Loudness Drummer Diagnosed with Cancer

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37652 Age : 53

Well, this sucks. All Loudness fans wish him well in his fight, I'm sure.

LOUDNESS drummer diagnosed with cancer
Tue, April 15, 2008 (1:34am EDT)

Heavy metal band LOUDNESS announced on its website on Monday that 49-year-old drummer Munetaka Higuchi has been diagnosed with liver cancer. The growth was first noticed during a regular medical exam last month, and a follow-up exam last week identified it as cancer.

Higuchi is undergoing immediate treatment and will be unable to participate in the band's upcoming tour that starts on the 22nd, though he assured his fans that he will eventually return to playing. His replacement for the tour has not yet been decided.

LOUDNESS became the first Japanese heavy metal band to release an album in the U.S. during the latter half of the 1980s, and they even appeared in the Billboard Top 100.

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Administrator Number of posts : 19452 Age : 57

Oh wow! That sucks!!!! I freakin' HATE cancer. The older I get, the more people I know who are getting diagnosed with this wretched disease! Mad

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ULTIMATUM - TOO METAL FOR WIKIPEDIA!

Guest

AIDS was such an epidemic in the 80's and 90's but cancer seems to be rampant these days. Sad news.

Subject: Re: Loudness Drummer Diagnosed with Cancer Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:04 am

Sad news.I wish him well.

Metal student Number of posts : 162 Age : 38

spectrefate wrote:: AIDS was such an epidemic in the 80's and 90's but cancer seems to be rampant these days. Sad news.

Cancer and Autism.

Yeah, it sucks. Cancer is one of those things that's damn near universal. It can develope in anyone at anytime, with or without outside irritants (i.e. cigarettes, alcohol, asbestos, etc.).

Wish the man well.

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 25875 Age : 54

Terrible news! I wish him well in this fight.

Administrator Number of posts : 19452 Age : 57

At least liver cancer is treatable. Since that is the one organ of the body that regenerates itself, you can burn out small amounts of cancer tissue. (At least that's what I have been told)

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ULTIMATUM - TOO METAL FOR WIKIPEDIA!

Master Sailboat Number of posts : 9301 Age : 45

sad news to hear. Sad

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Loudness Drummer Diagnosed with Cancer MNxjcKm

Metal is my Life Number of posts : 28453 Age : 38

That's too bad. I hope he gets well soon.

Metal master Number of posts : 535 Age : 33

I wish him the best and hope he gets better soon

Baron Von 40oz. Number of posts : 4386 Age : 33

Holy crawp! I love Loudness! I sure hope he gets better, which I know he will. The Japanese never let down.

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37652 Age : 53

News from the Loudness camp about Munetaka Higuchi's (hopefully temporary) replacement during their' upcoming tour...

LATEST NEWS!

The King of Many Strokes Kozo Suganuma - known as "TE-KAZ-OH"!
Kozo
began playing drums at the age of eight and remarkably became a
professional session player at the age of 15. He is now a major feature
of the Japanese pop scene. After Minoru Niihara informed him of
Munetaka Higuchi's health condition, he decided to take over the
drummer role of LOUDNESS! He used to play with Ded Chaplin With Minoru;
please do give Kozo san all the support to play drums with LOUDNESS!!!

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Guest

If he can fight cancer like he batters the drumkit then i think the cancer wont last long.

Metal student Number of posts : 100 Age : 31

This totally sucks. Munetaka is one of my favorite drummers. I wish him the best in his fight, hopefully he'll get better soon.

Janitor of the Void Number of posts : 3361 Age : 56

ultmetal wrote:: At least liver cancer is treatable. Since that is the one organ of the body that regenerates itself, you can burn out small amounts of cancer tissue. (At least that's what I have been told)

This is true. You can actually remove up to about half of the liver and it will regenerate, and the liver is the perfect place for RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation - basically burning away tumors) procedures because of this fact. My wife has had 3 burns in the last 8 years and 2 or 3 alcohol ablations (ethyl alcohol kills tumors - very cutting edge) for more sensitive areas near the liver capsule. Liver cancer is definitely VERY treatable and RFA has a very short recovery period and is WAY less invasive than resecting the liver.

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37652 Age : 53

Sadly, it appears that Loudness drummer Munetaka Higuchi lost his battle with cancer... I just saw this on Blabbermouth today. I shall be cranking some vintage Loudness tomorrow in tribute. R.I.P.

LOUDNESS Drummer MUNETAKA HIGUCHI Dead At 49 - Nov. 30, 2008

WeROCK City has informed BLABBERMOUTH.NET that drummer Munetaka Higuchi of veteran Japanese metallers LOUDNESS passed away today (Sunday, November 30) around 10:00 a.m. (Japan Standard Time) at a hospital in Osaka, Japan. He was 49 years old.

Higuchi was diagnosed with liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma) in April 2008. He had reportedly undergone two rounds of chemotherapy treatment and an operation to remove part of his liver.

In an October 18, 2008 statement released via the band's official web site, Munetaka wrote about his condition (translated from Japanese), "It has been half a year since I was diagnosed with liver cancer. I am really sorry that the fans are worried. The cancer has become worse despite the fact that I have been taking care of my health, and I will need more time for my treatment. [Even after undergoing the] big operation to remove half of my liver, I still need more treatment. There are various risks and dangers involved
with my condition, but I'll do my best to keep my spirits up and
maintain my physical strength to fight this illness. I know it is still
the middle of my treatment, but I just wanted inform you about my
progress since the operation. Thank you very much for all the support."

LOUDNESS utilized a session drummer — Kozo Suganuma, a member of one of the most popular fusion bands in Japan, FRAGILE, and a former member of DED CHAPLIN (featuring LOUDNESS singer Minoru Niihara) — for its "special guest" appearance at MÖTLEY CRÜE's October 26, 2008 concert at Saitama Super Arena.

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mini boss Number of posts : 21101 Age : 54

That is sad I was a huge Loudness fan back in the 80's, in tribute tomorrow I will play "Thunder in the East" MUNETAKA HIGUCHI , R.I.P.

Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37652 Age : 53

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"I am reluctant to get too deep into politics, and I don’t expect politicians to get too deep into music."
- Paul Stanley

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Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37652 Age : 53

Some props for Munetaka Higuchi from Megadeth drummer Shawn Drover:

MEGADETH Drummer Comments On Passing Of LOUDNESS' MUNETAKA HIGUCHI - Nov. 30, 2008

MEGADETH's Shawn Drover has commented on the passing of LOUDNESS drummer Munetaka Higuchi, who died this morning (November 30) after a seven-month battle with liver cancer. He said, "I just found out that one of my favorite drummers passed away — Munetaka Higuchi from the band LOUDNESS. Munetaka had been diagnosed with liver cancer less than one year ago and lost his battle [today], which makes me very sad. I have been a LOUDNESS fan since 1983 and have continued to follow them throughout the years. Every time we tour Japan, I would always ask our promoter if it was possible to get in touch with the LOUDNESS guys in hopes that they may attend one of our shows. Akira [Takasaki, LOUDNESS guitarist] was rumored to swing by at one of our shows in 2005, and though it didn't happen, Glen [Drover, former MEGADETH guitarist and Shawn's brother] and I sure were excited about that possibility. This is once again a reminder to enjoy life and be thankful for what I have."

Higuchi passed away today (Sunday, November 30) around 10:00 a.m. (Japan Standard Time) at a hospital in Osaka, Japan. He was 49 years old.

_________________
"I am reluctant to get too deep into politics, and I don’t expect politicians to get too deep into music."
- Paul Stanley

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Metal, Movies, Beer Number of posts : 37652 Age : 53

More props for Higuchi-san from Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot fame:

Ex-QUIET RIOT Drummer Comments On Passing Of MUNETAKA HIGUCHI - Dec. 1, 2008

QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali has issued the following statement regarding the passing of LOUDNESS drummer Munetaka Higuchi:

"My condolences to the family of Munetaka Higuchi and the members of LOUDNESS on the passing of Munetaka Higuchi-san. I had the opportunity of being interviewed by him while in Japan with QUIET RIOT in 1989 for a Japanese drum magazine. He was very kind and an excellent drummer. May he rest in peace."

_________________
"I am reluctant to get too deep into politics, and I don’t expect politicians to get too deep into music."
- Paul Stanley

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Metal is my Life Number of posts : 28453 Age : 38

R.I.P.

Too bad he lost his battle, but he brought us some cool music.