Their skin is just their earthly makeover ...

By Caitlin Johnson

Every time Peelander-Yellow comes to earth, he has to construct an elaborate disguise, so as not to scare the humans.

By day, he is a Japanese man with a missing tooth who works at a frame shop in Chelsea.

“This is my costume,” said  Peelander-Yellow, who is also known as Kengoswee as he pinched the skin on his hand. He is the lead singer of Peelander-Z a band comprised of three aliens from the Z area of Planet Peelander. “This is extra costume,” he said, tugging on his green sweatshirt.

Peelander-Z, based in New York City, is a “Japanese, action, comic, punk band.”  Peelander-Yellow decided to form the group in 1998 when he and the other Peelanders, Peelander-Red, the bassist, and Peelander-Blue, the drummer came to Earth. They survive by performing and on stage. It is the only time they reveal their brightly colored alien skin, which strangely resembles a spandex jump suit.

“We are eating people’s happy energy and smile,” said Peelander-Yellow while sipping tea at a deli in Chelsea.

The idea is to get the audience to come to Planet Peelander, said Peelander-Yellow. The Planet does not exist in outer space. but somewhere but in the mind; it’s the seventh dimension.

“I have my border, you have your border,” he said. “With just one switch, we can take everything away.” He snapped his fingers and dramatically threw his hands into the air as if to say “poof,” your inhibitions are gone.

The Peelanders, who resemble the highly popular action team, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, have a knack for getting humans to do things they normally wouldn’t. In each Peelander show, the band will invited people from the audience to dance on stage or to play the cowbell.

Their shows are high-energy and full of surprises. Rather than focusing on their music, which is of course, important, the Peelanders place more emphasis on the visual performance.

The music, he said, is based on just two or three simple chords. The lyrics, which switch back and forth between English and Japanese, center on a simple phrase like “Mad Tiger” or “Medium Rare.” Peelander-Yellow said he likes to keep the message simple so people can easily participate. Longtime fans of professional wrestling, the Peelanders employ a lot of karate and wrestling moves in their act. Last summer at the Bonnaroo Music festival in Tennessee, he lost one of his front teeth when he did a “rolling high kick” and his guitar hit him in the mouth.  He has not seen fit to get it replaced.

Each band member has a distinctive, quirky style. Peelander-Red has dreadlocks down to his derriere and often wears a set of dragon wings and an Indian headdress. He is called Dr. Pheromone, because “he is a sexy guy,” said Peelander-Yellow. Peelander-Blue is a wrestling champion and he has the belt to prove it. His fluffy hair is currently dyed white.

In terms of unique appearance, Peelander-Yellow takes the cake. He and the other Peelanders took a trip to the Chinese jungle one day and he spotted a Panda. He was so overcome by the bear’s beauty, that he decided to shave his head to replicate a Panda’s. Now, the two tufts of hair have grown out a bit, so “now it’s like a puppy,” he said. “Not as beautiful.”

On March 12, Peelander-Z will commence a tour of the South. Where Peelander-Yellow said they have a growing fan base. They will return to New York for a show on March 27 at the Mercury Lounge.

After their big break at the Bonnaroo festival where they played with Bob Dylan, Wilco and Los Lonely Boys, Peelander-Z has been growing in popularity. They made appearances on Comedy Central’s “Upright Citizen’s Brigade” and Spike TV’s “MXC: Most Extreme Challenge.” Since 1998, they have released nine albums and Peelander-Yellow hopes to make action figures in their Peelander likeness.

But still, Peelander-Z's mission has not been completed because most people have yet to find the pure joy they will experience on planet Peelander.

“It’s in your mind, it’s in your brain,” Peelander-Yellow said. “If you open your mind, you can come.”

Is Peelander-Z your bag? Check out these sites:

www.kaiju.com The glorious kaiju heroes like American Beetle and the Plantain Twins take on the evil doctor cube and his posse in a steel cage ring.

www.chengwin.com The half brothers, Chunk (half chicken, half dove) and Chengwin (half chicken, half penguin)

www.japunks.com A conglomeration of Japanese punk bands who rock out together annually. Next show is coming up this spring.