Yukihiro Takahashi, the drummer and lead vocalist for digital music trailblazers Yellow Magic Orchestra, has died on the age of 70.
Takahashi’s workplace launched an announcement to the The Japan Occasions and NHK confirming Takahashi’s demise on Jan. 11, citing aspiration pneumonia because the trigger. Takahashi beforehand revealed that he underwent surgical procedure to take away a mind tumor in 2020.
Takahashi, who was born in Tokyo, launched his profession within the early Seventies, performing along with his brother, Nobuyuki Takahashi, within the band Buzz and glam-rock group Sadistic Mika Band, which he joined after their authentic drummer departed. The group achieved success within the UK, opening for Roxy Music on their Siren Tour in 1975-76 they usually appeared on BBC TV and radio. When the band disbanded, Takahashi continued on with among the members because the Sadistics, and launched two studio albums earlier than splitting methods.
In 1978, Takahashi, keyboardist/vocalist Ryuichi Sakamoto, and bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Haruomi Hosono (beforehand of the famed Japanese rock bands Apryl Idiot and Comfortable Finish) joined forces to type the supergroup Yellow Magic Orchestra. Using synths, sequencers and drum machines, the trio have been trailblazers within the digital style, ushering within the Eighties electro sound. They harnessed inspiration from different pioneers within the realm, resembling Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder.
Their single “Laptop Recreation,” which appeared on their debut eponymous album, turned a shock worldwide hit — making the High 20 within the U.Okay. and making waves within the U.S. YMO’s sophomore set, Strong State Survivor arrived in 1979 and included English lyrics courtesy of Chris Mosdell. The success of the album exterior of Japan additionally landed YMO an unlikely musical visitor spot on Soul Prepare, leading to a memorable efficiency and now-viral interview between Takahashi and host Don Cornelius:
YMO continued into the subsequent decade with a sequence of releases — 1980’s Xoo Multiplies, two 1981 albums BGM and Technodelic, and 1983’s Service and Naughty Boys amongst them — however disbanded regardless of their enormous reputation, as the person trio members appeared to pursue their preliminary solo careers; nonetheless, they continued to carry out collectively of their solo endeavors, with Hosono and Sakamoto showing on Takahashi’s first 4 solo albums.
In 1980, embracing the rising synth-pop and metropolis pop genres, Takahashi launched his second solo LP Murdered By the Music, that includes his YMO bandmates together with Mosdell’s English lyrics. It was adopted the subsequent yr with Neuromantic, which featured Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay in addition to his solo hit “Drip Dry Eyes.” Takahashi subsequent collaborated with Be-Bop Deluxe’s Invoice Nelson and his YMO bandmates for 1982’s What, Me Fear?
Takahashi additionally fashioned the Beatniks in 1981 with Moonriders’ Keiichi Suzuki, releasing Exitentialism., the primary album in what can be a decades-long partnership.
The prolific artist — whose work spanned genres — continued to launch solo information by the Eighties, and although YMO was primarily inactive, the members continued to collaborate on one another’s solo initiatives. Takahashi expanded into appearing, soundtracks and online game music within the latter half of the Eighties as nicely.
Within the 2000s, he reteamed with Hosono to type Sketch Present, and Sakamoto joined them in 2004 to type Human Audio Sponge.
In 2014, Takahashi toured with a supergroup often known as Metafive, releasing a studio album, EP, and live performance album within the later half of the last decade. They launched the only “Environmental” in 2020. Takahashi took day off to endure mind surgical procedure for a tumor shortly after the track’s launch.
Following the information of Takahashi’s demise, his YMO bandmate Sakamoto posted a grey sq. on social media, which served a vessel for followers to depart tributes to Takahashi.