Turbonegro Survive Cancer, Loudness Drummer Doesn't

12/01/08 12:28pm

One hard rocker has been cleared of cancer, while another has sadly died from it.

Turbonegro guitarist Knut "Euroboy" Schreiner's lymphoma cancer forced the Norwegian band to cancel European and American tour dates earlier this year to allow him to undergo treatment. While doctors usually wait for years to pass without complications before declaring a patient completely cured, there are no signs of cancer in Schreiner's system, and he's back to living a normal life.

"The treatment went fine," Schreiner wrote on Turbonegro's website. "I didn't get too sick and was able to do a couple of shows this summer (the awesome Apocalypse Dudes concert at the Øya festival in Oslo stands out).

"Not to mention that my interest for music, the band and the guitar has gone through the roof! Now I'm really looking forward to make music again and get back in the saddle and play some cool shows for you all.

"It was an unexpected and weird time-out, but also a valuable time for many reasons. I won't bore you with going into details about what I've been going through the last eight months, but I want to tell you that if the catastrophe ever hits you, I'll be happy to share some experience and words of encouragement."

Schreiner and Turbonegro bassist Happy-Tom plan to go on a trip early next year to begin working on material for the band's next album, and hope to start recording new songs in the summer. The group will come to North America in April to play Canadian and U.S. shows.

Loudness drummer Munetaka Higuchi wasn't as lucky as Schreiner. The 49-year-old passed away in an Osaka, Japan hospital after being diagnosed with liver cancer in April. He had undergone two rounds of chemotherapy and an operation to remove half of his liver.

"Our member Munetaka Higuchi has laid down his sticks as drummer of Loudness and with them he has left that mortal part for which he no longer has use," says guitarist Akira Takasaki. "He was deceased on Nov. 30, 2008 at 10:44 am because of liver cancer. His great drum works will remain forever with our music, and his rock spirits will be succeeded among many rock fans."

Higuchi and Takasaki formed Loudness in 1981, and they were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed in the U.S. They've released more than three dozen studio, live and compilation albums. A four-DVD set titled The Legend Of Loudness — Live Complete Best, featuring material from the early days until this year, was recently released in Japan.