The Worldly Mr. Justin Crumpton
Interview By: Ginger Coyote
I recently struck up a text conversation with Justin on Instagram and was fascinated that he was living in Japan. I thought he would be a fun interview. I was very lucky that he agreed to be interviewed. I hope you all dig it!
Punk Globe: It was a pleasure meeting and chatting with you on Instagram. Give the readers some background on yourself, Justin?
Hi Punk Globe !! I’m Justin Crumpton. I live in Niseko, Japan, which is a famous ski resort town. I’ve been in Japan for 11 years now. I’m originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I’ve been in the scene since around 2004 or so.
Punk Globe: Tell the readers a bit about the past bands that you have played with?
Oh man, where do I start. My most successful band was Nightmare Boyzzz, a powerpop/punk band that has a LP on Slovenly. We were together for about 4 years. Those wild times it all happened so fast. Prior to that I was in another band called Satan’s Youth Ministers that was one of the earlier things I was a part of. We started that band in 2004 when I was still in highschool. We only recorded one 7 inch with that band but I have lots of stuff that’s never been released an 8 song LP and lots of live stuff. The LP we actually recorded at FAME in Muscle Shoals. It never got properly mixed or mastered and for whatever reason it just never saw the light of day. I would like to release it somehow one day if the rest of the band is on board with it. I was in a punk band for a few months when I was 19 called Late Night Killers but they kicked me out because I wouldn’t buy their drugs, haha. Typical rock and roll shit I guess. But yeah, I toured and recorded on and off for about a decade. Alongside the sym members, we lived in this party house, which we labeled “The Church of the Psychedelic Goat”. We did house shows there, bands would stay when they came through, and dance parties? You name it. That tiny room I lived in for 8 years was covered with flyers of shows I had played and been to, and shows I booked as well. I got into booking shows after awhile a friend of mine had opened a bar, and I was able to learn a bit how to do it. Made my own flyers, making collages using old National Geographic magazines from the 60s and 70s.
Punk Globe: While playing in some of your bands, you played some high-profile shows
Oh yes, so many shows. The biggest being some SXSW showcases in 2011 and 2012 with Nightmare Boyzzz. That was fun. It was a good introduction to the scene on a semi-mainstream level from a business perspective. That really helped elevate our status at the time, and it’s how we ended up getting the record deal with Slovenly. I did a lot of our booking because agents are expensive and sometimes not the easiest to deal with.
Punk Globe: Do you come from a musical family? How old were you when you realized that music was the direction you wanted to pursue?
No as far as I know I’m the only person in my family who ever pursued it. One of my stepdads and his family was into music, and I suppose that’s how I was able to get into it. They were all into country music, which wasn’t my thing, really. My real passion for music came as an early child. I have sound color synesthesia, which is a brain condition that connects 2 or more senses that don’t normally act that way. So when I hear music, I see colors that are attached to each note. It’s my secret weapon, as I never took lessons or anything like that. Watched tons of instructional videos back in the day, haha. Those help more than you realize, especially when you get into theory and things like that. It changed the way you perceive overall.
Punk Globe: Who were some of your early musical influences?
Well I started really into glam rock and hair metal stuff in my pre-teen and early teen years, but then was around 15 or 16 I got my first job working a small grocery store and started hanging out with an older crowd that got me into all kinds of stuff, mostly underground stuff from the 80s and 90s and then also 60s garage rock and 70s punk and rock and roll. This is when I heard bands like The Stooges,, MC5, New York Dolls, T- Rex, etc.
Punk Globe: You have moved to Japan and have currently ventured into working as a DJ. Was it hard to break into working as a DJ in Japan, seeing that you are from Alabama originally?
It was a little bit challenging, of course, due to the language barrier and also my schedule in general. During winter, I work 7 days a week, so it’s more of a seasonal thing for me to do the DJ thing. It’s been a lot of fun, though, and seems to be taking off a bit. I got an offer this week to do another DJ gig in Sapporo in September and potentially another one in October as well, so that’s nice to look forward to.
Punk Globe: Where in Japan did you choose to call home? Not in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo; you had lived in other areas of Japan before Northern Japan? You mentioned going to Tokyo often and supporting touring bands. Do you jam with bands that you may know?
Since I was a teenager, I had a bit of a fascination with Japan in general, really, the music, the culture, all of it, really. When I moved to Japan in 2015, I came straight to Hokkaido. I really enjoy being in the countryside, to be honest. I turned 40 this year, so I love being in the city, don’t get me wrong, but it’s nice to have that separation. I mostly just go to the shows to hang out really. I would love to start a new project, but it’s a lot of work, and there isn’t really anyone here in Hokkaido who is into what I do specifically. It’s really hard to find musicians here who aren’t busy with their own bands. Last year, Sonny Vincent contacted me and asked me to help him set up a Japan tour, and he also wants me to play guitar for him, so I’ve been trying to find a good promoter who can set it up. Touring is expensive these days, so it’s gotta be done right.
Punk Globe: What Japanese bands would you recommend the readers to check out?
Oh, there are so many right now !! The Fadeaways and Angel Face are 2 of my current favs, Stompin’ Riffraffs, Thunderroads, Black and White, Jenny Jenny, She’s, and Smallspeaker. That’s just to name a few. The scene here is so vast.
Punk Globe: What venues do you DJ at? Are they primarily rock ‘ n roll or house music?
Last week I DJed at Poor Cow in Shimokitazawa. For those who don’t know that is owned by Fifi, who was in Teengenerate and Firestarter. It’s always a lot of fun, it’s where all the punks and rock and rollers in Tokyo hang out most of the time. It’s my fav bar in the world. In sapporo it’s a mixed bag. Sometimes it’s a venue or at an izakaya or whatever. In Hokkaido it’s like that. There isn’t really a scene here like their is in Tokyo.. So gotta do it any way you can.
Punk Globe: Do you collaborate with the punk bands there, where you DJ after or before they play?
Not exactly. There are all my friends, so it’s more just about hanging out and getting to be around people who respect and care about. Having a healthy scene is important, so coming to the shows and buying merch is the best way to do that. Taking videos and pictures and posting them online to get the word out. That’s how you do it nowadays.
Punk Globe: What is in the future for the rest of 2026 and beyond?
Not sure yet. I’m on holiday right now but my work starts back up in July, so I’ll be focused on that until October, when I go back to Tokyo for the Halloween ball. That’s the big one, where bands and people come from all over the world, it’s a 2-day garage rock and roll and roll festival.
Punk Globe: Where can the readers contact you?
I’m not hard to find. Facebook and Instagram are the easiest ways to do that.
Punk Globe: Describe yourself in three words
Rock. And. Roller.
Punk Globe: Any shout-outs and last words for Punk Globe readers?
Thank you so much, Punk Globe, for asking me to do this !! It’s an honor, and I hope we keep in touch. You never know what the future holds !!