Shanghai's Local Music Scene: The Bands

Q&A: Friend or Foe

They wear masks on stage and have a live show that’s part performance art and part straight-up rock. And they ‘murdered’ their ex-band mate onstage at the opening of LOgO in June.

Who are Friend or Foe?

We are aliens, left upon the earth to probe humans and examine their behavior. The human race is a bizarre species and worthy of documentation.

Describe your sound.

Rock, with some funk and fuzz folded in.

What are some of your non-music related influences?

Wondershowsen, Mr Show [and] Breaking Bad.

How long have you been working on your upcoming album?

We have been working on the recording for about four months with The Acid Ponies and our production team, but the songs were all written over the course of the last year.

When is the release date? And what do you have planned?

An all night party! Rice crispy treats! Lots of bands and DJs to follow! It's 12 November at Yuyingtang [with] Acid Ponies, Rainbow Danger Club, a special collaborative project and so much more. I suppose Friend or Foe will play a bit. It's still in planning, so stay tuned.

Has your band ever participated in a ritual murder of a band mate?

That was a previous life. We've matured as individuals. We now smoke pipes and wear tweed jackets and sit around discussing philosophy.

How has the band coped since the demise of Bill?

Poorly. We miss him dearly! But we've found a homeless man to take his place! His name is Bob! Incredibly, he seems to know how to play the bass.

Read more about Shanghai's local music scene, including DJs, performers and venues.