30th Anniversary tour for Japanese heavy metal band 'Loudness'

[kaisen]

Last night I went to see 80's heavy metal band Loudness. Do any of you remember?

The first (and last) time they were in the Minneapolis area they opened for Motley Crue on their "Theater of Pain" tour. That was August 17th, 1985.

I was there -- a young 'boy' learning about guitars and girls and life. My best friend, John, was dating a girl from a different city and that girl was bringing a friend to be my date. We got together early that day to meet and then ride together to the concert. She was gorgeous, thankfully.

Fast forward almost 26 years. The girl is still a friend, she's a lawyer in Los Angeles. We keep in touch, and she's added a husband and kids along the way. Her husband is in the entertainment business and likes the same types of music I do. Last week, he went to see Loudness play at the Key Club in L.A. and heard that they added a date in Minneapolis. With zero advance notice.

I didn't tell him that I took his wife to see them 26 years earlier, but he knows I was there, and he knows she was there, along with 15,000 other people. Good enough.

Anyway, without notice and not many friends that were into guitar as I was, I didn't have anyone to invite to last night's show. My wife would have hated it. So I went solo. The venue was a place called Ground Zero, mostly known as a bondage club, but also an alternative/industrial 'Suicide Girl' type of nightclub. An odd place for a 80s heavy metal band to play. Less than 100 people showed up. $16 at the door. Two for ones, $5 for two TALL vodka sevens, strongly free-poured. If you've ever been to a concert, that's unheard of.

By the time Loudness was to take the stage I walked up to the stage. No security. No 'rail' or barrier. I stood with my chest on the stage monitors. There were no monitors pointed to the crowd, only the artists, and the main speakers were actually behind and to the sides of where I was standing. So I heard the real amps, and the real drums. The bass cabinets were under the stage, so the bass kick was concussive. The vocals were largely inaudible, which was fine with me as they really don't speak English very well so singing wasn't their strong suit.

Their strength was -- and is -- an amazing guitarist, Akira Takasaki, now 50 yrs old. His sound is unique, and very powerful. The man can shred. I'd say he's legendary, perhaps one of the most talented guitarists of the 80s heavy metal genre. The singer, Minoru Niihara, and bassist, Masayoshi Yama*****a, are both from the original line-up although both have left the band at times over the years. Their original drummer, Munetaka Higuchi, died of liver cancer less than three years ago. He was replaced by a 'youngster', Masayuki Suzuki, before their recent U.S. tour.

They came out full force, and played straight for an hour and a half. Three encores. Very loud -- living up to their name I suppose. I stood between Akira and Minoru, just a couple feet from them, and at times leaning on me as they reached out over the crowd. Just unreal. These guys are legends. Akira is a hero.

A flood of memories, and crushing sound. Akira handed me his guitar pick, cupped it in my hand, and we bowed to each other -- surreal. Masayushi Suzuki handed me his battle scarred drumstick, all smiles. When their set ended it was midnight. My family was long asleep. So I decided to stick around to see if the guys would come out and meet people as artists sometimes do. Until then, it was quite hot in the venue so I stepped outside to their smoking courtyard to cool off in the night air. I don't smoke, so I stayed clear of the huddles. I was near a couple that I recognized from the show because they were clearly Japanese and decked out in rock and roll attire, platform boots, and full-sleeve tattoos (both of them). We talked for a bit, about nothing, and I head back in. There were only a few people hanging around. The Japanese couple walked by and gestured to follow. We walked around the block and across the street with an entourage of a dozen people, many Japanese. We ended up at their tour bus. I was able to spend time getting to know Akira, Masayoshi, and Masayushi (who goes by his 'last' name Suzuki because the names are so close in sound). Suzuki speaks all of ten words of English. I also spent time with their U.S. tour manager (and interpreter), George Azuma, who is Japanese but lives in California running Killer Guitars for Akira (made by ESP, look them up). Very cool guys, very humble, glad to be back in the states, appreciative of fans that have supported them all these years.

on Vimeo.

[Zeke]

Now you really had a night! Wouldn't have mattered who the band was.

[scottmandue]

Sounds like a good time.

Rock on!

Similar experience... saw Joe Perry right after the Areosmith break up... could walk right up and lean on the stage.

[LSA]

Dude! That's ****ing awesome! I love loudness, those are some damn good pictures. It's really cool at smaller venues when you're able to just get right up against the stage.

Akira is an absolutely killer guitarist. I love those 80's Jmetal bands like Loudness Vow Wow and Earthshaker awesome stuff.

[MRM]

I would just like to point out that my wife was in Korea last night and won't return until tomorrow, that I love Loudness and their ilk, and that I know the attorney who represents Ground Zero. My first appointment on Friday was at 1 pm. Just sayin'.

[kaisen]

Mike, we were on the phone together when I walked into Ground Zero!! I thought I told you I was seeing Loudness?? Damn. I knew I told you most of the story. Well, maybe when they're here next time around ..... in 25 years.

And I took all the photos. If I would have known there was zero security, I would have brought my big camera, but I brought my little Canon point and shoot and had to go to 3600ISO to capture enough light and not blur. So they're good photos, but they could have been great photos! Well, maybe when they're here next time around ..... in 25 years.

[Oh Haha]

Suh-weet!!!!

It's great to hear they are still kickin' a_ _.\

Thanks for sharing the experience, Eric.


BTW-My band played "Let it go" back in the bar days. Nobody cared. They wanted crap that was danceable. pfft

[Rick Lee]

I LOVE THEM!!!! I have to see them again. I was sooo into them back in the day, I learned every song on Thunder in the East and saw them open for AC/DC at the Nassau Colleseum on Long Island around 1986. Akira is the man. It was general admission and I got up to the front barricades. AC/DC was good, but I was there to see Loudness. I need to check the tour schedule, but I'm off to Germany next week to see Rush in Frankfurt.

One of my favorite guitar solos, starts at 2:14.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

BTW-My band played "Let it go" back in the bar days. Nobody cared. They wanted crap you that was danceable. pfft

I'd have been right up against the stage. That's also an amazing guitar solo.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I LOVE THEM!!!! I have to see them again. I need to check the tour schedule, but I'm off to Germany next week to see Rush in Frankfurt.

Dude, they played May 12th at Club Red in Tempe. The closest they come to you now is a couple dates in Texas next weekend. Their U.S. tour ends in early June...

One of my favorite guitar solos, starts at 2:14.

Here's a shot of that exact solo from last night!!!
Note, no tremelo

[Rick Lee]

DAMN!!! May 12th was my 40th b-day. What a present that would have been. Though my wife gave me any two tix I want to any Rush show in the area instead. Probably gonna see Poison and Motley Crue the night after Rush is here.

[911Freak]

Wow, Thanks for sharing! wish I would have known when they were out here in LA

I had a similar experience with Malmsteen in the late 90's at The Stone in San Fran, small venue/crowd, walked right up to the stage. He was loaded and rambled between songs but his playing was spot on though. Got to meet him after the show as he trolled for groupies, signed swag etc meh.

The funniest part of the night was when he did his Hendrix impression of torching his Start and breaking it in two. He was so loaded he got winded half way through and nearly blacked out and fell off the stage! He took a breather and lite another cig then started back in on breaking the guitar! Ha! That Start looked like it weighed 50lbs as he tried to swing it into the Marshalls and monitors, trying to get it to break in two Eventually he did succeed and threw the body my way and the neck opposite stage...

Anyway, your experience with Loudness sounds EPIC

He is such a clean player. Back in the day I could hear the Rhodes (flat 5th) and VH influence in his playing but he did it original enough to foster his own sound. Another reason I like the Japanese

[kaisen]

Rick Lee----

Here's the footage of "Crazy Doctor" from that night.
A journalist named Robert stood to my right and took video of the entire performance. I'm in a lot of the footage, unfortunately.
You can find more on YouTube under mplsmetal.
Anyway, that same solo starts at 1:44 and my corresponding stills are posted above

[Rick Lee]

Gawd, I wish I had caught this show in Phoenix.

Anyway, I'm sort of email buddies with one of the guys in Poison, so I think I'll have backstage passes for their show with Motley Crue here in June.

[LSA]

Saw poison 2 years ago not my favorite band but they put on a great show played with Dokken and Sebastian Bach. Saw Crue last summer at Ozzfest and they were awesome! Should be a great concert.

Still bummed I missed loudness I'd been really wrapped up in work and finishing this semester of school Been to the Key club a bunch of times last time was 3 months ago I think saw Gamma Ray.