JOHN CAFIERO is the creative force behind Osaka Popstar and this ultra punk pop masterpiece. A long-time collaborator of the Misfits (among other smash hits he produced their visionary Project 1950 record, the highest charting Misfits CD ever), Cafiero grew up in the stellar orbit of the Ramones and the heroic army of First Wave New York City Punk Rockers. Joining him on their debut mission are the AMERICAN LEGENDS OF PUNK, including MARKY RAMONE (THE RAMONES), JERRY ONLY (THE MISFITS), DEZ CADENA (BLACK FLAG), and IVAN JULIAN (RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS).
SAYS CAFIERO: Its great to work with your friends and who better for a band than the guys who started the scene? This is my own personal Punk RocknRoll Hall of Fame.
Marky Ramone is my absolute favorite drummer. Its surreal because when I was a kid in garage bands I used to always tell my drummers to play like Marky. And he surprised us, all the musicians noticed it unlike his previous work where he may have been more regimented, like in the Ramones, he really does some incredible playing in his fills. He breaks the mold, and it sounds great.
Jerry Only is like a brother to me. He is one of a kind. He has defined himself with an aggressive style of playing. He has speed and agility like no one else. Like a machine, but with a lot of heart.
Dez Cadena is a phenomenal guitar player. Hes got the Johnny Ramone edge, but hes got some blues and jazz inflection. He fits my idea of the ideal guitar sound, he has that speed and simplicity that the Ramones innovated, but he paints a broader picture.
Ivan Julian is the most progressive of all the musicians involved and adds a whole different vibe to the mix. He got involved about half-way through the project. The idea to do Voidoids songs came before he was in the band!
An original member of Richard Hell's Voidoids (along with drummer Marc Bell who would later become Marky Ramone), Ivan Julian's credits also include guitar on the Clash's legendary triple album "Sandinista" and several of Mathew Sweet's Gold and Platinum selling releases.
In addition, Cafiero has assembled a posse of colossal visual artists to complete an over-the-top, high-energy-bursting-with-color package, including original Topps bubble-gum card guru John Pound (Wacky Packs artist and creator of the Garbage Pail Kids); Space Monkeys designer and urban legend Dalek; Batman and Justice League wizard Butch Lukic; and Tragnark, who is working closely with Cafiero in developing the Shaolin Monkeys characters designs, based on the original Osaka Popstar tune of the same name, for an animated series. The Osaka Popstar CD/DVD combo includes two amazing music videos directed by cult animators Japans Mari-chan & the UKs Joel (Rather Good) Veitch.
ADDS CAFIERO: This is a combination of everything that has inspired me, of everything that I am. Japanese anime and toys, my love of punk rock and pop culture, and especially the defining 1970s bands of New York. More than anything, my heroes, The Ramones, taught me that punk rock is fun."
Source: http://www.osakapopstar.com/
