Munetaka Higuchi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Munetaka Higuchi
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Davy |
| Born | December 24, 1958 Nara, Japan |
| Origin | Osaka, Japan |
| Died | November 30, 2008 (aged 49) Osaka, Japan |
| Genres | Heavy metal, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer, record producer |
| Years active | 1973–2008 |
Munetaka Higuchi (born December 24, 1958 – died November 30, 2008) was a super talented Japanese musician. He was a drummer and also helped produce music for other artists. Most people know him as the first drummer for the famous heavy metal band Loudness. But before that, he became well-known in the 1970s as a member of the band Lazy.
Contents
A Drummer's Journey
From a young age, Munetaka was seen as a very skilled drummer. When he was in high school, he played in seven different bands! But he wanted to focus all his energy on just one band.
Forming Lazy
Then, his schoolmate and future bandmate, Akira Takasaki, joined him. Together, they formed the band Lazy. The musicians in Lazy were very young. They started by playing easy-listening pop-rock music. Over time, their music became more complex and exciting. In the band, Munetaka Higuchi was known by his nickname, "Davy."
Starting Loudness
As Munetaka and Akira became more interested in hard rock and heavy metal, they decided to start a new band. In 1981, they formed Loudness. This band became very famous in the heavy metal world.
Solo Work and Collaborations
While playing with Loudness, Munetaka also released his first solo album in 1983. It was called Destruction. In the same year, he helped produce and played drums on albums for singer Mari Hamada.
He left Loudness in 1992. After that, he continued his solo music career in the late 1990s. He also worked on other projects with different bands. These included Sly (with Loudness's former singer Minoru Niihara), Bloodcircus, and Rose of Rose. He also worked with many other Japanese artists as a producer and drummer.
Dream Castle Project
In 1997, Munetaka Higuchi released an album called Free World with his project "Munetaka Higuchi & Dream Castle." This album featured many famous musicians from jazz, rock, and metal music. Some of these amazing artists included Steve Vai, Stanley Clarke, Billy Sheehan, and Ronnie James Dio. The album was released in Japan on February 21, 1997.
In 1998, he produced a special album called Cozy Powell Forever. This album was a tribute to the drummer Cozy Powell, who was very popular in Japan and had recently passed away. For this album, Munetaka worked with the best Japanese heavy metal musicians. He even brought his former bandmates from Loudness back together for it. They also went on a tour to support the album.
Return to Loudness
In 2000, Munetaka Higuchi rejoined Loudness. He continued to be a very important figure in the metal music scene.
Later Years
On April 14, 2008, it was announced that Munetaka had been diagnosed with a type of liver cancer. He passed away on November 30, 2008, at the age of 49, in a hospital in Osaka, Japan. His passing was widely reported in Japanese news and the entertainment world.
Musical Gear
Munetaka Higuchi used specific brands for his drumming equipment. He used Pearl Drums for his drum kits. His cymbals were from Sabian. For drumheads, he chose Remo, and his drumsticks were from Vic Firth.
Albums and Projects
Here are some of the albums Munetaka Higuchi was involved with:
- Destruction ~破壊凱旋録~ (1983)
- Munetaka Higuchi with Dream Castle – Free World (1997)
- Cozy Powell Forever (1998)
- Super Rock Summit – Cozy Powell Forever Tour (1999)
- Super Rock Summit – Stairway to Heaven (1999)
- Super Rock Summit – Rainbow Eyes (1999)
- Munetaka Higuchi Drum Collection (2006)
