Weird Science

Peelander-Z is one totally strange “Japanese Action Comic Punk” band

“Japanese Action Comic Punk” is how NYC-based Peelander-Z describes itself and—after watching the members ricochet off the walls, knocking stuff over . . . repeatedly during a photo shoot—I’m recommending the band All-CAP “Action” and “Comic.”

For most Japanese bands “weird” is the default setting, but even among loopy legends like Shonen Knife, Super Junky Monkey and the truly twisted Dir En Grey, Peelander-Z is in a class all its own.

There are four types of Peelanders (hailing from the Z district of Planet Peelander, of course). You have your Red, Pink, Green and Yellow Peelanders (Peelander-Blue called it quits in 2008 and headed back to the homeworld). If you’re a fan of Japanese anime punk-pop then Space Vacation, the eighth studio album from Peelander-Z, which is scheduled to perform at The Roxy in West Hollywood on May 5, might be just what the robo-doc ordered . . .

I like your outfits

Red: These aren’t outfits. These are our skin!

So we’vd got kind of an organic, plant-looking Skittles-colored . . . you know what? You guys are impossible to describe in words. How would you describe the Peelander-Z look?

Green: I’m from Whole Foods.

So he’s wholesome yet overpriced?

Yellow: He come from forest! I was born from banana.

You’re bananas alright. A punk-rock banana. How would you describe your music to those who have yet to experience Peelander-Z?

Yellow: One word: fun fun fun fun fun!

Pink: Party!

Yellow: Our music is like 10 percent, 90 percent is performance. We do the human body on the floor. We do the baseball.

Okay then. What do you guys listen to when you’re not making music?

Green: Michael Jackson.

Other Peelanders: Yeah!

Yellow: She likes the Super Black Moth Rainbows [actual name: Black Moth Super Rainbow]

Pink: Yeah. I love them. And Prince!

What about you, Red?

Red: Country.

You’re lying [all laugh]. Okay what band?

Red: Ummm.

Gotcha!

Yellow: We went to play Houston and we play with Junior Brown.

There you go. What about Japanese bands? Anybody you like?

Red: Forget about Japanese bands!

Green: Tokyo

The city? That’s a band too?

Green: Yeah. Very cool.

Okay. So what gets your rainbow-colored juices flowing? What inspires you? Music? Art?

Green: Not so much music. Cartoons.

Yellow: Wresting! Andre the Giant. He’s my hero.

He’s great. Did you ever see him in the movie The Princess Bride?

Yellow: He was in that?

You guys are so hyper you’re making even me feel slow. How do you feel about sleeping? Yes? No?

Pink: I hate sleeping. Sleeping is boring.

Yellow: Yeah, if we cannot sleep, we can play three shows a day. If we only do one show we die. We like a hard party band.

How did you guys meet?

Pink: In New York City

Green: In Japanese restaurant

Pink: You’re lying!

And how did you each pick your colors?

Yellow: I like banana. That’s why I pick yellow.

Pink: Why I’m pink . . . hmmm . . .

You don’t know?

Green: I have no idea.

What are you guys doing online? Are you active . . . like, while you’re playing?

Green: [laughs] On the stage? That might be our next song!

Yellow: We are going to make a song . . . like Wi-Fi song. We say its sci-fi—it’s not Wi-Fi.

I like it. Not like you need any more stimulation, but do you smoke marijuana?

Green: No. We like beer.

Red: We smoke Sapporo!

That doesn’t work

Red: It works. It works!

I don’t think you need to smoke anything. You guys are all set.

Peelander-Z: Arigat?.

Doitashimashite.

www.peelander-z.com