The best automotive executives have a schtick. Jim Farley is a racer, Bob Lutz smoked cigars in his fighter jet, and Dr. Z had a big mustache. It turns out that newly-appointed Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa is/was a drummer… in a band called Tempura Crime Scene… that’s sort of like Nissan’s house band. It’s incredible.
While I’m sure there are some C-Suiters with musical talent, the last time I can think of a high-level executive being in a band was old Ford CEO Jacques Nasser and his all-glockenspiel experimental jazz trio Project Sigma. While former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn had a penchant for instrument casing, I don’t think he played anything.
This news was a surprise to me this morning, partially because Espinosa himself was a bit of a left-field choice for CEO, who was pulled from the depths of lower-middle-upper management to run the troubled automaker. Most of what is known about the Mexican-born Nissan-lifer is that he’s an engineer who seems to genuinely like cars.
Today, thanks to this Wall Street Journal piece, we know a little more:
After the theatrics of Ghosn, Nissan chose a company loyalist in Espinosa whose flashiest gig was serving as a drummer in a band called Tempura Crime Scene.
Espinosa grew up in Mexico City and, as a child, would visit the bus factory where his father worked as a mechanical engineer. He would also join his father in tinkering with cars at home, changing brake pads, spark plugs or the oil.
One day when he was about 15, Espinosa saw a Nissan 300ZX sports car in the street. He remembers rushing to pick up an automotive magazine to read about its horsepower and cockpit-like interior.
I’m sorry, did you say Tempura Crime Scene? I had to know more.
Nissan Has An Informal House Band
Something you might not know is that, of all the automakers, Nissan employees are historically the best partiers. Why? Maybe it’s because they usually have a strong mix of ex-pats, or, maybe because of the North American HQ’s proximity to Nashville. Perhaps it’s just the overrepresentation of employees from SEC schools.
Whatever the reason, no one throws a better party than Nissan. The actual specifics of that I am honor-bound not to share, but if you ever worked at the SLS Beverly Hills during the Obama Administration, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
I was able to track down a lot of details via the original TCS drummer, who kept a blog, as was the style at the time. She provided some key details, specifically that “[M]ost of the TCS band members work for Nissan, so it’s widely known as the Nissan house band.”
That would explain why, when the original drummer moved to Singapore, they tapped Espinosa.
Actually, They’re Pretty Good
Above is the only full video I can find of the band performing, which was for a livestream in 2021 at a place called Rocking Monkey Studios. The band mentions that they are happy to have survived COVID-19, and I get the sense that there’s a lot of pent-up energy on display here (the band jokes about the 150 million people watching, but only 741 people have viewed the video so far).
They’re good! While they’re no Dwayne Gretzky, it’s definitely a more than solid party band with a lot of chemistry. Based on the band’s Instagram feed, it seems like the members come and go, which might explain how Espinosa ended up on drums.
Also, I guess I’m at the age where car execs have roughly the same age as me and therefore have a similar musical reference set? Espinosa was born in 1978, according to his biography, making him a young Gen X (I’m an Elder Millennial, but close enough).
The above set opens with “Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand and then goes right into “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon. I’m a big Arctic Monkeys fan, so the inclusion of “Do I Wanna Know” is appreciated. There’s some ’90s in there as well, with “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes and “Where Is My Mind” by The Pixies.
While it’s pretty obvious that it’s Ivan on drums, at about 44 minutes in the video, he gets shouted out before going into “The Pretender” (the Foo Fighters version). Another Foo Fighters song, “Everlong,” ends the set before an encore of “Demons” by Imagine Dragons and “With Or Without You” by U2.
He’s good! They’re all good. It’s a fun party band. So…
I Challenge Ivan Espinosa And Tempura Crime Scene To Play A Show At The New York Auto Show
Look, it would be wonderful to have Tempura Crime Scene play the LA Auto Show, but Espinosa has a lot of work to do to get his company on the right track (I think he’s doing a pretty good job so far, atc), which means that’s probably too soon.
So, to be fair, I’m requesting that TCS play a gig before (or during) the New York Auto Show. That’s not until April. The article sort of implies that Espinosa was the drummer, so I’m guessing he hasn’t been playing a lot lately. This will give him time to practice. Plus, there will likely be some other Nissan employee/band members there, right?
If someone from Nissan wants to coordinate (I’ll email them as well), I’m sure we can find a venue close to the Javits Center. It would be a great way to introduce the new CEO to the world, maybe get some headlines, and otherwise show that Nissan is being run by a pretty righteous dude.
TCS has a great bass player, who seems to be the “heart” of the band, so my one request is a cover of “Cannonball” by The Breeders, which displays both drum and bass.
Not only will I invite all Autopian readers, I’ll also wear my TCS t-shirt, which is a thing I just purchased on Amazon. Honestly, the most deep-cut car shirt I may ever own.
C’mon, Nissan, let’s do it!
Top photo: TCS/YouTube
(This post contains an affiliate link, which is hilarious).
The reference to Ghosn’s fondness for instrument cases is outstanding.
> ex-pats
It’s “expats.” They’re not people formerly known as Pat.
How many Nissan CEOs can you fit in a bass drum?
Not bad but a little derivative of The Nut Mustards.
Damn, now I’m craving tempura.
Why did the groupie sleep with the drummer?
All the other band members were taken.
What’s the same about drummers and drum machines?
You have to punch instructions into both of them.
Who’s that weird guy hanging with the band? Oh, the drummer.
Always bugging the musicians
TIL Adrian is a drummer.
Matt, you had me at the Breeders song and also the Pixies. Being that I’m 1976, I’m solidly Gen-X. This article makes me remember some really solid shows. I once caught the bass player’s pick from a Belly show. No relation to cars there except that I was constantly riding around in cars (XJ Jeep!) with good stereo and subwoofer systems at the time and was always listening to music.
The fact that there’s a decent band made up of Nissan people is charming. I know the brand has been rocky here for some years now, and is probably most widely thought of as the maker of Altimas, which are the official car of having poor credit and running from the cops after shoplifting. I’d love them to bounce back and be known for something better, but I’m not holding my breath… though I like the new Leaf and Juke (which isn’t coming to the states AFAIK) neither would/will do well enough in the U.S. to change things that much, due to the American taste for bigger vehicles.
Last month some women shoplifted thousands worth of stuff and then drove across the street to Wendy’s, where they were arrested waiting for their food in the drive through. They were in a Pathfinder. (At least it wasn’t an Altima this time)