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Yukihiro Takahashi, a prolific Japanese musician who helped found the influential electronic band Yellow Magic Orchestra, has died according to an announcement released late Saturday. He was 70 years old.
Takahashi first gained attention in Japan and the United Kingdom in the early 1970s for his drumming skills in a band called Sadistic Mika Band. And in 1978, he released a solo album called “Saravah!” highly influenced by soul and French pop. That same year, Takahashi formed Yellow Magic Orchestra with some band mates. The group, often referred to as YMO, were trailblazers in the synthpop genre.
Born in Tokyo in 1952, Takahashi became a session drummer while still in high school. His breakthrough came after he was recruited to play drums in Sadistic Mika Band in 1972. That rock quartet attracted critical praise both in Japan and overseas, specifically in the U.K., where the group appeared on the BBC’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” program in 1975.
1980s, Takahashi also released many solo albums intended for the Japanese market. Takahashi has collaborated extensively with other musicians, including Bill Nelson, Iva Davies of Icehouse, Keiichi Suzuki of the Moonriders (often as a duo dubbed “The Beatniks”, although Suzuki essentially functioned as a member of Takahashi’s backing band during the Moonriders’ brief hiatus) and in particular Steve Jansen. Takahashi has released a single Stay Close and an EP Pulse as a duo with Jansen.
His latest work is Saravah, Saravah! (2018), a remastered reboot of his solo debut album which, along with re-recorded vocals, features appearances by Sakamoto, Hosono and other musicians.
Takahashi suffered from temporary headaches since the beginning of summer 2020. While Takahashi initially thought that this was a temporary migraine, he finally subjected himself to an MRI scan. It was discovered that the headache was the result of a brain tumor. On August 13, 2020, Takahashi underwent surgery to remove the tumor; he announced that there were no aftereffects and that he would devote himself to treatment. On October 20, 2020, Takahashi announced through his social media that he had completed his course of treatment following the surgery.
On January 11, 2023, Takahashi died in Karuizawa, Nagano, from aspiration pneumonia, a complication of the brain tumor. He was 70.
