X Japan

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X Japan is a heavy metal band, which broke up in 1997. It was formed in 1982 by Yoshiki Hayashi and Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama, who were joined by Hideto "hide" Matsumoto, Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka and Taiji Sawada.

The group was originally named X and achieved success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood. They have sold over twenty million albums and singles and over two million videos.

Their first single, I'll Kill You was released on Dada Records in 1985.The following year, Yoshiki founded the independent label Extasy Records, on which Orgasm was released, as well as the group's debut album, Vanishing Vision in 1988.

X Japan was signed by Sony Records and their second album Blue Blood released in 1989. In 1991, the band made their first performance in Japan's largest live venue, the Tokyo Dome.

In 1992, the band were renamed X Japan to distinguish them group from the American punk band X. Taiji was replaced by Hiroshi "Heath" Morie, due to creative differences with Yoshiki and went on to work with Loudness and Cloud Nine.

X Japan left Sony and signed with Atlantic Records. Art of Life was released in 1993, the title track of which was almost twenty nine minutes and was only performed twice for a live audience. By this time, the members of the group had several side projects.

In 1996, Dahlia was released and the group adopted a more casual look. This was to be the band's last major release as vocalist Toshi left the group. X Japan performed their farewell show at the Toyko Dome on December 31 1997, the last of five consecutive New Year's Eves they had performed there.

Hide continued his solo career as Hide with Spread Beaver. However, this did not last long as he committed suicide in May 1998. At his funeral, 50,000 fans mobbed the streets.

Pata and Heath founded Dope Headz in 2001, which released two albums but then ceased activity. Heath is now pursuing a solo career and Pata is a member of Ra:In. Yoshiki has been briefly a member of the pop band Globe, produced singles for the Korean band TRAX and worked on his solo project Violet UK.

In March 2007, Toshi announced on his website that he and Yoshiki had resumed working together and that the band would reform.

Members

Vocals: Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama
Guitar: Hideto "hide" Matsumoto
Guitar: Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka
Bass: Hiroshi "Heath" Morie (from 1992)
Drums and Piano: Yoshiki Hayashi
Bass: Taiji Sawada (until 1992)

Discography

Singles

I’ll Kill You (1985)
Orgasm (1986)
Kurenai (1989)
Endless Rain (1989)
Week End (1990)
Silent Jealousy (1991)
Standing Sex (1991)
Say Anything (1991)
Tears (1993)
Rusty Nail (1994)
Longing ~Togireta Melody~ (1995)
Longing ~Setsubou no Yoru~ (1995)
Forever Love (1997)
The Last Song (1998)
Forever Love (1998)
Scars (1998)
Forever Love (2001)

Albums

Vanishing Vision (1988)
Blue Blood (1989)
Jealousy (1991)
Art of Live (1993)
Dahlia (1996)

Videos and DVDs

On the Verge of Destruction 1992.1.7 Tokyo Dome Live (1992)
Live Live Live Tokyo Dome 1993-1996 (1997)
Live Live Live Extra (1997)
Live in Hokkaido 1995.12.4 Bootleg (1998)
Art of Life Live (1998)
The Last Live (2001)

External Links

Retrieved from "http://virtualjapan.com/wiki/X_Japan"

Category: Japanese Bands

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Revision as of 12:39, 3 August 2008 (edit) JapanesePlease (Talk \| contribs) ← Previous diff		Current revision (12:40, 3 August 2008) (edit) (undo) JapanesePlease (Talk \| contribs)
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-	'''X Japan''' is a heavy metal band, which broke up in [[1997]]. It was formed in [[1982]] by [[Yoshiki Hayashi]] and [[Toshimitsu]] "[[Toshi]]" [[Deyama]], who were joined by [[~~Hide to~~]] "[[hide]]" [[Matsumoto]], [[Tomoaki]] "[[Pata]]" [[Ishizuka]] and [[Taiji Sawada]].	+	'''X Japan''' is a heavy metal band, which broke up in [[1997]]. It was formed in [[1982]] by [[Yoshiki Hayashi]] and [[Toshimitsu]] "[[Toshi]]" [[Deyama]], who were joined by [[Hideto]] "[[hide]]" [[Matsumoto]], [[Tomoaki]] "[[Pata]]" [[Ishizuka]] and [[Taiji Sawada]].

	The group was originally named [[X]] and achieved success in [[1989]] with the release of their second album [[Blue Blood]]. They have sold over twenty million albums and singles and over two million videos.		The group was originally named [[X]] and achieved success in [[1989]] with the release of their second album [[Blue Blood]]. They have sold over twenty million albums and singles and over two million videos.