LOUDNESS drummer Munetaka Higuchi was diagnosed with liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma) earlier this month, according to Japanese media reports. He is still in the hospital, where he has been undergoing radiotherapy for HCC.
LOUDNESS will play the three previously announced Japanese dates with a replacement drummer, whose name hasn't been revealed yet. After those gigs, the band will be put on hold indefinitely until Munetaka gets his full strength back.
I'm the lost one chasing colors to the sun
Colors bleed but never fade
Les mots de de Minoru Niihara, chanteur de LOUDNESS :
LOUDNESS frontman Minoru Niihara spoke to WeROCK City director Ginger Suzuki earlier today (Monday, December 1) about the passing of the band's drummer Munetaka Higuchi.
"It is still hard to believe that Munetaka went to his eternal rest," the singer said backstage after the Tokyo concert of Minoru's new project, NISHIDERA MINORU. "It seems unreal to me so far. I will never forget all the things we shared, such as making albums, playing live, drinking together. I truly miss him."
He continued, "I had a show to perform tonight in Tokyo with my new project called NISHIDERA MINORU. It's not heavy metal but Japanese Top 40 rock, mostly from the '80s. And the opening song was a ballad. I thought I was going to cry, but I know Munetaka always used to say how much he loved my singing. Even when I got kicked out of LOUDNESS one time, he encouraged me by saying that he still loved my singing, so I decided to dedicate that song to him. I know he'd have been happy to hear my singing."
He added, "I'm going to get together with the rest of LOUDNESS members tomorrow for Munetaka's pre-funeral.
"I got emails from all over the world with many kinds words. I just wanted to thank everybody for your grateful thoughts."
Et la news à la télé japonaise :
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I'm the lost one chasing colors to the sun
Colors bleed but never fade
