Yellow Magic Orchestra's Yukihiro Takahashi dies, aged 70
The drummer and vocalist played a vital role in the advent of electronic music
Yukihiro Takahashi, the co-founding drummer and lead vocalist of pioneering Japanese electronic band Yellow Magic Orchestra, has died. He was 70.
According to a report by Japanese publication, NHK, Takahashi died of aspiration pneumonia on Wednesday 4th January. In August 2020, the musician underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour. In 2021, he revealed that he was facing further health issues. Takahashi had been recovering at his home in Karzuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, where he caught pneumonia in early January.
Alongside Haruomi "Harry" Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takahashi co-founded the highly influential Yellow Magic Orchestra (or YMO for short) in 1978. Pioneers in their use of synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, sequencers and digital recording technology, they are widely regarded as one of the most influential acts in the early days popular electronic music, alongside Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder. The group released eight albums, spanning the late 1970s and early 1990s. He also had a prolific solo career, releasing 20 albums of his own over the years.
Revisit YMO's 'Rydeen' below.
Since the news broke, musicians across the globe have taken to social media to pay tribute to Takahashi. Read some of those below.
