Akira Takasaki "The Japanese EVH"

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:44 pm

Hi everyone, I was just listening to some casettes of Loudness (Dissillusion, and Thunder From The East) that I havent played in some time, and was reminded of how much I used to enjoy listening to Akira Takasaki back in the 80's. He seemed to combine the styles of many great players into "one" origional style. I definatley hear alot of EVH. Do any of you remember this dude ?

62sg · Post by **62sg** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:16 pm

Oh yeah...I definitely remember Akira....."Thunder" is a fantastic album. Akira plays his ass off on that record...sometimes reminded me of evh...but he definitely had his own vibe.
I looked for YEARS for thunder on cd...finally got it as an import. These guys toured in 86 with ac/dc.....were very good live.

Are they still around??

JimiJames · Post by **JimiJames** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:53 pm

62sg wrote:Are they still around??

Alive 'n Well... Seen him earlier this year on The Best of Reunion Tour. Still has his chops but was disappointed with his tone (or sound engineer).
He was sporting Marshalls (900's I think)and not his Famous Metaltronix sound. Yes he had his Star guitar.
They're playing alot of Drop 'D' these days and are in a Prog vein...
His leads are even faster than before, almost on the verge of sloppy...
I have them all but these are my fav's
1985 Thunder in the East
1986 Lightning Strikes
1989 Soldier of Fortune
All superb albums/cd's.
Yes he does borrow a little VH in some of his leads & song writing. More closer to an outright steal at times...

Jimmie K.

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:18 pm

I think the whole band were great musicians. The drummer managed to be interesting and the bassist was always doin little runs and stuff. I also have the album (cassette) of "Disillusion", which came out before "Thunder From The East" and Akira does a stand alone solo called, get this, "Exploder". I have the vinyl and cassette of "Thunder In The East", and on the "Thank You" section Jose Arrendondo was mentioned. Wow, EVH sure gave him alot of buissiness.

gnugear · Post by **gnugear** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 11:28 am

I loved Loudness! I saw them on the Thunder tour with Motley Crue back in the early 80s.

I always thought Akira's tone and playing was killer.

noisenet · Post by **noisenet** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 9:18 pm

Killer player. His solo on "Like Hell" from Thunder in the East was superb!!!!

noisenet · Post by **noisenet** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 10:02 pm

After reading this thread, I had to go back and listen to Thunder - what an amazing album!!!!!

62sg · Post by **62sg** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 4:03 am

Tone Slinger wrote:Hi everyone, I was just listening to some casettes of Loudness (Dissillusion, and Thunder From The East) that I havent played in some time, and was reminded of how much I used to enjoy listening to Akira Takasaki back in the 80's. He seemed to combine the styles of many great players into "one" origional style. I definatley hear alot of EVH. Do any of you remember this dude ?

You know....I have been revisiting this album {"thunder} since you posted this, Tone Slinger. I do hear a few other influences, too. The one that sticks out the most to me is the solo in the last track...[never change]...and it reminds me very much of Michael Schenker. I remember hearing it for the first time in 85/86 and thinking back then Akira was heavily influenced by MS.

St August · Post by **St August** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:56 am

Wok and woll cwazy Nights you are the sheroooo!!SMF SMF SMF

Great TUNE Pure Power....

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:57 am

Yeah, I love hearing those heavily Japanese accented vocals. Sorta like 'ol Uli Roth. Somewhere on the web somone made the analogy of Uli's vocals sounding like a "Homeless, drunken Japanese man". I still just love hearing foreign singer's using English, it's just sorta "Exotic" sounding.

JimiJames · Post by **JimiJames** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:16 pm

St August wrote:Wok and woll cwazy Nights you are the sheroooo!!SMF SMF SMF

Great TUNE Pure Power....

Respectively... TOO FUNNY !

Did you know he sang the theme song for a Play Station 2 game called SoulBlade?

JJ

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:37 pm

Wasnt aware of that. I also liked when he said " Heavy chains like a knife. Cutting into her heart" That was some weird sounding shit. Funny as hell though.

T.J.Fuller · Post by **T.J.Fuller** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:37 pm

Wow,, Yet another one of those kickin'guitarists that no one ever brings up.
In my very first cover tune band, we did a Loudness tune
We Could Be Together off thier 1st. album in English.

Of course to be funny, sang it with that japanese accent they had.

Akira had a good 80's sound but, his song writing and riffs seemed to give up his influences too easily.

I know that 1st. album at points he sounded like Randy Rhoads, one song was a complete swipe from Yngwie. Another song sounded like Rush...

But, He was a very good guitar player, easier to listen to than most in the 80's

another note: Akira and Vitto has some serious forum thread hits !!

Eargasm · Post by **Eargasm** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:10 pm

Hilarious lyrics...

You come to see the show
Well, we're gonna rock and roll you
Come and get on your seat
We're gonna make you feel allright
Heay, you wanna go crazy tonight!

Let me hear you shout and scream

You make me mad and wild
Well, we're gonna rock and pile you
We're gonna do our best
The best kicks you in the head, alright
Yeah, it's gonna get crazy tonight

Let me hear you all go wild

* Rock and roll crazy night
You are the heroes tonight
Rock and roll crazy night
You are the hero

You come to see the show
Well, we're gonna rock and shock you
Come on get on your feet
The sound hits you in the face, alright
Ohh, let's get so crazy tonight

Let me hear you rock and roll

Akira had killer tone on this tune. Pure dimed late '60's early 70's Marshall tone. I love it to this day, but he doesn't I guess. I could hardly recognize him both physically and sonically in this YT clip ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMQvCqVY7V0

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:37 pm

Micheal Vescera who sang with Yngwie, "Magnum Opus and Seventh Sign" sang with a version of Loudness.
I have a hard enough time until now understanding heavy metal in English, let alone Japanese/English

yngwie308

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Akira Takasaki "The Japanese EVH"

Akira Takasaki "The Japanese EVH"

Re: Akira Takasaki "The Japanese EVH"