Akira Tsuneoka died suddenly on February 14, 2023, at the age of 51. Later that month, Nanba and Yokoyama announced they would continue the band. Hi-Standard released the digital single “I’m a Rat”, which features Tsuneoka, on April 19. Following Tsuneoka’s death, the band secretly held auditions for a new drummer and reviewed hundreds of videos by applicants. With former Pay Money to My Pain drummer Zax as a support member, Hi-Standard supported NOFX on the latter’s final Japanese tour in 2024. On September 24, 2025, they announced that Zax had joined officially joined the band and that the mini-album Screaming Newborn Baby will be released on November 26.
died suddenly
Written by
in