An Interview with Hirokichi (NO-SLiP)

  To promote the release of the Bloodstains Across Chiba CD which is now available to order from the Private Scandal shop, I'll be interviewing some of the people involved with the bands featured on the CD.

NO-SLiP were band fronted by Hirokichi. NO-SLiP's sole release came in the form of the Dynamite Vagina compilation CD (Antique Records). Their 3 tracks are typical Chiba Punk so it was a natural fit for the Bloodstains... CD. 

NO-SLiP.

An Interview with Hirokichi (NO-SLiP)

PS: I guess you probably didn’t expect that your old band NO-SLiP would be reissued on CD in 2025 haha. I can guarantee nobody outside of Japan knows who NO-SLiP are, and not many people know the band in Japan either. So, let’s start with the old cliché question… and start from the beginning. When was the band formed? It was around 1994, right?

Hirokichi: Of course, I was surprised! It was a recording from almost 30 years ago. But I'm happy! 

We were an unknown band…so thank you. It was a long time ago, so my memory might be a bit off... We formed in the winter of '95. We were drinking at a friend's house, and we got into a great conversation with Nao (now SPIT-tn/the C&C) and Watanabe Metal (now The タイネックス (The Tynex)), whom I'd just met, and we decided to form the band. 

Nao and I played in a band together from our second year of junior high school until the second half of our second year of high school. 

The official members of NO-SLiP were Hirokichi (vocals), Watanabe Metal (guitar), Nao (Bass), and Shinji (Drums). Suck from The Manks helped out on drums as well. 

NO-SLiP.

PS: I’d heard that NO-SLiP’s main influence was the C&C. Is that true? The original lineup of the C&C broke up in 1994. I guess I’m curious how much of an influence they were given that they were a local band and they broke up just as NO-SLiP formed… were you going to their gigs at the time?

Hirokichi: The first time I saw the C&C was at Chiba Look around 1993, I was still in high school.

There were no ’77 style bands in my hometown of Sodegaura or Kisarazu back then, so it blew me away when I saw them. I remember thinking “They’re like the Pistols and The Swankys!”. They had a huge impact on me.

After that, I started going to see other bands like The Gozz, Chop, and Noisy Tape Recorders. I even managed to see The MARGAReTS once.

All of those bands influenced me, both their music and their fashion. The Snipe was also a big influence.

Hirokichi.

PS: The NO-SLiP songs on the Bloodstains… CD are taken from the Dynamite Vagina CD (Antique Records). The Dynamite Vagina “scene” came a few years after the other bands featured on the Bloodstains… CD. Can you tell me a little about the Dynamite Vagina scene and complilation? 

Hirokichi:  At that time, we were mainly active in Tokyo. Melodic hardcore, ska-core, and those kinds of bands were on the rise, and ‘77 punk-style bands were becoming less common. So, I wanted to document our scene, and I asked Nori from The Manks if we could make a compilation CD, and that’s how it came about. Around that time, NO-SLiP’s drummer had left the band, and we were playing with a support drummer and even programmed drums at points.

PS: I take it you often played gigs with The Manks, Radical Pop, and Sex Kids (the other bands on the Dynamite Vagina CD)? 

Hirokichi: Yes, most of the time it would be those 4 bands. The Manks and Radical Pop were the ones booking the gigs.

PS: Were there any other bands part of that scene?

Hirokichi: We also played with Dust Noise.

NO-SLiP.

PS: You also performed at the Dynamite Dondon gigs in Kisarazu, right? Can you comment on that? What bands did you perform with?

Hirokichi: That’s an event that’s been around for a long time and organised by older bands from Kisarazu. The other bands were a mix of psychobilly, hardcore, melocore, etc… We even played with 氣志團 (Kishidan) a few times.

I remember around 1997 when we played at that gig our support drummer was Yohei, who is now in The タイネックス (The Tynex).

PS: I have a flyer from when you performed with Cut in Shimokitazawa, (the Private Scandal label name is taken from Comic’s (Cut vocalist) old band Last Child). Do you have any memories from that gig? I imagine seeing Cut in Tokyo was cool, as it didn’t happen very often.

Hirokichi: I love Kyushu Punk so it was a lot of fun. However, for one reason or another NO-SLiP had to pull out of that gig at the last minute.

Flyer for the Cut gig in Shimokitazawa. NO-SLiP pulled out at the last minute.

PS: NO-SLiP was still active into the early 00’s, right? 

Hirokichi: At that time, I was focused on my acting career, so it wasn’t really a proper reunion but a limited run of 2 or 3 gigs. It was mainly support members helping me out.

PS: So, when did the band officially break up? Did you record anything else?

Hirokichi: We never officially broke up, we’ve just been on hiatus for decades! We’re pretty much broken up.

We didn’t record anything else, just the tracks from the Dynamite Vagina CD. I’ve got a couple of live recordings and rehearsal tapes, though.

NO-SLiP.

PS: More recently, you’re the frontman in another band, The タイネックス (The Tynex). Can you introduce The タイネックス (The Tynex)? 

Hirokichi: The タイネックス (The Tynex) were formed in 2018. We’re not just playing punk rock, but a wide range of genres, including ska, R&R, hip-hop, and old school J-Pop. We’re an entertainment band that combines music, comedy and dancing.

We don't just play at venues, we’ll perform at most events... festivals, functions and anything for fun. We’re mainly active around Shimokitazawa and Asakusa.

The タイネックス (The Tynex).

PS: Some other members of NO-SLiP are also members of The タイネックス (The Tynex), right? 

Hirokichi: Yes, our guitarist Watanabe Metal is a former member of NO-SLiP, and our drummer Yohei helped NO-SLiP out back in the day.

As I mentioned earlier, Nao, the old bassist for NO-SLiP, is playing in SPIT-tn (ex.The Manks) and the C&C.

PS: You still sing NO-SLiP songs, as well, don't you?

Hirokichi: When we formed The タイネックス (The Tynex) we didn’t have any original songs, so we did cover songs, including NO-SLiP covers. We still do one or two songs from time to time.

PS: Where can people find out more about The タイネックス (The Tynex)? Have you got anything coming up that you want to tell people about and are you planning on recording anything with The タイネックス (The Tynex)?

Hirokichi: You can check us out on our official website: https://the-tynex.com/

I’m really glad you asked me about this, my sensibilities and style may have changed since the old days, and what I want to express has changed.

I’d be happy if people could support  The タイネックス (The Tynex) we’re primarily a live band, so we have no plans to record anything yet, but please check us out.

PS: Finally, would you like to say anything to the people who are hearing NO-SLiP for the first time on the Bloodstains… CD? 

Hirokichi: The songs, lyrics, and style are very of their time and are typical of the 90’s. It’s flashy in-your-face punk rock by a bunch of people who were in their twenties.

I hope you enjoy NO-SLiP and like our flashy style.