While "GeGeGe no Kitaro" has held immeasurable influence over the animation industry, its theme tune is a treasure unto itself. With lyrics written by "Kitaro" creator Shigeru Mizuki, it might have been recorded by various anime soundtrackers, but it's always retained its original melody, chalking up 40 years of on-off exposure on the nation's youth.
The latest iteration has been recorded by The 50 Kaitenz, a young Osaka garage-rock band who could never be accused of taking themselves too seriously. Stepping into a room with guitar/vocalist Danny, bassist Dory and drummer Bogie is like blundering into a high-tension comedy-troupe rehearsal.
All three Kaitenz grew up with parents who were nutty about folk music, with Danny explaining that his first encounter with a guitar was actually his mother's battered acoustic, which he'd strum for pleasure despite not knowing how to play it. And each of them fell head over heels in love with punk music as a teen via Japanese band The Blue Hearts.