1. Band Profile
X Japan is a J-Rock music group origin from Japan formed in 1982 by the pianist and at once as a drummer named Yoshiki and the vocalist Toshimitsu Deyama (Toshi). For the last, their main members were : Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama (vocals), Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka (guitar), Yune "Sugizo" Sugihara (guitar, violin), Hiroshi "Heath" Morie (bass guitar), Yoshiki Hayashi (drums, piano). They've ever been under Extasy, CBS Sony Japan, Warner Music Japan, PolyGram, and Platinum Music Label. It took a long time for them to achieve a success after the release of their second album "BLUE BLOOD". After releasing out 3 next albums, they disbanded in 1997 after holding a concert called The Last Live on December 31, 1997.
The band had been planned since 1978 by Yoshiki Hayashi and Toshi (Toshimitsu Deyama) when they were still in Elementary School. Influnced by Western Hard Rock Music, someone said that their style was similar to KISS. But in fact, they used a Japanese visual style that had been in Japan after the massive changes disorderly the World War II. At that time, there was a castaway community from the society. This community didn't only speak through the mouth and writing, but also through the performance. Before this band named X, they use the name Dynamite (1978-1980), and Noise (1980 until the summer in 1982). The new band name was changed to X Japan in 1992, after the come out of their older bassist, Taiji.
When they were still using Noise as the name, they joined a band audition "East West Japan" in 1982. At that moment they played "Rock and Roll" (Led Zeppelin) and "Burn" (Deep Purple). Then they participated on their school festival in 1982, they brought songs such as "The World Anthem" (Frank marino) and "Highway Star" (Deep Purple). This was the first time for Yoshiki, Toshi, and Terry did a live concert under the name "X" in 1983. At that time they've gone up to the festival stage which was held in their Senior High School of Chiba. At moment, they have sung their original song created by Yoshiki titled "I'LL KILL YOU" and "We are X". Beside that, on the same festival, they brought songs "Burn" (Deep Purple),"In the Mirror" (Loudness), dan "Killers" (Iron Maiden).
X released their first demotape "I'LL KILL YOU" in 1984 under the Dada Records music label. The demotape contained 3 songs : "I'LL KILL YOU", "We are X", and "Stop Bloody Rain".
Jump to : 1996 Era
After Dahlia Tour Final 1996, when X Japan reached the peak of success, Toshi said to Yoshiki that he wanted to come out from X Japan. Because Toshi had becoming a vocalist since this band was still called "Noise" and he also became an icon of X Japan. It was very impossible to replace him. X Japan (without Toshi) announced their split band on the press conference on September 22, 1997.
Jump to : the Return of X Japan
After almost 10 years disbanded, X Japan came back to hold their debut show on the front of public when taking a picture for their new PV, "I.V.", in Odaiba Aqua City on October 22 2007.
Around 10.000 fans came to Aqua City for watching a new appearance from X Japan. The fourth of X Japan's personnels appeared on the stage to do a PV shooting, it could be seen on the stage found a empty space, where there were put a hide's (decease) guitar. On that event, Yoshiki announced that X Japan would hold a concert in Tokyo Dome in the spring 2008.
On January 20, 2008, it was held a press conference about X Japan Reunion Concert and a live tribute for hide.
2. Members Profile
- Main Members :
Born : November 20, 1965 (1965-11-20) (age 44)
Origin : Tateyama, Japan
Genres : Pop, rock, metal, classical
Occupations : Drummer, pianist, songwriter, producer
Instruments : Drums, piano, Guitar, Bass
Years active : 1982–present
Labels : Avex Group, Columbia Music Entertainment, Extasy Records
Associated acts : X Japan, Globe, S.K.I.N., Violet UK, V2 (Side project with Tetsuya Komuro), Roger Taylor
Website : www.yoshiki.net
Birth name : Toshimitsu Deyama
Also known as : Toshi
Born : October 10, 1965 (1965-10-10) (age 44)
Origin : Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Genres : Rock, heavy metal, J-POP
Occupations : Singer, songwriter
Instruments : Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Years active : 1982–present
Associated acts : X JAPAN
Website : www.toshi-samuraijapan.com
Birth name : Tomoaki Ishizuka
Also known as : Pata
Born : November 4, 1965 (1965-11-04) (age 44)
Origin : Chiba, Japan
Genres : Rock, heavy metal
Occupations : Guitarist, songwriter
Instruments : Guitar, Bass
Years active : 1980s–present
Associated acts : X Japan, Rain, Dope HEADz
Website : www.rain-web.com
Birth name : Hiroshi Morie
Also known as : Heath
Born : January 22, 1968 (1968-01-22) (age 42)
Origin : Amagasaki, Japan
Genres : Rock, heavy metal
Occupations : Singer, songwriter, bassist
Instruments : Bass guitar
Years active : 1980s–present
Associated acts : X Japan, Dope HEADz, Paranoia, Lynx
Website : www.heath.co.jp
Birth name : Yūne Sugihara (有音杉原) u.2004, Yasuhiro Sugihara (康弘杉原)
Also known as : スギゾー, Sugizo
Born : July 8, 1969 (1969-07-08) (age 41) Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan
Genres : Rock, metal, avant garde, electronica, psychedelic, jazz, ambient, trance, bossa nova, world, classical, traditional
Occupations : Singer-songwriter, musician, composer, record producer, actor, dancer, author
Instruments : Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, violin, cello, sitar, kokyū, flute, trumpet, piano, turntable
Years active : 1989–present
Labels : Cross/Polydor 1997-Embryo 1998-Nippon Crown 2001-2003,Sephirot 2007-Universal 2008-
Associated acts : Luna Sea, Juno Reactor, S.K.I.N., X Japan, Stop Rokkasho, The Flare, S.t.k., Shag
Website : sugizo.com
3. Latest NewsAlso known as : Toshi
Born : October 10, 1965 (1965-10-10) (age 44)
Origin : Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Genres : Rock, heavy metal, J-POP
Occupations : Singer, songwriter
Instruments : Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Years active : 1982–present
Associated acts : X JAPAN
Website : www.toshi-samuraijapan.com
Also known as : Pata
Born : November 4, 1965 (1965-11-04) (age 44)
Origin : Chiba, Japan
Genres : Rock, heavy metal
Occupations : Guitarist, songwriter
Instruments : Guitar, Bass
Years active : 1980s–present
Associated acts : X Japan, Rain, Dope HEADz
Website : www.rain-web.com
Also known as : Heath
Born : January 22, 1968 (1968-01-22) (age 42)
Origin : Amagasaki, Japan
Genres : Rock, heavy metal
Occupations : Singer, songwriter, bassist
Instruments : Bass guitar
Years active : 1980s–present
Associated acts : X Japan, Dope HEADz, Paranoia, Lynx
Website : www.heath.co.jp
Also known as : スギゾー, Sugizo
Born : July 8, 1969 (1969-07-08) (age 41) Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan
Genres : Rock, metal, avant garde, electronica, psychedelic, jazz, ambient, trance, bossa nova, world, classical, traditional
Occupations : Singer-songwriter, musician, composer, record producer, actor, dancer, author
Instruments : Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, violin, cello, sitar, kokyū, flute, trumpet, piano, turntable
Years active : 1989–present
Labels : Cross/Polydor 1997-Embryo 1998-Nippon Crown 2001-2003,Sephirot 2007-Universal 2008-
Associated acts : Luna Sea, Juno Reactor, S.K.I.N., X Japan, Stop Rokkasho, The Flare, S.t.k., Shag
Website : sugizo.com
2. Former Members :
Birth name : Taiji Sawada
Also known as : Taiji, Ray
Born : July 12, 1966 (1966-07-12) (age 44)
Origin : Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
Genres : Rock, heavy metal
Occupations : Songwriter, bassist
Instruments : Bass guitar, guitar
Years active : 1982–present
Associated acts : X Japan, Loudness, D.T.R., Kings, Cloud Nine, Otokaze, Taiji with Heaven's, TSP, Dementia, Trash
Website : www.tsglaston.com
Birth name : Hideto Matsumoto
Also known as : hide
Born : December 13, 1964(1964-12-13)
Origin : Yokosuka, Japan
Died : May 2, 1998 (aged 33) Tokyo, Japan
Genres : Alternative rock, Heavy metal, Progressive metal, Power metal, Speed metal
Occupations : Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer
Instruments : Vocals, backing vocals, guitar, bass
Years active : 1981–1998
Labels : Sony, Lemoned Plant
Associated acts : X Japan, Zilch, Yokosuka Saver Tiger
Website : hide-city.com
X JAPAN Logo
Birth name : Taiji Sawada
Also known as : Taiji, Ray
Born : July 12, 1966 (1966-07-12) (age 44)
Origin : Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
Genres : Rock, heavy metal
Occupations : Songwriter, bassist
Instruments : Bass guitar, guitar
Years active : 1982–present
Associated acts : X Japan, Loudness, D.T.R., Kings, Cloud Nine, Otokaze, Taiji with Heaven's, TSP, Dementia, Trash
Website : www.tsglaston.com
Birth name : Hideto Matsumoto
Also known as : hide
Born : December 13, 1964(1964-12-13)
Origin : Yokosuka, Japan
Died : May 2, 1998 (aged 33) Tokyo, Japan
Genres : Alternative rock, Heavy metal, Progressive metal, Power metal, Speed metal
Occupations : Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer
Instruments : Vocals, backing vocals, guitar, bass
Years active : 1981–1998
Labels : Sony, Lemoned Plant
Associated acts : X Japan, Zilch, Yokosuka Saver Tiger
Website : hide-city.com
X JAPAN Logo
X Japan disbanded in 1997 but they returned in 2007 by holding reunion and some of concerts. Before they disbanded, they had released 5 studio albums, 6 Live albums, 10 Compilation albums, 19 Singles, 15 Video albums.
The 3 albums Jealousy, Art of Live, and Dahlia always peaked at #1 on the Japan Oricon album. Under Ki/oon and Atlantic music label.
And their latest single after holding a reunion was "I.V.", but just released on iTunes Store version on January 23 2008.
On August 14 and 15, 2010, the band performed a two-day show at Nissan Stadium, the largest stadium in Japan. It was reported that over 100,000 fans attended the two shows with some estimates as high as 140,000 in attendance. Taiji played the song "X" as a guest at the concert.
On August 16, the first ever North American tour was announced with dates scheduled for Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, and New York City.
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