Minoru Niihara
Encyclopedia
is the original and current lead singer of the Japanese heavy metal
band, Loudness
.
His first band was Earthshaker
, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly his voice to the high pitch tones requested in a heavy metal act. He was selected after an audition to become the lead singer of Loudness in 1981 and his voice, together with the flashy guitar work of guitarist Akira Takasaki
were recognized as a trademark of the band. Although the first three albums were sung using mostly Japanese
lyrics, he started singing in English only on their 1984 album, Disillusion.
After Loudness released Jealousy
, he left the band in 1988 and was replaced by the American singer Mike Vescera. After working with several bands (including Ded Chaplin, Sly and XYZ→A), as well as his solo career, he returned to Loudness in 2001. He released two solo albums: One in 1989 and Ashes To Glory in 2006, in addition to recording many albums with Sly and XYZ→A.
In 2008 he formed a parallel band called Nishidera Minoru, with Show-Ya's singer Keiko Terada
and Earthshaker
's singer Masafumi ”Marcy” Nishida. This new band released an album and produced and organized the HARD NA YAON 2009 festival.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
.
His first band was Earthshaker
Earthshaker (band)
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in Osaka. Their earlier music was very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Anthem, but the band steered toward a poppier sound on later albums and dropped from worldwide view, preferring to record and tour in their home country...
, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly his voice to the high pitch tones requested in a heavy metal act. He was selected after an audition to become the lead singer of Loudness in 1981 and his voice, together with the flashy guitar work of guitarist Akira Takasaki
Akira Takasaki
is the lead guitarist and founding member of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.-Career:He started his career as a guitarist, winning a TV contest for young music talents at the age of 14. He was rapidly put under contract to be part of the pop-rock band Lazy, of which drummer Munetaka Higuchi...
were recognized as a trademark of the band. Although the first three albums were sung using mostly Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
lyrics, he started singing in English only on their 1984 album, Disillusion.
After Loudness released Jealousy
Jealousy (Loudness EP)
Jealousy is an EP by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in May 1988 only in Japan, a market that the band felt to have neglected in favour of American audiences. It would also mark the final recording with the classic line-up, until Spiritual Canoe in 2001. In fact singer Minoru Niihara would...
, he left the band in 1988 and was replaced by the American singer Mike Vescera. After working with several bands (including Ded Chaplin, Sly and XYZ→A), as well as his solo career, he returned to Loudness in 2001. He released two solo albums: One in 1989 and Ashes To Glory in 2006, in addition to recording many albums with Sly and XYZ→A.
In 2008 he formed a parallel band called Nishidera Minoru, with Show-Ya's singer Keiko Terada
Keiko Terada
is a Japanese rock singer. She was the lead singer of the Japanese female heavy metal band Show-Ya from 1982 to 1991, before going solo.Terada's trademark was a fake rose tattoo she wore above her right breast...
and Earthshaker
Earthshaker (band)
is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed in 1978 in Osaka. Their earlier music was very similar in style to countrymen Loudness and Anthem, but the band steered toward a poppier sound on later albums and dropped from worldwide view, preferring to record and tour in their home country...
's singer Masafumi ”Marcy” Nishida. This new band released an album and produced and organized the HARD NA YAON 2009 festival.
Albums with Loudness
- The Birthday EveThe Birthday EveThe Birthday Eve is the first studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1981 only in Japan. The 24bit digitally remastered Japanese limited edition CD includes two additional tracks not on the original release, coming from the first single of the band...
(1981) - Devil SoldierDevil SoldierDevil Soldier is the second studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1982. The American Daniel McClendon was called to engineer the sound of this album, because there was no Japanese technician experienced enough in heavy metal records at the time. The album won the award for...
(1982) - The Law of Devil's LandThe Law of Devil's LandThe Law of Devil's Land is the third studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1983 only in Japan and later distributed in Europe by Roadrunner Records. The CD reissue of 2005 contains two extra songs coming from the English version of the band's third single.-Track...
(1983) - Live-Loud-Alive: Loudness in TokyoLive-Loud-Alive: Loudness in TokyoLive-Loud-Alive: Loudness in Tokyo is the first live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded and released in 1983. The instrumental track "Tusk of Jaguar" appears on Akira Takasaki's first solo album with the same name...
(live 1983) - Disillusion (1984)
- Disillusion (1984) - English version
- OdinOdin (Loudness EP)Odin is an EP by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 1985 only in Japan in two versions, with and without the instrumental tracks. All the tracks were used for the soundtrack of the Japanese anime movie Odin: Photon Sailer Starlight.-Track listing:...
(EP 1985) - Thunder in the East (1985)
- Shadows of WarLightning Strikes (Loudness album)Lightning Strikes is the sixth studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, which was released on July 25, 1986, remained 15 weeks in the U.S. charts, peaking at #64 . The album was produced by Max Norman...
(1986) - Lightning StrikesLightning Strikes (Loudness album)Lightning Strikes is the sixth studio album by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, which was released on July 25, 1986, remained 15 weeks in the U.S. charts, peaking at #64 . The album was produced by Max Norman...
(1986) - U.S. remix of Shadows of War - 8186 Live8186 Live8186 Live is the second live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded and released in Japan only in 1987 simutaniously in 3 formats; double vinyl LP with a 7" EP, double CD and double cassette tape.-Track listing:-Band members:...
(live 1986) - Hurricane EyesHurricane EyesHurricane Eyes is the seventh studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1987 worldwide with standard English lyrics...
(1987) - Hurricane EyesHurricane EyesHurricane Eyes is the seventh studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 1987 worldwide with standard English lyrics...
(1987) - Japanese Version - JealousyJealousy (Loudness EP)Jealousy is an EP by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in May 1988 only in Japan, a market that the band felt to have neglected in favour of American audiences. It would also mark the final recording with the classic line-up, until Spiritual Canoe in 2001. In fact singer Minoru Niihara would...
(EP 1988) - EuroboundsEuroboundsEurobounds is the second home video released by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released on BETA, VHS, Laserdisc and VHD formats in 1984. This release documented the first European tour of the band, with footage from concerts in England, Holland, Belgium and West Germany. Columbia...
(live 2000) - Spiritual CanoeSpiritual CanoeSpiritual Canoe is the fifteenth studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. It was released in 2001 only in Japan. It also marked the first time since 1988's Jealousy that the original and classic line-up recorded together.....
(2001) - The Soldier's Just Came BackThe Soldier's Just Came BackThe Soldier's Just Came Back is the fifth live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2001 only in Japan and recorded during the successful Spiritual Canoe tour with the original line-up...
(live 2001) - Pandemonium (2001)
- Biosphere (2002)
- Loudness Live 2002Loudness Live 2002Loudness Live 2002 is the seventh live album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was recorded in 2002 and released in 2003 as a double multimedia CD.-Track listing:CD 1#"Biosphere" – 3:59#"Hellrider" – 5:33#"Loudness" – 5:50#"Sexy Woman" – 5:36...
(live 2003) - TerrorTerror HakuriTerror is the eighteenth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2004 only in Japan. All songs are credited to Loudness.-Track listing:#"Pharoah" - 7:08#"Cyber Soul" - 5:34#"Life After Death" - 5:01...
(2004) - RockShocksRockShocksRockshocks is an album of self-covers by the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness. The album, released in Japan in 2004, contains tracks taken from the first five studio album of the band from the '80s, played again with a more modern sound and different musical arrangements than the originals...
(2004) - RacingRacing (Loudness album)Racing is the nineteenth studio album by the Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2004 in Japan. On April 6, 2005, the band released the English version of the album, the first entirely sung in English since 1991...
(2004) - Breaking The TabooBreaking The TabooBreaking the Taboo is the twentieth studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2006 only in Japan.-Track listing:#"Breaking the Taboo" - 4:28#"Brutal Torture" - 4:54#"Sick World" - 4:52#"Don't Spam Me" - 3:56#"Damnation" - 5:19...
(2006) - Metal MadMetal MadMetal Mad is the twenty-first studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2008 only in Japan. It would be the last album before Munetaka Higuchi's death in November 2008.-Track listing:#"Fire of Spirit" - 2:58...
(2008) - The EverlastingThe Everlasting (Loudness album)The Everlasting is the twenty-second studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2009 only in Japan, after the death of original drummer Munetaka Higuchi, whose pre-recorded drum tracks were used on this album. It was also 15th and last album recorded by the original line up...
(2009) - King of PainKing of Pain (Loudness album)King of Pain is the twenty-third studio album by Japanese band Loudness. It was released in 2010 only in Japan. It also marks the full-length debut of drummer Masayuki Suzuki....
(2010)
Albums with Ded Chaplin
- 1st (1990)
- Rock the Nation (1991)
- Final Revolution (1992)
Albums with Sly
- Sly (1994)
- Dreams of Dust (1995)
- Key (1996)
- Vulcan Wind (1998)
Albums with XYZ→A
- Asian Typhoon (1999)
- Asian Typhoon (2000) - English version
- Metalization (2000)
- Metalization (2001) - English version
- Life (2002)
- IV (2003)
- X.Y.Z.→ALIVE (live 2004)
- Wings (2006)
- Learn from Yesterday! Live for Today! Hope for Tomorrow! (2009)
Collaborations
- Akira Takasaki - Tusk of JaguarTusk of JaguarTusk of Jaguar is the first solo studio album by Japanese guitarist Akira Takasaki, best known for his work in the bands Loudness and Lazy. It was released in 1982 only in Japan and reissued in 2005. The album is actually a joint effort of Takasaki and keyboard player Masanori Sasaji, who composed...
(1982) - M.T. Fuji - Human Transport (1983)
- Cozy Powell Forever ~ Tribute to Cozy PowellCozy Powell ForeverCozy Powell Forever is a tribute album dedicated to the British rock drummer Cozy Powell, deceased a few months before the album release. The album was produced by Japanese drummer Munetaka Higuchi, with the contribution of many prominent Japanese rock and metal musicians coming from bands such as...
(1998)