This is exciting! After over a year of posting interviews, I finally got a Korean band on the site. I’m very happy to present to you…Crying Nut. This was the first Korean rock band I heard when I moved to this country. They are called the Godfathers of Korean punk. They are the number one selling indie rock band in Korea. They are about to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their first release. Guitarist/Vocalist Yoon-Sik Park, (박윤식) answered Korea Guitar’s 20 Questions. Enjoy!
- When and why did you start playing guitar?
When I first heard Rock music, through a friend, I really got into Metallica. I went crazy when I heard the sound of an electric guitar through an amp.
기타연주를 언제 시작하셨는지, 시작한 동기나 이유가 무엇입니까?
록음악을 친구로부터 접했을때 메탈리카의 음악에 심취해있었고 친구녀석이 일렉기타와 앰프사운드를 들려줬는데 완전 맛이 가버렸다.
- What was your first guitar and what do you play now?
My first guitar was a Fender American Standard Stratocaster. Now, I play a Fender American Standard Telecaster, a Jazzmaster and a Gibson Les Paul Special
처음 시작하셨을때, 영향을끼친사람은누구에요?
메탈리카의 제임스 헷필드, 너바나의 커트 코베인, 그린데이의 빌리조 암스트롱
3. Who were your influences when you first started out?
James Hetfield of Metallica, Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day
처음 시작하셨을때, 영향을 끼친 사람은 누구에요?
메탈리카의 제임스 헷필드, 너바나의 커트 코베인, 그린데이의 빌리 조 암스트롱
- What did your parents think when you told them you wanted to be in a punk band?
They thought I would only play it as a hobby. When I told them I was serious about it, they were not happy at all.
펑크밴드를 하고 싶다고 부모님께 말씀드렸을때, 반응이 어떠셨나요?
부모님은 취미로 하다가 말겠지 했지만, 진지하게 이야기했을땐 반응이 썩 좋지 않았다.
5. Do you remember your first gig? Where was it? How did it go?
It was at the 1996 Street Punk Show. We used to play in basement clubs, but our first gig was outdoors. We didn’t even know about monitor speakers. We thought monitor speakers were for rockers to put their feet on. We were so happy and excited. We couldn’t have imagined it would be so historical.
첫 Gig(공연) 기억하세요? 어디서였고, 어땠나요?
1996 스트릿펑크쇼 – 지하클럽에서만 연주하다가 첫 야외 공연이었는데, 모니터 스피커라는 개념도 몰랐을때였다. (모니터스피커는 록커의 발판같은거라 생각했었다) 마냥 들뜨고 기뻣지만 역사적인 공연이 될거라곤 상상도 못했다.
6. How difficult was it to be and get noticed in a punk band in Korea, which has such a K-Pop culture?
Rock is not classified as K-Pop. British punk was created from harsh prejudices. We are not British laborers. We are not the Sex Pistols.
K-pop문화인 한국에서 펑크밴드로서 어려웠던 점이 있었나요?
록은 k-pop으로 분류되지 않는다. ‘펑크=영국’이라는 편견이 심했다. 우린 영국인도 노동자도 섹스 피스톨즈도 아니다.
7. Tell us about the beginning of Crying Nut? How did everyone meet?
We all went to elementary, middle and High school together. We shared copied music cassettes. We pretended to play broom guitars and used a desk as our drums. We had a lot of fun and lots of laughs.
크라잉넛이 만들어지게된 계기, 멤버들끼리 어떻게 만나셨나요?
초중고 불알친구들 이었고, 복사한 음악테잎을 공유했고 기타도 없었을 시절, 빗자루 기타와 책상드럼으로도 충분히 웃기고 낄낄거렸다.
8. How did you get the name Crying Nut?
We got it from the Konglish (Korean language mixed with English) word for Crying Chestnut Bread. We thought Nut could mean Testicles or a freak or nutjob.
이름은 어떻게 지어졌나요?
재미없는 네이밍이지만 최고의 네이밍이다. ‘눈물의 호두과자’를 존나 콩글리쉬로 지었는데 나중에 사전적인 의미로 ‘울부짖는 불알, 또라이’ 이런거좋다.
- It is difficult to find rock or punk bands to listen to in Korea. Who do you recommend we listen to?
There are some great Korean rock bands: Rux, 18Cruk, Galaxy Express, GumX, Yellow Monsters, Burning Hepburn, Run Carrot
한국에서는 롹이나 펑크밴드 음악 찾기가 쉽지가 않아요. 밴드를 추천해 주신다면 누구를 추천해 주시겠어요?
럭스, 18크럭, 갤럭시익스프레스, 검엑스, 옐로우몬스터즈, 버닝헵번, 런캐럿
10. Have you ever had an embarrassing moment on stage? What happened?
We were playing live on-air and they sent out background dancers for our show.
무대에서 당혹스럽거나 민망했던 순간이 있었나요?
방송에 나갔을때 백댄서를 붙여준일 (도대체말이되는가?)
- How does the songwriting work in Crying Nut? Does each member write or bring song parts to the band?
One member will bring the chords or melody or lyrics. We will then play together and arrange it into a song.
곡이 어떻게 만들어 지는지 궁금합니다. 각각의 멤버들이 파트별로 만들어 오시나요?
한명이 코드, 멜로디, 가사를 만들어오면 합주로 편곡함
12. What do you think of the state of Rock and Roll? Is it possible that rock/punk will ever take over K-Pop in popularity?
K-pop has its own way. Rock should be played live in festivals.
롹앤롤의 상태가 어떻다고 생각하세요? 롹이나 펑크가 K-pop의인기를 따라잡을 수 있을까요?
k-pop은 그 나름대로의 길이 있고, 록은 페스티발에서 라이브로 멋지게 보여주는게 좋을거다.
13. What was it like playing at SXSW? How was the crowd reaction to your performance? Will you be going back?
For bands who are not from North America, it is such a dream to go to the home of Rock. We did our best and played with all our heart. That was our original intention. There were many different races and languages, but it was amazing that people danced to our music and felt the rhythm.
SXSW에서 연주하셨을때 어떠셨나요? 관객들의 반응은요? 또 계획중 이신가요?
록의 본고장 미국에 간다는것은 영미권이 아닌 밴드들에겐 꿈 같은 일이다. 조그만 한국과는 다른 큰 대륙이었다. 처음 보여지는 관객들에게 초심의 마음으로 연주를 했고, 피부색, 언어는 달랐지만 리듬을 타고 공감을 했다는게 대단하다.
14. If you could pick one song to define each of your albums, which songs would you choose?
각각의 앨범을 정의내려줄 만한 곡들을, 각 앨범당 한곡씩 고르신다면 어떤곡들을 선택하시겠어요?
1st Album -크라잉넛 – CRYING NUT(1998)
Song – 말달리자-Let’s Race A Horse
2nd Album서커스매직유랑단 – Circus Magic Clowns (1999)
Song– 서커스매직유랑단– Circus Magic Clowns
3rd Album하수연가- Sewage Love Song(2001)
Song – 밤이깊었네– Oh! What a Shiny Night
4th Album고물라디오 – Secondhand Radio(2002)
Song-고물라디오-The Secondhand Radio
5th Album OK 목장의젖소 – Milk Cattle at the OK Corral(2006)
Song – 룩셈부르크-Luxemburg
6th Album불편한파티 – Uncomfortable Party(2009)
Song- 착한아이-Good Boy
7th Album플레이밍너츠 – Flaming Nuts(2013)
Song- 레고-Lego
- What happened to Crying Nut when you had to go to the Army? Did you all go to the Army at the same time? Describe what it was like?
It is Korean men’s duty to serve in the Army. It is a pain and you have to serve for two years. We all went in at the same time, joined a military band and left at the same time.
군대 가야했을땐 어떠셨나요? 동시에 입대 하셨나요?
누가 청춘을 군대에서 바치고 싶겠는가? 하지만 대한민국국민이라면 당연한 의무이다. 2년동안 사회와 떨어진다는건 가혹하다. 동반입대제도라는게 있어서 한날한시에 군악대에 입대해서 한날한시에 제대했다.
16. What are some albums you think every guitar player should own?
기타 플레이어라면 꼭 가지고 있어야할 앨범 5개 말씀해 주세요?
Jimmy Hendrix– Are You Experienced?
Roy Buchanan-Roy Buchanan
Slayer– Raining Blood
AC/DC-Back in Black
Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti,
Gary Moore-(No specific album mentioned)
Pantera – Cowboys From Hell
- What are the three most important things every guitar player should learn?
Be humble, have a good balance with vocals, bass and drums.
기타플레이어가꼭알거나배워야할가장중요한 3가지는뭘까요?
기타 플레이어도 밴드의 일원이다. 보컬, 베이스드럼과 사운드의 밸런스를 맞추는 것 겸손
- What advice would you give to a teenager who dreams of being the next Crying Nut?
Music is not like the SATs. There is no right answer. Just ENJOY!!
크라잉넛이 되고 싶어하는 십대들에게 해줄 수 있는 조언은 뭘까요?
음악은 입시가 아니고 정답도 없다 enjoy>>
- What will happen in the future with Crying Nut? What are your plans?
It’s the 20th anniversary of our first recording. We will have concerts at the end of the year.
크라잉넛의 미래/계획에 대해서 알고 싶습니다.
올해는 데뷔 20주년이다. 베스트앨범을 레코딩하고 연말에 또 한번의 콘서트를 열 것이다.
- What are the greatest Korean guitar songs ever?
최고의 기타노래/음악과 최고의 한국기타음악은 무엇입니까?
산울림 – 내마음에주단을깔고 – SanUl Rim – Laying Interrupted in my heart
신중현 – 미인– Shin Jung Hyun -Beauty
송골매 – 어쩌다마주친그대SongGolMae- I happened to see her
Crying Nut:
- Park, Yoon-Sik (박윤식): Vocals, Guitar
- Lee, Sang-Myun (이상면): Guitar
- Lee, Sang-Hyuk (이상혁): Drums
- Han, kyung-Rock (한경록): Bass
- Kim, In-Soo (김인수): Accordion, keyboard
Official Website: http://cryingnut.kr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CryingNut
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CryingNut
Let's Rock 