Half Japanese | Artist

Half Japanese is an American art punk band formed 1975 in Uniontown, Maryland by brothers Jad and David Fair. The current band lineup is Jad Fair (guitar, vocals), David Fair (guitar, vocals), John Dreyfuss (saxophone), Rick Dreyfuss (drums), Don Fleming (guitar), Mark Jickling (bass), Jay Spiegel (drums) and Scott Jarvis (drums). The band has collaborated with other artists such as Kramer from King Missile, ex-Velvet Underground drummer Moe Tucker, Fred Frith, John Zorn and Daniel Johnson. The brothers started out playing as a duo with a small drum set, which they took turns, an out-of-tune distorted guitar, and they both sang. Musically, their sound is deliberately amateurish chaotic punk-pop, with song lyrics limited solely to "love songs or monster songs". Their first single "Calling All Girls" in August 1977, followed by the debut triple album 1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts gave them a near-instant cult status. To-date they have released 20 studio albums, standouts are 1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts, Sing No Evil, Music to Strip By and Charmed Life. The 1995 compilation Greatest Hits is also recommended. The band's history and influence are chronicled in the 1993 Jeff Feuerzeig documentary "Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King". Also the band was chosen by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival he curated in March 2012 in Minehead.

Artist Website: halfjapanese.bandcamp.com

Featured Albums: Half Japanese

Related Artists: Jad Fair, Daniel Johnson, 1/2 Japanese