X JAPAN , known simply as X between 1982 and mid-1992, formed in Chiba, Japan, and became an international success with its innovative aesthetic and musical style.
The band consisted of Yoshiki (drums), Toshi (vocals), Pata (guitar), Hide (guitar) Taiji (bass, left the band in 1992), and Heath (bass, joined the group in 1992) until 1998, the year that marked the tragic end of the group with the death of Hide, which impacted the industry and the country. At his funeral, more than 50,000 fans came to pay their respects, thus demonstrating the strong influence and importance of the band.
The group released their first single, "I'll Kill You," in June 1985 through Dada Records, and their second track, "Orgasm," was released in April 1986 by Yoshiki's independent label, Extasy Records.
The milestone that placed X JAPAN at the center of Japanese metal was the release of the album Blue Blood (1989), which contains the two famous tracks "Kurenai," which Shaman even covered, and "Endless Rain," a moving ballad that captivates the listener from beginning to end.
On December 31, 1997, they gave their last concert with guitarist Hide still alive at the Tokyo Dome ; he passed away almost six months later. This performance gave rise to the album The Last Live (2001). The album was so successful that Jonathan McNamara of The Japanese Times named it one of the 10 Japanese albums that should be on Rolling Stone of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Ten years after separating, in 2007 the band reunited and recorded the song "IV". Over the next two years they played numerous shows, including their first outside of their country, in Hong Kong. To replace the deceased Hide, they brought in guitarist Sugizo to complete the lineup, and in 2011 the band embarked on their first world tour, visiting countries in Europe, South America, and Asia. That same year, bassist Taiji committed suicide by hanging.
Shortly after the reunion, X JAPAN began working on their sixth studio album. During its ten years of production, it had several announced release dates. Although it was completed in 2018, according to Yoshiki, it remains unreleased to this day.
Heath, the band's bassist, died on October 29, 2023. His death was announced on November 7 of that same year and was caused by colon cancer.
To date, the group has released five studio albums, six live albums, and twenty-one singles, and in 2017, Loudwire named X JAPAN the best metal band in Japan.
X JAPAN: Visual-kei, legacy and influence
It was X JAPAN that consolidated the Visual-Kei culture, an artistic movement that unites the Japanese metal scene through its androgynous, theatrical style and extravagant clothing that goes beyond the boundaries of the genre.
Inspired by glam rock, punk, and kabuki theater – traditional Japanese theater composed only of male actors who also play female roles – visual-kei is not a musical style, encompassing bands ranging from metalcore to power metal, or even rock groups that focus on a lighter sound. What unites these bands is the spirit and passion for shocking visuals and theatrical shows, which are the main focus.
At the beginning of their journey in the music world, X JAPAN was famous for their heavy makeup, with their eyeliner and dark eyeshadow. The costumes they wore in concerts consisted mostly of lace clothing to give a more feminine look and contrast with the "masculine" sound of metal, which was balanced by Toshi's high-pitched voice and Yoshiki's soft piano playing, who often wore dresses.
When they released the album Dahlia (1995), they toned down their extravagant style, cutting their hair and wearing more rock-inspired clothes, although they still wore makeup.
As pioneers of visual-kei, the band undoubtedly inspired numerous other major groups and artists such as Versailles , Miyavi , Syu do Galneryus , Dir En Grey , The Gazette , and others.
In the documentary film We Are X KISS bassist Gene Simmons says that if the band “had been born in America or England and sung in English, they could have been the biggest band in the world.”
X JAPAN's presence among Japanese youth was so strong that, in the documentary Global Metal , Yoshiki states that the media "hated" the band, since the fans were seen as rebellious teenagers upset with Japanese society.
The band's impact is also seen outside the music industry. In 1999, at the request of the Japanese government, Yoshiki composed and performed a piece of classical music for the then-emperor, Akihito, at a celebration honoring the tenth anniversary of his ascension to the throne.
OX JAPAN, despite facing numerous adversities throughout their career, has managed to remain at the top of the Japanese music industry to this day. They are undeniably one of the most influential bands within their own country, pioneering a unique style and sound that has inspired musicians and fans around the world.
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