Editing Loudness

==Loudness==

'''Loudness''' (ラウドネス) is a Japanese [[heavy metal]] band formed in Osaka in 1981. Pioneers of Japanese metal on the international stage, they became the first Japanese heavy metal act to sign with a major American record label, reaching the [[Billboard 200]] chart at the height of their fame in the mid-1980s. Loudness has released over 26 studio albums across more than four decades and remains active today.

==History==

===Formation (1981)===

Loudness grew out of the dissolution of the Japanese pop-rock band [[Lazy]]. Guitarist '''Akira Takasaki''' and drummer '''Munetaka Higuchi''', dissatisfied with Lazy's musical direction, left to form a harder-edged group in early 1981. Takasaki recruited his childhood friend '''Masayoshi Yamashita''' on bass and held auditions for a vocalist, eventually landing on '''Minoru Niihara''', a former [[Earthshaker]] member who was a university student at the time. The band signed to [[Nippon Columbia]] and released their debut album, ''The Birthday Eve'', in November 1981. Their debut concert at Asakusa International Theater sold out to a crowd of 2,700, signaling an immediate impact on the Japanese rock scene.

===Early Albums (1982–1984)===

Two more albums followed in quick succession: ''Devil Soldier'' (July 1982) and ''The Law of Devil's Land'' (January 1983). With no prominent heavy metal recording engineers based in Japan at the time, the band worked with American engineer Daniel McClendon. A fourth studio album, ''Disillusion'' (1984), was recorded in both Japanese and English versions, marking the band's first steps toward an international audience.

===American Breakthrough (1985–1988)===

Through the management of Joe Gerber, co-manager of [[Twisted Sister]], Loudness secured an international deal with [[Atco Records]] in 1985 — a historic first for a Japanese heavy metal band. Their fifth album, ''[[Thunder in the East]]'' (1985), was produced by [[Max Norman]] and recorded in the United States. It peaked at No. 74 on the [[Billboard 200]] and generated the band's signature song, "Crazy Nights," which received rotation on [[MTV]]. The follow-up, ''Lightning Strikes'' (1986, released in Japan as ''Shadows of War''), climbed to No. 64 on the Billboard chart and further solidified Loudness as an international draw. During the American touring cycle, Loudness opened for [[Mötley Crüe]] and on August 14, 1985 became the first Japanese band to perform at [[Madison Square Garden]].

Their 1987 album ''Hurricane Eyes'' was produced by [[Eddie Kramer]] and charted at No. 190 in the US. Seeking broader commercial appeal, the band began incorporating more melodic pop-metal elements, including the single "Let It Go." In 1988, at the suggestion of their label, Niihara was replaced by American vocalist '''Mike Vescera''' to improve marketability in the United States. Vescera recorded two albums with the band, but the experiment yielded diminishing returns.

===Lineup Instability and Grunge Era (1991–1999)===

Vescera departed mid-tour in 1991 to join [[Yngwie Malmsteen]]'s band and was replaced by '''Masaki Yamada''', formerly of [[EZO]]. The shift in vocalists did little to stem the band's commercial decline in America, as the rise of [[grunge]] and [[alternative rock]] swept the heavy metal market. Loudness refocused on Japan.

During a period of personal reflection, Takasaki traveled to India, converted to Buddhism, and resolved to keep the band going. He retained Yamada as vocalist, brought in former EZO drummer '''Hirotsugu Homma''', and added bassist '''Naoto Shibata''' of [[Anthem (band)|Anthem]] for touring. This lineup recorded ''Heavy Metal Hippies'' (1994), a transitional album blending classic Loudness with grunge textures and world music influences, followed by ''Ghetto Machine'', ''Dragon'', and ''Engine'' through 1999.

===Original Lineup Reunion (2000–2008)===

The band's 20th anniversary prompted a reunion of the original four members — Takasaki, Higuchi, Niihara, and Yamashita — in 2000–2001. Their reunion album ''Spiritual Canoe'' (2001) was accompanied by an anniversary tour. The classic lineup continued releasing and touring through the 2000s.

===Loss of Higuchi and Continuing Legacy (2008–Present)===

On November 30, 2008, founding drummer Munetaka Higuchi died of liver cancer in Osaka at age 49. He was replaced by drummer '''Masayuki Suzuki'''. Loudness has continued recording and performing since, and appeared at [[Wacken Open Air]] in 2022, remaining one of Japan's most enduring and prolific heavy metal acts.

==Members==

{| style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%; font-size:0.95em;"
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Name
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Role
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Years Active
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Akira Takasaki
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Lead guitar
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1981–present
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Minoru Niihara
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Vocals
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1981–1988, 2000–present
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Masayoshi Yamashita
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Bass
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1981–present
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Munetaka Higuchi †
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Drums
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1981–2008 (died 2008)
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Masayuki Suzuki
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Drums
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 2009–present
|}

===Former Members===
{| style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%; font-size:0.95em;"
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Name
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Role
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Years Active
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Mike Vescera
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Vocals
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1988–1991
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Masaki Yamada
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Vocals
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1991–2000
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Hirotsugu Homma
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Drums
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1994–2000
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Naoto Shibata
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Bass
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1994–2000
|}

==Discography (Studio Albums)==

{| style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%; font-size:0.95em;"
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Year
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Album
! style="background:#333; color:#fff; padding:6px 10px; text-align:left;" | Notes
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1981
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''The Birthday Eve''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Debut album; Nippon Columbia
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1982
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Devil Soldier''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" |
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1983
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''The Law of Devil's Land''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" |
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1984
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Disillusion''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Released in Japanese and English versions
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1985
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''[[Thunder in the East]]''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | US release; No. 74 Billboard 200; prod. Max Norman
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1986
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Shadows of War'' / ''Lightning Strikes''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Japan/US versions; No. 64 Billboard 200; prod. Max Norman
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1987
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Hurricane Eyes''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Prod. Eddie Kramer; No. 190 Billboard 200
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1989
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Soldier of Fortune''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | No. 18 Oricon
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1991
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''On the Prowl''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | No. 7 Oricon
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1992
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Loudness''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | No. 2 Oricon
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1994
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Heavy Metal Hippies''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Transitional; grunge and world music influences
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1997
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Ghetto Machine''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" |
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1998
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Dragon''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" |
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 1999
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Engine''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" |
|-
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | 2001
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | ''Spiritual Canoe''
| style="border:1px solid #888; padding:5px 10px;" | Original lineup reunion album
|}

==See Also==
* [[Heavy metal]]
* [[Japanese rock]]
* [[Akira Takasaki]]
* [[Thunder in the East]]
* [[Lazy (band)]]
* [[Earthshaker (band)]]
* [[Anthem (band)]]

[[Category:Heavy metal bands]]
[[Category:Japanese bands]]
[[Category:Bands formed in 1981]]
[[Category:Osaka]]