In early 1997, School of Visual Arts student Sammy James Jr. began playing out songs he’d penned in his native NYC. When Graham Tyler, then studying at Parsons School of Design, responded to a "musicians wanted" flier Sammy had posted in record shops downtown, the two became fast friends. In April of that year, Graham performed his first show with Sam’s band at downtown NYC’s weekly "Tiswas" 60’s/mod party, and The Mooney Suzuki was born.  
   Sammy James Junior quotes the bio and fills in the gaps. 

    All original line-up.  We've played in other projects but Mooney Suzuki has always been the main squeeze.  Except Graham Tyler has never played in any band but the Mooney Suzuki.  He did not know how to play guitar when he joined the band and he learned how to play as the lead guitarist in the Mooney Suzuki. 

What are your biggest influences musically (or otherwise)? 

What do you currently listen to? 

    Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Who, The Kinks, The Animals, The Small Faces, Them, The Zombies, The Creation, John's Children, Spencer Davis Group, The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, the Velvet Underground, the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, MC5, Stooges, Mitch Ryder, Music Machine, The Doors, Love, and Frank Zappa. 

What kind of touring have you previously done? Who have you played with and where? How did your relationship with Estrus records develop? What was it like working with Tim Kerr? 

    The Mooney Suzuki spent the following year performing relentlessly. The band’s live show was becoming lengendary: A wild explosion of sweat, sound and energy. By the end of the year, the Moonies were selling out rooms all along the East Coast. Completely unaided by a booking agent, label or management, the band’s regional notoriety could be attributed solely to the word of mouth ignited by their incendiary live performances. 1999 was a very busy year for the hottest act in town. The band’s maximun R&B sound earned them coveted opening slots for original ‘60s acts like The Pretty Things and The Zombies. In November of 1999, the Mooney Suzuki became the youngest band invited to play in New York City's Cavestomp! garage rock festival, sharing the stage with Nuggets legends the Monks, Chocolate Watchband, and the Standelles. Also that year, word of the Moonies reached the ear of Dave Crider, head of garage-rock label nonpareil Estrus Records. The Mooney Suzuki drove five days straight (with no air-conditioning in late August) to play a single date in Estrus hometown Bellingham, WA — unsure if Dave would even show.  Dave showed and sent the band into the studio with legendary noise-master Tim Kerr (Big Boys, Monkeywrench). Once in the studio with Tim, the Moonies exploded with the twelve tracks that became their debut LP. Released in September 2000, The Mooney Suzuki’s first album, People Get Ready, charted at #12 on CMJ Top 200, and landed in many "Best of 2000" lists. It received rave reviews across the board, proving that the band’s frenetic energy comes across on record just as well as it does live. Following the record’s release, the Moonies embarked upon a single non-stop tour for over year. Tirelessly striving to earn the title "Hardest Working Band in Show Business," NYC’s sweat-machine logged three consecutive laps around the US, often performing two shows a day in each city. 

    After a wild stint on the Donnas/Bratmobile tour in Spring of 2001, the Mooney Suzuki came off the road and headed back into the rehearsal studio, bristling with ideas for their next record. Detroit’s Jim Diamond (the White Stripes, Dirtbombs, the Go) invited the band to his Ghetto Recordings studio in the Motor City, and the Moonies excitedly accepted. Over three sweltering days in late August, Jim and the Mooney Suzuki laid down the blistering tracks for their second record, appropriately titled Electric Sweat. 

What kind of things do you get up to besides music? Any jobs or hobbies? 

    The Mooney Suzuki is a full-time gig, brother.  Its a 24 hour a day 7 day a week job and a 24 hour a day 7 day a week hobby. 

What’s it like living in New York City right now? Are things getting back to normal? Do you spend much time / play there? 

    If you don't spend too much time at the newsstand, things can seem pretty normal.  Of course, the WTC isn't there, and that is still weird.  I spend all my time there.  The last time we played in the city was in October. Looking forward to our record release party here April 9.

    Guiness hands down. Unless there's Zima or Tequiza. 

Why should people come see you March 27th (here in Ottawa)? 

    Because it will be the best thing you've ever done in your life ever. 

Plans for the future? Predictions? 

    Yeah, we're gonna blow everyone's wig off.

The MOONEY SUZUKI'S newest recording "ELECTRIC SWEAT" available soon!!