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| All the most relevant members X Japan has had. Hide and Taiji, rest in peace. |
☆♪☆♪☆ X-Japan :: A Short History ☆♪☆♪☆
X-Japan started out as a band called Noise. At the age of only twelve the leader of the band Yoshiki Hayashi and the vocalist and co-founder of the band Toshimitsu Deyama decided to form a band. Yoshiki being the great musician he is had begun to write lyrics and probably music at an even younger age. After his father commited suicide at age 33 Yoshiki wrote the song "Tears" for his father at the age of only ten. The song went on to become one of X-Japan greatest and most famous ballads.
In 1985 the band's name was changed to X. The first firm lineup of the band developed. The members at the time were Toshi on vocals, Pata and hide on guitar, Taiji on bass and Yoshiki on drums and piano. In 1985 the band released their first single "I'll Kill You" on Dada Records. X was known for visual kei (a music genre that involves feminine looks and obscure music) which was not praised during that time. Yoshiki founded his own record label EXTASY RECORDS in 1985 to ensure production for X (he gets even more amazing doesn't he?).
In 1988 the band's first album "Vanishing Vision" was released. This album brought into play some of the most recalled heavier songs for the band. Songs such as Phantom of Guilt and Sadistic Desire. It also brought to us the highly favorited rock ballad Alive. The band also made a cameo appearance in the comedy movie "Tokyo Pop" in 1988.
In 1989 X was signed to Sony Records and their 2nd album "Blue Blood" was released. This album provided Endless Rain which is likely the most famous of all of the band's ballads and possibly songs in general. Also it brought the song Kurenai another song on the most recalled list for this band. Other favorites brought about by this album included the rock n' roll hitter Celebration, the great depressive but beautiful song Rose of Pain, the pretty ballad Unfinished and another rock n' roll favorite from this band Weekend. There was also the Blue Blood Tour which was released on VHS and DVD.
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| They're one of the bands that started Visual Kei and probably the one who popularized it. |
In 1992 X changed it's name to what it is known as today X-JAPAN. They wanted to reach international fame. The final concert with Taiji the legendary "On the Verge of Destruction" tour was held at Tokyo Dome. X-Japan became the first ever band to sellout the Tokyo Dome for three days. Taiji was replaced by Heath after he and Yoshiki had an arguement over musical differences. He moved on to Loudness and has recently begun work with a band he started called Cloud Nine (YAY for Taiji ^_^).
In 1993 on Atlantic Records X-Japan released the album Art of Life. This album contained only one track. The 29 minute various musical themed song Art of Life. This song contains some of (if not) the most beautiful lyrics Yoshiki has ever written. It contains four guitar solos and a seven minute piano solo.
In 1994 hide released his first solo album "Hide Your Face". This marked the beginning of solo works for the members of X-Japan. Pata, Heath and even Toshi started solo projects. In 1996 X-Japan released "Dahlia" their final album. It brought the lasts of the favorites. Ballads like Tears, Forever Love, and Longing ~Togireta Melody~ and rock n' roll hitters like Scars, Drain and Rusty Nail. It brought us another tour the Dahlia Tour Final to VHS and DVD.
On December 31, 1997 X-Japan held its final live at the Tokyo Dome. The concert was simply called "The Last Live" and was released on DVD. The members have since then focused on solo projects. hide has gone to the heavens now due to accidental suicide on May 2, 1998. 50,000 fans attended his funeral five days later on May 7th. Four people attempted suicide, two succeeded. X-Japan now Toshi, Yoshiki, Pata and Heath performed Forever Love at his funeral. Taiji came to see his friend off to the afterlife in a shocking but beautiful act of respect and morality.
by theXJAPANfan January 16, 2007
Source: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=X-Japan
☆♪☆♪☆ Yoshiki ☆♪☆♪☆
Yoshiki is an amazing musician, usually the vocalists who get most of the attention in the bands, but Yoshiki is too amazing, he is the main guy of the band, even though he is a drummer and pianist, I consider him the leader of that band, and this song is just an example of his work, what an amazing person. Now you became older than your father, so live without tears!
He wrote the amazing song Tears when he was 10 years old, after his father commited suicide. Hideki (from Siam Shade) is a fan of X Japan and at the start of his career, when X Japan was the main group in Japan he was really influenced by them and followed their music style.
☆♪☆♪☆ Hide and Taiji's death ☆♪☆♪☆
I remember watching Hide's death on TV news in Spain in 1998. I remember seeing a mass of fans going to his funeral. I was super shocked. I didn't know who X Japan were back then, and was just beginning to learn about Japanese culture. I didn't retain the name of the person who died - Hide - but years later I learned how a very famous Japanese musician called Hide from X Japan had a massive funeral and I connected that to the news I had seen years ago, realizing it was Hide the one I saw on TV.
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| Hide during X Japan's last live in 1997 |
Taiji died in 2011 officially due to a suicide too, although his fiancee believes it was a murder. The investigation has been closed but there's a petition on Charge.org so that people sign to reopen the case and investigation what really happened that day. Please go sign it.
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| Taiji |
According to Wikipedia, "although Hide and Taiji are deceased, the band still considers them members and introduces them at every concert, with the group going as far as to play audio/video clips of them voice/guitar for some songs".
☆♪☆♪☆ 2007 reunion and 2017 live in UK ☆♪☆♪☆
On 2007 the group announced their come back and have been active since then. They were going to have a concert on March 2016 in Wembley stadium in London, UK, but Pata had to be hospitalized due to a sudden "life-threatening condition". Their live has been postponed to March 2017.
X Japan guitarist Pata is recovering after being treated in hospital for a "life-threatening" condition.
He was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a Tokyo hospital on January 15, the band say, where he was diagnosed with a severe blood clot.
Although he has since been released from the ICU and is said to be in a stable condition, doctors say he's not well enough to travel and the band have postponed all of their touring commitments and the release of their upcoming album.
Among the dates affected is a March 12 appearance at Wembley Arena in London, which has now been moved to March 4, 2017.
Bassist Heath says: “We truly apologise for the postponement of our Wembley show and new album. In order to present ourselves in the best condition for all our beloved fans, we’ve made a very difficult decision to wait for Pata's full recovery.
"Upon his return, we promise to do our best to play even better and show you the best version of ourselves on stage. Please stay tuned.” Frontman Yoshiki also apologised to fans and, referring to the 1998 death of band member Hide, said they couldn't risk Pata's health for fear of enduring another tragedy.
He says: “My heart is filled with sadness. No words can describe how sorry I am to disappoint our fans. I know the show must go on, but at this this time I can only pray for Pata's recovery. "I cannot tolerate more tragedy than what we’ve been through. I promise X Japan will come back strong, as we’ve done before, together with our fans.”
Singer Toshi adds: “We are truly sorry from the bottom of our hearts, for all the worries and concerns we’ve caused to our fans. X Japan is looking forward to playing with Pata again, and continuing our music journey together.” The band were also due to issue a new, as-yet-untitled, album on March 11 – but that has been postponed with an updated release date to be announced in due course.
Source: http://teamrock.com/news/2016-02-03/x-japan-postpone-wembley-show-as-pata-takes-unwell
I really hope Pata recovers completely and they can perform in March 2017. I already got my ticket to see them ^_^ I arrived late to see their lives in the 90s, so I'm as happy as you can be that them or Siam Shade, among other bands from the 90s that disbanded many years ago are together back again, because now I can go to see their lives!
☆♪☆♪☆ Where to buy the ticket for the 4th of March, 2017 live in UK ☆♪☆♪☆
They have moved their concert of March 2016 in Wembley stadium in London, UK, to Saturday 4th of March, 2017.You can still buy your ticket here from the ticket website linked at their Official Website (ticketmaster) or from AXS.com website. Both websites seems to have different seats available. I got a better seat at AXS. There's both international shipping option and e-ticket option.
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| The group look after their reunion in 2007. Sugizo, one of Luna Sea's lead guitarrist and leader, has joined them. How cool is that? |
☆♪☆♪☆ Links ☆♪☆♪☆
Yoshiki's MySpace (not updated anymore): https://myspace.com/yoshiki/X Japan's fan forum: http://www.x-freaks.com/forum/
Fun stories about fans that have met X members: http://www.x-freaks.com/forum/index.php?topic=2041.0
Xplosion Online: News and Fanpage about X-Japan http://www.xplosion-online.com/
