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X Japan (エックス ジャパン) (sometimes typeset "X JAPAN", in keeping with the official logo) was a popular Japanese band founded in 1982 by drummer and pianist Yoshiki Hayashi and vocalist Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama. Originally named X (エックス), the group achieved its breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood. They started out as a power/speed metal band and later gravitated towards a progressive sound, at all times retaining an emphasis on ballads. After three more albums, X Japan disbanded in 1997.

History

X era (1980s - 1992)

X released their first single "I'll Kill You" on Dada Records in 1985. To ensure a continuous outlet for the band's publications, Yoshiki founded the independent label Extasy Records in the following year on which a second single ("Orgasm") was released, as well as the group's debut album, Vanishing Vision in 1988. X's lineup at that time consisted of Toshi on vocals, Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto on lead guitar, Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka on rhythm guitar, Taiji Sawada on bass and Yoshiki on drums and piano. The band makes a cameo in the 1988 comedy Tokyo Pop, starring the late Carrie Hamilton and Diamond Yukai.

After being singed on by Sony Records, the band's second album Blue Blood was released in 1989 and spawned several successful singles, such as "Kurenai" and "Endless Rain", as well as a VHS containing one of the concerts of the subsequent tour (later re-released on DVD). Recordings for the follow-up album Jealousy took place in Los Angeles. It was released in July 1991 and shortly followed by the band's first performance in Japan's largest live venue, the Tokyo Dome. The show would later be released both on CD and VHS/DVD.

By 1992 the band's ongoing success in Japan made an international breakthrough appear likely enough to warrant the renaming to "X Japan", in order to distinguish the group from the United States punk band X. Around the same time, Taiji was replaced by Hiroshi "Heath" Morie, supposedly due to creative differences with Yoshiki. He went on to work with Loudness and Cloud Nine. While still named X, the band appeared on two heavy metal samplers, Heavy Metal Force III and Skull Thrash Zone Volume I.

X Japan era (1993 - 1997)

For the release of their next album, X Japan left Sony and signed a deal with Atlantic Records. Art of Life was released in August 1993, notable for containing only the almost 29 minutes long title track, which would only be performed twice for a live audience. By then, the members of the group also maintained several side projects. For example, 1994 saw the release of Hide's first solo album, Hide Your Face, which featured a distinctively different sound from X Japan's music, leaning more towards alternative rock. Yoshiki collaborated with Queen drummer Roger Taylor on the single "Foreign Sand". and provided the Japanese contribution to the the international Kiss tribute album Kiss My Ass, a classical arrangement of the song "Black Diamond". A compilation with classical treatments of X Japan songs, titled Eternal Melody was also released. It was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and among others featured Beatles producer George Martin as an arranger.

In 1996, Dahlia, the band's first studio album in more than three years was released, though with relatively little new material, given that singles included on the record had been coming out as early as a few months after Art of Life. It would also be the band's last major release, since vocalist Toshi left the group, the subsequent breakup being officially announced in September 1997. X Japan performed their farewell show in the Toyko Dome on December 31, making it the last of five consecutive New Year's Eves the group performed in that stadium.

Much has been made of Toshi's departure, including allegations of him joining a cult and being influenced by it. Toshi has since denied these claims, stating that his decision to leave X Japan dated back as far as April 1996, more than a year before he met the organization's leader, Masaya and that the glamorous, success-oriented life of a rock star failed to satisfy him emotionally, as opposed to a simpler life and career.

After the breakup

After the dissolution of the band, Hide continued his very successful solo career with his band Hide with Spread Beaver, Pata performed with him on occasion. Pata and Heath joined Dope Headz, until their breakup in 2003. Now Heath is a solo artist as well as being in a band called Lynx, and Pata is currently in Rain.

Yoshiki and Hide were believed to have been secretly planning to resurrect X in 2000, sans Toshi, and were looking for a replacement singer. Tragedy rendered these plans impossible when Hide died in the hospital on May 2, 1998 after a night of hard drinking. He was found hung to a doorknob by a towel. This news stunned Japan's youth; four fans around the country attempted suicide, two of whom died. Much speculation about Hide's death has taken place, but no definitive explanation has been found. An apparent suicide, it is thought by some to be an accidental death, but there is not a clear motive for either suicide or murder. Some speculate that the lyrics to the song "Pink Spider" by Hide, which was set to be released the day after his death, is a suicide note of sorts. Following Hide's demise, Yoshiki entered a state of depression for almost three years, being unable to compose or play.

In late 2000, Yoshiki recovered, and announced the creation of his new project Violet UK, a project involving music, visuals and art. He also collaborated with Roger Taylor in several songs. In 2002 he produced and starred in three commercials for the chain of 24-hour stores 7-Eleven, using some Violet UK music and concepts for those. Unfortunately, as of present, not much else from Violet UK has been shown or released. In the same year, Yoshiki announced he was joining the J-Pop band Globe, to help his long time friend Tetsuya Komuro (in 1991 Yoshiki, on drums, and Komuro, on keyboards and singing, did a musical collaboration under the name of V2, releasing some singles and performing live). At Otakon on August 5, 2006 Yoshiki announced he will be forming a band with the Japanese musician Gackt.

As a side note, former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had said that he is a big fan of X Japan, which had helped create his image as a different type of politician more in touch with average Japanese citizens.

Live performances

X Japan has always been characterized by having spectacular live shows. In 1982 when the band was formed, they began to play in cultural events and parties, with this X Japan began to obtain a fan base.

The day after the launch of their first album, Vanishing Vision, they sold all the entrances for a concert at the Tokyo Nakano Kohkaido, the band also began their first tour for the disc, called the Vanishing Tour. In 1989 they toured some cities, it was known as the Blue Blood Tour and was to promote their just released album Blue Blood. The tour was a great success.

X Japan released their third album on July, 1st 1991. In January 1992, a concert in the Tokyo Dome attracted lot of people over three nights, this was Taiji's last live performance. Because of him leaving the band, X Japan stopped touring, while they were searching for a new bassist. In the final days of 1993 they did the first major live with Heath on bass, the concert was called X Japan Returns, because they didn't play since 1992. The concert was a success with the Tokyo Dome full for two days.

In the early months of 1995 the band started playing some new songs at Japanese TV programs such as Music Station (and the yearly special, Super Live) and Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, and later in November, they decided to start the Dahlia Tour (based on their last studio album with the same name). The tour finished on the last two days of the year at the Tokyo Dome. In 1996, with the release of Dahlia, they did another tour called Dahlia Tour Final finishing too at the Tokyo Dome. Finally the band, because of its dissolution did their last live performance at the Tokyo Dome on December 31, 1997, which was known as The Last Live.

Awards

Members

As with numerous other Japanese bands, the members of X Japan were usually credited with their first or stage name.

• Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama (出山利三, Deyama Toshimitsu) – Vocals
• Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto (松本秀人 Matsumoto Hideto) – Lead guitar
• Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka (石塚智昭 Ishizuka Tomoaki) – Rhythm guitar
• Hiroshi "Heath" Morie (森江博 Morie Hiroshi) – Bass (from 1992)
• Yoshiki Hayashi (林佳樹 Hayashi Yoshiki) – Drums and piano
• Taiji Sawada (沢田泰司 Sawada Taiji) – Bass (1980s - 1992)

Discography

References

1. "X Japan history". allmusic.com. {{cite web}}: Text "JAPAN~C" ignored (help)
2. "Extasy Records company history". extasyrecords.co.jp.
3. "Credits for Tokyo Pop". imdb.com.
4. "Blue Blood Tour DVD re-release information". cdjapan.co.jp.
5. "List of Japanese heavy metal samplers". japanesemetal.gooside.com.
6. ""Foreign Sand" release information". queenpicturehall.com.
7. "Kiss My Ass release information". kissfaq.com.
8. "Eternal Melody release information". cdjapan.co.jp.
9. "Interview with Toshi". naturallyart.net.
10. "Yoshiki, the honored guest at OTAKON 2006". JAME.

External links

• X Japan.ne.jp - The official X Japan website
• X Japan.de - Unofficial X Japan website
• Weekend - Korean X Japan fan club website
• X-Freaks Fan Forum - A forum for fans of X Japan and/or it's members

• Extasy Records homepage
• Yoshiki's official site
• Yoshiki's Myspace
• Yoshiki's unofficial website
• Yoshiki's unofficial website for international fans

• Art of Life analysis
• Nippop Profile|X

• Articles lacking sources from January 2007
• Speed metal musical groups
• Japanese heavy metal musical groups
• Japanese rock music groups
• 1980s music groups
• 1990s music groups
• Musical groups established in 1982
• 1997 disestablishments