Minoru Niihara

Minoru Niihara
Background information
Born	March 12, 1960
Origin	Osaka, Japan
Genres	Rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, musician, songwriter
Instruments	vocals, bass
Years active	1980–Present
Associated acts	Loudness, Earthshaker, Ded Chaplin, Sly, X.Y.Z.→A

Minoru Niihara (二井原 実 Niihara Minoru) (born March 12, 1960 in Osaka, Japan) is the original and current lead singer of the Japanese heavy metal band, Loudness.

His first band was Earthshaker, in which he played bass and sang.^[1] His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly his voice to the high pitch tones requested in a heavy metal act. He was selected after an audition to become the lead singer of Loudness in 1981 and his voice, together with the flashy guitar work of guitarist Akira Takasaki were recognized as a trademark of the band.^[2] Although the first three albums were sung using mostly Japanese lyrics, he started singing in English only on their 1984 album, Disillusion.

After Loudness released Jealousy, he left the band in 1988 and was replaced by the American singer Mike Vescera. After working with several bands (including Ded Chaplin, Sly and X.Y.Z.→A), as well as his solo career, he returned to Loudness in 2001. He released two solo albums: One in 1989 and Ashes To Glory in 2006, in addition to recording many albums with Sly and X.Y.Z.→A. In 2008 he formed a parallel band called Nishidera Minoru, with Show-Ya's singer Keiko Terada and Earthshaker's singer Masafumi ”Marcy” Nishida. This new band released an album and produced and organized the HARD NA YAON 2009 festival.^[3]

Discography

Solo albums

• One (1989)^[4]
• Ashes to Glory (2006)
• R&R Gypsy Show (live 2008)
• Tower of Power Night Live (live 2011)

Albums with Loudness

• The Birthday Eve (1981)
• Devil Soldier (1982)
• The Law of Devil's Land (1983)
• Live-Loud-Alive: Loudness in Tokyo (live 1983)
• Disillusion (1984)
• Disillusion (1984) - English version
• Odin (EP 1985)
• Thunder in the East (1985)
• Shadows of War (1986)
• Lightning Strikes (1986) - U.S. remix of Shadows of War
• 8186 Live (live 1986)
• Hurricane Eyes (1987)
• Hurricane Eyes (1987) - Japanese Version
• Jealousy (EP 1988)
• Eurobounds (live 2000)
• Spiritual Canoe (2001)
• The Soldier's Just Came Back (live 2001)
• Pandemonium (2001)
• Biosphere (2002)
• Loudness Live 2002 (live 2003)
• Terror (2004)
• RockShocks (2004)
• Racing (2004)
• Breaking The Taboo (2006)
• Metal Mad (2008)
• The Everlasting (2009)
• King of Pain (2010)
• Eve to Dawn (2011)
• 2012 (2012)
• The Sun Will Rise Again (2014)

Albums with Ded Chaplin

• 1st (1990)^[5]
• Rock the Nation (1991)
• Final Revolution (1992)

Albums with Sly

• Sly (1994)^[6]
• Dreams of Dust (1995)
• Key (1996)
• Vulcan Wind (1998)

Albums with X.Y.Z.→A

• Asian Typhoon (1999)^[7]
• Asian Typhoon (2000) - English version
• Metalization (2000)
• Metalization (2001) - English version
• Life (2002)
• IV (2003)
• X.Y.Z.→ALIVE (live 2004)
• Wings (2006)
• Learn from Yesterday! Live for Today! Hope for Tomorrow! (2009)
• Seventh Heaven (2013)

Albums with Nishidera Minoru

• Fuzoroi no Rock Tachi Sono 1 (2009)

Collaborations

• Akira Takasaki - Tusk of Jaguar (1982)
• M.T. Fuji - Human Transport (1983)
• Cozy Powell Forever ~ Tribute to Cozy Powell (1998)

References

1. "Minoru Niihara interview". Metalsludge.tv. 2006-02-28. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
2. "Akira Takasaki Profile". Dinosaur Rock Guitar.com. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2010-02-23. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
3. "Nishidera Minoru Release" (in Japanese). Universal Records. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
4. "Minoru Niihara". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
5. "Ded Chaplin". Jmignited.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-15. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
6. "Sly". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
7. "X.Y.Z.→A". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2010-03-24.