Page 7 - Black Velvet Issue 91

BV91 pg6&7 kemuri_BV90 pg07 08/12/2016 00:52 Page 2

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nitially, it was hard for Fumio to make his tsunami which happened in northern Japan in ‘Ska Bravo’, a ‘Best Of’ CD in the UK in Septem-
Idreams come true, but his parents were 2011 made us reform. The reunion was a charity ber, just prior to the UK tour.
very supportive and happy for him to pursue a live show for that,” he tells us. During his time
career fronting a band rather than getting a min- away from Kemuri he tells us he missed “the n the song ‘Battle Against Fear’ Fumio
imum wage job. The band were focused and view of the fans going crazy in front of me. I Isings about trying to challenge himself.
managed to create opportunities for themselves. missed the heat of the music and the people.” Black Velvet asks how he does that. He replies,
This included doing a split 7” single with Less He thinks that both he and his Kemuri band “I try to stay healthy, both mentally and physi-
Than Jake in 1996, only a year after they initially mates all experienced and learned a lot during cally. Even if I am a lazy man, I try to read a lot
formed. “I was living in LA at that time. Less the time away from the band. Now, in 2016, the of books and I try to exercise a lot. I hate to do
Than Jake came to LA and I went to see them,” band’s line-up has changed a little. In 2015, Mit- it but I try to fight the fear for life.” On stage he
Fumio explains. “I gave Vinnie our demo cas- suhiro ‘Mitchy’ Kawamura (trumpet) and Hi- jumps around a lot, so the exercise definitely
sette and he loved it. Next day he said he royuki Suka (trombone) joined the band. He comes in handy and keeps him fit so he can give
wanted to put out a split 7’’ single. I thought he jokes that “Mitchy and Ska are both very good- his all in concert. The band are now planning on
was crazy but we did it!” looking. They added ‘the look’ to Kemuri, I be- putting out a new album and Fumio says they’ll
The band also signed to Roadrunner Japan lieve.” He believes that each member of the “try to tour the UK again! “ We hope they do as
in 1996, and released their debut album, ‘Little band makes Kemuri what it is. The band also in- they put on a great show. Fumio ends by saying,
Playmate’ in 1997. It was the first of many – al- cludes Noriaki Tsuda (bass), Shoji Hiraya “Keep the positive mental attitude and see you
though the band transferred to Universal Music (drums), Ken Kobayashi (saxophone) and Yuk- soon!” We will, and hope you do too.
in 2003. But, in 2007, the band disbanded and ihiko ‘T’ Tanaka (guitar). Now the band are For more info on Kemuri, visit
Fumio started a solo career as well as being a signed to JPU Records in the UK, a label that is www.kemuri.com
movie actor. Thankfully, after a few years, the ‘dedicated to bringing cutting-edge, kick-arse
band reunited. “The tragic earthquake and music from Japan to the UK’. They released Words By Shari Black Velvet

KEMURI