History Of
In 1977, Yoshiki and Toshi formed a band called "Noise" in their hometown, province of Chiba. Yoshiki playing the drums and Toshi in the side guitar. In the 3rd year of junior high school, the vocalist went to another school so Toshi started to sing. The band went on until the 2nd year of senior high school when the other members left. Yoshiki came to the decision to invite players from other schools and renamed the band as "X". The band participated in various contests and cultural events which they won countless prizes. Soon they became famous in their hometown. During the Cultural event in the 3rd year of senior high scool, 3000 people went to their live. That performance led them to decide to continue on rock music. They went Tokyo and the first thing was to look for a new member. While searching, they found themselves jobs. It was one year later when they started to play again. They made demo tapes and distributed to all the live houses they had found. In the city of Kanyama, there wasn't any live houses. In 1985 people could find X in the schedules of a live house. They started selling a demo tape called "Kurenai" with 5 songs for ¥1000. In 1986 April, they released the single "Orgasm" by Extasy level; in June, the single "I'll Kill You"; in July participated with just a song in album "Heavy Metal Force III". To call for people's attnetion, they used to paint their hair blond. The members, except Yoshiki and Toshi, came and went. Sometimes, there was only a drummer and vocalist performing. An ex-member of Dimensier, TaiJi appeared. At one time he left the band but made a comeback during the end of 1986 he became the official member of X. Victor records invited X to participate in the album "Skull Thrash Zone". It was their first invitation from majoy level. But in order to participate, there was a need for a guitarist. Yoshiki requested Pata, an acquiantance and ex-member of "Black Rose", to ask if he was interested to help with the recording. Pata agreed without the intention of joining the band. They recorded "Stab Me In The Back: and another song. After the recording was completed, the ex-member of Saber Tiger, Hide entered officially. Another guitarist who could play faster than Hide had joined the band. But unfortunately he met an accident the day before the live. Yoshiki called up Pata again for help. After the live, Yoshiki asked Pata if he was interested to join them, Pata agreed and became the official member. In the February of 1987, X was formed by Yoshiki, Toshi, Taiji, Hide and Pata. Since completing high school, X visual was gaisty with blond hair and make-ups. Yoshiki rose up one side of his hair and people called it "hedgehog head". The different make-up on each side of the face was to express the 2 sides of human personality. Taiji was gramish; Hide wore epic clothes; Toshi wore clothes with metals; Pata with his red hair and flower tatoo in his face. In live houses they began diving in pit, troughing things, breaking instruments, quarreling with the pit. It seemed more like a riot than a live. In the August of 1987, at the live house Osaka Bourbon House, they distributed a free video with 3 songs to whomever entering. The video was a success and they started playing on television programmes like variety shows. But as they weren't famous, people placed them in the comedy section. With the policy to publicise their name, they didn't mind. Then the director of Major level signed a contract with X to produce their major album. In 1988 April, they released their first album, "Vanishing Vision". This album hit the first rank of the chart and was considered the best selling album. Even though their lyrics were creative and melodies good, they didn't seem important to people due to their visual style. After releasing "Vanishing Vision", they did live in Tokyo, Nakano Koukaidou, and had tour in 24 places of the country. They released another album "Blue Blood" which ranked 6th in the chart. People were surprised because no new band had entered the chart. Since young Yoshiki had learnt classical piano, so he was the one who wrote all the orchestra part. After that, they did the first major live tour. Then they went to other countries for video recording. Yoshiki went to London, Paris, New York and other members went to Los Angeles and New York. When they returned to Japan, they got involved in radio progammes, magazines, TV variety shows and talk shows. At that period, it wasn't common for rock bands to play in music programmes. But a lot of musical programmers and directors started inviting them to their programmes. X became famous and on 1st September of 1989, they released a single "Kurenai" in japanese version and ranked 5th of the chart. On 1st December the single "Endless Rain" was released and it was ranked 3rd place of the chart. In that year, they won the best new artist of Japan (Nihon Yuusen Daishou Yuushuu Shinjin Shou) and the best enw artist with talent of all Japan(Zen Nihon Yuusen Daishou Yuushuu Shinjin Shou). They also won the prize of the Oricon first place in singles selling (Oricon 89 Nendo Recording Sell Single Shinjin Bumon Dai Ichii). Then they had the Autumn live tour. Yoshiki's drumming made X a band that nobody could copy. But Yoshiki's body was weak since he was young. Indeed on 22th November 1989. one day before the Shibuya Koukaidou Live, Yoshiki fainted and the band had to cancel off all the schedules. But in 1990 4th February they had a live in Nihon Budoukan to comemorate their back. But after the accident, the fans were worried about them. X won the Best artist of the 4th Japan Gold Disc (Dai Yonkai Nihon Gold Disc Taishou Best Artist Shou). In 1990 21th April, they released a single "Weekend" which hit 2nd place of the chart. People with preconception then looked at them from a different view. In 1991 December they won the Best Music of Japan(Nihon Yuusen Daishou Yuusen Ongaku Yuushuushou) and in 1992 March they won the Japan Gold Disc for New Artists(Nihon Gold Disc Daishou shinjin Shou). After 7 months, they finished recording of the new album and hdeaded back to Japan. On the day, fans gathered at Narita Airport causing commotions, and many girls who fainted were admitted to hospitals.In 1992 1st July they released the new album "Jealousy" that was ranked the 1st place of Oricon chart. They had a new live tour, and on 23th August they had their 1st live in Tokyo Dome. On 3rd October they made an event in Shinjuku Powers Station, and invited a lot of musician friends to join them. They also did an event of Extasy Records, in Budoukan, the Extasy Summit. Bands like Luna Sea and Ladies Room that followed X's style. X did a secret live in Shibuya Live House Egg Man limited to 300 people, and a live in NHK hall with a full orchestra. At the end of 1991, they participated in NHK Kouhaku Utagasen. They were the first rock band to appear in Kouhaku. After playing Silent Jealousy in Kohaku they went to "All Night Event". In 1992, 5th, 6th and 7th January they did Tokyo Dome 3 days. But after the album "Silent Jealousy", Taiji decided to leave the band. So they went on a search for a new bassist. They found Heath when they went to New York August. He joined the band officially and they discovered that there's a band in Los Angeles called X so they changed their band's name to "X-Japan". The first live with Heath was at Osaka jyou hall and Extasy Summit in Nihon Budoukan. They performed in the NHK Kouhaku Utagasen playing "Kurenai" and "Tears" that Yoshiki played a pipe organ. After that they started with the recording of Mini Album "Art of Life". Yoshiki had to do the partitures so the other members did some solo works. Toshi did the album "Made In Heaven" released in 1992 October. Other than making an omnibus album with J and Inoran of Luna Sea, Hide did a video with Tusk of Zi:Kill and started doing solo works in 1993 August. He also had a live tour with Tommy Aldorich(ex-White Snake, Ozzy Bourbon), Saimon Philips (Jeff Beck, Michael Shenker), Tim Bogard (ex-Vanilla Fang, B.B.A.), and James Christian (ex-House of Rose). Heath did a solo work in 1995 February. Yoshiki had solo works with Tetsuya Komuro he did an unit called V2 playing "Haitoku No Hitomi~Eye of Venus~", he played piano with London Philarmonic Orchestra composing the single "Amethyst" and making a solo album with X's songs but in classical version called "Eternal Melody", and with ex-Queen member Roger Taylor he did the single "Foreign Sand". In 1993 25th July X Japan released the album "Art of Life", that was top of the chart. A toy factory created an UFO ctacher of X japan, attracting millions of fans, and to the pervention of AIDS they created a X condom (safty is the best policy) . In October they released the single "Tears" that was played in 1992 Kouhaku, In 1993 30th and 31st December they did a live Tokyo Dome 2 days. It was the first live that Toshi sang with the hair lowered and with light make up. In 1994 May, they performaed in an event "Aoniyoshiki" in Toudaji. The single "Rusty Nail" was released and hit top of the chart. The poster of the single was sticked in everyplace of Harajuku. In 1994 30th, 31st December they did the live Tokyo Dome. The first night was called "the blue night" and the second day was "the white night". They gave the demo tape of new song "Longing" for 10, 000 people. After that, they went to Kouhaku Utagasen to play "Rusty Nail" again. In 1995, they participated in F3000 as X Japan Motor Team. In 1st August that year, they released the single "Longing~Togireta Melody" and the maxi single "Longing~Zetsubou no Yoru". This singles topped the chart again. After that they decided to do alive tour called "Dahlia". They released a game software for "Sega Saturn Visual Shock 001" and released the single "Dahlia" with 2 covers that entered 1st place of the chart. Then it was the single "Forever Love" that became the theme song of "Clamp Anime Movie X" and of course became top of the chart. In August they released the single "Crucify My Love" that positioned 2nd of the chart. In Novmeber they finally released the full album "Dahlia" that topped the chart. They did a live in the end of the year 1996 30th and 31st December, Tokyo Dome for 2 days. Sadly in 1995 May, Toshi decided to leave X Japan. Bad rumours about Toshi popped up. The other members had expressed a lot about the situation. But it wasn't easy to find someone replace Toshi as he had been the vocalist for 10 years. They came to the conclusion of debanding. In 1997 22th September they announced the end of X Japan. In 31st December they did the "Last Live". After that, they released the maxi single "The Last Song". They released the mini album "Art of Life LIVE" and the last album "X Japan Perfect Best". Though the X Japan doesn't exist anymore, their music will still be alive in our hearts. X Japan: the Legend of Japanese Rock Music.
Loneliness, your silent whisper fills a river of tears through the night. Memory, you never let me cry and you, you never said goodbye...
