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Posted in metal | music | video on December 7, 2008

Munetaka Higuchi, RIP (drummer of Loudness)

LoudnessLoudness

Munetaka Higuchi, the drummer and co-founder of the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness, passed away on Sunday [November 30th] at about 10:00 a.m. in a hospital in Osaka, Japan. He was 49. Akira Takasaki, the guitarist who met Higuchi during high school before forming Loudness, announced the news on his personal website on the same day. The official website for Loudness had announced in April that Higuchi had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and later reported in September that Higuchi went through two rounds of chemotherapy. Higuchi left a message on the website on October 16 that acknowledged that his condition had gotten worse, despite an operation to remove half of his liver. [Anime News Network]
Drummers Jimmy Carl Black and Mitch Mitchell also passed away in November. Not as much attention was given to the less lengendary drummer of Loudness, who, according to VH1 Classic, were just one hit wonders (here in the U.S. at least). I was watching the show "One Hit Wonders: Metal" on Sunday. They played videos by Faith No More, Kix, Twisted Sister, and Quiet Riot. And they played "Crazy Night" by Loudness which inspired me to look at Loudness's Wikipedia page which is where I read the sad news.

In 1997 Munetaka also released the album "Free World" under the name "Munetaka Higuchi & Dream Castle". It featured "Steve Vai, Stanley Clarke, Billy Sheehan, Ty Tabor, Terry Bozzio, T. M. Stevens, Ronnie James Dio, Richie Kotzen and others". The Dio song, "Crazy Night" by Loudness, and another video, below...

Loudness - Crazy Night

Ronnie James Dio and Munetaka Higuchi - What Cost War

MUNETAKA HIGUCHI (in Japanese)


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Tags: 80s, Dio, Japan, Loudness, Munetaka Higuchi, one hit wonders, RIP

Posted on December 7, 2008 9:11 PM

Comments (8)

MY LIVER! MY LIVER!

Posted by Beavis | December 7, 2008 10:39 PM

!REVIL YM !REVIL YM

RIP

Posted by Anonymous | December 7, 2008 11:23 PM

Too young ...it's a shame RIP.

Posted by Anonymous | December 7, 2008 11:24 PM

I saw Motley Crue's Theater Of Pain tour at MSG. Loudness was the opening act...they kicked ass. RIP.

Posted by Anonymous | December 8, 2008 8:35 AM

he is legendary at least in Japan. Really good drummer. RIP.

Posted by Anonymous | December 8, 2008 9:57 AM

kick ass drummer

Posted by Anonymous | December 27, 2008 2:54 PM

MY LIVER! MY LIVER!
radyo dinle

Posted by radyo dinle | March 23, 2009 11:20 AM

!REVIL YM !REVIL YM

RIP

Posted by new era hats | May 28, 2009 1:56 AM

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