High On Fire In Tokyo During Japan's Tragic Earthquake, Tsunami

Bay Area hard rock band High On Fire was on tour and set to perform in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, March 11 when the powerful earthquake and resulting tsunami struck off the island nation's shore, collapsing buildings, touching off widespread fires and unleashing walls of water up to 30 feet high. The popular US group was unharmed, but shaken after surviving its second natural disaster in sixteen days; the band was also abroad in Christchurch, New Zealand during the 6.3-magnitude earthquake of February 22, the country's deadliest natural disaster in 80 years.

"Our thoughts go out to all the people of the world who have already been through such agony during these tragedies and are now going through much worse," said the band in a statement. "To all those who have lost loved ones in particular, you have our deepest sympathies."

On February 23, NBC Bay Area spoke with High On Fire frontman Matt Pike following the Christchurch earthquake.

High On Fire (guitarist/vocalist Pike, drummer Des Kensel and bassist Jeff Matz) toured New Zealand from February 19-24 before taking part in the 2011 Soundwave Festival, an annual traveling music fest held in major cities in Australia. Upon the conclusion of the Australian live dates, the group flew to Japan where it performed in the cities of Osaka (on March 9) and Nagoya (on March 10) before traveling to Tokyo for a planned show on Friday. The band and its crew is expected to return to its hometown of Oakland, CA this past weekend, or as travel from Japan allows.

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