This week I’ve realized that regular readers here are not as familiar as they should be with the legendary Japanese metal band Loudness! I’ve done my best to educate with my Loudness reviews, but there is nothing better than hearing the story directly from the source. This brief 2015 interview with the affable Loudness is from the Tuska Open Air Festival in Helsinki, and conducted in English!
The surviving original members Masayoshi Yamashita, Minoru Niihara, and Akira Takasaki are questioned by interviewer Kati Rausch about their history. Subjects covered:
- Their first gig (sold out) in 1981 (when Masayoshi was only 19 years old)
- Switching to English in 1984
- Their recent album The Sun Will Rise Again
- Devil horns
A great little 5 minute interview with three guys you can’t help but like. Check out some Loudness today.
LOUDNESS REVIEWS
- Akira Takasaki – Tusk of Jaguar (Take Another Bite) (1982)
- Disillusion (1984 Japanese version)
- Thunder In the East (1985 English version)
- Lightning Strikes (1986 English version)
- Hurricane Eyes (1987 both versions – 5 CD boxed edition)
- Loudness (1992)
- Masters of Loudness (1996)
- Ghetto Machine (1997)
- Dragon (1998)
- Engine (1999)
- Buddha Rock 1997-1999 Music Clips (2016 DVD)
mikeladano.com 
That was fun! Those guys really are likable!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I got the same impression! I gather that Minoru speaks English the best because of that American girlfriend he once had! I learned a bunch of stuff about them from this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet you she taught him a lot more than English. Wink, Wink!!
LikeLike
Haha what a bunch. Cool!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I liked their sense of humour. This is my favourite interview with them that I have seen.
LikeLike
It’s refreshing to see folks enjoying themselves like that, that’s for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Give them credit as they fell off of my map after Thunder In The East (which ironically Andy Curran named) yet still kept going.
LikeLike
They seem like the type of dudes that would get the party started!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I once pointed out that Minoru sings better in English than he speaks but that’s what I’ve always liked about him and Loudness. These guys rock!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yet his English is not bad! But yes, singing might be easier for him…he can memorize the words etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I remember rightly, learning English in school is compulsory in Japan.
LikeLike