Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Japanese metal legends Loudness have confirmed a number of spring and summer performances around the U.S., Japan, and Europe, after the start of their 45th-anniversary festivities in December, as per Blabbermouth. Loudness was founded in 1981, and after touring North America and Europe in 1983, they became the first Japanese band to sign with Atlantic Records, an international record company, the following year. They also opened for a Mötley Crüe show and were the first Japanese artist to perform at Madison Square Garden. The song “Crazy Nights” and their debut foreign release, “Thunder In The East” (1985), peaked at No. 74 on the U.S. Billboard chart and No. 4 in Japan.
Since 1981, Loudness’s roster has seen several changes. The present lineup consists of three original members: drummer Masayuki Suzuki joined the band in 2009, lead singer Minoru Niihara, guitarist Akira Takasaki, and bassist Masayoshi Yamashita. In 2008, Munetaka Higuchi, the original drummer for Loudness, passed away following a year-long fight with liver cancer. Following Niihara’s 1988 exit from Loudness, the group briefly replaced him with American singer Mike Vescera before bringing in former EZO singer Masaki Yamada. With Niihara, Yamashita, and Higuchi, Takasaki brought the classic Loudness band back together in 2001.
