Thursday, October 4, 2007
"Reunification of X-Japan." @ 9:48 PM
Nearly ten years since X JAPAN's New Year's "farewell" concert and nine years after the death of the band's influential lead guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto, X JAPAN has officially reformed and is planning a new tour and single, tentatively due before the end of 2007. According to an article in the Japanese newspaper Sponichi, X JAPAN founder Yoshiki summoned former vocalist Toshi to Los Angeles in November 2006 to work on a song that was written as a tribute to late guitarist Hide, entitled "Without You" (originally released instrumentally on Yoshiki's first album). After an emotional recording session, the two felt that "the puzzle pieces just fit," and decided to officially reunite the band. Yoshiki is said to be in talks with guitarist Pata and bassist Heath regarding the reunion, with hopes to feature the band lineup circa the group's final performance. While nothing has been set in stone, the tentative touring lineup is expected to include Yoshiki, Toshi, Pata, Heath, and roughly 10 guest guitarists who will perform Hide's parts during various songs in the set. Current information indicates that X JAPAN's tour will begin near Yoshiki's home of Los Angeles, with the Toshi-sung single release of "Without You" due sometime this year.Regarding the reunion, Yoshiki stated, "After Hide's death most fans were split between two extreme opinions, either 'you reunite and I'll kill you' or 'if you don't reunite I'll die.' I had trouble making the decision and for a while I wasn't able to move forward. This reunion is actually a first for me as well."
So it's sort of official now. X-Japan shall reunite without any new guitarist to take over Hide's place. I suppose that is the right thing to do....... I suppose Miyavi will be one of the guest guitarist too. I really wish they'd hold it somewhere in Asia though, the concert. L.A already had their Jrock Festival, and their S.K.I.N performance.... let X-Japan come back in Asia~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Well I guess I should say the first S.K.I.N. Live went well, considering the minimal rehearsal time we had, and the band members did very well…..
….but my head was a little blurry….. Not because I didn't sleep a few days before the show…..
I wish I could have seen everybody's face (audience) a little more….. And I should have smashed the drum set even more…ha ha ha ha ……
I don't exactly know what I'm talking about….. but….. Well….. That was the first drum performance on stage for me since X Japan's Last Live…..
I don't know why but as soon as I started playing the drums on the stage at the Long Beach, so many memories started filling my head…..
Don't get me wrong… I was very excited playing with these amazingly brilliant members, but I started feeling a little sad, and a few times tears filled my eyes and blurred my vision….. Very strange…..
I don't think I've conquered the sadness of past X Japan memories yet….."
- taken from Yoshiki's blog
I almost /gg-ed when Tokiya called to break the news. I was only half awake then, already planning how to terrorize him for disturbing my sleep. I forgot about that when he told me bout it though =/ Gosh I think I almost cried. It's so weird. I remember that a couple of X-Japan's songs were the only few songs that could actually MAKE me wanna cry, and feel terribly sad inside. Like Forever Love. I used to almost
always wanna beat people up after listening to that song cause it makes me feel emotional. swts.
I don't know if I'm going to like the reunited X-Japan without hide. Apart from Yoshiki he was my favourite band member
how can you not love his pink flamingo hairAs long as Yoshiki's happy. I guess.
