Calaveras: The NAMM Show 2025 Interviews
Photo by Denise Johnson
Calaveras: The NAMM Show 2025 Interviews
Calaveras is a hard rocking band based in Japan featuring American vocalist Doug Wilson collaborating with Japanese guitarist Ken Kishi. The band released their raging Skull On Fire full length in late 2022 and were in town to attend The NAMM Show – as well as play an acoustic set at the Highwire Daze Booth in the middle of the drum section! The duo performed with a fiery passion and conviction, and later that night would play a full-on live show at the world-famous Whisky A Go-Go on the Sunset Strip opening for London! Just prior to their NAMM set, Highwire Daze caught up with Doug Wilson to find out more about Calaveras and their amazing Skulls On Fire magnum opus. Read on…
We’re here with Doug from Calaveras. First of all, what are you looking forward to the most about The NAMM Show?
We’re looking forward to having the opportunity to make connections – meet a lot of people. And hopefully next year come back and we’ll have a bigger presence and we’ll try to get on a larger stage if possible. That’s kind of our goal. So just one step at a time.
Photo by Linda Emord
And then you’re playing The Whisky tonight. What are you looking forward to the most about that show?
We’re opening for a band called London, which is a legendary band on the Sunset Strip. This is our second time playing at The Whisky – but this time we actually get to be the direct opener for the headlining band, so we’re looking forward to that. And again, just the opportunity to gain more exposure and just say, “Hey, man. We played The Whisky twice now!”
It’s been a while since the previous album Skulls On Fire. Is there any new music coming up?
We are currently working on an acoustic album, and we’re also working on the next major album. The acoustic album will probably be a short EP – but yes, a new album is in the works.
Skull On Fire – is there any story behind that title?
There’s some depth to that. It’s kind of ironic to speak about it. I come from Calaveras County – and Calaveras means Skulls in Spanish. It’s kind of hard to say this, but I actually lost my home in a wildfire. So, the Skulls On Fire / Calaveras On Fire is just letting myself not forget that that happened and that is the thing that could always happen. It’s kind of timely with what’s going on in L.A. at the moment.
Photo by Denise Johnson
What is it like being an American musician in Japan?
Nobody understands what I’m saying or singing if I’m doing it in English. That’s the fun part, so nobody can check me on my lyrics. I guess being a rock band singing in English is kind of a rare thing in Japan – so it’s kind of a good niche to be in.
What did you do prior to Calaveras?
I’ve been in bands for the last 30 years. So, with Calaveras, I met Ken Kishi through another band I had called Stoning Crows – he joined and then we started writing music together – and we decided to do the Calaveras thing together. Calaveras is essentially Ken and I, and we bring in a rhythm section when we need them. So, we’ve got Andy Hewett and Ivan Copelli on rhythm section at The Whisky tonight…
Yeah, the London people!
Yeah, the London people. Nadir seems to be okay with that, which I’m happy with. I’m glad he will share his rhythm section with us, so I’m appreciative of that.
Do you have any messages for Calaveras fans who are reading this right now?
Keep following us. We’re going to do our best to keep coming back to the US as much as possible. Keep an eye out for the new album that’s coming out. And if you for some reason you come to Japan – as a lot of people come to Japan – maybe we’ll have a show. Check out a Calaveras show in Japan!
(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Denise Johnson and Linda Emord)
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