Mad Mongols is one of the best known Japanese Psychobilly band in the world. They've appeared on the Big Rumble in the U.K.. They were formed in August 1991 in Nagoya, Japan. Immediately, they became to the top Japanese Psychobilly band. They've released two mini-LPs, "Mongolian Chop", "Bruce Fuckin' Lee", etc from Vinyl Japan. They are the first Japanese Psycho band with a Majorlabel-deal. Their sound is totaly Horror Psychobilly with influences of Hard Core, Punk, Death Metal, etc. It's hard and silly to compare to the other Psycho bands, because their sounds are very original.




The Interview
interview by Tomotake Murakoshi(Tomo)/April 1996
Note: This interview was taken from "Wild Youth Magazine". I'm not sure who have the Copyright of this interview, but I did this and Guido(the editor of Wild Youth) allow me to use, so. マサトさん、もしダメだったら言ってください。

T.M.=Tomotake Murakoshi
M.S.=Masato Suzuki(Mad Mongols' Slap Bass Man)


T.M.:When have you formed the band?
M.S.:August 1991 in Nagoya.

T.M.:Line-ups were different each time when you released "Mongolian Chop", "Bruce Fuckin' Lee" and after you get into Major label. What were the reasons of member change?
M.S.:The members had other bands or it was hard to concentrate on the band only for living, so that was not like we did not get along nor we were interested in different kind of music.

T.M.:When you released "Bruce Fuckin' Lee", ex-member of Leejent joined Mad Mongols. Did you think about playing as Leejent, not as Mad Mongols, again?
M.S.:I never thought about that. Leejent is in the past and I wouldn't do it again.

T.M.:When did you start listen to Psychobilly and Rockabilly?
M.S.:Around 16. My older friend was into Rockabilly and Psychobilly. He forced me to listen to them.

T.M.:When did you start playing instruments? Are you playing w-bass from the beginning?
M.S.:The first instrument I hold when I was 17 was a w-bass. My older friend, that i told you, forced me to play it!!

T.M.:Who are your fave bands and musicians?
M.S.:From Psychobilly it's Mad Sin and Demented Are Go. I like Psychobilly bands almost all. Each bands have their own characterristics. From Rock in general, I like Napalm Death and Carcass. I listen to them a lot.

T.M.:Who has the most influence on Mad Mongols and your way of play the bass?
M.S.:Demented Are Go influenced Mad Mongols the most. When we had a Japan tour together, their sounds and styles were great. Also their personalities were really interesting. My bass play didn't get any influence from anyone. I practiced it all by myself.

T.M.:The sound changed everytime the members were changed. It seems settle down with this line-up. Do you think Mad Mongols sounds is established with this line up?
M.S.:Our sound will keep progressing, I think. The sound that we like at that time will affect, so.

T.M.:When you write lyrics, do you have a theme or something like that? Do you have any massages in your songs? Some songs seems sing about racism.
M.S.:I never thought about telling a message nor my lyrics have any message in it. Depends on who listen to it, I guess.

T.M.:Are there any differences after you had a contract with major label? Are there any restructions on lyrics?
M.S.:After we had a contract, distribution of our CD's got better. not only at these small imported record store but also at the ordinary CD stores we see our CD selling now.

T.M.:There are many Crossover and Hardcore like bands in Japan now and some bands don't seem to like Psychobilly. My friend, he likes Punk and Hardcore, said that it's better to listen to "Straight Edge" or "N.Y.C. Hardcore". But I listen to Rockabilly and Psychobilly a lot and I love these. So for me, these bands sounds completely new type of Psychobilly. And Straight Edge andN.Y.C.Hardcore needs someting because of no slap sound in it. How do you think about it?
M.S.:There are many of that kind of bands in Japan lately. I think they are nice like that. I think Straight Edge and N.Y.C.Hardcore adopt their favorite sounds and phrase from many different kind of music. So if they call them Psychobilly band, the one who listen may think there are such kind of Psychobilly, I guess.

T.M.:Will you tell me about your label and fanzine? What do you want for the future to fold them?
M.S.:My label CYBER. is going to release not only Psychobilly and Rockabilly, but alsoPunk, Hardcore and Ska. I'm going to release a Psychobilly band calld "Great Invaders" on a 7"EP, a melodic Skacore band called "Snail Ramp" and a 7"EP of "Godless Wicked Creeps". My fanzine "Psychoanalysis From Far East" is planned to be publishd every 3 or 4 months. Last issue Vol.0 is sold out and Vol.1 is out now! I want to sell it in Europe, but it's in Japanese.

T.M.: I think your fanzine adopt Punk and Ska, too.
M.S.:It doesn't adopt Punk and Ska. I love Ska. especially Ken Boothe.I like rockstesdy, too.

T.M.:What is the plan of Man Mongols for releasing records and gigs? Are you planning on having gigs in Europe?
M.S.:We will release the 2nd album "Frenzied Black Demon" in July or August. At the same time, we will release the first 7"EP "Welcome To Japan" and later a "best Album"(2 CD's with 56 songs!). We are still recording for coming album, so we don't have gigs lately. About gigs in Europe, Dell of Fury Records asked us for Big Rumble, but we are not sure yot. I'm very busy with recording and my label.

T.M.:What does Mad Mongols are going to from now on?
M.S.:The Mad Mongols are going on their own way. We are going at last, so. I have another band called "Seven Step To Hell". The sound is Death Metal + W-bass. I want to release material of this band in Europe.

Masato-san, Thanks a lot!!

write to Masato(slap Bass) and Mad Mongols:

CYBER LABEL
c/o Mr. Masato Suzuki
202 Shiely Mezon
3-38-35 Osu, Naka-ku
Nagoya
460 Japan




European Fan Club, please write to:

Mad Mongols Fan Club
Jose Mongol Beat
C/Del Mar 72, C.8.04712
Balerma
SPAIN



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