Biography:
biography01.jpg - a pic of Yoshiki in junior high and senior high
Yoshiki had pretty good influence and background musically. His mother
was a piano teacher and taught Yoshiki how to play when he was 4 or 5
years old. He played brilliantly. (yada, yada, yada. like we all don't
know. ^^)
Yoshiki turns 8 or 9 when tragedy struck the Hayashi household. Mr.
Hayashi, Yoshiki's dad, commited suicide due to a financial problem. He
was a business man working in a small company. He was 34 years old when
he died.
Mrs. Hayashi then takes charge of the 3 of them remaining Hayashis,
herself, Yoshiki and his bro. They survived, luckily, or the legend of
X Japan would have never existed... Yoshiki wasn't very good with his
health and became a big problem for the struggling family. (you need $$
to go see a doctor) So, what did Mrs. Hayashi do? She took a lot of her
savings and bought Yoshiki a drumset. The drum playing creates a lot of
exercise for Yoshiki and exercises are good for your health.
Then Yoshiki went to high school. With Toshi. Toshi has always been a
family friend since preschool. Unlike Toshi, Yoshiki was what you
called a 'problem-kid'. he creates the trouble around school and gets
bad grades. Toshi on the otherhand was an A student. (can't say about
straight A's ^^;;;)
Somehow Yoshiki graduated. He and Toshi... well more Yoshiki, was into
creating bands. Both boys love KISS, a very popular heavy metal band in
America which was believed to be the greatest influence ever on X.
Yoshiki, developing into a workaholic, created a band of Toshi as
vocals, Yoshiki as drummer and leader and Taiji as bassist.
No guitarists, how are they going to manage a band? They were falling
apart until Yoshiki phoned Hide. Hide first said no to Yoshiki for
being a guitarist in his band but agreed at the end. Pata joined a bit
later and X's legend began.
They were going to have their own album (they had only been in some
compliation albums) but no one wants to record them! In rage, Yoshiki
created his own label, Xtasy. With help from Toshi of course, Yoshiki's
old best friend. Toshi almost fought with his family to get the money.
Mrs. Hayashi was always supporting in whatever his son does. She was a
main supporter of Xtasy too. Their first album was a great hit. And so
was the second, Vanishing Vision.
Vanishing Vision is not under Xtasy. It was Sony. After recognizing X's
talents, many major labels went after X. Yoshiki refused all offers
because the labels had refused them first. It was Sony who had the most
patience and begged X to join them. Maybe Yoshiki can't stand Sony so
he agreed to join them.
Success follows. Every concert was a sold-out. They were so popular
they got to perform the countdown concert at Tokyo Dome. These concerts
were usually saved for foreign stars or J-pop people. X was the first
band to ever perform there. It is a real honour.
After their 1991 concert, Taiji leaves the band. Many auditions were
held until they chose Heath. The band continued but I think the bass
was not as strong as Taiji's.
1997 was a tragic year. Toshi announces his leave. Without his high yet
gentle voice, the band would never be the same. X Japan was forced to
disband at the 1997 countdown concert. A concert to put a period to
their 10 year legend. Yoshiki was smiling at the end, seemingly to hide
his tears.
Yoshiki never really recover from the shock. He moved to his LA home
and lead some quiet life there. He gave up drums for it was harming his
health. (broken wrists, broken necks etc.) He can only play the piano
or produce some J-POP singers or indie bands.
Only when he seemed to recover a little bit, a shock hit him yet again,
bringing more wounds. Hide, his next best friend before Toshi left X,
was dead. His plans for X's reunion in the year 2000 was shattered.
Yoshiki was crying yet he struggles to stand strong at the funeral.
He's been pretty quiet at the J-rock world ever since. Not all things
are unhappy. In September 1999, I read on some site Yoshiki got back
together with Kudo Shizuka, a J-POP singer he produced... They were
dating before a long time ago. His big comeback in music was producing
for the popular band Dir en Grey. And, even bigger of a comeback,
Yoshiki performed for the emperor of Japan! For remaining his position
for 10 whole years... I think...
Left unfinished...
Well not exactly. This is very, very, very recent news. On June 21st,
2000, Yoshiki graces the J-rock world again! Yippee! ^_^ Though I think
he no longer performs on his drums *sobs*, he still produces a lot of
indie bands! Bands like BEAST. There are American (wow~ sugoi!) and
Japanese bands. Under the label Xtasy Japan or Xtasy Records. Look
for them in stores if you live in Japan. Support Yoshiki!
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