Drummer Munetaka Higuchi of veteran Japanese metallers Loudness, passed away today (Sunday, November 30) around 10:00 a.m. (Japan Standard Time) at a hospital in Osaka, Japan. He was 49 years old.
From the very beginning he was considered as a young talent, many bands wanted Munetaka to play with them. That's why besides his own band, during his high school years Munetaka played in seven bands. But the talented drummer wasn't happy 
with this situation; he wanted to spend his time in only one band. That's when future band-mate Akira Takasaki came along and they formed Lazy. When he and Akira got into hard rock and heavy metal, they formed Loudness in 1981. During his first stint with Loudness, he released his first solo album, Destruction, in 1983. He left Loudness in 1992 and not only he resumed his solo career in the late-1990's, he also got into side projects, including Sly, Bloodcircus, Rose of Rose, and the Rock 'n' Roll Standard Club Band. In 1997, with a "band" called "Munetaka Higuchi & Dream Castle", he released the album Free World. The band featured many famous musicians from the jazz and rock/metal spheres, like Steve Vai, Stanley Clarke, Billy Sheehan, Ty Tabor, Terry Bozzio, T. M. Stevens, Ronnie James Dio, Richie Kotzen and others. The album was released on the 21st of February 1997 in Japan. He returned to Loudness in 2001. He is often mentioned not only as one of the leading Japanese drummers but a rock/metal artist overall. Higuchi is an endorser of Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo drumheads and Vic Firth drumsticks.
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 18, 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 (featuring Loudness singer Minoru Niihara) for its "special guest" appearance at Mötley Crüe's October 26, 2008 concert at Saitama Super Arena. Thanks to The Inside Out Webzine for the information…
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