Loudness
In 81, Munetaka Higuchi (ds), Akira Takasaki (g), Minoru Niihara (vo), and Masayoshi Yamashita (b) formed "LOUDNESS". From the release of their first album "The Night Before Birth ~ THE BIRTHDAY EVE" that shook Japan's hard rock scene, and their overwhelming live performance at their debut concert at the Asakusa International Theater, many legends were born.
After that, LOUDNESS, who had been active in Japan, embarked on their first tour of the West Coast of the United States and Europe in July '83, and their live performance caught the attention of Atlantic Records officials in the United States, and they signed the first worldwide multiple album contract as a Japan band. The album "THUNDER IN THE EAST", which was a memorable world release, reached No. 74 on the American Billboard chart, which is unusual for a Japan band, and continued to chart for 19 consecutive weeks from the chart. And on a national tour with Motley Crew, they also achieved the feat of being the first Japan band to stand on stage at Madison Square Garden. The following album "LIGHTNING STRIKES" ranked 64th on Billboard magazine, surpassing the previous work, and continued to be active both domestically and internationally, but in December 88, Niihara announced his withdrawal. From there, they repeatedly changed members, including an American vocalist, but in 2000, they reunited with an original lineup and released the album "SPIRITUAL CANOE ~ Reincarnation". He also toured the country, and fans went crazy at the loudness that returned. As if filling the blanks, he continued to have a furious release rush and energetic live activities, but after the release of the ALBUM "METAL MAD", Munetaka Higuchi took a break for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. For the next six months, he lived a harsh battle with the disease, but at 10:44 a.m. on November 30 of the same year, Munetaka Higuchi passed away at the young age of 49 due to hepatocellular carcinoma.
After that, Masayuki Suzuki "Anpan" was recruited as the successor drummer, and the band continued its activities without a break. In 2013, in order to concentrate on music activities with a more solid structure, he launched Katana Music, which is his own management and label, and in 2014, he released the album "THE SUN WILL RISE AGAIN ~ Fighting Soul Sword" from Universal, and began to be approached not only by domestic tours but also by various overseas festivals. In January 2018, he released his first new album in four years, "RISE TO GLORY -8118-", which received the greatest acclaim in each country, but when it was time to tour, drummer Suzuki collapsed due to a cerebral infarction. After that, the band decided to hire Ryuichi Nishida as a support drummer at short notice, and decided to embark on a domestic tour from the spring, and in the summer, they toured Europe, including large-scale festivals, and performed at a Korean festival for the first time in a long time.
And on the last day of "METAL WEEKEND" held for four days at Zepp DiverCuty in September, Suzuki also appeared on stage for the first time in nine months, and although it was only one song, he was energetic and played the drums, and he declared on stage that he would do his best even if it took time to make a full comeback. With the performance of five songs, he showed the fans his recovery sway.
In 2019, the band will continue to work energetically with Nishida as a support drummer, and will continue to work energetically with their first Australian tour in May, then a tour of Japan, and a TUSKA FESTIVAL in Finland in June, and we will continue to protect the place where Suzuki returns, so I hope that fans will watch over him warmly.