong story but after World War II, Japan was much impressed by American culture and society. Japanese people think, America is like this (holds one hand up high) and Japan is like this (holds other hand lower).

OPP: I guess they're just eager to see the American bands, and are so happy when they come over. How are your audiences in Japan?

KK: Tickets for shows cost at least $20, and people just sit there smoking, maybe tapping along. We are playing hard as we always do, try to give a good show, and they just ignore us. We feel stupid because the audience doesn't show any emotion. So we only do a few gigs in Japan, then we play much more abroad.

TABATA: Once I went into this club and started moshing by myself, and people just looked at me like a freak.

OPP: Tell us about the new album.

KK: It's called "Freedom Bondage,"( Alternative Tentacles) and I play keyboards for the first time on this album. We were very satisfied with the results and the way the songs came out.

OPP: Why is there no bass guitar live?

KK: It just happened.

OPP: So what do you do when you play live, do you play keyboard parts on guitar or just make different arrangements?

KK: Actually, when I composed the songs I didn't expect to play keyboards. But this idea came up later. Basically I think the songs are reasonable without keyboards.

KK: I'm not sure. 10 or 11 including live recordings. 5 or 6 studio albums.

OPP: Do you still do recordings as Null, noise recordings?

KK: Sometimes. Not usually.

OPP: What kind of music do you listen to?

KK: Actually I hardly listen to heavy music. I love to listen to traditional music, folk songs.

OPP: And you use that tape of gagaku music before you go onstage, that was great.

KK: I also like folk rock, progressive rock, European progressive rock.

OPP: Are there any particular bands that influenced you?

KK: Actually we covered the Italian song, "Settembre Nero" by the group Aria. They are a very political band, this is a song against fascism.

TABATA: I listen to many kinds of music. Now I'm interested in tango--Astor Piazzolla. I never listened to South American music but I'm interested in it right now. Do you know Ataurupayupanki (sp?) from Peru? And Ramones. They are goofy.

KK: You are goofy. (they laugh)

TABATA: Goofy music, like Ramones. And kung fu music. Soundtrack of Bruce Lee movies, really funky! Chinese funk.

OPP: You had such long hair, when did you shave your head?

KK: Two years ago. I was sick of long hair, now I'm so comfortable.

OPP: How did you meet?

TABATA: Ten years ago...I was in Boredoms.

KK: I found him lying in the road. He was drunk, almost dead. I saved his life.

OPP: What are you going to do when you get back to Japan?

KK: Vacation! I have a plan to go to Indonesia. And in the autumn we have a European tour. This time we go to Russia, Poland--must be interesting.

BLAKE: (Points to others)

OPP: I think he's doing great. Are you going to keep him?--Oh, I shouldn't put you on the spot now.

KK: Yeah, we'll see. We got a Japanese drummer just before we came here, and we practiced just four times, so at this moment we are not sure if he works well or not.

OPP: (To Blake) So how long have you been with them?

BLAKE: Three weeks.

OPP: How did you learn the songs?

BLAKE: Listened to the tapes, then we got together in San Francisco and rehearsed for three days and started the tour.

KK: He just left. He got married and chose a normal life.

KK: I am a drug dealer and bodyguard. No, we are just musicians.

OPP: What are your favorite animals?

TABATA: Unagi-inu. Eel dog.

BLAKE: Pussycat. (they laugh)

OPP: Any final messages to the audience?

KK: Don't do drugs!

TABATA: (Pauses to stare soberly into the camera) Don't eat too much chocolate! It's bad for your health. (they laugh)

BLAKE: (Jumps up and runs out.)

TABATA: Do not spend money on religious cults! Instead buy some music. Our music!

KK and TABATA: Buy our records!

	Try to imagine how loud it was in this room. And here's Bliss Blood, just relaxing!

KK Null Website

A Zeni Geva Website