Perfect Sound Forever

HALF JAPANESE


Images courtesy of John Sluggett

Interviews by Jason Gross (September 1998)


Starting out in the seventies, brothers Jad and David Fair took the ethnic of the emerging D.I.Y punk scene to extremes that most of its originators would have never imagined. Starting with the monumental, three-record 1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts in 1980, they laid down their own raw, unhibited style to a music world that was beginning to sink under the weight of thousands of synthesized new-wave bands. The harsh, yelping, screaming vocals coupled with the rudimentary musicianship may have sounded crude at first but they were truly what rock (and roll) was supposed to be about all along.

Even with David bowing out of the picture to pursue family life, line-up changes that shifted with each release and unhappy dealings with numerous record companies, Jad Fair has managed to keep the band going strong. Now blessed with a stable line-up, including guitarist/drummer John Sluggett, all that's missing is that push from a strong label to catapult them upwards and onwards. Certainly, fans, well-wishers and collaborators like Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, Moe Tucker, Kramer, John Zorn, Teenage Fanclub and Yo La Tengo have helped spread the word.

Enormous thanks to Maureen Tucker for her help and encouragement.


JAD FAIR INTERVIEW   JOHN SLUGGETT INTERVIEW


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