X JAPAN

X JAPAN

AKA	X (1982 - 1992)
Spelling	エックス・ジャパン
Status	major, active
Origin	Tokyo, Kantō Chiba, Kantō (early 80's)
Years	1982 - 1997 2007 - present
Genres	Heavy Metal Thrash/Power metal (early) Hard Rock Pop Progressive metal
Labels	Polydor (1997-8) Atlantic East-West Japan (1994-6) MMG (1993) Ki/oon Records (1992) Sony Music Entertainment (1989-91) EXTASY RECORDS (1988) Dada Records (1985-8)
Related	Violet UK TOSHI Ra:IN HEATH
Website	http://xjapan.ne.jp

X JAPAN are one of the most legendary bands in the visual kei scene. The band was founded in 1982, but after many years of mainstream success, they disbanded in 1997. However, they were later revived on October 22, 2007 and continue to have a successful run today

Biography[]

Toshi & Yoshiki had been making music together since they were pre-teens, leading the band Dynamite, which later changed their name to Noise. In 1982, after Noise disbanded, Toshi & Yoshiki started working on another project. Not knowing what to call themselves, they just used plain X as a moniker, and it stuck. They went through several lineup changes in their early days, but the lineup finally grew stable in 1987 when the 2 were joined by bassist "Taiji" Sawada & guitarists Tomoaki “Pata” Ishizuki & Hideto “Hide” Matsumoto. This is now known as the group’s classic lineup. They released their debut album, “Vanishing Vision“ on Yoshiki’s own Exstasy Records label in 1988. The record leaned towards Thrash/Speed-Metal and did very well on the Oricon charts. In 1989, they signed with Sony Records and released their sophomore LP, “Blue Blood” This record showed that the group were striving to get out of the Speed-Metal ghetto. It incorporated More Symphonic-Metal elements, with Toshi even borrowing from Johann Sebastian Bach, whic was a far-better fit for his operatic voice. The record put X on the J-Rock map, and played a big part in creating the Visual-Kei genre, which featured colorful costumes, over-the-top and crazy hairstyles and outrageous stage personas. This became a phenomenon and helped X become the country’s ultimate stadium-rock act.

They expanded their sound even more with “Jealousy” in 1991. They went on the Violence In Jealousy Tour to support it, but after 2 shows at the Tokyo Dome in January 1992, Taiji announced his departure. Heath took his position, and the group returned with 2 shows at the Tokyo Dome in July 1992. Also, to gain more recognition, they changed their name from X to X Japan to avoid confusion with the similarly named, but very different, US punk act.

The international marketplace didn’t really like their next offering, 1993’s “Art Of Life” which consisted solely of a 29-minute title track, but it topped the charts back in Japan. The group were clearly on a roll, at least in their homeland, when they released “Dahlia” in 1996. It was another chart-topper, so the group’s breakup the following year seemed premature. The farewell gig, held on New Year‘s Eve 1997 at the Tokyo Dome, marked a record-breaking 18th time the band had sold out Japan’s biggest venue. There was talk of a reunion a year later, but fans were aghast when the tragic news came through of Hide’s apparent suicide.

Almost a decade passed before X Japan delighted their fanbase by announcing a reunion in 2007, which led to their 1st US tour in 2010. Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo, with whom X Japan popularized the Visual-Kei movement, became their new lead guitarist and the lineup has remained stable ever since.

Lineup[]

TOSHI - Vocals (1982 - 1997.12.31; 2007.10.22 - present)
→ DYNAMITE → NOISE → X → X JAPAN, TOSHI → TOSHI → TOSHI, X JAPAN → TOSHI, X JAPAN, TOSHI with T-HEART → ToshI, X JAPAN
SUGIZO - Guitar, Violin (2009.05 - present), Live Guitar (2008.03 - 2009.05)
→ PINOCCHIO → KASHIMIR → LUNA SEA → SUGIZO → LUNA SEA → SUGIZO, SUGIZO & THE SPANK YOUR JUICE, SHAG → The FLARE, SUGIZO, SHAG → SUGIZO, SHAG, S.T.K. → SUGIZO, SHAG, S.T.K., S.K.I.N., Juno Reactor, X JAPAN
PATA - Guitar (1987 - 1997.12.31; 2007.10.22 - present)
→ Black Rose → JUDY → X → X JAPAN, PATA → P.A.F. → Dope HEADz → Ra:IN → Ra:IN, X JAPAN
HEATH - Bass (1992.08.24 - 1997.12.31; 2007.10.22 - 2023) (deceased)
→ PARANOIA → カオスモード → Beet Sweet → Sweet Death → Majestic Isabelle → Media Youth → パラノイア → X JAPAN → X JAPAN, HEATH → HEATH → HEATH, Dope HEADz → HEATH, RATS → HEATH, Lynx → X JAPAN, HEATH → X JAPAN, TOSHI with T-EARTH→ X JAPAN, HEATH
YOSHIKI - Drums, Piano (1982 - 1997.12.31; 2007.10.22 - present)
→ DYNAMITE → NOISE → X → X, V2 → X JAPAN, YOSHIKI → YOSHIKI → VIOLET UK, globe, YOSHIKI → VIOLET UK, YOSHIKI, S.K.I.N. → VIOLET UK, X JAPAN, S.K.I.N.

Former members[]

hide - Guitar, Vocals (1987 - 1997.12.31)
→ SABER TIGER → X → X JAPAN, hide → hide with Spread Beaver, zilch
TAIJI - Bass (1985.11 - 1985.12, 1986.11 - 1992.01.07)
→ TRASH → DEMENTIA → PLOWER → X → FATIMA, DEAD WIRE → X → LOUDNESS → D.T.R., Kings → D.T.R. → Cloud Nine → 音風 → D.T.R., Cloud Nine
ISAO - Guitar (1987)
→ X →
SATORU - Guitar (1986)
→ X → VIRUS → D.N.A → Dual Spiral →
KERRY - Guitar (1986)
→ MEINKAMPH → X →
JUN - Guitar (1985 - 1986)
→ SQUIRE → X → ロンメル → エンペラ → 魚雷 →
HIKARU - Bass (1985 - 1986)
→ ATLANTIS → 地雷神 → X → MEPHISTOPHELES → ロンメル → 魚雷 → MEPHISTOPHELES
ZEN - Guitar (1985 - 1986)
→ BORDER CROSS → X →
HARRY - Guitar (1985)
→ DIMENTIA → X → DEMENTIA → United →
TOKUOU - Guitar (1985)
→ X →
EDDIE - Guitar (1985)
→ X → レチェッド → CRACKED BRAIN →RITUAL CARNAGE →
YUJI - Bass (1985)
→ PLOWLER → X → SIGHS-OF-LOVE-POTION → F.F. → 13-thirteen-
TOMO - Guitar (1984 - 1985)
→ X → SIGHS-OF-LOVE-POTION
ATSUSHI - Bass (198? - 1985)
→ X →
TERRY - Guitar (1982 - 1985)
→ X →