01Profile
A Shinichi Takei Photo
Shinichi Takei
Managing Director of FTF INC. — Shibuya
03Interview
Name
Shinichi Takei
What do you do?
Managing Director of FTF INC.
Where are you from?
I like to think it’s Shibuya. I used to DJ a lot, and I generally played in and around the Shibuya area.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw Joe Strummer in the early 90s at CLUB CITTA in Kawasaki. I was a huge fan back then, and I never thought I’d get to see him play live, so it was a big deal for me. I was a full-time office worker at the time, so I went to the gig in my suit, but I remember everything getting torn to shreds in the mosh pit. I got booted in the face, and that black eye was a great memento of the gig (laughs).
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
The early punk movement, mod culture, skinhead culture, and acid jazz. The Clash had a powerful influence; I've always felt they had broad musicality and an excellent ear for cover versions. Not only their reggae covers but also on disco classics such as 'The Magnificent Dance' and 'Rock The Casbah,' and their cover of the Stax Records band Booker T. & the MG's track, 'Time Is Tight.' Or 'I Fought The Law,' their cover of The Crickets' 1961 hit recorded after Buddy Holly's death — they were Buddy’s backing band. I always think The Clash must have listened to a lot of records.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favorite?
DJ Bar Inkstick and the DJ event they put on there called ‘Club Ska.’
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
That would have to be The Clash during their early years. I’ve done a bit of drumming in the past, so I’d sit in for their drummer Topper Headon. I’d like the gig to be at 100 Club in London.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d like to sit down with Joe Strummer in a London pub. We’d have some food, and I’d listen to one of his famous sermons (laughs).
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?／
Tubby Hayes — a tenor sax and vibraphone player from London who was doing his thing in the 60s. When acid jazz was booming, a mate from London told me about this fantastic UK jazz musician, so I put on Tubby’s track ‘Down In The Village.’ I remember getting goosebumps.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
What are the concepts / important points of the playlist?
The younger generation may not care that The Fred Perry Shirt was basically the skinhead uniform or that the skinhead movement was a big deal in England 50 years ago (laughs). However, this is a playlist of a group of shaved-headed British delinquents in the late 1960s wearing Fred Perry shirts and Dr. Martens boots and listening to this kind of music in a London club.
The book 'Skinhead' (written by Nick Knight) lists up the songs they listened to, and these are the main songs on my playlist. I mean this with the utmost respect; I don't think Fred Perry would have become the global brand it has today without skinhead culture.
The first track you played on repeat?
The Elvis Costello track, ‘Watching The Detective.’ It’s either that or G.B.H and their track ‘Sick Boy.’ I suppose it was around the time I was in the sixth form. Up to that point, I only really listened to hard-core Japanese music.
A song that defines the teenage you?
I guess it would be ‘Guns Of Brixton’ or ‘Police And Thieves’ by The Clash. These tracks got me into listening to reggae.
One record you would keep forever?
If it’s just one, then it would have to be The Clash. I’d choose ‘London Calling.’
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I think it would be the overall lyrics by The Style Council. Recently, I've gone back to their songs and have been looking more deeply at the Japanese translations you can find on the internet. I've realised there's a massive gap between their light and cool sound and their super-heavy and complex lyrical content. This was something I didn't really understand the first time around.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘You've Got To Have Freedom’ by Courtney Pine featuring Carroll Thompson. Courtney Pine is a jazz musician from London, and this is a cover of Pharaoh Sanders' classic, which for some reason only appears on the B-side of the 12-inch.
What new bands are you are listening to now?
The band Kokoroko. I wanted to listen to something more contemporary, and I came across the album they recently put out on Giles Peterson's label. Giles is amazing, isn't he?
03Interview
Name
Shinichi Takei
What do you do?
Managing Director of FTF INC.
Where are you from?
I like to think it’s Shibuya. I used to DJ a lot, and I generally played in and around the Shibuya area.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw Joe Strummer in the early 90s at CLUB CITTA in Kawasaki. I was a huge fan back then, and I never thought I’d get to see him play live, so it was a big deal for me. I was a full-time office worker at the time, so I went to the gig in my suit, but I remember everything getting torn to shreds in the mosh pit. I got booted in the face, and that black eye was a great memento of the gig (laughs).
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
The early punk movement, mod culture, skinhead culture, and acid jazz. The Clash had a powerful influence; I've always felt they had broad musicality and an excellent ear for cover versions. Not only their reggae covers but also on disco classics such as 'The Magnificent Dance' and 'Rock The Casbah,' and their cover of the Stax Records band Booker T. & the MG's track, 'Time Is Tight.' Or 'I Fought The Law,' their cover of The Crickets' 1961 hit recorded after Buddy Holly's death — they were Buddy’s backing band. I always think The Clash must have listened to a lot of records.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favorite?
DJ Bar Inkstick and the DJ event they put on there called ‘Club Ska.’
If you could be on the line up with any bands in history?
That would have to be The Clash during their early years. I’ve done a bit of drumming in the past, so I’d sit in for their drummer Topper Headon. I’d like the gig to be at 100 Club in London.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
I’d like to sit down with Joe Strummer in a London pub. We’d have some food, and I’d listen to one of his famous sermons (laughs).
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?／
Tubby Hayes — a tenor sax and vibraphone player from London who was doing his thing in the 60s. When acid jazz was booming, a mate from London told me about this fantastic UK jazz musician, so I put on Tubby’s track ‘Down In The Village.’ I remember getting goosebumps.
04Playlist Notes
What are the concepts / important points of the playlist?
The younger generation may not care that The Fred Perry Shirt was basically the skinhead uniform or that the skinhead movement was a big deal in England 50 years ago (laughs). However, this is a playlist of a group of shaved-headed British delinquents in the late 1960s wearing Fred Perry shirts and Dr. Martens boots and listening to this kind of music in a London club.
The book 'Skinhead' (written by Nick Knight) lists up the songs they listened to, and these are the main songs on my playlist. I mean this with the utmost respect; I don't think Fred Perry would have become the global brand it has today without skinhead culture.
The first track you played on repeat?
The Elvis Costello track, ‘Watching The Detective.’ It’s either that or G.B.H and their track ‘Sick Boy.’ I suppose it was around the time I was in the sixth form. Up to that point, I only really listened to hard-core Japanese music.
A song that defines the teenage you?
I guess it would be ‘Guns Of Brixton’ or ‘Police And Thieves’ by The Clash. These tracks got me into listening to reggae.
One record you would keep forever?
If it’s just one, then it would have to be The Clash. I’d choose ‘London Calling.’
A song lyric that has inspired you?
I think it would be the overall lyrics by The Style Council. Recently, I've gone back to their songs and have been looking more deeply at the Japanese translations you can find on the internet. I've realised there's a massive gap between their light and cool sound and their super-heavy and complex lyrical content. This was something I didn't really understand the first time around.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘You've Got To Have Freedom’ by Courtney Pine featuring Carroll Thompson. Courtney Pine is a jazz musician from London, and this is a cover of Pharaoh Sanders' classic, which for some reason only appears on the B-side of the 12-inch.
What new bands are you are listening to now?
The band Kokoroko. I wanted to listen to something more contemporary, and I came across the album they recently put out on Giles Peterson's label. Giles is amazing, isn't he?