Every French person will always remember when their father gave them their first stone to throw at cops

Interview with Ronan of Yakisakana Records, Rouen, France.

Black vinyl records by Bush League, Rat Traps, The Fatals and Sexaphone are the among the latest releases on the French Yakisakana label and if you dig "raw, primal and noisy" punk rock, look no further.
In case you don't dig, how about getting a life and start digging today? Merte!

By Brohammer

LC: Please tell us about Yakisakana Records. When did you start the label and why and what's up with the latest 10" by those Canadian guys. Do you call that music?

R: It started when I was living in Japan back in 1999. I wanted to do a label for some time, but I never actually got around to it. After contacting ANTONIO 3, I couldn't go back and when I came back to France, I asked Jacko (of Splash 4, Volt and Royal Records) some tips about pressing plants and finally I officially gave birth to the label with the release of the SPLASH 4/CRASH NORMAL split 7". The ANTONIO 3 7" was the second one.
It's funny you asked about the BUSH LEAGUE 10" because it's one of my favourites from my label and it's exactly the kind of music I want to release. When I listened to the demo for the first time, I knew I was going to release it 30 seconds after the beginning of the first song. I already had these kind of "do you call that music remarks after the SUPERHELICOPTER 7" or the HOSPITALS 12", but I guess people know that if it's on YAKISAKANA, it will be raw, primal and noisy!!

LC: I suppose the name of the label YAKISAKANA has something to do with your Japanese connection, what does the name mean - just to get that straight?

R: Sakana means fish and yaki means grilled. In a foreign country the first words you learn are often related to food!!

LC: What was your introduction to "raw, primal and noisy" music in the first place? How did you acquire a taste for that kind of sound?

R: When I bought the two first volumes of the Back from the grave series and a few years later with modern bands like DEJA VOODOO (all time favourites!) and the GORIES. I was stoked by how simple and how great their music was. GIBSON BROTHERS/'68 COMEBACK were also very influential for me. The '68 COMEBACK 10" "PAPER BOY BLUES" is one of my favourite records ever.

LC: The same artist designs all the covers of your releases, which are beautiful by the way, did you have this "uniform" appearance in mind from the beginning?
And please tell us a little bit about why you chose him?

R: Yes, they are all designed by MEELOO/BONGOUT. From the beginning I wanted that you could tell the record was on YAKISAKANA at the first glance at the cover. It's because I collected the GIANT CLAW 7" series and I really liked the sleeves, which were designed in a same way (http://www.augogo.com/claw.html).
I met MEELOO when I was living in STRASBOURG. We were friends and I already liked his first works (graphzines, posters...) so it was natural to ask him to design (and silkscreen) the sleeves. Furthermore, he likes the music I put out and I think that's important too.

LC: Collecting records can be frustrating sometimes, no? Do you have a current obsession, which labels/bands are you paying attention to at the moment?

R: Why do you suppose I'm collecting records??? But... Yes, you're right!!! It used to be frustrating but know I'm more relaxed about collecting records. First of all, for 50's, 60's stuff - a repress or a "Best Of" will do. Of course, if I find an original record in a garage sale I'll buy it!! But it doesn't really matter. I never paid or will pay expensive prices for a record; the most expensive record I bought was the AFRICA KORPS LP for $30 at the end of the 80's... As for modern stuff, I don't care about sleeve and/or vinyl colour variations. That's why my records are not in (very) limited pressings and they're always in old fashion black vinyl. What is frustrating now is that all the 7" are instant collector's items, so it's really buy now or cry later!!
Since I'm trading with lots of small labels I'm in a good position to catch the records I want. Not really an obsession, but at the moment I'm trying to have records on Shattered, Goodbye Boozy, SSLD, Nasty Prod, Bancroft.... and bands like BLACK TIME, FATALS, BLACK LIPS etc.

LC: How did I guess that you collect records? Just a wild guess, I suppose...
Next question - what do you think of all the "punk rock" chat rooms/forums on the internet, do you use any of them?

R: I read some of them but only to know about new releases or tours (I browse 3/4 forums (garagepunk; goner; terminal boredom...) a few times a week), but I reckon that 80% of the threads really have no interest for me (small talk and so on...). I'm just a reader; I don't post very often, just for "promo purposes".


LC: Are there any great current French thinkers/philosophers we should be aware of - who is the leading Barthes/Foucalt/Bordieu in France today?
I'll settle for your favourite three French punk bands of all time, in case the other question is unanswerable...

R: I have to admit that I'm not a specialist in philosophy. I never really read a philosophic book, but I really like a thinker called GILLES DELEUZE (who died a few years ago). I used to watch him on TV (the cultural channel…) on a weekly basis and it was really interesting and entertaining, he also wrote great stuff on movies. My favourite three French punk bands of all time??? It's difficult, most of the best bands from '77 just did 1 or 2 singles...
Anyway, in chronological order: HECTOR (singer from the 60's), he was a real punk! OLIVENSTEINS: they are from my hometown, just did a killer 7" and vanished... METAL URBAIN, GUILTY RAZORS are also obvious choices. As for today the FATALS is the best punk band (they are wild and obnoxious so they are a punk band!). And PLASTIC BERTRAND is not French...

LC: Tell us a little bit about Rouen, what kind of city is it; do you have a scene for "raw, primal and noisy" music?

R: Rouen is a small historical town (population: 150 000). There was a great punk scene at the end of the seventies (you can find some of the bands on KBD, Power pearls comps: OLIVENSTEINS, GLOIRES LOCALES, DOGS, VERMINES, TWEED etc.), and the town have always had a reputation for being a rock n' roll city, but it's really quite these days. Like in every town you have punk bands, HC bands etc., but I really don't have a local favourite. No "raw, primal and noisy" band!!

LC: OK, how about a "raw, primal, noisy" lawn mover- or tractor, or bicycle?
Anything...

R: Or a "raw, primal, noisy" girlfriend!......I don't listen only "RPN" music, but that's what I want to release. I can receive a great demo, but if it doesn't fit the label's sound - I won't release it.

LC: Did the young people of Rouen hit the streets with the rest of France when the government tried to pass the law regarding employer's right to fire people whenever they like? It was big news around here. Who do they think they are? The employers know what is best for the people!!

R: Yes, of course they did. But you know bad law or good law, the French will always say no!!! Demos and strikes are an "art de vivre" in France!! Every French person will always remember when their father gave them their first stone to throw at cops; it's one of the great moments in life. Lots of happy married couples met during demos...
As for this particular law, yes it was a bad one!

LC: Lowcut is having a fundraising concert in September, can you recommend some cheap French bands, who might be willing to come all the way to Denmark for a case of beer and some smørrebrød and play for the tall, blonde, female Lowcut readers?

R: I just saw TA MERE, which is a new band (REATARDS type) and I'm sure they can do the trip for a case of beer!!

LC: The records might give you a certain impression of what a band sounds like, but who can deliver the goods live? Tell us about some of the groups on Yakisakana when they play live, please...

R: I didn't see all the Yakisakana bands live (especially THE CHEERAKS which is a "virtual" band, they rehearse once a year and then record the songs. They never played live (maybe once?)). The MAGNETIX is a great live band; they are always on the road and have a fantastic show! THE FATALS too is a great live band; their gigs are like electric shocks, short and painful (in a good way!!). BLACK TIME is a classy act, the incarnation of rock n' roll on stage!

LC: What's ahead for Yakisakana Records? Are there any new releases on the way?

R: I don't have so many releases in the pipeline... Next one will be a 7" by Cheb Samir and the Black Souls of Leviathan (which is Seb Normal (Cheeraks/Normals) + Cheb Samir (Normals)) and later a 7" with two songs from a session the Normals did with Jeff from the Demon's Claws.

LC: I'm looking forward. Thank you for answering my questions. Are there any last words you'd like to add?

R: Thanks for the interview. Keep doing a great job with your e-zine! And I want to thank all the people who support my label since 6 years!

Check Yakisakana records out at: http://www.yakisakana.tk