ONLY ONE PER COFFIN:X JAPAN / LOUDNESS Bassist Taiji Sawada's Dead of Attempted suicide

X JAPAN / LOUDNESS Bassist Taiji Sawada's died of an attempted suicide as he was recently arrested for "interfering and assaulting" a flight attendant and was due to appear in court.
FROM X JAPAN:
"Receiving the news of Taiji's death has left me speechless. I don't know how to cope with the loss yet.

"Playing at the Nissan Stadium together last year brings memories as it was yesterday.

"To imagine what the fans are feeling right now breaks my heart. But that is the reason why we have to stay strong.

"X JAPAN will have to carry on with not only [late X JAPAN guitarist] Hide, but Taiji as well in our hearts.

"May the amazing bassist Taiji rest in peace."
FROM BWBK.COM:
BWBK confirmed yesterday (July 17th) that former X JAPAN and one time LOUDNESS bassist Taiji Sawada has died following a suicide attempt on July 14th. Sawada 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 was reporedly facing federal charges in the US for the incident. On July 14th , Sawada was taken to an intensive care unit after attempting suicide by hanging himself, thus delaying his court appearance.




Following is a report from Ferdie de la Torre at the Saipan Tribune:

Japanese musician and songwriter Taiji Sawada, who was arrested Monday, July 11th when he became unruly aboard an airplane, was taken to the hospital after he allegedly tried to commit suicide while inside his detention cell Thursday night.

Police Commissioner Ramon Mafnas confirmed yesterday that Sawada was transported to the Commonwealth Health Center and was placed under observation in the intensive care unit.

Mafnas said more details will be provided to the media after Sawada's family is notified, through the Japan Consular Office, about the incident.

Saipan Tribune learned from sources at DPS that the 45-year-old Sawada was rushed to the hospital after he tried to hang himself using a bed sheet. Because of the incident, Sawada failed to show up at his scheduled detention hearing yesterday morning at the U.S. District Court for the NMI.

Sawada is facing charges of interfering with the performance of a flight attendant. Sawada allegedly became unruly as the aircraft was descending in preparation for landing at the Saipan International airport on Monday. He allegedly punched the plane's window, kicked the seat in front of him, and assaulted a flight attendant

Sawada, who was in the business class cabin, had reportedly become angry with a female passenger and started punching the window and kicking the seat in front of him. The report did not mention what caused his anger and whether Sawada and the passenger were related.

The Marianas Variety issued the following update when it was confirmed Sawada had died:

Japanese rock musician and songwriter Taiji Sawada passed away before noon at the Commonwealth Health Center’s intensive care unit yesterday (July 17th).

Sawada, 45, was arrested by federal authorities for being unruly on a flight to Saipan and was brought to CHC after he tried to kill himself on Thursday evening while detained at the Department of Corrections facility.

Sawada’s immediate family members and fiancé were on island yesterday.

Corrections and the U.S. Marshals Service have yet to disclose details of Sawada’s suicide attempt. He was supposed to appear in federal court for his detention hearing on Friday morning. Mark Hanson, Sawada’s court-appointed defense attorney, declined to provide details on Friday, but said his client had a “good chance to get out” and be released to a local family under pretrial release conditions.

“He is not angry with anybody. He was upset with himself,” said Hanson, referring to the inflight incident that led to Sawada’s arrest.

Sawada was with his business manager, the lady seated beside him, and she was calming him down and were not “struggling” prior to his arrest, Hanson said. He was in the business class cabin when the incident occurred, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.

As reported by BW&BK, Sawada was a member of X Japan from 1985 - 1992, recording three albums with the band before departing due to creative differences with founder/drummer Yohsiki. He went on to record one album with Loudness in 1992 - their self-titled album featuring ex-EZO frontman Masaki Yamada debut as new vocalist - and can be heard on the band's 1994 live album, Once And For All.

Sawada also recorded and performed with D.T.R, launched CLOUD NINE with guitarist Shu Yamagishi, and had stepped back into the spotlight as of 2010 with his own band, TAIJI WITH HEAVENS, recording one EP and performing live.

He was invited to join X Japan as a special guest for two shows at Nissan Stadium in Tokyo on August 14th and 15th, 2010, officially ending the conflict between himself and Yoshiki. Footage from the reunion can be viewed below.
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l- R.I.P. Taiji Sawada