Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Talk about other music and musicians.

Moderators: Randy Perry, The Flying Dutchman, Stiltzkin, skezza, Trigger

Post Reply
kamalayka
Cool Member
Posts: 186
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:29 am

Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by kamalayka »

A few years ago I bought his first solo album, "Tusk of Jaguar." It's definitely not Loudness, but it still sounds pretty cool. (The tracks with vocals have some very catchy choruses, too!).
Paul Wolfe
Mass Poster
Posts: 5272
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:19 am

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by Paul Wolfe »

Honestly all I've ever heard from him is the first Loudness album... it's amazing to me that I knew who you were talking about just by seeing his name in the title to your post.

I'll have to check his playing out and get back to you.
kamalayka
Cool Member
Posts: 186
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:29 am

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by kamalayka »

They say that in the early 80s, the twoguys at the top were Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. Well, I think number three could easily be Akira Takasaki!

On Youtube, look up "Lazy - Earth Ark." Akira plays a wicked solo, and in 1981! Easily on the level of Rhoads and VH.
Paul Wolfe
Mass Poster
Posts: 5272
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:19 am

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by Paul Wolfe »

kamalayka wrote:They say that in the early 80s, the twoguys at the top were Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. Well, I think number three could easily be Akira Takasaki!

On Youtube, look up "Lazy - Earth Ark." Akira plays a wicked solo, and in 1981! Easily on the level of Rhoads and VH.

I would put that song in more of a late '70's Blackmore or Scorpions vein... not as polished as Van Halen or Blizzard of Ozz. The guy's talented, to be sure, but there were a lot of underrated guitarists then. The guys in Skid Row come to mind in the underrated category.
kamalayka
Cool Member
Posts: 186
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:29 am

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by kamalayka »

It's also cool to see how he evolved as a player throughout the eighties. He reminds me of Randy Rhoads a lot in this regard. He wasn't one of those guys who feels he doesn't have to practice anymore just because he has a record deal.

Just four years later he recorded "Thunder in the East" with producer Max Norman. His playing and tone are insane on that album. There is also a bit of a Rhoads influence on "We Could be Together."

I think he'd have been much better in Ozzy's band than Zakk Wylde. (There was a recording on Youtube a while ago of Akira playing Over the Mountain, and it was amazing!)
Paul Wolfe
Mass Poster
Posts: 5272
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:19 am

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by Paul Wolfe »

ronni le tekrø was one of the finest guys nobody in the States knew of... I see him in the same light as Akira Takasaki - super talented, but, unfortunately too exotic for the mainstream. Sad but true, you have to make it into the mainstream to get the Icon classification of Randy and Eddie.
oth
Mass Poster
Posts: 579
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:51 am

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by oth »

I saw loudness in 1985!haha!
The guy is real good and has a percussive attack in his rythme playing.The songs....meh.
Ronnie le tekro,i remember that band!
How to tell a real RR signature: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=726&start=120
Stiltzkin
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2079
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:29 am
Location: Sweden

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by Stiltzkin »

Oh boy ... Akira Takasaki ...
I've been a major Loudness fans for many years :)
Akira is a very 'European' player with some Rhoads flavour :)
Ritchie Blackmore was/is a major influence there, along with
some EVH tapping ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXqBOok0eE0
User avatar
RhoadsRockPhotographer
Cool Member
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:39 pm

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by RhoadsRockPhotographer »

Roudness - Live at M3 Festival 05-12-12

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

Wok 'n' Woll
Paul Wolfe
Mass Poster
Posts: 5272
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:19 am

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by Paul Wolfe »

RhoadsRockPhotographer wrote:Roudness - Live at M3 Festival 05-12-12

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

Wok 'n' Woll

I listened just past the first solo... I like the music, but he still needs to get his solos to 'fit' and not just 'play stuff' in the solo section... I'll listen to the whole thing before judging too harshly.
Paul Wolfe
Mass Poster
Posts: 5272
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:19 am

Re: Anyone here like early Akira Takasaki?

Post by Paul Wolfe »

Okay, I listened to the whole clip... like the songs, not the solos...

This review of his playing fits pretty well in my opinion. Read the section titled "Weakness" for an apt description of what I consider his weak points.

Again, love the songs but the solos don't fit all the time.
Post Reply