X Japan is the most successful rock band in Japanese history, and that is not a statement
made lightly. The band has sold more than 30-million albums, singles and videos, sold
out Japan's 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome 18 times - so far - and has started playing to tens of
thousands of fans outside of Japan. In the band’s early days, their look and sound
sparked a global interest in Japanese entertainment, especially with the Japanese cultural
rock phenomenon, "Visual-Kei," a movement X Japan pioneered that went on to become
a catalyst for today's worldwide Anime craze.
X Japan (current line up is Yoshiki/drums, piano, Toshi/vocals, Pata/guitars, Heath/bass,
and Sugizo/guitars, violin) was formed in 1982 (calling themselves X) by Yoshiki and
Toshi while still teenagers. Over the next 13 years, the band released five studio albums Vanishing Vision (1988), Blue Blood (1989), Jealousy (1991), Art of Life (1993) and
Dahlia (1996), as well as six live albums, ten compilation albums and 15 video albums.
X Japan was one of the first Japanese bands to achieve mainstream success while on an
independent label. The band was so popular, they became a cultural phenomenon, as
evidenced by the X Japan Formula One racing team and a SEGA-produced X Japan
video game. In the fall of 1997, at the height of their success, the band broke up. Four
months later, hide, X Japan's original lead guitarist, was found dead in his Tokyo
apartment. At his funeral, more than 50,000 fans came to mourn his passing, and in May
2010, even more fans stood in line at a memorial service to pay their respects and mark
the anniversary of his tragic death. In early 2007, Yoshiki and Toshi started working
together again, and later that year, X Japan officially reformed. In 2008, the band
launched its reunion tour, being bigger than ever, and sold out everywhere it played. In
January 2010, X Japan filmed a music video on the rooftop of Hollywood's Kodak
Theatre, with a throng of some 8,000 U.S. fans taking part in the shoot on Hollywood
Blvd. But it was on August 8, 2010 that X Japan’s dream to come to America came true
with the band’s performance at Lollapalooza. Immediately following Lollapalooza, X
Japan played the biggest concert in its history, selling out two consecutive shows at
Japan’s Nissan Stadium, filling 140,000 seats. The band’s first North American tour, that
included a sold-out date at New York’s Roseland Ballroom, took place last fall. X Japan
plans to do more touring and release its first English album in 2011.
These Are The Members…
T O S H I • Vocals • 1982 - 1997, 2007 - Present
Toshi may be considered the quietest member of X Japan, but he certainly has a
powerful voice that spans three octaves. As a young boy, he loved to sing, and
did so at every possible opportunity. He learned to play piano (his mother was a
piano teacher) and guitar when he was very young, and played in the school
orchestra.
*****
P A T A • Guitar • 1987 - 1997, 2007 - Present
Pata, rarely seen without his yellow 1959 Les Paul Standard, is the only X Japan
member who, along with his Fernandez guitars, plays American-made
instruments. His musical career began at the age of 14 (relatively late for a
member of X Japan) and he is self-taught on the guitar. He was the rhythm
guitar balance to hide’s (and now Sugizo’s) lead, creating the double guitar
harmonies X Japan is known for. His musical tastes tend towards blues, fusion
and progressive rock. He recorded a solo album in the U.S. in 1993 with Tommy
Aldridge, Tim Bogart and James Christian.
*****
H E A T H • Bass • 1992 - 1997, 2007 - Present
In 1992, bassist Hiroshi “Heath” Mori replaced Taiji in X Japan when he joined
Loudness. Heath started learning bass guitar when he was 10 at the prompting of
his brother. That he often practiced as much as ten hours a day should be readily
apparent to anyone who has listened to the unmatched technicality in his
rhythms. He plays custom "Heath Model" Fernandez bass guitars. Heath has
released two solo albums (Heath and Gang Age Cubisi).
*****
S U G I Z O • Guitar, Violin • 2008 - Present
Sugizo started playing the violin when he was three years old and studied
classical music theory and composition from that age. His father played trumpet
and his mother played the cello in the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.
He is self-taught on guitar and bass, playing ESP guitars, and a Kranz electric
violin.
His talents and credits are diverse and include soundtracks, acting and
contemporary dance. He is and has been both a solo artist and a member of a
variety of musical groups including the hugely popular and influential Japanese
rock band Luna Sea that has sold out the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome three times.
He has also released two stunning solo albums, Spirituarise (2007), and
Cosmoscape (2009). As an activist as well as a musician, Sugizo takes part in a
wide variety of anti-war and environmental activities. As well as being a
theatrical and commanding on-stage presence as the newest member of X Japan,
he is a soft-spoken, gentle soul who pays tribute to John Lennon at Strawberry
Fields every time he visits New York.
*****
Y O S H I K I - Drums, Piano,­­ Songwriter, Producer • 1982 - 1997, 2007 Present
The heart of X Japan is Yoshiki - songwriter, drummer, and classically trained
pianist who also plays guitar, bass and trumpet. Yoshiki, who has been referred
to by his first name only throughout his entire professional career, is arguably
Asia's most influential musical artist and biggest rock icon. According to one
industry insider, "Yoshiki is to Japan what Bono is to the UK." His double-record
classical album, Eternal Melody (1993), was co-produced and arranged by the
legendary George Martin, recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra,
and remains Japan's biggest-selling classical release. For KISS My Ass: Classic
KISS Regrooved, the 1994 KISS tribute album, Yoshiki arranged and produced
"Black Diamond" as a piano concerto, prompting Rolling Stone magazine to
comment in its CD review, "the ingenuity award must go to Yoshiki..." Yoshiki
has produced some of Japan's most influential bands, including Dir En Grey and
Glay. At the request of the Japanese government in 1999, Yoshiki composed a
piano concerto and performed it with a 77-piece orchestra to celebrate the tenth
year of the Emperor of Japan's reign. In 2005, he was named the Music Director
for the 2005 World Expo, composed its theme song, and conducted the orchestra
at the opening ceremonies. Yoshiki also wrote the X Japan song "I.V." for the
2007 international blockbuster horror film "Saw IV," which played over the film's
closing credits.
Beyond music, Yoshiki is an entrepreneur and a true renaissance man. He has
overseen the development of a premiere line of Yoshiki jewelry, collaborated
with the California Mondavi family to develop his own wine, "Y,” the Bank of
Japan has issued a Yoshiki Visa Card and, for the first time in history, a Hello
Kitty product line was named after a person - "Yoshikitty" - that became
available in Japan in May 2010. In March 2011, Yoshiki co-produced an Eastmeets-west/fashion-meets-music event, “Asia Girls Explosion,” showcasing top
fashion brands, and debuting his own line of kimonos, “Yoshikimono.” U.S.
celebrities such as rocker Marilyn Manson and “90210” stars AnnaLynne
McCord, Shenae Grimes and Jessica Stroup walked the runway. Yoshiki has
graced the covers of more than 200 music, business and trade media outlets in
Asia.
In July, 2010, Yoshiki launched the Yoshiki Foundation America, a California
non-profit, 501(c) public benefit corporation that has already helped
organizations including The Grammy Foundation, Make-a-Wish, and St. Vincent
Meals on Wheels. With the devastating March 2011 earthquake in Japan, YSA is
focusing all of its efforts on Japan relief, and has partnered with the Japan
America Society of Southern California in those efforts.
Comic book legend Stan Lee (Spider-Man, The Hulk) recently announced that he
is creating a Super Hero comic book based on Yoshiki. The gothic-styled music
Super Hero will feature Yoshiki’s passion for music and his fascination with
dragons, and will be a vigilante whose powers are triggered when certain
musical notes are played with drumsticks by Yoshiki’s character. Expected in
2011.
0511