I was lucky enough to get a chance to ask Nigel van der Grijspaarde some questions about the punk scene in Tokyo and his band Punik who are kicking major ass all over Japan... I hope you enjoy the interview....

Where are you and the band located?

Tokyo, Japan

You are British right? What brought you to Japan? curiosity

Tell us a bit about your background Nigel?

I am from the UK, got into punk at 13 , it was perfect vehicle for resentment, blown away by by albums like "Inflammable Material" by SLF & Iggy's raw expression hawked up & spat out .... Started playing guitar at 21,while working as a licensed nurse at a psychiatric hospital formed 2 bands Loose Cherry Pickers & Shady Dealers.Then I started paying bass.

When you joined the band did you speak Japanese?

Didn't need to really,"this ones goes like this....1234!" but yeah my Japanese is as bollocksed up as their English, Wer'e masters at faking complete understanding of gibberish.... Not a problem, PUNiK is about freedom ,expression and a shared dis-interest in "social harmony" ,there's a strong underground scene here, it's where you end up when you fall through the cracks......

Punik has been together for three years but you and fellow guitar player Makoto joined the band how long ago?

I came in from September this year, met them in a bar on a Sunday, we had a 2hr song run thru on Tuesday and played my first gig on a Friday, "We got 30minutes onstage,10 songs to do , so get drunk ,don't worry about fucking up and welcome to PuniK!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_2MgNHUV0Q

Tell us how you came up with the band name Punik?

Punk panic ,edgy tense ,no brakes,the gigs are always mental,we play our guts out ,everytime,equipment hurled drunk Japanese punks Kamikaze diving......

Tell us who is in the band and what they play?

Tagu Punik guitar/vocals ,Osamu drums,Makoto guitar and me- Nigel on bass

How would you describe your music?

Short breakneck songs played full-tilt always , no actors in this band...

Who are some of the bands influences?

For myself , early UK punk ,70's garage Pink Fairies, Stooges,etc , Tagu likes a Backyard Babies,Japunk veteran bands,Osamu has the most eclectic tastes psychedelic, folk-rock and Makoto has more aggressive tastes coming as he does from the often extreme edges of the Tokyo scene.

Do you have any releases out?

Yeah the first CD album "fuck are you doing?" released nationally 2011 different line-up......Tagu and 2 other guys from when Punik started in 2008

What is your favorite venue in Japan to play at?

Well....that's the thing.....Japan's "pay to play" and we do a lot of shows.... Most of them will charge most bands around $150-200 give them 30mins on stage and try to squeeze in as many acts as they can,if the bands are lucky they maybe play with similar acts but I've seen death metal sets mixed up with costume pop and electronic groups..... Punik are well known for frequency of shows and are now able to work with more flexible live clubs like Mission's and Urga & Earthdom. They let us run our own events ,invite the other bands we know that have a good draw. These venues aren't anal about people getting wasted and rowdy, don't worry about us chucking the odd speaker across the stage or Osamu dancing on top of the house kit.... And the staff at both venues are friendly and into the music...... They are the exception,and that's not even getting into the number of clubs Punik are banned from playing at .......

Has the band played The Loft in Tokyo?

Yeah, often and just last week......

My band White Trash Debutantes played in Japan.. I loved it there.. The shows start early though. I really like Huck Finn in Nagoya.. Have you played there?

Not yet , you played loft eh? Yeah,Loft has a good sound and hall and is more like the club/live music venues that you have in the US.. The staff are a bunch of retentive s though...."You're too loud! look this flashing little red LED means you are damaging our PA..... And the staff are standing behind the amps and frowning at the mess we cause...and I like flashing red LED's ...

Do you have a van or do you travel on The Bullet Train?

We take the city trains for Tokyo shows,but cram into Tagu's motor for everywhere else. It takes a long time getting back, designated driver just means the drunk guy sleeping in the front....

Have you played any shows out side of Japan yet?

Yeah,the other guys went over to Taiwan just before I joined (the previous bassist quit when they got back) they had a blast, 3 gigs,fired up local punk scene,awesome crowd ,no stages just basements and huge PA's ... We may go back again in February and will take hardcore band AntHell with us.... That's a traveling freak show right there. We'll be in the US in the end of summer next year, jumping on tours with various mates outfits.

Tell us some of your favorite bands to play with?

Cream Panda,Master Bacons,BeeBop and The Blind Monkeys. The singer/guitarist is actually blind and has to be led to the stage,but he's a true punk spirit,all mohawk and studs and would put Rancid to shame.. As I said earlier, the underground scene here is filled with diehard drop-outs,they've found their place outside of the stifling conformist Japanese "society" all insane,all serious bands despite their names .... I love reading band flyers here.... What they do to the English language is hilarious.

If you could put together your dream gig. Who would be playing with you on the bill and where?

That would be Rebellion Punk festival in the UK.....with Stiff Little Fingers, The Damned,The Ruts, Bad Brains,USA friends Longbeach Rehab,rappers RTRS & Tas Prestige and a "back from the dead" line-up DeeDee,Johnny,,Joe Strummer (who owes me a pint and a fat spliff) GG & Sid for MCs and every dead punk who ever left their music and passion in this world....but not Nancy snigger.

My friend Dod Morrison does the Rebellion... I also love Tara Rez from The Duel... Do you play with alot of bands that tour Japan from The USA?

Yeah, I was out in Cali in April touring down to Mexico with my mates Qball & Israel Joseph (ex Bad Brains)and now with Longbeach Rehab and drummer Paget from (HR),Derek Hooks(stand in vocals when Bad Brains tour minus HR), they were over 2 years ago and I set them up with a mini tour.... They come back again in spring and we'll tour together...... I 'd like to give a shout out to Cali bands Break the Cycle & Safety In Numbers,

Describe the band in 3 words

"HAKAI NO YORU" (destroy the night)

Any internet addresses you would like to share with Punk Globe readers?

http://ip.tosp.co.jp/i.asp?I=punikpunks

What is in the future for Punik?

Gigs,gigs, gigs, recording, Taiwan & USA, loud fast times.

Any last words for Punk Globe readers?

Yeah, US bands, come to Tokyo, we'll show you another side of it.