Biography
X japan
Biography:

X Japan (エックス・ジャパン Ekkusu Japan?) is a Japanese heavy metal band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by Toshi and Yoshiki. Originally named X (エックス Ekkusuhref="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets" title="Help:Installing Japanese character sets">?), the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood. They started out mainly as a power/speed metal band, but later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads.

Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label,[1] the group is widely credited
as one of the pioneers of visual kei,[2][3] a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam. In 2003,
HMV Japan ranked the band at number 40 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts.[4]

After sixteen years, four albums, and selling out the 55,000 seat Tokyo Dome 18 times, X Japan disbanded in 1997. However after ten years, the band reunited in 2007 and recorded
the new song "I.V.". Over the next two years they performed several concerts, including their first overseas show in Hong Kong, before holding their first North American tour from September 25 to October 10, 2010.[5] In 2011, X Japan went on their first world tour throughout Europe, South America and Asia.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-Europe_tour-6">[6][7][8]


977–1992: X

In 1977, title="Toshi (musician)">Toshi and Yoshiki formed a band called Dynamite in their hometown of Tateyama, Chiba, when they were just 11 years old. Dynamite changed its name to Noise in 1978, while they were still in high school. In 1982, Noise disbanded and Yoshiki and Toshi formed a new band, they named it X while they tried to think of another name, but the name stuck. X began to actively perform in the
Tokyo area in 1985 with a frequently changing lineup. Their first single, "I'll Kill You" was released on Dada Records in June and the band contributed "Break the Darkness" to the sampler Heavy Metal Force III in November, which also featured a song by Saver Tiger.class="reference">[9][10] At the end of 1985 bassist Taiji (ex:Dementia) joined X, though he left the group shortly thereafter.

To ensure a continuous outlet for the band's music, Yoshiki founded the href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_%28music%29" title="Indie (music)" class="mw-redirect">independent label Extasy Records in April 1986, and released their second single "Orgasm".[11] Taiji would officially rejoin the band in November of that same year.
The songs "Stab Me in the Back" and "No Connexion", for the February 1987 Victor Records sampler Skull Thrash Zone Volume I, were recorded with Pata (ex:Judy) as a support guitar player.[12] Soon after these recordings href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hide_%28musician%29" title="Hide (musician)">hide (ex:Saver Tiger) joined as guitarist. After Pata once again provided support, this time at a live show, he officially joined completing the group's first well-known lineup.[9]

style="width:222px;">
X circa 1990: Toshi, Taiji, Yoshiki, Pata, hide

On December 26,
1987, the band participated in an audition held by CBS/Sony which led to a recording contract in August of the following year. In the meantime, the band released its first album, Vanishing Vision through Extasy Records on April 14, 1988 and toured extensively in
support of the record.[9][11] The band made a brief cameo appearance in the American film Tokyo
Pop, starring Carrie Hamilton and Diamond Yukai.[13]

X's second album Blue Blood was released on April 21, 1989 and debuted at number six on the href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oricon" title="Oricon">Oricon chart. Its success earned the band the "Grand Prix New Artist of the Year" award at the 4th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1990.[14] Recording for the follow-up album, Jealousy, took
place in Los Angeles.[15] It was released on July 1, 1991 and debuted at number one, selling over 600,000 copies.[16] It was later certified million by the href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_Japan" title="Recording Industry Association of Japan">RIAJ.[17] In August the band performed their first concert at Japan's largest indoor concert venue, the Tokyo Dome. Footage from most of the band's shows in that stadium would later be released on CD and home video.

By 1992 the band's success
in Japan made an international breakthrough appear likely, leading to an American record contract with Atlantic Records and the renaming of the band from X to X Japan,[3] in order to distinguish from the American punk group href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_%28American_band%29" title="X (American band)">X. (An American album release would never happen). Around the same time bassist Taiji left the group, with his last concert with them on January 7 at the Tokyo Dome. The official reason given for his departure was due to musical differences. However in his autobiography, Taiji claims he was asked to leave because he confronted Yoshiki due to the substantial income gap between Yoshiki and each of the other
members.[18] On August 24, Heath (ex:Media Youth) was announced as their new bassist.

1993–1997: X Japan

src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/X_Japan_logo.png/150px-X_Japan_logo.png" class="thumbimage" height="170" width="150">
The X Japan logo, used by the band after the name change in 1992.

Art of
Life was released on August 28, 1993 by Atlantic Records, and is comprised solely of the 29-minute, heavily orchestrated title track.[19] It debuted at number one, however the band only performed two concerts that year, as each member began solo careers. Aptly titled X Japan Returns, the concerts were held on New Year's Eve at the Tokyo Dome,class="reference">[20] marking the beginning of a tradition that would last until the group's disbandment. The solo careers continued into the following year, with X Japan only performing a handful of shows.

1995 was also quiet, until November when the band embarked on the tour for their next album. Around this time, the group dropped most of its original visual kei aesthetics
in favor of a more casual look. While it wasn't released until November 4, 1996, singles from the album had been released as early as a few months after Art of Life. Though this caused Dahlia to contain relatively little new material, the album reached number one on the charts.[21] The Dahlia Tour lasted through to the end of 1996, with several shows
cancelled due to Yoshiki injuring his neck.

In September 1997, it was announced that X Japan would disband. Vocalist Toshi decided to leave the band as the glamorous, success-oriented life of a rock star failed to satisfy him emotionally, as opposed to a simpler life and career.[22] He later stated that he had made the decision back in April 1996, though it wasn't publicly disclosed.id="cite_ref-toshi_interview_22-1" class="reference">[22] X Japan performed their farewell show, aptly titled The Last Live, at the Tokyo Dome on December 31, 1997, making it the last of five consecutive New Year's Eves the group performed at the stadium.

1998–2007: Post X Japan

While reissues, compilations and live footage continued to be released,class="reference">[23] the members of X Japan pursued various other projects: hide, who released his first solo album in 1994, Hide Your Face, continued his solo career with Spread Beaver, now formally including his previous live band and with a sound distinctively different from X Japan's music, leaning
more towards alternative rock. But the new group did not last long, due to hide's death on May 2, 1998.[3]

src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Hi-1.jpg/220px-Hi-1.jpg" class="thumbimage" height="171" width="220">
hide's grave

Toshi's solo career, which began in 1992, has been extensive, with
him having released over 30 albums and performed numerous acoustic shows for smaller audiences. According to his website, his Utatabi Traveling Concert tour included over 3,000 concerts between 1999 and 2003.[22]

After both having released solo albums in the early 90s, title="Pata (musician)">Pata and Heath teamed up with Spread Beaver percussionist/programmer I.N.A., who worked on several of X Japan's releases, to provide a track for the 1998 hide tribute album Tribute Spirits.id="cite_ref-tribute_spirits_24-0" class="reference">[24] The three would reunite again in 2000 to form Dope HEADz, which released two albums before ceasing activity. Heath then continued his solo career and Pata formed the instrumental rock group Ra:IN, which later added Spread Beaver keyboardist DIE.

Before the breakup, href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshiki_%28musician%29" title="Yoshiki (musician)">Yoshiki had already independently collaborated with Queen drummer Roger Taylor on the single "Foreign Sand" and provided the Japanese contribution to the international Kiss tribute album href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_My_Ass:_Classic_Kiss_Regrooved" title="Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved">Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved, an orchestral arrangement of the song "Black Diamond".[25] A compilation with orchestral treatments
of X Japan songs, titled Eternal Melody was also released. It was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and among others featured The Beatles producer George Martin as an arranger.class="reference">[26]

Since 1998 Yoshiki has engaged in numerous activities, such as briefly being a member of the pop band Globe,[27] producing singles for the title="Korea">Korean rock band TRAX[28][29] and numerous others, as well as working on his solo project Violet UK, which has yet to publish a major release. He has also contributed music to the
movie Catacombs and produced the soundtrack of Repo! The Genetic Opera.[30] On May 25, 2007, the formation of the supergroup
S.K.I.N. was announced, which besides Yoshiki consists of pop/rock artists Gackt and Miyavi, as well as Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo. The band gave its first and only performance at the title="Anime Expo">Anime Expo convention in Long Beach, California on June 29, 2007.[31]

2007–2008: Reunion

According to a report by the newspaper class="mw-redirect">Sponichi, Toshi visited Yoshiki in Los Angeles in November 2006 to work on the song "Without You" as a tribute to hide.[32] In March 2007, Toshi announced on his website that he and Yoshiki had recently resumed working together, stating that a "new project" would commence soon.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-toshi_official_new_project-33">[33] Rumors of a X Japan reunion subsequently began, and in June Yoshiki was reported as having expressed interest in a tour (beginning in Los Angeles), "Without You" being released as a single and that he was in talks with Heath and Pata regarding their participation.[32]

The band
made its first public appearance on October 22, 2007, on the rooftop of the shopping center Aqua City in Odaiba, Tokyo, to film a music video for the newly recorded song "I.V.".[34] The song was used as the theme of the American horror movie href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_IV" title="Saw IV">Saw IV. It was written by Yoshiki and recorded with all X Japan members of the pre-breakup lineup, as it utilizes previously unreleased guitar tracks by hide.[35]href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-official_iv_video-36">[36] "I.V." was released through iTunes on January 23, 2008, topping the store's charts on that day.[37]

src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/X_Japan_in_France.jpg/220px-X_Japan_in_France.jpg" class="thumbimage" height="123" width="220">
X Japan with guests Richard Fortus, Sugizo and Wes Borland in 2008.

On January 20, 2008 two Tokyo Dome concert dates were announced for March 28 and March
30.[38][39] Due to popular demand, they added another concert for the 29th. These three shows were entitled Resume Attack 2008 I.V. - Towards Destruction, with each individual concert titled Night of Destruction, Night of Madness and Night of Creation,
respectively, and featured three guest guitarists filling in for the late hide - Wes Borland, Richard Fortus and Sugizo.[37]class="reference">[40] The March 28 concert was aired live on the pay-per-view channel WOWOW.[41]href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-tokyograph_paris_announcement-42">[42][43][44] During the song "Art of Life" a title="Holography">hologram of hide (taken from footage of the "Art of Life" performance at the Tokyo Dome in 1993) played alongside the band.[45] Because of technical difficulties, possibly due to the hologram, the first concert was delayed for over two hours and later came to an abrupt end when drummer Yoshiki collapsed eight songs into the performance.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-Yoshiki_collapse-45">[45] The subsequent shows were without such difficulties and during a press conference, plans for a concert in Paris, France on July 5, 2008 were announced, with an intended audience of 20,000 people.class="reference">[42][43] In addition to the Paris date, plans for concerts at the Madison Square Garden in New York
City on September 13, and at the Taipei World Trade Center in Taipei on August 2 were also announced.[46]href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-tokyograph_taiwan_concert-47">[47]

2008–2010: Delays, Sugizo joins and first North American tour

The hide memorial summit took place on May 3 and 4, 2008, with X Japan performing the second day, as a tribute to the musician who was also a former X guitarist. Numerous other popular acts
such as T.M.Revolution, Oblivion Dust and Versailles also performed, with Phantasmagoria and Luna Sea even reuniting for one day.class="reference">[48] On June 8, it was reported that all of X Japan's previously scheduled shows would be postponed until further notice, due to a recurrence of Yoshiki's disc herniation. The Paris and Taipei concerts were re-scheduled, Paris for November 22, 2009.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-tokyograph_concert_postponement-49">[49][50][51]

style="width:222px;">
Guitarist Pata (pictured with Ra:IN in 2008) has been with the band since
1987.

On September 15, 2008, Yoshiki held a press conference in Tokyo, where he announced a new, unnamed X Japan song was in the works.[52][53] Concerts at href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saitama_Super_Arena" title="Saitama Super Arena">Saitama Super Arena on Christmas and New Year's Eve 2008 were also announced. After the conference Yoshiki went on a promotional tour across Asia.[54] On November 7, the French ticketing website Avos announced that the planned ticket sale for the show in Paris would be canceled. Later that day, X Japan released a press statement through their French language website
apologizing for the second postponement and announced that the planned Christmas shows would likely suffer a similar fate.[55] In early January the previously announced Taiwan concert date was postponed for a second time. On December 31, X Japan performed their New Year's Eve countdown performance at the Akasaka Blitz.

On January 15,
2009, the band arrived in Hong Kong for their January 16 and 17 shows. On May 1, it was announced that Sugizo officially joined X Japan as lead guitarist. Their first show with him as a full member was held the next day at the Tokyo Dome,[56] where they played "title="Jade (song)">Jade" for the first time.

On January 9, 2010 the band made its first public U.S. appearance by shooting four new music videos in Hollywood. The four videos were for "Rusty Nail", "Endless Rain", "I.V.", and their new song "href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_%28song%29" title="Jade (song)">Jade".[57] In February, Yoshiki confirmed that X Japan will be performing at Lollapalooza in August. Later that month, he announced at a press event that the band would be relocating to Los Angeles, California, with a concert being planned for a "simple" venue in the city area to mark the band's first
official North American show.[58] It was also announced that a sixth album was in the works and was expected to be released in the fall.[59]

In March 2010, Yoshiki filed a lawsuit against Nexstar Corporation, for 375 million yen in damages.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-lawsuit-60">[60][61] The claim states that after X Japan reunited, they entered a contract with Nexstar Corporation in January 2008, which included the use of some recordings.[60] That initial
deal was for 600 million yen in advance royalties and contract money, which has been entirely unpaid.[60] Between 2008 and 2009, the company also sponsored ten of the band's concerts in Japan and other parts of Asia. About 320 million yen in performance fees and merchandise sales from those concerts is due to the band as well.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-lawsuit_2-61">[61] In all, the total unpaid amount is more than 900 million yen.[61] The lawsuit is currently seeking only 375 million yen for the revenue earned from the concerts, but should the case go to trial, Yoshiki's side plans to file an additional claim for the 600 million yen in the initial contract.class="reference">[60][61]

src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/X_Japan_20100704_Japan_Expo_32.jpg/220px-X_Japan_20100704_Japan_Expo_32.jpg" class="thumbimage" height="147" width="220">
X founders Toshi and Yoshiki performing in France 2010.

On July 1, the band appeared at Club Nokia in Los Angeles where they performed an acoustic setlist, and recorded a
music video for the new song, "Born to Be Free".[62][63] On July 4, the two founding members Toshi and Yoshiki, appeared in Paris at the Japan Expo 2010 where they performed some songs.id="cite_ref-64" class="reference">[64] During the following month, X Japan and Yoshiki were featured in numerous newspapers and websites such as ABC News, the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Sun-Times.class="reference">[59][65][66] X Japan performed at Lollapalooza 2010 in href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Park_%28Chicago%29" title="Grant Park (Chicago)">Grant Park, Chicago on August 8. In the following days, Yoshiki did a Q&A article with the Phoenix New Times and was interviewed by ABC News.[67]href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-68">[68]

On August 14 and 15, 2010, the band performed a two-day show at Nissan Stadium, the largest stadium in Japan. It was reported[by whom?] that over 100,000 fans attended the two shows with some estimates as high as 140,000 in attendance. Ex-bassist Taiji joined them on stage both nights as a guest for the song "X", he would die the following year.[69]href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-death-70">[70][71] Soon after, former deceased guitarist hide's management company, Headwax Organization, filed a lawsuit against Yoshiki and X Japan's management, Japan Music Agency, for using images of the former member without a formal agreement in place.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-2nd_lawsuit-72">[72] The claim states that in 2000 the two companies signed an agreement allowing Yoshiki and X Japan to use visual images of hide during concerts. However, images were used at these Nissan Stadium shows, when apparently the contract was expired.[60]href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-2nd_lawsuit_2-73">[73]

From September 25 to October 10, X Japan performed their first ever North American tour with dates in Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto and New York City.id="cite_ref-NA_tour_5-1" class="reference">[5] On December 17, Yoshiki announced that a new X Japan song, "Scarlet Love Song", was composed for the animated movie adaptation of the Buddha manga.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-74">[74]

2011–present: World tour and new album

It was announced on January 27, 2011, that X Japan signed a 3-year agreement with EMI in November 2010. The label will handle the American distribution of their single "Jade", which was to be released on March 15, and their untitled album, which was set for release in late summer. In promotion
of the new album, it was also stated they would be touring extensively around the world throughout 2011.[75] X Japan performed on March 6 at Asia Girls Explosion, a fashion event and music concert that Yoshiki created with Jay FR. It was announced they would perform in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru" title="Peru">Peru later in the year.[76]

Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan on March 11, the band decided to postpone the release of "Jade" until June 28. Yoshiki also decided to auction off one of his used signature href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawai" title="Kawai" class="mw-redirect">Kawai crystal grand pianos, of which all proceeds were sent to help provide aid to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.[77]

"Scarlet Love Song" was released in Japan on June 8, and on June 28 their first worldwide single, "Jade", was released, both on href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes" title="ITunes">iTunes. That same day they performed in London, the first concert of the European leg of their ongoing world tour, which was followed by Paris on July 1,[78] Utrecht on July 2 and href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin" title="Berlin">Berlin on July 4.[6]

X Japan also performed at the 2011 Summer Sonic festival that was held on August 13 and 14, in Tokyo and Osaka.[79]
Their world tour's South American concerts were; Santiago on September 9, São Paulo on September 11, Buenos Aires on September 14, Lima on September 16 and Mexico City on September 18.class="reference">[7] The Asian leg of the tour brought stops in Seoul on October 28, Shanghai on October 30, Hong Kong on November 4, Taipei on November 6 and title="Bangkok">Bangkok on November 8.[8] The Beijing show, originally scheduled for November 2, was cancelled by the promoters on October 25 due to "technical and production issues".[80]

In April 2012, X Japan won the href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolver_%28magazine%29" title="Revolver (magazine)">Revolver Golden Gods Award for "Best International Artist".[81]


Musical style

X Japan's music developed in the wake of American and British glam and href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_music" title="Heavy metal music">heavy metal music[2] and is characterized by driving power metal compositions with symphonic elements (e.g. "Kurenai", "Silent Jealousy") and emotional ballads (e.g. "Endless Rain", "Forever Love").href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-amg_bio-82">[82][3] Many of the group's songs make use of orchestrated passages, particularly on longer tracks such as the ten and a half minute "Tears", "href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucify_My_Love" title="Crucify My Love">Crucify My Love", and the twenty-nine minute "Art of Life". The majority of the band's lyrics are in Japanese, the band's native language, however many instances show the lyrics alternating from Japanese to English and back. Examples of this include the spoken-word background vocals during the bridge of "Rusty Nail", multiple lines (including
the entire prechorus) of the song "Week End", and the entirely-English "Alive" and "Drain".

The majority of the band's catalog of music was written by Yoshiki with relatively little composition from the other members. hide contributed several songs, including the single "href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scars_%28X_Japan_song%29" title="Scars (X Japan song)">Scars", while Pata's only claim is "White Wind from Mr. Martin ~Pata's Nap~". Toshi's contributions are limited to lyrics for a few songs. Taiji contributed music to a couple of songs, notably "Voiceless Screaming" from the album href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jealousy_%28X_Japan_album%29" title="Jealousy (X Japan album)">Jealousy, which, when performed live, he played the acoustic guitar. Heath's only writing credit is the instrumental song "Wriggle" on the 1996 album Dahlia, which he wrote with Pata. Only one song is credited as a full band collaboration, "Easy Fight Rambling" on the 1989 album href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Blood_%28X_Japan_album%29" title="Blue Blood (X Japan album)">Blue Blood. In 2010 it was reported that Sugizo has written some songs,[83] though no further information was given.

Yoshiki's composing style tends to make use of chords in sequences of eights or more with riff-based motifs or call-and-response style phrasing. He has
maintained this style for the majority of his career as a composer. Having played classical piano since he was 3 years old, Yoshiki claims to be as influenced by classical music as he is by rock, a claim which is evident when considering the breadth of music released by the band. While also serving as the main songwriter Yoshiki has production credit on much of X Japan's later material.

During live performances the band relies, for the most part, on its members (with drummer and pianist Yoshiki and guitarist and violinist Sugizo switching between their instruments) and
prerecorded tracks for orchestrated strings, spoken word passages, and more recently, some of hide's guitar parts.[43]


Members

  • href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshi_%28musician%29" title="Toshi (musician)">Toshi – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1982–1997, 2007–present)
  • Yoshiki – drums, piano, href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandleader" title="Bandleader">leader (1982–1997, 2007–present)
  • Pata – rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals (1987–1997, 2007–present)
  • Heath – href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_guitar" title="Bass guitar">bass, backing vocals (1992–1997, 2007–present)
  • Sugizo – lead guitar, violin, backing vocals (2009–present)

Former members

  • Yuji "Terry" Izumisawa (class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">泉沢裕二 Izumisawa Yuji?) – guitar (1982–1985)
  • Tomoyuki "Tomo" Ogata (lang="ja">オガタトモユキ Ogata Tomoyuki?) – guitar (1984–1985)
  • Atsushi Tokuo (徳応アツシ
    Tokuo Atsushi?)     – bass (1984–1985)
  • Kenichi "Eddie Van" Koide (小出健一 Koide Kenichihref="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Installing_Japanese_character_sets" title="Help:Installing Japanese character sets">?) – guitar (1985)
  • Yoshifumi "Hally" Yoshida (吉田良文 Yoshida Yoshifumititle="Help:Installing Japanese character sets">?) – guitar (1985)
  • Mita "Zen/Zenon" Kazumitsu (三田一光 Kazumitsu Mitastyle="color: #00e; font: bold 80% sans-serif; text-decoration: none; padding: 0 .1em;">?) – guitar (1985–1986)
  • Hisashi "Jun/Shu" Takai (高井寿 Takai Hisashi?) – guitar (1985, 1986)
  • Hikaru Utaka (宇高光 Utaka Hikaru?) – bass (1985–1986)
  • Masanori
    "Kerry" Takahashi (高橋雅則 Takahashi Masanori?) – guitar (1986)
  • Satoru Inoue (lang="ja">井上悟 Inoue Satoru?) – guitar (1986)
  • Isao – guitar (1987)href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Japan#cite_note-Yoshiki_biography-84">[84]
  • Taiji – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals (1985, 1986–1992)
  • hide – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals (1987–1997)
    • Although hide is deceased, the band still considers him a member and introduces him at every concert, with the group going
      as far as to play audio/video clips of his voice/guitar for some songs.
Discography:

X Japan : X Live


X Live

Cassette, 1985 - Auto-Production

1. Kurenai
2. Endless Dream
3. Lady in Tears
4. Stop Bloody Rain





X Japan : I'll Kill You


I'll Kill You

EP, 15 May 1985 - Da Da Records

1. I'll Kill You03:22
2. Break the Darkness04:13
Total playing time07:35





X Japan : Orgasm


Orgasm

EP, 10 April 1986 - Extasy Records

1. Orgasm02:55
2. Time Trip Loving03:38
3. X05:25
Total playing time11:58





X Japan : Vanishing Vision


Vanishing Vision

CD, 1988 - Extasy Records

1. Dear Loser
2. Vanishing Love
3. Phantom of Guilt
4. Sadistic Desire
5. Give Me the Pleasure
6. I'll Kill You
7. Alive
8. Kurenai
9. Un-Finished...




X Japan : Blue Blood Tour Bakuhatsu Sunzen Gig Live


Blue Blood Tour Bakuhatsu Sunzen Gig Live

Live, 1989 - Sony Music

1. World Anthem
2. Blue Blood
3. Sadistic desire
4. Easy Fight Rambling
5. Week End
6. Stab Me In the Back
7. Yoshiki Drum Solo
8. Yoshiki Piano Solo
9. Hide Guitar Solo
10. Kurenai
11. Orgasm
12. I'll kill You
13. X
14. Unfinished (Outro)




X Japan : Blue Blood


Blue Blood

CD, 21 April 1989 - Sony Music

1. Prologue (World Anthem)02:35
2. Blue Blood05:03
3. Week End06:03
4. Easy Fight Rambling04:42
5. X06:02
6. Endless Rain06:37
7. Kurenai06:18
8. Xclamation03:58
9. Orgasm02:44
10. Celebration04:52
11. Rose of Pain11:48
12. Unfinished04:27
Total playing time1:05:09




X Japan : Symphonic Blue Blood


Symphonic Blue Blood

CD, 1991 - Victor Entertainment

1. Rose of Pain
2. Endless Rain No 1
3. X
4. Unfinished
5. Orgasm
6. Easy Fight Rambling
7. Kurenai
8. Blue Blood
9. Endless Rain No 2




X Japan : Jealousy


Jealousy

CD, 1991 - Sony Music

1. Es Dur No Piano-Sen (Es Dur Piano Solo)
2. Silent Jealousy
3. Miscast
4. Desperate Angel
5. White Wind from Mr. Martin (Pata's Nap)
6. Voiceless Screaming
7. Stab Me in the Back
8. Love Replica
9. Joker
10. Say Anything




X Japan : Standind Sex

Standind Sex

EP, 1991 - Sony Music

1. Standing Sex
2. Joker (Edit)





X Japan : Symphonic Silent Jealousy


Symphonic Silent Jealousy

Compilation, 1992 - Victor Entertainment

1. Say Anything
2. White Wind from Mr. Martin
3. Stab Me in the Back
4. Love Replica
5. Miscast
6. Joker
7. Es Dur no Piano Sen
8. Silent Jealousy




X Japan : A Music Box for Fantasy - Yoshiki


A Music Box for Fantasy - Yoshiki

Compilation, 1992 - Sony Music

1. Prologue
2. Blue Blood
3. Kurenai
4. Unfinished
5. Stab Me in the Back
6. X
7. Week End
8. Es Dur no Piano Sen
9. Silent Jealousy
10. Say Anything
11. Rose of Pain
12. Orgasm
13. Endless Rain
14. Epilogue




X Japan : X Singles


X Singles

Compilation, 1993 - Sony Music

1. Kurenai
2. 20th Century Boy (Live Take)
3. Endless Rain
4. X (Live)
5. Week End (New Alternate Version)
6. Endless Rain (Live)
7. Silent Jealousy
8. Sadistic Desire (New Version)
9. Standing Sex
10. Joker (Edit Version)
11. Say Anything
12. Silent Jealousy (Live)




X Japan : Art of Life


Art of Life

EP, 1993 - East West Records

1. Art of Life29:00
Total playing time29:00





X Japan : On the Verge of Destruction


On the Verge of Destruction

Live, 1995 - Sony Music

DISC 1
1. Prologue
2. Silent Jealousy
3. Sadistic Desire
4. Desperate Angel
5. Standing Sex
6. Week-End
7. Drum Solo
8. Hide's Room
9. Voiceless Screaming
DISC 2
1. Piano Solo
2. A Piano String In Es Dur
3. Unfinished
4. Celebration
5. Orgasm
6. Kurenai (Deep Red)
7. Joker
8. X
9. Endless Rain





X Japan : B.O.X. - Best Of X


B.O.X. - Best Of X

Compilation, 1996 - Sony Music

DISC 1
1. Silent Jealousy (live)
2. Desperate Angel
3. Kurenai (new version)
4. Week End (live)
5. Celebration
6. Endless Rain
7. Joker (live)
8. Sadistic Desire (New Version)
9. X
10. Say Anything
DISC 2
"Karaoke version"
1. Silent Jealousy
2. Desperate Angel
3. Kurenai (New Version)
4. Week End (New Alternate Version)
5. Celebration
6. Endless Rain
7. Joker
8. Sadistic Desire
9. X
10. Say Anything




X Japan : Dahlia


Dahlia

CD, 1996 - East West Records

1. Dahlia
2. Scars
3. Longing
4. Rusty Nail
5. White Poem I
6. Crucify My Love
7. Tears
8. Wriggle
9. Drain
10. Forever Love (Acoustic Version)



X Japan : Live Live Live (Tokyo Dome 1993-1996)


Live Live Live (Tokyo Dome 1993-1996)

Live, 1997 - Polydor

DISC 1
1. Prologue (World Anthem) (12/31/93)
2. Blue Blood (12/31/93)
3. Sadistic Desire (12/31/93)
4. Week End (12/31/95)
5. Rose of Pain (acoustic) (12/31/94)
6. Tears (Acoustic) (12/30/95)
7. Standing Sex (12/31/93)
8. Count Down - X (12/31/93)
9. Endless Rain (12/31/93)
DISC 2
1. Amethyst (Instrumental) (12/31/96)
2. Rusty Nail (12/31/96)
3. Dahlia (12/31/96)
4. Crucify My love (12/31/96)
5. Scars (12/31/96)
6. White Poem I (12/31/96)
7. Drain (12/31/96)
8. Say Anything (Acoustic) (12/31/95)
9. Tears (12/31/93)
10. Forever Love (12/31/96)





X Japan : Live Live Live Extra


Live Live Live Extra

Live, 1997 - East West Records

1. Kurenai
2. Wriggle
3. Heath Solo (Daydream)
4. Hide Solo (Pose)
5. Piano Solo (Crucify My Love)
6. Drum Solo (Say Anything)
7. Orgasm (New English Version)




X Japan : Ballad Collection


Ballad Collection

Compilation, 1997 - Polydor

1. Forever Love
2. Longing (Unchained Melody) (Edit)
3. Endless Rain
4. Crucify My Love
5. Alive
6. Say Anything
7. Unfinished
8. Tears (Edit)
9. Forever Love (Last Mix)
10. The Last Song (Memorial Track)





X Japan : Singles - Atlantic Years


Singles - Atlantic Years

Compilation, 1997 - East West Records

1. Tears (X-Japan Version)
2. Tears (Classic Version)
3. Rusty Nail
4. Longing (Unchained Melody)
5. Dahlia
6. Tears (live 12/31/93)
7. Forever Love
8. Crucify My Love
9. Week End (Live 12/31/95)
10. Scars
11. White Poem I (M.T.A. Mix)





X Japan : On Piano


On Piano

Compilation, 1998 - Atlantic Records

1. Forever Love
2. Longing
3. Endless Rain
4. Crucify my Love
5. Alive
6. Say Anything
7. Unfinished
8. Tears
9. The Last Song





X Japan : Art of Life Live


Art of Life Live

EP, 1998 - Polydor

1. Art of Life




X Japan : Star Box


Star Box

Compilation, 1999 - Sony Music

1. Kurenai (New Version - Edit)
2. Joker (Live)
3. Blue Blood
4. Endless Rain
5. Miscast
6. Celebration
7. Love Replica
8. Xclamation (Instrumental)03:58
9. Week End (Live)
10. Silent Jealousy
11. X (live)
12. Say Anything



X Japan : Perfect Best


Perfect Best

Compilation, 24 February 1999 - Atlantic Records

DISC 1
1. Prologue (World Anthem)
2. I'll Kill You
3. Blue Blood
4. Rusty Nail
5. Say Anything (Acoustic)
6. Vanishing Love
7. Tears (X Japan Version)
8. Art of Life (Radio Edit)
9. Kurenai
10. Stab Me in the Back (Live alternate version 09.04.88)
11. Standing Sex
12. Dahlia
DISC 2
1. Week-End
2. Sadistic Desire
3. Endless Rain
4. Forever Love
5. Orgasm
6. X (Countdown)
7. The Last Song (Memorial Track)
DISC 3
1. Yoshiki Special (Interview)




X Japan : Forever Love Reissue


Forever Love Reissue

EP, 2001 - East West Records

1. Forever Love
2. Forever Love (Live Version from "The Last Live")
3. Forever Love (Acoustic Version)
4. Forever Love (Last Mix)





X Japan : The Last Live


The Last Live

Live, 30 May 2001 - Polydor

DISC 1
1. Amethyst
2. Rusty Nail
3. Week End
4. Scars
5. Dahlia
6. Drum Break
7. Drain
8. Piano Solo
DISC 2
1. Crucify My Love
2. Longing
3. Kurenai
4. Orgasm
5. Drum Solo
6. Forever Love
DISC 3
1. Prologue
2. X
3. Endless Rain
4. Say Anything (Curtain Call)
5. The Last Song (Curtain Call)
6. Tears (Epilogue)



X Japan : Rose & Blood (Indies of X)


Rose & Blood (Indies of X)

CD, 21 June 2001 - Ho-Son Records

1. Introduction
2. Dangerous Zone
3. Shadows
4. Light Breeze
5. Rose and Blood
6. Black Devil
7. Not True?
8. End of the World



X Japan : Best


Best

Compilation, 24 February 2004 - Tofu Records

1. Kurenai (New Version)
2. Joker (Live)
3. Blue Blood
4. Endless Rain
5. Miscast
6. Celebration
7. Love Replica
8. Xclamation
9. Week-End (Live)
10. Silent Jealousy
11. X (Live)
12. Say Anything




X Japan : Returns


Returns

Live, 29 February 2008 - Digital Site Corporation

1. Prologue from World Anthem
2. Silent Jealousy
3. Sadistic Desire
4. Standing Sex
5. Week End
6. Heath Solo
7. Yoshiki Drum Solo
8. Hide
9. Yoshiki Piano Solo
10. Art Of Life
11. Celebration
12. Orgasm
13. Tears
14. Kurenai
15. X
16. Endless Rain
17. Say Anything

Biography Updated History
piaow666 (149) - K PATHIU (1265) - SMF Rock Station (64) -
Discography Updated History
piaow666 (149) - K PATHIU (1264) - SMF Rock Station (64) -
 
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