X JAPAN

X JAPAN

エックス・ジャパン

Pronunciation : Eks Japan




Style : Visual Kei
Under style : Symphonic metal, J-rock

Nationality : Japanese

Beginning : 1982
Disband : 1997
Reformation : 2007
At present : in service


Record company : Extasy Records


Line up :

• Yoshiki ( drum, piano, composer and leader )
• Toshi ( voice )
• Heath ( bass ) [ since 1992 ]
• Pata ( guitar ) [ since 1987 ]
• Sugizo [ since march 2008 as guest ans since 2009 as official member ] [ ex-LUNA SEA ] [ S.K.I.N. ]


Formerly :

• hide [ 1987 - 1997 ] [ ex-Zilch ] [ ex-Spread beaver ] [ ex-Saver Tiger ]
• Taiji [ 1987 - 1992 ] [ ex-LOUDNESS ] [ Dirty Trashroad ]


In 1982, Yoshiki Hayashi and Toshimitsu Deyama are 17 years old. Yoshiki convinces Toshimitsu to stop his studies of medicine to form a rock band : Dynamite.
Later to be named DYNAMITE then NOISE, they use simply X.

The debuts of the band are not easy and Yoshiki does not find the line up which pleases him.
In 1985, Yoshiki created his record company : Extasy Records, financed by his(her) mother.
They make two singles and next year, find finally a bass player and two guitarists :
Taiji, Tomoaki Ishizuka (Pata) and Hideto Matsumoto (hide) and publish two albums successful !

In 1991, the poor health of Yoshiki slowed down the creation of the album and Sony don't renews its contract with the band.
A group already uses the name X, what obliges them to change for : X JAPAN.

Next year, Taiji (bass player) leaves the band, for uncertain reasons…
He is replaced by Heath.

In 1993, Yoshiki finishes the composition of the masterpiece: Art of Life.
On which he worked four years and which lasts approximately 35 minutes !

Regrettably, in 1997, Toshi announces the separation of the group with the pressure of his wife…
They give a last and fabulous concert : The Last Live.

One year later, may 2, 1998, hide dies from a tragic accident…

Other members begin the solo careers…


And… In 2007, X JAPAN is reborn !

They return with a new tack : I.V., writes for the movie SAW IV, and played with Sugizo in live.
Last year, they gave a magnificent tribute to hide : the HIDE MEMORIAL SUMMIT, with many others bands of visual kei.



Official band website
Official Extasy records website

Official band MySpace


YouTube videos :

Endless Rain : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Beujgb0OBeY

Crucify my Love : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QELIi9TM7tw

Tears : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG9MPxDdj5Q

Forever Love (live) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnD5U8oLlow

Week End : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_6EylWJPd0

I.V (live) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6rGnUObUSY