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Former X Japan/Loudness Bassist Taiji Sawada Passes Away

Taiji Sawada, a former bassist of the rock bands X Japan (then known as X) and Loudness, passed away at the Commonwealth Health Center on the island of Saipan on Saturday, July 17 at around 11:00 a.m. He was 45.

Sawada, who is known by his given name Taiji onstage, was taken to the hospital due to self-sustained injuries on Thursday evening. He was in the intensive care unit until his family decided to remove him from life support after he became brain-dead.

According to the local media, Sawada was traveling business class on Delta Flight 298 from Japan to Saipan. A incident with female passenger and a female flight attendant ensued in flight, and Sawada was restrained aboard the airplane and later arrested by the local police upon arrival.

Sawada formally joined X in 1986 (three years before the band's major debut in 1989), and then left the band in 1992. After X, he performed in Loudness, D.T.R., Taiji with Heaven's, and other bands. He participated in X Japan's concerts as a guest last August.

Thanks to Mary MacDonald for the news tip.

Source: Saipan Tribune, Natalie