1. Akira Takasaki is best known as the lead guitarist and sole constant member of the heavy metal band Loudness.
16 Facts About Akira Takasaki
1. 2.
Akira Takasaki is the guitarist of the band Lazy, with which he first rose to prominence in the 1970s.
3.
Akira Takasaki started his career as a guitarist, winning a TV contest for young music talents at the age of 14.
4.
Akira Takasaki was rapidly put under contract to be part of the pop-rock band Lazy, of which drummer Munetaka Higuchi was a member.
5.
Akira Takasaki is the only member of Loudness that has been in the band since its inception, producing more than 20 studio albums in 25 years.
6.
Akira Takasaki has continued the production of solo works, starting with Tusk of Jaguar in 1982 and is committed to a new side project called Ji-Zo.
7.
Akira Takasaki found enough time to start Killer Guitars, a company co-founded and managed with fellow guitarist George Azuma.
8.
Akira Takasaki is responsible for several of the guitar designs.
9.
Akira Takasaki's guitar playing style is characterized by complicated heavy metal riffs executed at great speed and with extreme precision, often using alternate picking technique and little vibrato.
10.
Akira Takasaki's compositions are usually filled with melodies and hooks, in order to make well-constructed songs, instead of long neo-classical themes like some of his peers do.
11.
Akira Takasaki's shred guitar work has attracted many fans over the world and his musicianship has often been compared to the ability of guitarists of his age like Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Kirk Hammett, David T Chastain and others.
12.
In 1986 Akira Takasaki declared that the main influences for his compositions and guitar solos came from the work of Deep Purple's guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and from Japanese music for koto.
13.
Akira Takasaki uses ESP Signature Random Star guitars and several Killer guitars, mostly the KG Prime model.
14.
Akira Takasaki is co-owner of the Killer Guitars company, which are made and distributed by ESP.
15.
In 1988, Akira Takasaki began using Lee Jackson Metaltronix amps, using the M-1000 amps on Soldier of Fortune, On the Prowl, and the following tours.
16.
In 1992, Akira Takasaki would begin using Peavey amps, making use of their solid state Supreme 160 heads, which could be heard on Loudness and the live release Once and for All.