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The cult is highly justified; songs composed by Yoshiki Hayashi are the epitome of diversity, passion and precision. I doubt many musicians could even attempt some of his heavier and disturbing compositions that make him a pioneer in his own right and the leader of X Japan. Of course, finding artists who can play their parts perfectly is essential and I am glad to say he did. Heath, hide and Pata are all skilful and proficient, and Toshi's voice is perfect for both soft ballads and immersed screaming. Yoshiki himself can pull inhumanly fast drum passes or intense piano solos.
That particular style is nicely represented in their 1993 single: Art of Life, which is a whopping twenty-nine-minute (the live version going over thirty-four minutes) roller-coaster ride of emotions endlessly fluctuating from heavy to melancholic but flowing smoothly none the less. Hardly any band would dare to try such feat, even fewer would actually pull it off and, if you allow me this assumption: none could do it remotely as well. With violins and piano played when the moment is just right, arrangements are flawless more often than not. Having taken piano lessons from the age of five, Yoshiki not only times these arrangements right but also plays them giftedly. Aside from the actual composition, my favourite aspect of X Japan’s music is Yoshiki’s insane drumming skills. Listening to Silent Jealousy and X, I can but wonder how such rhythms are even possible. Next in line is hide’s guitar. Once again, either fast and furious or soft and sorrowful, his skills combined with a mysterious personality made him the most popular member of the group. I have a hunch his hair styling played at part in that, too. The visuals are a bonus to fans of colourful hair, shocking get-ups and androgeny.
Thus, Pata, hide and Taiji (former guitarist) joined X and released Vanishing Vision, their first album. It did not take much time for people to recognize their talent and their second and third album, Blue Blood and Jealousy, both were accompanied by unprecedented popularity. Taiji gave his place to Heath in 1992, which also corresponded to the band’s name change. Trying to reach an eastern audience where a band named X already existed, they changed theirs to X Japan. The band and their spiffy new name kept the hits rolling until their fifth and final album, Dahlia. In 1997, X Japan fans were shocked to hear the band was splitting. Seventeen years of success is a long time and the departure of vocalist Deyama Toshimitsu (Toshi) triggered the inevitable. Yoshiki has since had a thriving solo career (Violet UK) and owns his own record company called Extasy Records. Pata and Heath teamed up again to start a new band named Dope HEADz. Pata also found a second home in Ra:IN, a mostly instrumental new trio. hide’s subsequent solo career as a lead singer and guitarist tragically ended prematurely when he was found dead by what appears to be suicide. His legend and that of his former band lives on and probably still will for decades to come.
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Blue Blood
It was a close call between this one, Jealousy and the Art of Life mini-album but compilations aside, Blue Blood has the edge. It is the perfect blend of hard and soft tunes wrapped in a neat, little package in which many of my favourite songs are featured. Even though Jealousy includes my song of choice, Silent Jealousy, the lack of ballades does not represent the band well enough. |
I'll be honest with you: I cheated a little bit. Art of Life is actually my favourite. I'm not about to host a thirty-minute song, however. Silent Jealousy is almost as good with a typical piano intro that leads its unsuspecting victims into some of Yoshiki's craziest drumming.
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Official Site: http://www.xjapan.ne.jp Heath's Official Site http://www.heath.co.jp Dope HEADz (featuring Heath and Pata)'s Official Site: http://www.m-up.com/dopeheadz/ hide's Official Site: http://m-up.cplaza.ne.jp/hide-city/index-mus.html Ra:IN (featuring Pata)'s Official Site: http://www.rain-web.jp Yoshiki's Official Site: http://www.yoshiki.net
(Tip: use AltaVista's Babel Fish translator) |
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It
would even be an understatement to call this band legendary. It is safe to
declare X Japan has been the most influential band in
Japan's history and a major landmark in general music history. No, I am
not crazy; they are that big. 
X
Japan’s
repertoire should be enough to bury anyone’s prejudices against
"heavy metal" bands a hundred feet underground. There is
something for everyone to enjoy in their sometimes fiery, sometimes
velvety works of art. But whether they are fast or slow-paced and even in
their gloomiest moments, few can deny the beauty and complexity of their
pieces. 
Yoshiki’s
dream had always been to become a rock star. He will have to wait until
1980 at the age of sixteen when he somehow managed to convince Toshi,
who was heading for medical college, to start a band with him. Many
members joined and left X (as it was called then) and
it is only seven years later that Yoshiki found musicians who had what
it took.
