X Japan

X Japan (エックスジャパン) is a famous group of Japanese Rock and Visual kei which was founded during the summer 1982 by Yoshiki Hayashi, the leader, and Toshi, both friends since childhood. At that time the group named X (called Dynamite previously, then Noise ), it will be precursory movement Visual kei.

Biography

the prelude:

The prelude of this tragedy starts when at 10 years, Yoshiki Hayashi (future leader of X-Japan), discovers the body of his/her inert father (This last was 33 years old). The mother of Yoshiki, professor of Piano, taught her art to him as of her 4 years. He learned the battery thereafter after having seen a concert of KIS (group which will influence much Yoshiki in its beginnings).

history:

The history begins in the Eighties, when Yoshiki convinces Toshi (his/her friend of childhood) to stop the studies to form a group. It will follow of it the birth of a group emblematic of the Japanese scene.

Not having a producer, Yoshiki will create its own recording company with the financial aid of his/her mother, Extasy Record. The first demonstration of the " group; I' L Kill You " in 1985 with for other members leaves the group Yugi and Tomo to the Guitare. The group will sell it to a thousand of specimen, it is little, but X did not find its music yet. Their appearance, at the same time aggressive and romantic is a style never yet seen in Japan.

The following year is placed under the sign of the rehandling: Yugi and Tomo are thanked replaced by Jun (Guitare) and Hikaru (low). This configuration still not agreeing, the two founders call upon Taiji (low), Hide (Guitare) and Isao. Unfortunately this last is victim of an accident which prevents it from continuing with the group. Finally it is Pata which replaces it with the rhythmic guitar, the group adopting its quasi-final form then.

In 1988, leaves the first album, " Vanishing Vision" , with the excellent piece " Kurenaï ". This album will run out with 10000 specimens. It is also the most aggressive album of the group. The influence of the group is very quickly felt since other groups like Ladies Room and sign a contract with Extasy Records. The same year, the group makes a short appearance in American film Tokyo Pop.

In 1989 leaves the album " Blue Blood". It contains 2 titles which will be dissociated, " Kurenaï (Japanese version) " and " Endless Rain " (sold each one to more than one million specimens). This album contains obviously titles violent one, but it is surely the ballade " Endless Rain " who will mark the heart of Japanese, ballade which will be played at end in the concerts and will be maintained for several minutes by all the fans. This album is very well classified in the Oricon. " Blue Blood " is 4th, " Kurenaï " 5th and " Endless Rain " 3rd. The same year, on December 1st, X-Japan starts its first round entitled " Rose & Blood Tour".

One year is passed and Yoshiki decides to remake a round in named " Rose & Blood Final" Turn;. Japan Record Awards crown X-Japan in their decreeing the price of the best new artist of the year. The other groups of productions at the time repented not to have taken the group under their wings.

Meanwhile, X-Japan leaves " Week-End" who positions in the 5th place of the Signal Oricon.

In 1991, leaves the 3rd album " Jealousy" , softer, the sound is more required. Individual the " Silent-Jealousy " is only sold with him to more than one million specimens. X-Japan starts then turned the " Violence in Jealousy Tour" during which Yoshiki will disappear on the scene after having prolonged its solo too a long time with the battery. This round will be marked by the fact that X-Japan is the 1st group to play 3 days of sharp with closed counter with the Tokyo Dôme. (It should be known that the concerts of X-Japan at that time are shortest, between 2 and 3:00).

With the beginning of the year 1992, for obscure reasons, Taiji is congédié group then replaced by Heath which will supplement the group then in a final way. (It is said that Taiji did not support any more the authority of Yoshiki. It appears that the 1st meeting of Heath with the group was painful, Hide would have made it cry). During same time X will try to make an opening in the USA, without success with for consequence a new name, X-Japan (an American group was called already X).

August 25th 1993, the album " Art off Life" leaves. Composed of only one song, this chief of work of about thirty minutes will have given 4 years of work to Yoshiki, which unceasingly dissatisfied, modified it, lengthened it. This éponyme comprises all the styles of X-Japan, at the same time aggressiveness and softness. Yoshiki composes it with the heart its past, showing at the same time its pain, its melancholy, but also the talent of a true artist. " Art off Life" is propelled to the 1st rank of the Signal Oricon as of the first week.

Hide, Pata and Heath begins each one a career solo the same year. It is only in 1995 that 2 new individual leave, " Longing Togireta Melody " and " Longing Night " who them also make furies as of their exits. From this date, the look of X-Japan changes. They adopt a more traditional style except Hide which always keeps its style suitable for itself.

November 4th 1996 leaves the last album the " group; Dahlia" who is even mélodieux than the old ones. This album does not have indeed anything any more to see with the 1st exit in 1988. It comprises very beautiful dynamic musics like " Rusty Nail " (1st with the hit parade), but also of the ballades will make cry the fans during the concerts, " Crucify My Love " , " Forever Coils " and " Tears ", the song that Yoshiki wrote with the memory of his/her father. The December 30th and 31st 1996, the group starts its round " Dahlia tour" , the concerts last 3:00 each one and the setting in scene is most beautiful that the group never realized. At the time of this round, Yoshiki will be wounded and carried a minerve that it will keep until the end of the history. The round is a success, X-Japan played 2 days of sharpened with closed counter with the Tokyo Dôme.

However, whereas the group is at the top of its glory, occurs a drama. The group announces its dissolution on September 22nd 1997 at the time of an official press conference. Indeed, the actress Kaori Morisumi, wife of Toshi (grooms in 1997), member of the sect “Remuria” and hating X-Japan convainquit Toshi to leave the group. Toshi yielded and joined the sect. The guru of the sect would have put to him at the head that he was only one puppet for X and that he was made handle by Yoshiki (which was his/her best friend of childhood).

All are very disappointed because nobody put aside Toshi wanted to cross short to the adventure X-Japan. Yoshiki composes a last and sad song " The Last Song " and the artists will meet ultimate once at the Tokyo Dôme on December 31st 1997 for a concert of good-bye, " The Last Live". The concert lasts more 4:00, it is played closed counter. At the time of this concert, the feelings are not simply expressed through songs but also on scene. The solos of Yoshiki to the battery and the Piano always show as much bitterness. Toshi and Yoshiki is caught in the arms, in tears, at the time of the song " Forever Coils ". " Endless Rain " will be maintained more than 10 minutes by the fans, whereas the group is not any more on scene. At the time of the last part of the concert, all the members of the group cry. Toshi sings the ultimate song, " The Last Song ", then the epilog " comes; Tears " during which the group thanks all its fans.

the epilog:

Whereas all seemed finished for the group, Yoshiki and Hide decides to reform the group for the year 2000. But an ultimate drama will put an end to the history of the group.

May 2nd 1998, Hide is found hung with a towel. He dies a few hours later at the hospital. All the Japanese scene is shocked. The fans of X are destroyed. The suicides start and do not cease increasing, so much so that Yoshiki is obliged to intervene in public to require to stop the suicide attempts. At the time of the press conference, the hand of Yoshiki is trembling, its tears run, It évertue to read its some lines with the memory of Hide.

Hide was 33 years old when he died, the same age as the father of Yoshiki when he committed suicide. For fear bad memories go back to surface, Yoshiki is surrounded by his/her friends during some time.

At the time of the funeral, 80000 people are present to the Shinto temple in which, which remains group interprets ultimate once, " Forever Coils ".

The heritage left by X-Japan consists of 5 albums, 18 individual and of very many and memorable concerts.

And thus X-Japan entered the legend. However, in March 2007, a message of Toshi on its Web site leaves hope to the fans, and confirms that the group will be reformed, with the presence of Yoshiki. This last, always composing of the music (the project would be entitled “Without You”), would have asked for his/her friend childhood of return, because it was worthy one to the only sing them. See the references.

the return:

Henceforth it is not any more one secrecy for anybody: the group is reformed! No album was still announced, but the group composed a song of the name of " I.V." , which will take seat like credits of end of the film Saw IV, which will leave to France on November 21st, 2007. An extract was launched besides on the Net.

Some wonder then how the group made for Hide : for the composition of this song, the group used old recordings of this last! Our legendary, and unfortunately late, guitarist thus appears also in this piece. With regard to the lives ones, the group announced to have under the hands ten guitarists who will play in turn the parts of the Pink Spider .

For those which are impatientraient with the idea to get the original soundtrack of film, will know that this song will not appear above! In a new album, perhaps?

Yoshiki

See the Leitartikel on Yoshiki.

  • civil Name: Yoshiki Hayashi

  • Birth date: November 20th 1965
  • Role: leader of the group, pianist and beater

Without him, the group would never have been born. In the Eighties it succeeds in convincing a friend, Toshi, forming a group of music named X. Heart of the group, it is him which composes the great majority of the songs of X Japan.

Its youth was mainly marked by the suicide of his/her father (Yoshiki is then 10 years old) and an heartbreak which will mark it for a long time. Its musical productions are very marked by it since most of the titles are symphonic Hard rock or Ballade S.

One considers it among the best beaters of the world because it puts all its energy in the pieces which it interprets (In 1992, it disappears in full concert after having prolonged its solo; it will have also the cervical ones damaged). Its talent with the piano is also imposing though enough original at the time of the concerts since the first part of its solo of piano is melody while the second is more particular, Yoshiki striking the piano. Many fans of the group see in this act a duality almost manichéenne (Love - Hatred, Vie - Died, Joie - Sadness…)

In spite of the departure of Toshi in 1997, Yoshiki and hide intended to start again the group in the year 2000. The death of Hide stopped Net these projects. During several months, it disappears from the public life, reappearing later as producer of the group Dir in grey.

Currently Yoshiki board on a large project named the Purple U.K. whose some musical extracts are available on its myspace. One had also finds it in the group of Pop-rock'n'roll Globe, in the last album of Yoshiki Earth is absent.

In August 2006, Yoshiki announces to take part in a gathering project of other stars Japanese women such as Gackt (ex singer of Mizer Mischievousness), Sugizo (ex guitarist of LUNA SEA) and Miyavi (ex guitarist of Due Quartz). The musical compositions began at the end of 2006 and are finished in studio at the beginning of 2007, a round in the USA is already envisaged. According to Yoshiki this group will have an international scale. Current formation:

  • Piano, Battery: Vocal Yoshiki

  • : Gackt
  • Guitar: Sugizo
  • Guitar: Low Miyavi
  • : UNKNOWN

In July 2007, Yoshiki pleased to us to come to the JAPAN EXPO which was held in Paris. With this occasion, it gave a conference where it spoke about its past but especially about its future and the reformation of X JAPAN. A meeting of dedications then took place.

Toshi

See the Leitartikel on Toshi.

At the beginning, Toshi seemed to have a future very traced by his/her parents, namely to become doctor. Meanwhile, Yoshiki will succeed in convincing his/her friend to form a group, X.

The voice of Toshi is always development thanks to the songs composed by Yoshiki. Its voice, nasillarde at the beginning, will change little by little to lead to a voice more worked and melody.

A thesis wants that: " Its adhesion with the sect of MASAYA would be seems it at the origin of its departure of the groupe". Toshi always denied this version of the facts, it had made its decision before to have met Masaya. Its equlibre was not any more in the life of a star of the rock'n'roll. This is lengthily explained on its Internet site in english language version. Currently, Toshi course Japan for concerts of music composed by MASAYA. He visits the underprivileged ones and people needing attention to test of the appaiser by the music. Rumors of exploitation of children were a reproached time has Toshi and the Masaya movement but Japanese justice completely cleared the singer and the movement to which it is close. Toshi makes the account of it on its Internet site (in Japanese).

Toshi is the youngest child of a family of three children. His/her mother was piano teacher like that of Yoshiki but Toshi as of her childhood, seems to prefer the violin, the guitar or to sing. However, in the orchestra of its school, he played of the piano.

Just a day before the examination of entry at the school of doctor of Toshi, Yoshiki came and convinced it to go to Tokyo to form a group of music. Toshi chose a dubious future in the place of the future of doctor well paid because of the friendship of Yoshiki but also its passion for the music and the adventure. And he should not have regretted with X Japan. At the time of the departure of a singer of Noise in 1982 (the name of the group X Japan at this time), Toshi which dealt with the guitar could replace singer and there definitively remains. Its capacity of song is astonishing. It can sing until a voice of female viola.

In the life Toshi is a generous person. He is the first member of the group which opens an account for the fight against AIDS. Still a small detail that little of anybody knows: in certain concerts of XJAPAN, while singing, Toshi uses the signs of the hand to translate the songs with the deaf people. Tshirt which it put in the turn in concert `Violence in Jealousy' bears the name Passion. It is a dress which was offered by a fan of Toshi, died of the AIDS. It is from there that the need comes to him to off write the song 'Passion coils' in its album solo `Made in Heaven' left in 1992.

hide

See the Leitartikel on hide.

  • civil Name: Hideto Matsumoto

  • Birth date: December 13rd 1964 (deceased the May 2nd 1998 at 33 years)
  • Role: guitarist
  • Member of 1987 to 1997

If Yoshiki were the leader, Hide (to pronounce hidé ) was the mascot of the group. Eccentric in its behavior and its vestimentary tastes, hide ensured the spectacle with its provocative style at the time of the concerts; it is told that it would be one of the initiators of the kind Visual Kei.

Yoshiki sought a guitarist and found hide. It appears that it is the latter which made return Pata in the group because they were already all two friends. Excel guitarist and talented type-setter, it is the only one which had a remarkable career solo. In spite of the departure of Toshi, Hide wished to continue in the music with a career solo and, just like Yoshiki, a possible return to the stage of X-Japan. Unfortunately, on May 2nd, 1998, Hide is found hung by a towel with a handle of door by his/her boyfriend. The precise cause of its death remains a mystery still today, but the official thesis is the accident.

But a theory is possible: being guitarist, the weight of his guitar gave him pains with the backs, then it attached a towel around its neck and attached it to a handle of door to relieve itself. One evening, whereas it returned drunk with his boyfriend, she let it rest but while arriving she discovered it hung. It is thought that, even drunk, he wanted to relieve himself and fell asleep with its towel around the neck. The thesis of the suicide is not very credible, because no letter of good-bye was found. Moreover, he had spoken about a project to his fans, and its two individual had an insane success. He died in the ambulance, while arriving at the hospital, because it was impossible to reanimate it.

Pata

See the Leitartikel on Pata.

Of discrete nature, Pata forever be talkative, in particular during the interviews. Highly skilled guitarist, one notices it in titles like I' L kill you .

After the separation of X Japan, Pata integrated Dope Headz with Heath temporarily but the group separated in 2003. Pata is currently in the group Ra: in. It came with its group Ra: In Paris in May 2005 when he played Elysium Montmartre. The previous day there also was a meeting of dedication, with the great happiness of the fans!

Heath

See the Leitartikel on Heath.

One knows only very few things about Heath, which prefers, during interviews, to let speak Yoshiki or hide. Like Pata, one says it rather timid what will not prevent it from entering X Japan in 1992 and to connect turned on rounds.

After the dissolution of X Japan, Heath joined the group Dope Headz (with Pata) before this one does not separate… it is currently in the Rats group

Taiji

See the Leitartikel on Taiji.

  • civil Name: Taiji Sawada

  • Birth date: July 12th 1966
  • Role: former bass player
  • Member of 1986 to 1992

Taiji leaves the goupe in 1992 for still obscure reasons. Some affirm that the cause is that it did not support any more the too authoritative character of Yoshiki as regards music, of other which it left to marry.

After having left X Taiji joined the group Loudness where it will remain only little of time. Thereafter it creates its own group, DTR in 1994, but success is not with go and the group separates in 1996.

He is currently the leader of Otokaze, groups in which the singer is not other than her sister But it took again its activities with its old group D.T.R which reformed last July, decision taken around a bowl of chips, for the greatest happiness of the fans.

Look and musical style

Inspired by the American group KIS, the members of X Japan approach a provocative and extravagant look. The setting in scene and the visual aspect occupy an important place at the time of the representations of the group (into live or in the clips); it is Visual Kei (or Visual Rock ).

The group is especially appreciated for its capacity not to remain fixed in a kind. Energy of the most violent metal to the ballade more melancholic person, X Japan can benefit from each member of the group in order to extract the best. During the sixteen years of reign on the Japanese music scene, X Japan will evolve/move so much on the visual aspect (members forsaking Visual Kei little by little) that on the sound aspect (the group assagit by privileging the calm musics).

X Japan is author of Art off life ; the song headlight of the group, described as “work” by some. She with the characteristic to last more than one half hour and was interpreted only twice into live, fine 1993.

The majority of the pieces of X Japan are composed by Yoshiki, central element and leader of the group. The topics mainly approached are sadness, the love, the suicide and death.

Dissolution of the group

Several rumors circulate on the dissolution of the group, trying to explain why this adventure could end also brutally. The most credible rumor to date would be a cooling of the relations between Yoshiki and Toshi. Some say that this last would have been victim of the Remuria sect by the means of his wife, Kaori Morisumi. The latter would have encouraged it to leave the group while asserting that Toshi was the puppet of Yoshiki in all this history. Toshi however gives very an other version on its Internet site explaining why it was in a very depressive psychological state and that a change in its lifestyle had been essential has him. It left the life of rock'n'roll star for a life more discrete and calmer. Of another rumors say that thereafter, Toshi disavowed even more the old group by selling its costumes, and while insulting, perhaps involuntarily, the memory of hide. Many truncated judgments and bad interpretations were done by the disappointed fans, or of the magazines in lack of sensational.

What one knows for some: Toshi launched out in a music of a very different style, and wished to bring its assistance, by the music, has those which are generally forgotten. It gave concerts in old people's homes, houses of educations and another places or sometimes people are only found with their sufferings.

At the base, Toshi wished to become doctor. To give pleasure with his friend of childhood, it had all to drop. Perhaps that a certain lassitude gained it while making sixteen years of scene… Toshi tried to render comprehensible the message with the public while committing suicide theatrically at the time of a concert, by changing look and of hairstyle.

Writing Yoshiki of the songs adapted to the stamp of voice of Toshi, it was unthinkable to recruit another vocalist. However Yoshiki and hide had in the spirit to start again X Japan, perhaps with another singer… but the death of hide on May 2nd, 1998 chamboula forever the projects of the group…

Today Toshi and Yoshiki were re-examined, and one envisaged to reform X Japan for a series in concerts. New individual is already envisaged " Without You". Heath and Pata were contacted and of large guitarists of the Japanese scene metale will be invited to play the parts of hide and will be samplé as Yoshiki the advertisement in the interview carried out following new the individual INTER-F written for the film saw IV.

Discography

Albums

# Dear Loser
# Vanishing Coils off
# Phantom Guilt
# Sadistic Desire
# Give me the Pleasure
# I' L kill you
# Alive
# Kurenai
# Un-Finished… # Prolog ~ World Anthem
# Blue Blood
# Week End
# Easy Fight Rambling
# X
# Endless Rain
# Kurenai
# Xclamation
# Orgasm
# Celebration
# Rose off Bread
# Unfinished
  • Jealousy (July 1st 1991)
# has String Piano off in Hard Es
# Silent Jealousy
# Miscast
# Desperate Angel
# White Wind From Mr. Martin
# Voiceless Screaming
# Stab Me in the Back
# Love Replica
# Joker
# Say Anything # Art off Life # Dahlia
# Scars
# Longing
# Rusty Nail
# White Poem I
# Crucify my Love
# Tears
# Wriggle
# Drain
# Forever Love

Individual

Live albums

Compilations

DVD

References

  • the site where Toshi announces the reformation of the group

External bond

  • Official site of X Japan (Japanese)

  • Official site of the Yoshiki Leader (multilingual)

Fan sites

  • x-japan.fr, site and forum dedicated to X Japan

  • site dedicated for Toshi

  • site dedicated to X' S " Rose off Pain" Statement

Simple: X Japan Zh-yue: X JAPAN

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