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Welcome to the Official X JAPAN Thread!
]X JAPAN, undoubtedly one of the most successful bands to ever come out of Japan, has been around for nearly three decades. X JAPAN was started back in 1978, by junior high students Toshimitsu Deyama, more commonly known as Toshi, and Yoshiki Hayashi, known now as YOSHIKI. The band's name, as well as it's members, frequently changed until the 80's, when YOSHIKI founded Extasy Records. By the time their second single was released, support member Tomoaki "PATA" Ishizuka, permanently joined the band, as well as their lead guitarist, Hideto 'hide' Matsumoto, and their bassist, Taiji Sawada ('TAIJI'), followed shortly. This was the first steady lineup the band had, and the band was finally given a name. X.
In the late 80's, shortly after their first album, Vanishing Vision, was released under Extasy Records, X signed a contract with CBS Sony, which lead to their first tour. Their second album, Blue Blood, was released in April of 1989, and the band hit instant fame. Blue Blood contained the songs 'Kurenai', and 'Endless Rain', two of their most popular songs even now. This album lead to their first sold out Tokyo Dome live, the first of many to come.
The 90's were fairly complicated for X. In 1993, the band changed their name from X, to X JAPAN, to avoid confusion between American and Australian bands of the same name. TAIJI had decided to leave the band, and was replaced by Hiroshi 'HEATH' Morie. X JAPAN also left Sony in 1993, and signed with Atlantic Records, where they released their incredible 29 minute recording, 'Art of Life'.
X JAPAN released many singles and a few albums under Atlantic Records until 1996, when they produced their last album, DAHLIA. They had also dropped their signature visual kei look, at this point.
It seems that after this point, X JAPAN began to fade. Toshi left the band for his solo career, as well as marriage. The most depressing point of X JAPAN's career, though, was losing their lead guitarist, hide.
Hideto 'hide' Matsumoto died only a few months after Toshi's parting from the band, leaving everyone in shock. hide was not only well known for his part in X JAPAN, but for his successful solo career as well. Word of his death made international headlines. Some called it suicide, other say it was an accident. hide's death lead to at least two copy-cat suicides by his loyal fans.
X JAPAN's members continued with their individual projects. Toshi's solo career lasted for quite a few years, PATA and HEATH joined DopeHEADz, and YOSHIKI took on multiple projects.
YOSHIKI had joined a pop group, 'globe', produced songs for many bands, including the korean band the TRAX, and started up Violet UK [which technically has no albums, to date].
In 2007 YOSHIKI joined the session band S.K.I.N., which included LUNASEA's SUGIZO, Gackt, and Miyavi. The band was rumored to be the start of a 'super group', but sadly they only performed one show in California.
2007 was also the year of X JAPAN's restart. They produced the track 'I.V.', which happened to be the ending theme song for the hit movie Saw IV. 'I.V.' also used previously unreleased guitar tracks by hide.
In 2008 three Tokyo Dome shows were performed by X JAPAN, with Wes Borland, Richard Fortus, and SUGIZO filling in for hide. This was also the year that they played at hide's Memorial Summit, along with other major bands, paying tribute to their departed friend.
A world tour was announced later that year, but due to YOSHIKI's deteriorating health, it was postponed for a few months. YOSHIKI is well known for his health problems, and while some may be severe, he refuses to back down from his career. Aside from the Tokyo Dome lives, the only other major live performed that year, was at Akasaka BLITZ, for New Years.
2009 was a great year for X JAPAN. They played two shows in Hong Kong, and they announced that SUGIZO would be joining the band as their 6th member (not as hide's replacement). Their first Tokyo Dome show with all 6 members took place in May, and they played in Taiwan later that month. The band moved to the US to push forward on their North American debut in early 2010.
In may of 2010, YOSHIKI surprised the attendants of Anime Central (ACen), with a wonderful announcement. He revealed that the rumors that had been going around for the past few months, were indeed true. X JAPAN would be playing on the main stage at Chicago's world famous festival, Lollapalooza. The show was phenomenal, and it seemed as if X JAPAN had never taken a decade long break to being with. An incredible portion of their American fanbase had traveled to Chicago for the show, which was wonderful for them to see. By the end of their set, they walked away with awestruck fans, and a whole new addition to their fanbase. Many of those at Lollapalooza who had never heard of X JAPAN before that day, walked away as new fans of this amazing band.
A few weeks after X JAPAN played at Lollapalooza, YOSHIKI announced that they would finally be having their first North American tour. Almost all of the shows had sold out, and fans traveled yet again, from all over the country to see them live. Not only did their American fans attend the shows, a large portion of each crowd was taken over by their Japanese fans, who had been following them around the country to each live.
With the help of their dedicated fans, X JAPAN will continue on for years. Their North American tour is just the beginning, X JAPAN will take over the world!
[All information here was based off of JaME World's database]
I AM, YOU ARE, WE ARE... X!!!
