Punk cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are touring Japan to promote their new EP "Sing in Japanese" this month. Comprised of players from famed punk and rock acts NOFX, Lagwagon, Swingin' Utters, and Foo Fighters, they will play Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka before performing at Yokohama's sold-out Air Jam 2011 festival on Sept. 18.
When told that some overseas musicians have called off tours because of the problems from the Great East Japan Earthquake in March, vocalist Spike Slawson says Me First and the Gimme Gimmes never considered not coming.
"I can't believe some bands canceled their tours," says a shocked Slawson. "We're the greatest cover band of all time, and will not let a little radiation deter us from performing our plagiaristic duties. Japan deserves no less. And perhaps it deserves even slightly more."