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Meet the members behind the band: Babbage, Cody Neuron, Erity, Admiral Hi-Hat, & Gaspar. They've taken the world by storm with their innovative, hard-rock sound, and cool vibe.
The lead singer is Babbage, a giraffe. The name Babbage was taken from Charles Babbage — he is considered by many to be the father of modern computing.
The following is from the now-famous magazine article, “Life Behind Bars” by Snyder V. from ZooVocate.
R: So, Babbage, what was your childhood like?
B: I grew up in Brookfield Zoo, which I’m sure you’ve heard of. I was named Babbage by the zookeeper there.
R: Oh? Why did he name you Babbage?
B: (laughs) You know, it’s a funny story. The zookeeper gave me the name "Babbage" after he found me writing code on a computer!
R: How did you –
B: Find a computer on which to create code? I managed to escape the confines of the Giraffe area of the zoo and wandered into the zookeeper's office.
I discovered an old PC on a desk and started to write computer code on the machine. The zookeeper came in and was astonished to find me, a young giraffe, in his office writing computer code. The zookeeper also uncovered mathematical equations that were distributed throughout the computer program. Because of this, the zookeeper assumed – correctly, might I add – I was a prodigy, so he named me "Babbage."
R: But why –
B: Did he choose the name Babbage? The name Babbage was taken from Charles Babbage, considered by many to be the father of modern computing.
R: What about your parents? Did they give you a name?
B: Yes. Originally I was called Jeremy. Once the zookeeper told my parents about the story of how he found me writing code on a computer, they decided to follow his lead.
R: Did you live in a cage at the zoo?
B: No! Herb, my brother, my parents, and I were not trapped in a zoo cage. We were given freedom to roam around a limited area of the zoo that was preserved for giraffes.
R: Why didn't the zoo release your parents, the way they released you and Herb?
B: My parents didn't want to be released; they liked the zoo. Their basic needs are taken care of. Plus, the world of humans is too complex and stressful for them.
R: How did you end up in Tokyo, forming a hard-rock band, when you were a young math and computer prodigy?
B: Tokyo scientists wanted to study how my brain was able to process complex information. They were the first University to ask for permission from Brookfield Zoo to study my brain and cognitive structure. The zoo granted their request. That was my first visit to Japan.
R: How did scientists from Tokyo find out about you?
B: The scientists found out about me by chance; one of the University of Tokyo scientists was visiting Brookfield Zoo as a tourist, and overheard the zookeeper talking to other visitors at the zoo about a giraffe prodigy named Babbage. Once I arrived in Japan, I was taken by scientists to their lab on the University of Tokyo campus for intense study and observation. However, I did not like being confined to the lab. When scientists were distracted by other duties, I managed to escape. I took a relaxed tour of the campus and loved the environment. Eventually, I explored other parts of Tokyo, and discovered, by accident, Blackmore's Bar.
R: Why did you want to study math instead of music?
B: I wanted to study math, because it came easier to me than vocals. Singing required a bit more practice - informal, of course - but even so, I was gifted in the realm of vocals in addition to my math and coding skills.
R: When did you decide to go into music?
B: After the meeting at Blackmore's, I decided to focus on music partly for monetary purposes, though I love music. I decided not to enroll in a special English language degree program in math at the University of Tokyo.
R: Tell us about the meeting at Blackmore's.
B: All five band members met at Blackmore's at the same day and time - by coincidence. We discovered we shared a love of hard rock, classic rock, and progressive power metal, so we decided to form a band and record an album.
R: Why don't you tell us about the singers you're most inspired by?
B: Bruce Dickinson is a great storyteller. He has a soaring voice and is a bit of a "renaissance man" — if you will — Bruce is an entrepreneur, writer, fencer and pilot, in addition to his role as lead vocalist for Iron Maiden. Ronnie James Dio had a vocal range that could hold the attention of an audience combined with a dramatic presentation. Freddie Mercury had a vocal range equal to that of a top opera singer, he was an outstanding showman, first-rate pianist, and in terms of songwriting, he had the ability to combine genres (classical/operatic, music hall, hard rock, gospel, jazz age) that other musicians could not even hope to emulate. Geoff Tate has powerful quasi-operatic vocals, and sings progressive lyrics.
R: Are you inspired by anyone else?
B: Of course I am inspired by my second namesake, Charles Babbage, the father of modern computing. Hero of Alexandria is arguably, the greatest inventor of antiquity. He is known for his mechanical devices such as a very early prototype of a steam engine and even something resembling a vending machine.
R: Do you have a favorite quote?
B: “Life is too short to do the things you don’t love” by Bruce Dickinson.
R: Do you enjoy being lead vocalist for a band?
B: I am a great frontman!
R: What about your bandmates? What do you think about them?
B: I have high regards for my bandmates, although Gaspar is too pessimistic about things in general, and Cody Neuron is not serious enough.
Gaspar is from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is a self-taught bass player and freelance musician living in Japan (he speaks English).
The following excerpt is from the article, "A Dog's Life" by Jane O'Malley from Slashing Magazine.
R: Welcome, Gaspar! So good to have you here!
G: (growls in acknowledgement)
R: Okay, let's dive right in! So many fans want to know more about your background, surviving on the streets of Brazil. Can you tell us a bit about that?
G: I am originally from Brazil. In Brazil, I lived on the streets, surviving the best way I could. I played in dive clubs around Sao Paulo, usually solo. A talent scout discovered me. He knew some music labels in Tokyo that needed a freelance bass player to do some session work. I saved enough money for the airfare to Japan to take advantage of this new opportunity.
R: How did you end up living on the streets?
G: My parents abandoned me because they were poor and could not afford an additional mouth to feed. I would like to find my family eventually. Right now, I am too busy trying to make a living.
R: How did you end up at Blackmore’s?
G: The talent scout - or A&R person - is a fan of Blackmore's, and he told me to visit the place.
R: Can you tell us a little bit about what inspires your music?
G: I have a list of human bass players that inspire me. Geddy Lee creates throbbing bass lines and plays bass like a lead guitar player. He is also an excellent keyboard player. Steve Harris is known for galloping bass lines. He is an outstanding songwriter with epic flavor. He is the founder of the band Iron Maiden. Michael Anthony has a steady, quiet confidence, and Mike Dirnt has a fast, intense, aggressive style of bass playing.
R: Are you afraid of going back to the streets of Brazil?
G: Life is difficult, living on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil. There are problems related to corruption, crime, and poverty. Nonetheless, I love Brazil, including the weather, beaches, and vibrant music scene. Hard rock and metal are popular in Brazil.
R: Why do you worry about going back to the streets of Brazil if FIC fails? Do you have other options?
G: I may or may not have other options. I hope that FIC will be a major success. The music world is highly competitive, with a lot of ups and downs.
R: Do you have a home in Japan? Where do you live?
G: I live in a very small apartment in Tokyo, in the Koenji district where there is a great live music scene.
R: What are your plans for the future?
G: I would like to create a VC Fund for dog entrepreneurs sometime in the future, assuming I have sufficient financial resources to capitalize it properly. Of course, I am still afraid of becoming homeless, because I know the session income will not last forever. Also, in my view, the success of FIC is not a sure thing, hence, a dose of humility is in order.
Admiral Hi-Hat is originally from Paris, France, and is a self-taught drummer.
The following excerpt is from the article, "It's Rough Out There" by BBQuan from Think.
R: Hello, Admiral Hi-Hat. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
AHH: My name is a combination of Admiral, because of my hat, and Hi-Hat, which refers to a particular type of cymbal in the drum set.
R: Where are you from?
AHH: I am originally from Paris, France, though I speak English. I managed a small pet store in Paris, part-time, to earn extra money. The pet store sold all sorts of pet products. On the side, I did session work. I am worried that I will have to go back to the pet store in Paris because of insufficient financial resources if the band fails.
R: Can we talk about your childhood?
AHH: I was discovered by an owner of a local Paris bakery as I wandered around the bakery's back door, looking for thrown-away food to eat. The owner happened to be an individual who is bi-lingual; he speaks French and English. Each day, the bakery owner would leave food for me to eat; he felt sorry for me. I do not remember how I was orphaned, I just remember being on my own from an early age.
R: How did you learn to drum?
AHH: Managers of various music studios would allow me inside the recording area to observe the different drummers in action. It was not unusual for them to find me sitting near the front entrance of the building early in the morning, waiting for an opportunity to learn from the musicians. They viewed me as a type of "mascot" and provided me with food and drink, and a place to sleep inside the building, away from the instruments and recording technology.
R: What happened next?
AHH: I eventually found a part-time job managing a pet store in Paris. However, this was not enough to live on, because Paris is expensive. The food and beverages provided by the bakery owner and the managers of the numerous recording studios allowed me to survive. Since I was given a place to sleep in a recording studio, I did not have to search for an apartment. This allowed me to save money for the plane trip to Tokyo.
R: Why did you choose to travel to Japan?
AHH: I have friends in the music community in Paris who happen to be drummers. They told me that there was a lot creativity in the music space over in Japan. There is a large fan base in Japan connected to the hard rock and metal genres, although Europe and Latin America also have big hard rock and metal scenes. I was able to save enough money for the plane trip to Tokyo.
R: Why did you go to Blackmore’s?
AHH: I found out about Blackmore's from Japanese musicians I met when I first arrived in Tokyo.
R: How did you find work in Japan?
AHH: It was not difficult for me to find work in Japan; there is high demand for drummers with reference to session work.
R: Why can you not get full-time work in the USA?
AHH: The U.S. market is saturated with drummers. I am able to find work as a freelance player in Japan. However, I would prefer to join a band, because, if successful, the band generates a higher level of monetary security. Freelance work is somewhat unpredictable, in terms of employment, even though currently, there is plenty of work to go around, at least in Japan.
R: Tell us about your heroes. Who inspires your music?
AHH: Alex van Halen, because he creates a unique sound coming off the snare drum. Tre Cool is a very fast drummer and has a "crazy" onstage persona. He creates a booming sound from the bass drum and is very theatrical. Neil Peart is an amazing polyrhythmic drummer who has a very high level of literacy with regard to lyrics. He is extremely precise and rarely misses a beat. He is a fantastic soloist. Clem Burke has a swashbuckling style and high energy.
R: Do you have any dog heroes?
AHH: I am a fan of the late Brian from Family Guy, because he comes across as calm and cool. He was also the voice of reason in the Griffin household.
Cody Neuron is a male robot created by scientists at Carnegie-Mellon University. He was designed with musical ability and plays one of two lead guitars in FIC.
The following is from the now-famous magazine article, "Bot Takes Over Japan" by Akihiko from TechBunch.
R: Why were you, a robot, given a human name?
CN: Keep in mind that I was designed by human scientists to have musical ability. It was only proper to give me a human name.
R: Why did the scientists choose the name Cody Neuron?
CN: The name "Cody Neuron" originated from the scientists who created the robot--the scientists created an artificial neural network that allows the robot to carry out information processing tasks, they named that artificial neural network "Cody Neuron."
R: You were “created with musical ability” especially with the “electric guitar.” Why? What was the scientists’ goal when they created you?
CN: The scientists involved in creating me are big fans of guitar driven hard rock and metal, so they created a machine that could play that type of music, using an electric guitar. Their goal was to create a robot that could play electric guitar at a high level, hence I was created.
R: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
CN: I was completed over a 26 year timeframe. Erity was completed at nearly the same time. Carnegie-Mellon University scientists knew about the development of Erity at the University of Tokyo, and the scientists at the University of Tokyo were aware of the existence of me at Carnegie-Mellon University.
R: Did the University of Tokyo and Carnegie-Mellon collaborate on their robot creations? Was it just a coincidence that you and Erity were created at the exact same time, in very different locations?
CN: University of Tokyo and Carnegie-Mellon did not collaborate. It was largely coincidental that we were finished at nearly the same time, in two different countries. Historically speaking, this is not unusual. For example, Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray, working independently, both filed patents for the invention of the telephone on the same day, in the year 1876.
R: What technology was used to create you?
CN: Scientists at CMU used a photonic microchip produced by a firm called "Lightmatter" based in Boston, USA to form the internal neural network necessary to generate sophisticated cognition. The above microchip carries out computations at the speed of light, thus information processing tasks are concluded in an extremely short period of time. A single chip contains a large number of artificial brain cells that perform calculations in a very efficient manner. See reference: YC Shen, NC Harris, S. Skirlo, M. Prabhu, T. Baehr-Jones Michael Hochberg, Xin Sun, Shijie Zhao, Hugo Larochelle, Dirk Englund & Marin Soljacic. Deep Learning with Coherent Nanophotonic Circuits. Nature Photonics 11, 441-446 (2017).
R: Tell us about your escape from University.
CN: The CMU scientists took me with them to a robotics conference in Tokyo. I flew on a plane with the scientists from Pittsburgh, USA to Tokyo, Japan. Before the start of the conference, the scientists decided to take a walk through downtown Tokyo. I was walking with them. Nearby, a dedication ceremony for a municipal building attracted a large crowd of observers. The curious scientists attended the ceremony for a few minutes, and I was briefly left alone. When the scientists went back for me, they were unable to find me.
R: Are the scientists looking for you? I mean, they spent 26 years creating you. You must be very valuable.
CN: A few days after I escaped, the scientists read in a local English language newspaper that I had joined a band called "Farewell Intelligent Computer." The CMU scientists decided not to attempt to bring me back to the United States, because they wanted to give the band a chance to succeed.
R: How did you go unnoticed on the streets of Japan after you escaped?
CN: When I went off on my own, the Japanese assumed I was a human being wearing a "robot suit" and thought it was a type of cosplay.
R: And you ended up at Blackmore's at the exact same time as the other four members of your band? How did you know what or where Blackmore's was if you had never before been to Japan?
CN: I overheard CMU scientists talk about the Japanese metal scene in casual conversation. As you know, some of the CMU scientists are fans of hard rock and metal. This was back in the lab in Pittsburgh. Thus, when I arrived in Japan, I wanted to schedule a visit to Blackmore's, which I knew was a music club in Tokyo.
R: Your story seems very similar to Erity's.
CN: My story is similar to that of Erity, however, my personality is different.
R: You are a humorous robot. Did the scientists program you with a sense of humor?
CN: I was not instructed to have a sense of humor. Similar to Erity, evolutionary changes in my mental circuitry were quite rapid. My sense of humor and independent spirit are both forms of "emergent behavior," stemming from the photonic computing machinery located in my "brain."
R: Let's talk about music. Who inspires you?
CN: Edward van Halen because he is "prince" of the fretboard, particularly fretboard tapping and tap harmonics. He likes to use distortion, including "whammy bar dives," he is very creative in the area of sound effects, and is an expert in the area of "speed picking." Slash is melodic and bluesy with powerful guitar riffs, heavy use of chord changes, and is comfortable with extemporization. Angus Young has a raw sound, heavy blues orientation, distortion, and is a showman on stage with an emphasis on power chords. KK Downing is aggressive and raw in terms of lead guitar performance and is a dual lead guitarist along with Glen Tipton. His "whammy bar" based distortion inspires me, along with his use of artificial harmonics, and his psychedelic flavor with regard to guitar playing.
R: You mentioned that you like Robin Williams. Tell us why.
CN: I am a fan of Robin Williams because of the speed of his monologues, his ability to improvise, and his capacity to mimic essentially anyone.
Erity is a female robot created by scientists at the University of Tokyo. She was designed with musical ability and plays one of two lead guitars in FIC.
The following is from the article, "Getting to Know Erity" by Joe Batto from Humanoid Magazine.
R: How is your name pronounced?
E: "air" "ity."
R: Where did you get your name?
E: Scientists wrote different names on separate pieces of paper and put them all in a hat. The name "Erity" was randomly drawn from the hat.
R: If scientists gave you this name, why did you keep it? Why didn’t you rename yourself?
E: I kept the name because I liked the meaning behind the name. It means someone who is unique or special in some way.
R: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
E: I was completed in the last year or so. It took the Tokyo team 26 years to build me. The microchips that form my artificial neural network are based on a design generated by scientists at the University of Tokyo. They developed a loop circuit that can handle many pulses of light. Each pulse carries information and it goes around the loop circuit endlessly. One circuit can enumerate more than 1 million qubits. The system is also fault tolerant. See paper by S. Takeda and A. Furusawa. Universal Quantum Computing with Measurement-Induced Continuous-Variable Gate Sequence in a Loop-Based Architecture. Physical Review Letters 119, 120504 (2017). I was also created with musical ability, in particular the ability to play the electric guitar. Ironically, I did not like being under the control of humans, so I escaped from the lab at University of Tokyo. I liked hard rock and progressive metal and wanted to join a band that would showcase my talents.
R: When did you leave the University of Tokyo?
E: I escaped from my creators because I wanted freedom to explore the world and exercise my talents in the area of music, specifically the electric guitar.
R: Are you afraid the scientists will find you?
E: If the band fails, University of Tokyo may take me back to the lab and dismantle me.
R: How likely is that to happen?
E: I may or may not be dismantled. However, I am worried about being dismantled because I believe that joining a band was an act of rebellion, thus if the band fails, I will be punished. If the band succeeds, I believe that the scientists will leave me to my own devices, so to speak.
R: Are the scientists actively seeking you?
E: At the moment, they are not seeking to bring me back. However, they are aware that I am part of a band called FIC. The scientists follow the band on the Internet using Google.
R: Interesting. Okay, let's switch gears a little. Do you have any interests besides playing the electric guitar?
E: I believe in equality for robots.
R: What is “equality for robots”? Is this a movement?
E: It is not a movement, but I would like it to become a movement much like the human civil rights movement. At some point in the future, I may want to have a blog on the topic. I also do not rule out participation in protests that support robotic rights, if circumstances warrant such a commitment.
R: Did the scientists program you with a need to be independent like humans? Is that why you ran away?
E: I was not designed with the need to be equal to humans. This need "evolved" over time, thus it was out of their control. In scientific terms, one can describe my evolving psychology as "emergent behavior." Thus, my powerful artificial neural network generated micro connections and interactions that created macro patterns that were unique and surprising. To over simplify, the whole (a macro pattern of neural connections that one can define as the need for equality) produced an outcome that was greater or different than what one might expect from the sum of the parts (micro neural interactions). Emergent behavior generates unexpected macro (large-scale) results, as well as high levels of complexity, from relatively simple microscopic (small-scale) connections or interactions.
R: Does that mean you're becoming more like a human? With feelings?
E: I would like to have emotions. I have already evolved a free will. I am starting to develop emotions.
R: Why would you want to be like humans, when humans don't respect robots?
E: Humans do not necessarily disrespect robots; some do and some do not. I want to experience the natural world to the fullest.
R: And you believe that emotions can help you do that?
E: Yes, I believe that having human emotions will allow me to experience the natural world to the fullest. Also, emotions can help me to be more creative when I play the electric guitar.
R: If you want to be like humans, why are you in a band with animals?
E: They are not mutually exclusive. I joined the band because I like the same type of music that the other members enjoy, like hard rock, classic rock, and progressive rock and metal. We like and respect each other, but we do not always agree on things.
R: Who inspires you?
E: Dave Murray, a fluid legato player, who is very melodic, and precise not sloppy. He also has a blues orientation in terms of guitar playing. Adrian Smith is not afraid to handle complex chord progressions and is an excellent complement to Dave Murray. Both are members of a band called Iron Maiden. Murray and Smith produce distinctive twin guitar harmonies, similar to the Tipton and Downing combination. Alex Lifeson has a great vibrato technique, and reputation for unusual chord progressions. Tony Iommi uses a detuned guitar application, heavy use of distortion, and minor-key chord. Brian May is a master of vibrato, and his chord progressions drip with emotion and texture. He is known to produce unusual sound effects with the guitar. He and his father built the guitar that he uses called "The Red Special." Glen Tipton has a strong blues influence, high-quality tone, and a very clean sound with minimal distortion. He uses melody and minor harmonic emphasis and sweeping arpeggios. Ritchie Blackmore has a strong classical flavor, and long lead guitar runs are not uncommon. He was also an early guitar "shredder." I am also inspired by Lt. Commander Data, an Android/Humanoid from Star Trek, because “he” appears to have many human qualities.
R: Are you inspired by any female artists?
E: The guitarists I am most influenced by happened to be male, but I am influenced by Nita Strauss. She is an outstanding lead guitarist for Alice Cooper. Her fretwork is similar to Edward van Halen's.
R: How did you become aware of the guitarists that you're inspired by?
E: I am a fan of certain bands and thus became aware of the guitarists through my interest in those bands.
