Taiji Sawada

Taiji Sawada

Although the circumstances have yet to be revealed, former X Japan and Loudness bass player Taiji Sawada has reportedly passed away. He was 45 years old. The past week, Sawada had been involved in some controversy, after he was arrested on July 11th "for interference with a flight attendant" due to an incident on a plane en route from Japan to Saipan. He then attempted suicide three days later, (July 14th,) over the incident, for which he was allegedly facing federal charges in the United States. It is not yet known if these instances are related to his death.
Taiji Sawada played for the Japanese heavy metal band X Japan from 1985 to 1992, during which time he recorded three albums with group before creative differences forced him to leave and join fellow countrymen Loudness, with whom he appeared on their self-titled 1992 album, as well as their live record, "Once And For All."