Toshimitsu Dayama, aka Toshi (Vocals) 1976-1997
Hayashi Yoshiki, aka, Yoshiki (Piano, Drums) 1976-1997
Matsumoto Hideto, aka hide (Guitar – pronounced ‘He-deh’) 1987-1997
Tomoaki Ishizuka, aka Pata (Guitars) 1987-1997
Taiji Sawada aka Taiji (Bass) 1987-1992
Hiroshi Morie, aka, Heath (Bass) 1992-1997
Discography:
Vanishing Vision (1988)
Blue Blood (1989)
Jealousy (1991)
Art of Life (Mini-album, 1993)
Dahlia (1996)
Let's get Crazy! (X)
Unknown to most of the western world, X-Japan were one of the biggest and greatest rock acts to have ever come out from Japan. Nothing short of legendary, X-Japan pioneered what is now know as ‘visual kei’ in Japan – the equivalent of ‘shock rock’. With their crazy hair (Think Motley Crue ten times over) and outrageous stage dress up, (http://www.sempai.org/~mwduncan/jpoppics/xjapan1.jpg - note the red dress) they heavily influenced nearly all future Japanese bands, who would soon try and copy their ‘look’. Over a ten year period, releasing four full length albums and one mini-album, X-Japan grew to cult status within Japan – in terms of popularity, they were the equivalent of the Beatles (speaking of which, the band worked with Sir George Martin, the Beatles producer, later on in their career, as well as Roger Taylor of Queen), the undisputed kings of J-Rock.
“X-Japan were pretty much Japan's answer to Led Zeppelin”
Originally known as just ‘X’, the band was formed by Toshimitsu Deyama (Toshi, Vocals) and Yoshiki Hayashi (Yoshiki, Drums, Piano) in 1976 – when they were just 12, after Yoshiki was inspired by KISS ‘to become a rockstar’ when they played live in Japan. By the time 1987 came about, nearly 10 years after the formation of the ‘band’, X had three additional members, hide (Guitar/Background Vocals, always spelt with a small ‘h’ – hide actually was planning to open his own hair saloon before he got a fateful call one day from Toshi), Pata (Guitar) and Taiji (Bass) and had written their first single, ‘Orugasumu’ (Orgasm).
Vanishing Vision
At the time, no record labels would sign the band, finding them too aggressive for mainstream music, so Yoshiki created his own label – Extasy records, with help from his mum who sold their family business in order to support him. Within a year, they released their first album, Vanishing Vision. Only a taste of what was to come, the album was ranked first in the indies chart list within a week of release, and over 10,000 copies had been sold. Yoshiki’s furious, fast paced drumming (In later years, he would have back problems because of his intense drumming and would have to wear a neck brace while drumming – an interesting sight to see him headbanging on the drums with it on. He broke his wrists a few times too.), together with hides and Pata’s beautiful guitar harmonies, aggressive riffs and ripping solos, Taiji’s pounding bass and Toshi’s amazing voice (with a three octave range, able to sing the ballads and heavy metal with X-Japan were soon to be so famous for), caught the Japanese mainstream off-guard. What made the music stand out even more however, was the classical influences brought in by Yoshiki (the main songwriter), whose beautiful piano pieces and song arrangements mixed together with all out heavy metal was a breath of fresh air to the cheesy J-pop that dominated mainstream radio in Japan.
Recommended Tracks:
-Kurenai
-I’ll Kill You
-Sadistic Desire
X was now gaining popularity all over Japan, their unique visual appeal and amazing live shows (I’d recommend people to find videos of their live performances – absolutely mind blowing) attracting a huge fan base, which would in time, only get bigger.
Blue Blood
Only a year after the release of their debut album, the band released their second album, Blue Blood. Another hit, this album cemented X’s place as the ‘best Japanese rock act of their time’ A lighter sounding album than their last, Blue Blood was a mix of raw energy and dreamy sweetness. It retained their sound, although a lot of the darkness and negativity had been replaced by more up-beat, faster paced and generally lighter songs (Just look at the names of some of the songs: Easy Fight Rambling, Celebration, Orgasm… as opposed to say, Sadistic Desire). There was also a new version of Kurenai and more classics, Blue Blood and Rusty Nail. Soon after the release of the album, the band went on their Rose and Blood tour, attracting huge crows and sold out shows all over the country.
Recommended Tracks:
-Blue Blood
-Rusty Nail
-X
-Orgasm
Jealousy
In 1991, the band released their third Album, Jealousy. This was probably the bands most diverse album, with two instrumentals, showing off Yoshiki’s great piano skills, two of their most ‘hair metal’ sounding songs, and then more fast paced, prog based music (prog elements are littered throughout their music). Strings were even added into some of their songs, making them even more epic than ever.
Recommended Tracks:
-Silent Jealousy
-Miscast
-Joker
With the success of their first three albums, X decided to go international, and went to LA to try out their music on a western market. It was at this point in time where the band changed their name to X-Japan, to avoid confusion with an LA punk band, already named X. It was also at this point in time in which an argument broke out between Taiji and Toshi, ending up with Taiji breaking his arm, and then leaving the band. Their American tour was short lived, and they soon returned to Japan, where, once replacing Taiji with Heath, they commenced on their Violence In Jealousy Tour, which again drew huge crowds and sold out shows. Note: Today, many people believe that the departure of Taiji was one of the contributors to the break up of the band, a few years later.
By this time, X-Japan had moved away from the ‘Visual Kei’ style, keeping to ‘cool boy’ look, with short hair, Gucci sunnies, designer suits and the like. Only hide, undoubtedly the most popular member of the band, kept up with the ‘old style’, keeping his hair pink and wearing multicolored costumes. (http://www.baubo5.com/music/x%20japan.jpg).
The defining moment of the band was yet to come however, when X-Japan was asked to perform in the Tokyo Dome. X-Japans’ Tokyo Dome concert, was unique in that no concert had ever before been held at the Tokyo Dome (it is now the biggest concert venue in Japan, having being preformed in by stars like Madonna and Michael Jackson). It rocketed them to even higher levels of fame - It was the baptism of X-Japan in a way, to show that they were now the top of the top. For 3 days, X-Japan rocked the house, and the shows are still remembered as the best they ever put on, comparable only to ‘The last live’ – the last show X-Japan ever preformed.
