Recently I like simple lyrics

A four-track EP called "Tokyo Bay" has been released. It seems that this song has been sung live as well.

Oh, this is a song I wrote a few years ago.

It is a very interesting song, is it a song based on fact? Or did you get inspiration from a book?

No. (Laughs). I imagined writing a story of a man with super romantic memories in Tokyo.

This EP contains three more songs "Crying Inside", a cover of the Bee Gees’ "Heartbreaker", and a cover of Cliff Richards’ "Travellin 'Light", and together with "Tokyo Bay", they appear to make a story.

That is an interesting opinion. I didn't intend to do that in particular (laughs). I love country and western, as all of the songs have very simple lyrics. Even if you sing about complex things, the lyrics themselves are very simple. I like those kinds of lyrics these days.

It was different in the old days, right?

Yup. I was stupid when I was young (lol)

Why did you cover the songs of Bee Gees and Cliff Richards?

Of course both of these songs are among my favorite songs and I thought it was good because these two songs have hardly covered by anyone. "Travellin 'Light" is a song written by British people in the American rock and roll style. At that time there were a lot of songwriters who wrote rock-and-roll songs like in the US, but most of them were terrible (laughs). Under these circumstances, this song is a rarity, a well done song.

The picture of the jacket is pretty. Who drew it?

Well, I forgot the name, but it was drawn by a graphic designer my wife knows.

I try to buy it when I see it

By the way, you seem to like Gibson acoustic guitars, but are you mainly using the J-150?

Before. Now I have a reissue of the J-200 and I really like it. I have three for now. I carry them on tour, so they can be broken or lost, so I buy one when I see it. It looks and sounds great.

Please tell me the manufacturer and size of the strings you use.

D’Addario strings, I'm using a set of 011-052, with the 6 string changed to 053.

You also use Martin and Guild guitars, too.

I still have them, but I am not as good enough to play a Martin guitar (laughs). I'm a Hillbilly or Rockabilly player, so it doesn't fit Martin.

Do you play the electric guitar?

No. But I like the cheap electrics from Harmony, Hohner and Teisco. The guitars may not be that comfortable to play, but the sound is great. That's why I always tell my friends around me that I can give up Gibson and Fender, and play Harmony (laughs)

Have you bought any guitars recently?

No, I'm selling more and more guitars. There are so many guitars I can't play, so now I'm disposing of them.

Do you only bring one guitar on tour?

No, I bring a bass too. It's an old, blue Precision bass. After my son started playing the bass ...

Son-Studio

You also participated in your sons’ Los Straightjackets album, right? Did you play the bass?

He is a drummer. He’s still a kid, so I just did percussion for the album. I started the bass recently. I'm getting better and better.

Do you buy your son’s CDs?

No, I haven't bought a CD. I download music and listen.

That's right. The way you listen to music is completely different from before, but the recording method has also changed. What is the main difference from the analog age?

That's right. A long time ago, the role of the producer was to get the musicians in the studio, make them feel good, and bring out good performances. The main task was to create an atmosphere. It was fun. But now it's the age of recording in the bedroom, so no producers are needed. Now everyone can make great records in their bedroom.

What is your favorite recording studio?

Recording studios are almost gone. There is still Abbey Road, but most of it is a tourist destination. What I like most is Mickie Most's RAK studio. That’s still alive. The equipment is analog , and since maintenance is strictly carried out, it can be used without any problems.

Who is running the studio after after Mickie Most's passing?

His daughter. It's a really fantastic studio.

For those who want to play guitar

Please give advice to those who start instruments from middle age, those who had been playing for a while, but then stopped, and now want to start again as they get older.

Play a sunburst guitar. You get better if you play a sunburst guitar. Either a sunburst or a red guitar.

Now we have a color! What song do you recommended?

Rock and roll with 3 chords! You only need three chords. Good Luck!