Loudness

I am NOT Loudness. I wish I was associated with the band, but I'm not. I just realized that Loudness doesn't have an actual myspace page and I didn't like that. Loudness is probably the most popular Japanese band over here in America. That being said, since I am not allowed to upload the band's songs without permission from the band or the label, I'll be having another player on here. That way, I won't have uploaded the songs that I don't own, I won't get in trouble for using a copyright that isn't mine, and I will be free from any wrongdoing. Seeing as how I have NEVER allowed anyone to download songs by this band or have given anyone permission or shown anyone where or how to steal the band's music, I see no problem in allowing me to have a profile out of respect for this band. The band is Japanese and they PROBABLY don't get on Myspace very often.
HOWEVER! If anyone knows of a way to contact Loudness personally or knows a way to contact the label (even by e-mail) I would be interested in getting OFFICIAL permission to use songs by Loudness on this page WITHOUT having problems of them being deleted or being accused of stealing the band's music...which I never did in the first place. I buy their cd's just like I should.
That being said, enough of this legal BULLCRAP and on to something more important...LOUDNESS! The band you are here to read about and listen to in the first place!
Loudness is without a doubt Japan's most popular heavy metal band. They became more known with American audiences in the 80's with the single "Crazy Nights" on their album Thunder in the East.
Akira Takasaki and Munetaka Higuchi were in a band called Lazy in the 70's. It was more of a pop based band but as the 80's came, Akira wanted a more heavy band to play in and Loudness was formed.
In May 1981 the band was formed and by the end of that year, the band had released their first album, "The Birthday Eve". Afterwards the band released Devil Soldier" in 1982, "The Law of Devil's Land" in 1983, and "Disillusion" in 1984. When they finally released 1985's "Thunder in the East", the band was reaching out for international fame. They toured with bands like Stryper, Poison, Motley Crue, and AC/DC. Loudness was big. They are in fact the only Japanese metal band to have an album in the "Billboard Top 100" with their album "Thunder in the East".
They kept their success with "Shadows of War" and "Hurrican Eyes" but in 1989, Niihara was fired from the band in favor of a more "American friendly vocalist". Mike Viscera was brought in to fill the front spot. He stayed in Loudness through 89's "Soldiers of Fortune" and 1991's "On the Prowl" until finally in 1992, Viscera left for Yngwie Malmsteen's band. Unfortunately Masayoshi Yamashita left the band from (rumored) what were fights between him and Viscera.
In came Masaki Yamada to be the new Loudness vocalist and Taiji Sawada (bassist from X-Japan) to fill in on the low end. The band then released my own personal favorite Loudness album. The Self titled album from Loudness was released in 1992 and debuted at number 2 on the Japanese domestic charts.
1994 saw the release of "Heavy Metal Hippies" (which saw the band slowing down their sound...A LOT), as well as a live cd entitled, "Once and For All". The "Once and For All" cd was made on the tour for the 1992 self titled cd.
Three years passed before the band's next official album release of "Ghetto Machine" (1997).