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| How
it started |
| Yoshiki
was the bandleader and founder of X Japan. It is not an
overstatement to call X Japan a legend. With their radical
style they were one of the first Visual bands in Japan.
With their unique music style covering a wide spectrum from
heavy metal to ballads, from alternative rock to symphonic
sounds, they created something new and they inspired many
other bands and still do. Of course the tremendous success
of X Japan didn't come over night:
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It
all started when Yoshiki asked his friend Toshi if he wants
to form a rock band, back then they were kids at school.
Influenced by the american hardrock bands like Kiss, they
played their first gigs at the culture festivals of their
Chiba secondary school. Because they were not able to find
the "right" name for their band they decided on
"X" as temporary solution. |
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| . |
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| Indie
Years |
| They
released their first demo tape called "I'll Kill You"
in 1984, followed by their first EP "I'll Kill You"
in 1985. X had problems with getting signed to a record
label because their image and sound was too aggressive and
outstanding. There was only one way: Yoshiki founded his
own record label, Extasy Records. A few months later, in
April 1986 he released the Orgasm EP on Extasy Records,
combined with a tour to get more recognition. The lineup
back then was Toshi, Yoshiki & Taiji. Pata first only
helped the band out, because their guitarist had an accident,
before becoming an official member.
|
1987
Pata became an official member and hide joined the band.
They finally were able to release their first album “Vanishing
Vision” in 1988 which had to be repressed because
it sold out. X were able to gain standing with the success
of “Vanishing Vision” and signed contract with
a major label, Sony Records, for their upcoming album, which
was released only a year later. |
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| . |
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| Albums
as X |
| 1988
Blue Blood was released as second album, again followed
by a tour (the Blue Blood Tour), which was so successful
that by the time they finished it, the band was really popular.
Many TV shows, interviews, cover stories, etc followed.
Due to their increasing popularity they started another
tour (Rose & Blood tour) after the release of the single
Kurenai (X won the 'New Artist of the Year Award' this year).
|
In
1991, after a seven month lasting recording session in Los
Angeles, Jealousy was released as their third album and
went straight to number one in the charts. Again a tour
(Violence in Jealousy tour) followed the release of the
album. In August X Japan played their first concert in the
Tokyo Dome.
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|
In January of 1992, X became the first band to sell out
the Tokyo Dome on all 3 days, an astonishing success! The
live shows of X Japan were always very spectacular, with
a lot of drama sometimes and a great atmosphere full of
energy. Their live shows, were also partly a reason why
the band became so popular. Those 3 days at the Tokyo Dome
were the last concerts with Taiji. Differences with the
band made Taiji decide to leave the band in January. X had
to change their name into “X Japan” to avoid
confusion with another band called “X” in America.
|
| . |
| |
| A
new name: X Japan |
| Becoming
more and more popular, X had to change their name into “X
Japan” to avoid confusion with another band called
“X” in America.
It took some time to find
the right replacement for Taiji, but a couple of months
later Heath joined the band. By the time Heath joined, Yoshiki
had a song ready... called "Art Of Life". To call
"Art Of Life" a song would be a huge understatement.
This musical masterpiece is nearly 30 minutes long and covers
Yoshiki's wide musical spectrum.
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Yoshiki
was not only the founder, but also the mastermind of the
band and his musical style influenced the music the most,
he never stopped improving and changing the music, every
album sounds different. X Japan was sort of a musical evolution.
1993, X Japan released
the astonishing 29 minute long opus “Art Of Life”
as a self titled mini-album, which was again a bis success
for the band. Art Of Life was only performed twice live,
on the 30th and 31st December 1993. |
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After that, X Japan took
a well-deserved break and the members used their time
to concentrate on their solo projects. They played their
traditional New Year's Eve concerts in Tokyo Dome on December
30th and 31st in 1993 and 1994 though.
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| . |
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| Disbanding |
| After
various maxi singles, the 5th album Dahlia was finally released
in 1996. X Japan were at the peak of their succes, just
then Toshi announced that he was leaving the band. Yoshiki
decided that he won't continue the band without Toshi, and
on the 22nd September 1997 X Japan held a press conference
without Toshi to announce their disbanding and - at the
same time - the date of their “Last Live” concert
on 31st December 1997. |
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| . |
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| The
aftermath |
| After
the disbanding, hide had a very successful career with his
solo project "hide with spread beaver", were Pata
joined in also. Yoshiki continued to produce various artists.
Toshi joined a sect and never was able to reach the same
success level as he had with X Japan.
X Japan released their last single “The
Last Song” in 1998. Yoshiki still had plans to form
a “2nd X” with the remaining members. In 1998
a tragedy happened, hide died. And with him of course the
plans to form a "2nd X" too.
All the members of X Japan joined together
for one last time at hide’s memorial and performed
“Scars” and “Forever Love”. |
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