Akira Takasaki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Akira Takasaki
|
|
|---|---|
Takasaki performing with Loudness at Wacken Open Air in 2016
|
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Suzy |
| Born | February 22, 1961 Osaka, Japan |
| Genres | Heavy metal, speed metal, hard rock, glam metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1973–present |
Akira Takasaki (高崎 晃, Takasaki Akira, born February 22, 1961) is a famous Japanese musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Loudness. He is the only member who has been with Loudness since the very beginning. Akira Takasaki also plays guitar for the band Lazy, where he first became well-known in the 1970s.
Contents
Akira Takasaki's Music Journey
Akira Takasaki started his music career as a guitarist. When he was only 14, he won a TV contest for young music talents. Soon after, he joined the pop-rock band Lazy. The drummer for Lazy, Munetaka Higuchi, was also a member of this band.
Lazy released five successful albums in the late 1970s. However, Akira's musical style was more focused on hard rock and heavy metal. Because of this, he decided to form his own band in 1981, called Loudness. Munetaka Higuchi joined him in this new band.
Loudness released many heavy metal albums, which made Akira famous around the world. He is the only member who has been in Loudness since it started, and the band has released over 20 studio albums.
Akira Takasaki has also created his own solo music. His first solo album, Tusk of Jaguar, came out in 1982. He also has a new music project called Ji-Zo. In 1998 and 2002, he rejoined Lazy for two new albums and a tour.
Besides playing music, Akira Takasaki helped start a company called Killer Guitars. He co-founded it with fellow guitarist George Azuma. Akira has designed many of the guitars for this company.
Akira Takasaki's Guitar Style
Akira Takasaki's guitar playing is known for its fast and precise heavy metal riffs. He often uses a technique called alternate picking and very little vibrato. His songs usually have strong melodies and catchy parts, known as hooks. This helps him create well-made songs.
His amazing guitar work, often called shred guitar, has gained him many fans worldwide. People often compare his skills to other great guitarists like Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Kirk Hammett, and David T. Chastain. In 1986, Akira said that his main inspirations for his songs and guitar solos came from Deep Purple's guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and from Japanese music played on the koto. He also mentioned Hideki Ishima as an influence.
Akira Takasaki's Guitar Gear
Akira Takasaki uses ESP Signature Random Star guitars and several Killer guitars, especially the KG Prime model. He is a co-owner of the Killer Guitars (キラーギターズ, Kirā Gitāzu) company. These guitars are made and sold by ESP. The name "Killer" comes from rearranging three Japanese characters from Akira's first name and his guitar technician Ichizo Araki's last name.
Throughout his time with Loudness, Akira has mostly used Marshall amplifiers. He has used different Marshall amps over the years, including the JMP-1 preamp, which became a key part of his setup in the 1990s and 2000s. Since the late 2000s, the JVM410H has been his main amp.
Akira has also used other amp brands. From 1986 to 1988, he used Mesa Boogie amps. In 1988, he started using Lee Jackson Metaltronix amps for albums like Soldier of Fortune and On the Prowl.
In 1992, Akira began using Peavey amps, specifically their Supreme 160 heads. These amps can be heard on the Loudness album and the live album Once and for All. Peavey was the last company he endorsed before he went back to using Marshall amps in late 1992. Since 2016, he has been using Friedman Amplifiers, and he uses a BE100 model for his live shows.
He has also used Roland JC-120 combo amplifiers. In the 1980s, his equipment also included effects from Boss, Guyatone, and Ibanez, along with Roland delays and Celestion speakers. He also has his own signature Shredneck, which is a practice tool for guitarists.
Solo Albums
- Tusk of Jaguar (1982)
- Ki (1994)
- Wa (1996)
- Gene Shaft (2001)
- Made in Hawaii (2002)
- Splash Mountain (2004)
- Maca (2005)
- Osaka Works #128 (2006)
- Nenriki (2006)
- Black Brown (2007)
See also
In Spanish: Akira Takasaki para niños
