Q: How did you become involved in Wu & The Side Effects?
WU: In 2006, my old band disbanded. Later, through a friend, I met Checo and Mo, and we formed Wu & The Side Effects.
CHECO: Wu and I used to share a prison cell in Yinchuan, he was my bitch.
MO: I got involved a bit later - by accident you could say. In a tourist group, I was visiting the sights of Ningxia. Apparently that prison was one of it. Being the only one who actually stepped off the bus, Don Checo and Madame Wu took me hostage and broke out. They still beat me on a regular basis. I am serious! Can you get me out of here?
Q: The band used to be called Easygoing, am I right? Why the name change?
WU: Easygoing was an old-school punk band, which disbanded. I later went on to form Wu & The Side Effects, which has more of a psychedelic blues sound, with Checo and Mo.
CHECO: After a long criminal record and obvious regular erratic behaviour we decided to stop lying to ourselves.
MO: I guess prison changes people.
Q: Were you ever involved in any other bands, in China or elsewhere?
WU: Other than our band, I’ve also got a ballad band along with Gao Po, have participated in “What” band, and served as a guitarist for Li Dong.
CHECO: Yes. the Beatles (I was the 6th Beatle, the Mexican one). I actually wrote Helter Skelter. Also, some other minor projects like Chocho Maldito, Fireballoon, etc.
MO: Nah. My masters are quite possessive when it comes to sharing drummers.
Q: If so, how would you compare your experiences there to your current band?
WU: All the songs for Wu & The Side Effects are written by me, and so it contains more of my ideals, emotions, and sense of mission.
CHECO: Every band has its good times and bad ones. I think the cool thing about the Side Effects is that no matter how fucked the gig is, we feel pretty cool.
MO: Yeah. They totally do.
Q: How do you feel about the rock scene in Beijing?
WU: There are some bands in Beijing whom I respect and admire
CHECO: It gives me a boner.
MO: I am not allowed to go out a lot but Don Checo frequently shares his feelings about the rock scene with me. Please help me…
Q: Have any strange/interesting stories to share about any show experiences?
WU: We like the feeling of being in one city one day, playing a show and drinking, and then hitting the road the next to go to another city for another show. This has happened to us three times, and we love it. We are looking to make it 4 times, as this week we will be doing a show at 2 Kolegas on November 27th, and then heading to Tianjin on the 28th to keep on rockin’.
CHECO: um... well... maybe about the one time in Yunnan were apparently this chick (we will calll her "Sandy" for anonymous purposes) stripped naked while we were rocking the 50 Bowls bar. The rest of the gigs are a bit hazy, hard to remember.
MO: Apart from being chained to a drum set and periodical beer boarding… let me think… Near the end of one show, Don Checo thought I was on fire (I was… but not literally). He consequently used a fire extinguisher on me, (see photographic evidence, above). Although I almost suffocated, it somehow gave me the impression that he actually cares about me.
Q: If you were forced to play in a cover band, who would you cover, and why?
WU: I think it might be a cover of Teresa Teng, Feng Fei-fei's Nightclub Band, because I have a thing for 1970’s/80’s Chinese pop music.
CHECO: I guess I would cover the Jonas brothers just to spite my Mexican macho friends.
MO: Speaking out of experience I can tell you that under these circumstances you don’t ask any questions, not to mention choose the songs. I would therefore suggest to anyone who is reading this: Don’t be a hero, just keep a low profile and do as they say! You don’t want them to get angry!
Q: What does the future have in store for Wu & The Side Effects?
WU: I hope we three will continue to be brothers, collaborate with other musicians, put out even more kick-ass records, continuously tour, and spread our sound to other cities and countries around the world.
CHECO: Damnation, STDs, and lots of noisy gritty fun. See you at the show, gals!
MO: Kill me now! Please!
Wu & The Side Effects play alongside Nucleus at Riff Live House, on Saturday, November 28th.