Mar 19 (NHK) - Japanese rock singer Yuya Uchida died of pneumonia on Sunday. He was 79 years old.
Uchida set up a rock'n'roll band in 1958 and played as an opening act for the Beatles in Japan in 1966.
He also appeared in many movies as an actor.
Comments and moves made by Uchida sometimes surprised people. In 1991, he made an unsuccessful bid to become Tokyo governor.
Last September, Uchida lost his wife and actress, Kirin Kiki. The couple had lived separately for many years, but did not get a divorce.
At the time of Kiki's death, Uchida thanked her and praised her as a woman.