Yoshiki(drums and piano), Toshi(vocals), hide*pronounced hee-dey*(guitar), Pata(guitar) and Heath(bass)
Wikipedia
In March 2007, Toshi announced on his website that he and Yoshiki had recently resumed working together, stating that a "new project" would start soon. A reunion was officially confirmed on June 4, 2007, with Yoshiki announcing a tour, as well as a new single (a re-recording of the song "Without You", originally from Yoshiki's 2005 solo album Eternal Melody II) to be underway and that he was in talks with Heath and Pata, regarding their participation. About ten, still undisclosed guitarists are to fill in for the late Hide during concerts.
The band had its first live performance on October 22, 2007, on the rooftop of the shopping center called Aqua City in Odaiba, Tokyo. During this performance, a music video for the song "I.V." was filmed. The new song, published through Extasy Music and 901 Highland Music, is a soundtrack contribution to the movie Saw 4. It is written by Yoshiki and recorded with all living X Japan members of the pre-breakup lineup. It also uses previously unreleased guitar tracks by Hide. Later this year, the group is reportedly going to perform on the December 31 broadcast of Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Yoshiki announced that X Japan will also perform a concert in Tokyo in the Spring of 2008. According to some sources an album was also announced at the Odaiba event, no album schedule has been announced yet.
History
X Japan (エックス ジャパン, X Japan?) is a popular Japanese band founded in 1982 by Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama and Yoshiki Hayashi. 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.
Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label, the group is widely credited for pioneering the visual kei movement, though most of the group's members toned down their on-stage attire in later years.[5] As of 2007, the band has sold over twenty million records and over two million home videos.
On June 4, 2007 it was announced the band would reunite, with the band performing on October 22, 2007, during which a music video for a new song, titled "I.V." was shot.
On October 22, 2007 X Japan reunited to perform the song "I.V." which includes previously un-released guitar tracks made by hide.
hide passed away on 2nd May, 1998. he was only 34. it was a huge loss to all X Japan fans out there. he was a great guitarist. it was so sad watching hide's funeral and news report on youtube. he'll be dearly missed.
Death
Hideto Matsumoto died on May 2, 1998. After a night out drinking, he was found hanged with a towel tied to a doorknob in his Tokyo apartment, his death shocking the Japanese public. Three fans died in copycat suicides, of the 50,000 people who attended his funeral, nearly 60 were hospitalized and about 200 received medical treatment in first aid tents. Later that month, the single "Pink Spider" was released, entering the Oricon charts at number one. The song would also receive that year's MTV Video Music Award in the category "Japan Viewers Choice". Sales were also strong for the follow up single "Ever Free", while those of a single released previous to his death "Rocket Dive" would also see a substantial increase. American Journalist Neil Strauss commented on the trend saying that: "In just a few weeks, pop culture in Japan had gone from mourning Hide's death to consuming it."
While authorities deemed Matsumoto's death a suicide, several of Hide's friends and colleagues stated that they believed in an accident, among them X Japan co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi and former X Japan bassist Taiji Sawada. This notion is supported by the fact that no suicide note was left and Sawada theorizes in his autobiography, that at the night of his death, Hide may have been practicing a technique to relieve upper back and neck pains which guitarists can suffer from continuous use of a shoulder strap. The technique involved was practiced by the X Japan members during their touring days and required the use of a towel and a door knob or handle. According to Sawada, Matsumoto may have fallen asleep in his intoxicated state, becoming caught and strangling himself.
Zilch bassist Paul Raven commented that Hide was "under a lot of stress", due to recording schedule for the Ja, Zoo album. He went on to question the ultimate degree of Hide's involvement in the finished record, stating that only three songs had been completed before he died. Ja, Zoo was released in November of the same year, making it the only original studio album to bear the Hide with Spread Beaver handle. The Zilch debut album 3.2.1. was also released and the group continued to perform and record for several years. While they never achieved mainstream success in the United States one of their songs was included on the soundtrack for Heavy Metal 2000.
X Japan FTW~ They are the bomb. Cant describe how awesome they are and how much they rock. Try taking a listen to their songs and you'll know what i mean. Their new song, I.V., for the soundtrack of the movie Saw IV is awesome. Cant wait to hear more of their new stuff.
No comments:
Post a Comment