OI! THE INTERVIEW PART 2

THE TOKYO RANKERS

Peterborough (UK) Oi! / Streetpunk

Spud - Vocals / Guitar

A title of the song ”Sex And Violence” speaks for itself, but what is its overall concept? Why did you write just this song and how much were you inspired by the same-titled anthem by The Exploited? What everything do the sex and violence have in common in your opinion? :-))

Nothing to do with the exploited song just has the same title song is just
about how the scene in some ways is the same for me sex violence rock
and roll all still there seen it all before and we’re still here having fun, bands not getting paid even though they are good politics in every venue and all the time were saying nothing of importance well fuck you.

Jimmy - Bass Guitar

Dario - Drums

Krystian - Guitar

I am really not sure as regards the message and meaning of songs like ”Unsettled”, ”Get The Bastards Back”, ”Ultra Violent”, ”Insatiable”, ”Garage Roof” and ”Don't Get Me Started”. I suppose all these songs are telling a sad and unpleasant stories, right? Could you tell us 2 or 3 sentences about each of these songs and explain their lyrics?

Unsettled persecution of kids who have come to this country having lived in war zones all there lives to be persecuted and taking advantage of through no fault of there own. They are children.
Get the bastards back is about how our government are busy creaming
money off the tax payer whilst one of the richest countries in the world has starving children homelessness and no room in hospitals, it’s a fucking disgrace.
Ultra violent about those people who go out at the weekend and fill
themselves up with booze and drugs and turn violent.
Insatiable about greed always someone who wants more.
Garage roof about our childhood growing up on council estates
Don’t get me started, about liars people lie about everything .

I noticed your rehearsal room is decorated by the picture of Virgin Mary and the Confederate flag. Why did you choose just these motives and what does it symbolize? What does the Virgin Mary have in common with the Confederate States of America? :-))

WHO IS WHO?

The Tokyo Rankers Members

You were lucky enough to play a joint gigs together with such bands
like Peter And The Test Tube Babies, The Warriors, Resistance 77, Vicious Rumours and The Analogs. What are your personal impressions of live performances of these bands? Would you tell each of these bands has its own unique style and performance? Would you tell they are all still in the best form on stages?

All the bands we have played with are very good,all play with passion still, the anologs were very good I had not seen them before had a good sound. They are all different so all good.

Your name suggests a certain Japanese connection. Are you more
interested in the Japanese history, tradition and culture? Are you familiar with the music of any Japanese Punk/Samurai Spirit Skinhead bands? If so, which ones are your favourites? Would you like playing in Tokyo once?

I don’t know anything about that scene at all our name is not a connection we have with Japan it’s just random, and of course live to play there when I win the lottery for the airfare.

Could you tell us any interesting things about Peterborough? How do
you usually spend your free time there? What are your favourite places in this city? What would you recommend to visit or try if we were in Peterborough? Does your city keep a close relations with Peterborough in New Hampshire, U.S.? :-))

Interesting about peterborough difficult really it’s a cathedral city with an old part and lots of poorer estates a very diverse city with many nationality's living here. Once a great punk scene but does off coming back a little now with some local promoters putting on dome decent gigs but it’s still a struggle to get attendances up.i am a family man so have lots of time with the kids and the same for jimmy, dario and krystian are always busy with the other bands so we cram a bit in with work and the bands and family. As far as I know no connection with the usa.

What are you favourite sports? Do you like playing or watching football? Do you support any club? If so, do you also attend a matches? What was it like the most unforgettable match you have ever visited? Who are your favourite players?

I support millwall. Jimmy is west ham , krystian likes football but does nit have a team. I attend when i can but think it’s just me that goes football is bloody expensive in the uk. Favourite player is our now manager neil harris and the play off final last year will live long in my memory from what I can remember, I had a few beers lol.

Do you have any favourite characters and stories from the past? Which historical period is your favourite? If you had to pick up 5 most important events in the history of England, which ones would you choose and why?

That’s tough that one, the English civil war was important we now have democracy through a parliament although it’s gone to shit now the end of the second world war for obvious reasons. The introduction of the national health service but yet again it has been allowed to fall into chaos the abolition of the slave trade, everyman should be a free man. And now we have brexit it is yet to become clear the importance if this it’s a wait and see.

No significance it’s a shared rehearsal room, there are lots of flags posters etc.

How many gigs have you already played as The Tokyo Rankers in and with which bands? How did it usually look during your set? :-)) Which English cities have you already performed in? Where have you so far experienced the best atmosphere and most excited crowd? What were the funniest things you have experienced on the gigs? :-)) Do you play any covers during the live set?

We ate new to the scene only played a handful of gig si far we have played peterborough stamford northampton and london a few times,we are on the match up north to bolton soon lots more gigs coming.neat gigs so far have been London and peterborough, no covers in the set if we do play one we xan never agree on which one so not at the moment.

Which current Oi!/Punk bands would you surely recommend to listen to from England? Please, try to introduce especially the following bands: Murdaball, Boots & All ; All, Tear Up, The Crash Landings, East End Badoes, Underclass UK, Russ Crimewave, The Straps and The Anoraks. If it is possible, introduce them all individually and tell us a few words about their music and lyrics.

Lot of bands there mate lol, east end baddoes watch out for their new album, think it’s gonna be killer, tear up just to watch jamie abuse everyone just brilliant, russ shouty man he means it ya know, and my other band the anoraks been going nearly 26 years good old school punk rock and great people. Not seen the others live yet but will be playing with a couple if them very soon.

What everything do you know about Czech Republic? Which Czech bands have you already listened to and what is your opinion about their music? Have you had an opportunity to taste a Czech beer?

I went to Prague with the black marias and played a couple of gigs with sps, beer is great lol also played with neville staples band and I think they were called disco balls? Jimmy had a great time and spent the evening going around the city with some skins from the city. Great weekend. Czech bands I know very little of I am guilty of hiding in my own countries scene so I will endeavour to track some down.

Do you have any closing comments? Would you like greeting anyone just like to say thanks to everyone that helped us with the cd and artwork our families and friends and anyone who has listened to us at gigs on online.

We are old heads but a young band more to come from us and if you’ve
not heard us have a listen tell us what you think
Thanks for the interview.
PUNK ROCK SKA SKINHEAD TOO GOD SAVE ROCK AND ROLL

Previous interview

VIDEO - TOKYO RANKERS : Ultraviolent

Spud - Guitar & Vocals Krystian- Guitar & chorus

Snorting cocaine at the bar shots dont get him very far those lines are thumping in his head 'cos he likes to fuck them when their dead He won't fight anyone alone fights anyone who's on their own, marching around he's like a king doubt they're gonna let him in. He's turning he is turning he's turning ultra violent on Saturday on Saturday ......

VIDEO - TOKYO RANKERS : Don't Get me Started