Damn...no more Roudness!!

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:21 pm

Loudness Drummer Munetaka Higuchi Passes Away

Loudness frontman Minoru Niihara spoke to WeROCK City director Ginger Suzuki) about the passing of the band's drummer Munetaka Higuchi.

"It is still hard to believe that Munetaka went to his eternal rest," the singer said backstage after the Tokyo concert of Minoru's new project, Nishidera Minoru. "It seems unreal to me so far. I will never forget all the things we shared, such as making albums, playing live, drinking together. I truly miss him." He added, "I'm going to get together with the rest of Loudness members tomorrow for Munetaka's pre-funeral. I got emails from all over the world with many kinds words. I just wanted to thank everybody for your grateful thoughts."

Higuchi died Sunday morning, November 30th at a hospital in Osaka, Japan. He was 49 years old.

Higuchi was diagnosed with liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma) in April 2008. He had reportedly undergone two rounds of chemotherapy treatment and an operation to remove part of his liver.

In an October 18th, 2008 statement released via the band's official web site, Munetaka wrote about his condition (translated from Japanese), "It has been half a year since I was diagnosed with liver cancer. I am really sorry that the fans are worried. The cancer has become worse despite the fact that I have been taking care of my health, and I will need more time for my treatment. [Even after undergoing the] big operation to remove half of my liver, I still need more treatment. There are various risks and dangers involved with my condition, but I'll do my best to keep my spirits up and maintain my physical strength to fight this illness. I know it is still the middle of my treatment, but I just wanted inform you about my progress since the operation. Thank you very much for all the support."

Loudness utilized a session drummer — Kozo Suganuma, a member of one of the most popular fusion bands in Japan, Fragile, and a former member of Ded Chaplin — for its "special guest" appearance at Mötley Crüe's October 26th, 2008 concert at Saitama Super Arena.

Loudness recently released a four-disc DVD set entitled "The Legend Of Loudness - Live Complete Best" in Japan through Tokuma Communications. It features footage spanning the band's entire career — from the early 1980s through 2008 — including the periods when it was fronted by Michael Vescera (Yngwie Malmsteen, Obsession) and Masaki Yamada (EZO).

source: blabbermouth.net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRJ4Re8jKWU

Post by **Jim Price** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:46 pm

That's a shame. I always liked Loudness, even though they were viewed as a novelty by a lot of 80's metal fans. I have a couple of their early albums before they got signed (import albums), and you could tell they were fans of old-school UFO and Scorpions (who toured Japan frequently before they both became famous).

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:09 pm

That's sad news, cause they were a great band and had a huge following across seas.

I havent heard much of their work, but I always liked Akira's "Killer" guitar.

(funny title Kev)

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:27 pm

I always liked "Rock n' Roll Crazy Nights," despite the now-obvious campiness of it. Akira Takesaki is a very underrated guitarist, I hear a lot of classical and fusion influence.------>JMS

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:44 pm

metalchurch wrote:That's sad news, cause they were a great band and had a huge following across seas.

I havent heard much of their work, but I always liked Akira's "Killer" guitar.

(funny title Kev)

How did Akira get his guitar to stand sideways like that???

PanzerFaust · Post by **PanzerFaust** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:03 pm

Jim Price wrote:I have a couple of their early albums before they got signed (import albums)

No kidding Jim they were import albums... hmmm....

hehe......

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:11 pm

ToonaRockGuy wrote:
metalchurch wrote:That's sad news, cause they were a great band and had a huge following across seas.

I havent heard much of their work, but I always liked Akira's "Killer" guitar.

(funny title Kev)
How did Akira get his guitar to stand sideways like that???

It's a japanese thing that I dont even understand...

REDillon · Post by **REDillon** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:28 pm

"Roan-reeeee. Now we so roan-reeee."

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:19 pm

metalchurch wrote: How did Akira get his guitar to stand sideways like that???

It's a japanese thing that I dont even understand...

Is that a reference to how Japanese girls' va-jayjay's go sideways?... because they don't. I used to get 47 e-mails a day with pictures proving otherwise.

I'm pretty knowledgeable about penis enlargement for the same reason.

--->JMS

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:26 pm

No, it wasn't

I dont know for sure, but I've heard they are vertical. I'll take your word for it SS

I remember an old joke about them going down a sliding board naked.....

I edited the picture so the guitar is positioned like that, because I prefer to look at guitars in that position because I think it's a better view.

Bag · Post by **Bag** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:02 pm

songsmith wrote:I always liked "Rock n' Roll Crazy Nights," despite the now-obvious campiness of it. Akira Takesaki is a very underrated guitarist, I hear a lot of classical and fusion influence.------>JMS

Bashful did a great cover of that. We always wondered what "M.Z.A." stood for/meant. Probably means "Americans suck dick" or something.

Plastered Bastards · Post by **Plastered Bastards** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:03 pm

We just listened to Thunder In The East lp when were in Holland. Manon the woman we stayed with, picked it up a few days before we got there.
So we put it on and got really wrecked,and then followed it with Scorpions Lovedrive.
R.I.P Munetaka