Exclusive Interview with Danny Stanton of TAKASHI

TAKASHI formed in 1982 in New York City, New York with vocalist Danny Stanton, guitar duo Craig Kory and Bob Simonson with rhythm section Tom Cangemi on bass and drummer Chuck Kory. The band would quickly become a familiar name in the local hard rock/heavy metal circuit. The buzz quickly grew and soon the band was recording their debut that would be released on a small up starting label.

In 1983 New York’s Mongol Horde Records released a handful of EPs from bands such as THOR and VIRGIN STEELE, and like those bands the label would go down in cult metal history for its contribution to the U.S. metal scene – and it all started with TAKASHI ‘Kamikaze Killers’.
The release of ‘Kamikaze Killers’ would help the band’s name to grow and now internationally as they began to gain more and more press in such publications as Hit Parade and KERRANG. As their popularity increased the band would land supporting slots for acts like TWISTED SISTER and ANTHRAX.

A couple of more scattered recordings on compilation albums would follow before Takashi would disappear like a spirit wind. Now after 33 years the sun will rise again and shed light on a cult classic with this upcoming re-issue of ‘Kamikaze Killers’. The release will include; the original EP tracks ‘Strangler’, ‘Kamikaze’, ‘Mad Max’, ‘Playboy Girls’. Additional tracks include: ‘Kill or Be Killed’ and ‘Live to Rock’, among others. All songs re-mastered by Jamie King at The Basement Studios. A eight page booklet including lyrics, essay, and full of flyers and never before seen pictures will only add to this first time ever CD release, Note; the release will be limited to only 500 pressed so don’t miss it.

New York’s over the top 80s metallic rockers TAKASHI’s classic EP ‘Kamikaze Killers’ now finally issued or the first time ever on CD. Originally released on the now legendary cult label Mongol Horde Records back in 1983 .

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Danny Stanton:  I grew up in Long Island City, Queens, also known as the Concrete Jungle.

In 1977, I went to see KISS at Madison Square Garden. That day I knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. Shortly after that I got to see QUEEN with the legendary Freddie Mercury, AEROSMITH on their Draw The Line Tour, Rod Stewart when he was still performing music by The Faces and more.. This gave a wide eyed street city boy like me a dream to strive for.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Danny Stanton: I was the missing link when I joined the pre existing band TAKASHI, so they already had the name. If I recall correctly the name was a proper name in Japan that meant Nobleman/Warrior. TAKASHI would become just that – Warriors!

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Danny Stanton:  The only thing in life that should be free is kindness. When you look at the hours an artist spends writing, rehearsing, having their music recorded, produced, mastered and even performed, the artist needs to be paid. If ANYTHING, a 30 second sample as a promotion teaser for a song is acceptable.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Danny Stanton: With each passing decade the formula changes, and unfortunately, it’s not for the better.  What we did in our 20’s is an entirely new world for artists out their in their 20’s today. My advice today would be to maximize their social media outlets, It’s all about going viral.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Danny Stanton: The best way to pull off a mistake it to not make it look like a mistake at all, for me, I can easily change up the words, it may not be as easy for a drummer or guitar player. At the end of the day we are all human, mistakes happen, we do not run tracks or lip sync – Keep it raw, keep it real, it’s Rock n Roll!

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Danny Stanton: When TAKASHI was playing concert dates we had a “Great Business Sense” and took on shows that would elevate us each time to a higher level, we went from performing with ANTHRAX to TWISTED SISTER to METALLICA! Any additional dates where we headlined we made certain that we took our stage show up a notch as well! We were the first band to offer our pyro up to Metallica when we co-headlined a show with them at the Rio Theater in Valley Stream NY.  The deal was, if we wanted to use pyro, we had to give them pyro as well. After the first pyro blast, James looked over at Johnny Z and said no more pyro…My My how things have changed lol.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Danny Stanton: As a singer / lyricist, I can hear a melody and write lyrics pretty easily or I can write from scratch. It’s all a matter of tapping into your creative mind and hitting record! As for inspiration, life, love and the world around me gives me a pretty large canvas to spill color upon.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Danny Stanton: Like us on facebook! https://www.facebook.com/MongolHordeRecords/

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Danny Stanton: There are two kinds of music, Great Music and Bad Music and most is a matter of opinion. But if somebody else was to go through my MP3 Player they may find it to be pretty extreme ranging from Neil Diamond to Marilyn Manson, The Bay City Roller to In This Moment, David Cassidy to Twisted Sister and more…

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Danny Stanton:  Tax Free? LOL….Either way its really not that much money and being the rock-a-holic that I am I would just continue to rock and travel.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Danny Stanton:  Since we recently re-release material from 33 years ago I think we will dig deeper into the vault and see what worth dusting off. Maybe even write some new material. As for studio gear I leave that all up to my guitarist and partner Bob Simonson to tackle.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Danny Stanton: We are now living among the new generation of having to be social media savoy..Without it, you are dead in the water. So Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, lyric videos, Websites, emails, texting, street teams, publicists etc all key…Of course this is all leading up to performing where your endless hours and months of promotion have hopefully paid off.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Danny Stanton: New York, Madison Square Garden, then again, isn’t The Garden everyone’s dream gig? With who….Just to stand on stage with anyone like Freddie Mercury or even Steven Tyler would be amazing, hell I would even just shake some maracas for that moment!

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Danny Stanton: We are putting together a TAKASHI Kamikaze Killers Radio Special for various internet radio outlets, it should be out in a few weeks! Also we really want to release a colored vinyl 7” this year as well..but if you want to know a little more about what I do you can find stuff here www.coallierentertainment.com

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Danny Stanton: If I’m not making music I’m helping others to do so. It’s in my blood, so there are many times I’m living vicariously through others to deliver the goods.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Danny Stanton: This is tough, I’m trying to remember if it was an Elvis Record on K-Tell Records that I saw on a TV Commercial, or if it was QUEEN – News Of The World..Either way, I had great taste and was ready to rebel!

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Danny Stanton: Focus!! I don’t stress and I try to never get overwhelmed. I live each day to the max as if it could be my last.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

 

Danny Stanton: Steven Tyler to run for Presidency? Wishful thinking….

From TAKASHI, hopefully more music!  If not, there are so many cool, up and coming, or new artists out there like KILLCODE, JAC, FOUR BY FATE and more!