Ex-LOUDNESS singer Michael Vescera rejoined his former bandmates for a very special show at this year’s edition of the Loud Park festival in Japan. Billed as SOLDIER OF FORTUNE, the group performed material from Vescera‘s time in LOUDNESS.
Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE‘s lineup consisted of the following musicians:
Michael Vescera – Vocals
Akira Takasaki – Guitar
Masayoshi Yamashita – Bass
Go (SADS) – Drums
Although Vescera sang the entire set with LOUDNESS at Loud Park, he has no plans to permanently replace the band’s original frontman Minoru Niihara, who remains LOUDNESS‘ official vocalist after having rejoined the group in 2001.
Vescera joined LOUDNESS in 1988 following the firing of Niihara. In pursuit of greater commercial success with English-speaking audiences, Vescera and the rest of LOUDNESS recorded two albums, “Soldier Of Fortune” (1989) and “On The Prowl” (1991). However, the pairing did little to improve the band’s status in America and also took its toll on LOUDNESS‘ Japanese fan base. Vescera exited LOUDNESS (and joined Yngwie J. Malmsteen in 1993) during the group’s American tour in 1991 and was eventually replaced by EZO vocalist Masaki Yamada.
Vescera rose to metal popularity at the age of 18 years old as the legendary vocalist of the band OBSESSION. A classically trained pianist, Mike chose the path of a metal frontman instead of Julliard.
In recent years, Mike Vescera has gained a reputation in the business as being a masterful producer and engineer working from his studio The Toy Room, which was located in the hills of Connecticut just outside of New York. A few years ago the studio moved to Nashville, where Mike now makes his home.
Mike continues to front OBSESSION and ANIMETAL USA, the American counterpart to ANIMETAL, the Japanese heavy metal band which specialized in metal covers of popular Japanese anime/tokusatsu theme songs.
SHOCK NIGHT with this 4 guys.thank you for comming everyone. and good support Mr.GO from sads#loudpark15 #soldieroffortune #roadto35thannivearsary
Posted by LOUDNESS_OFFICIAL on Sunday, October 11, 2015
Fonte: Blabbermouth.net