Minoru Niihara

Minoru Niihara
Background information
Born	March 12, 1960 (1960-03-12) (age 51)
Origin	Osaka, Japan
Genres	Rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Vocalist, Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	vocals, bass
Years active	1980–Present
Associated acts	Loudness, Earthshaker, Ded Chaplin, Sly, XYZ→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 XYZ→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 XYZ→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)

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)

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 XYZ→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)

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. http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1191&Itemid=37. Retrieved 2010-03-05. 
2. ^ "Akira Takasaki Profile". 2008-05-28. http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/new/node/58. Retrieved 2010-02-23. 
3. ^ "Nishidera Minoru Release" (in Japanese). Universal Records. http://www.universalmusicworld.jp/nishideraminoru/release/index.html. Retrieved 2010-01-23. 
4. ^ "Minoru Niihara". Metal-Archives.com. http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=57564. Retrieved 2010-03-24. 
5. ^ "Ded Chaplin". JMIgnited.com. http://www.jmignited.com/dedchaplin.php. Retrieved 2010-03-24. ^{[dead link]}
6. ^ "Sly". Metal-Archives.com. http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=54156. Retrieved 2010-03-24. 
7. ^ "XYZ→A". Metal-Archives.com. http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=50790. Retrieved 2010-03-24. 

Persondata
Name	Niihara, Minoru
Alternative names
Short description	Rock musician
Date of birth	1960-03-12
Place of birth	Osaka
Date of death
Place of death