X Marks the Spot

X Japan. Quite possibly the most famous name in Jrock and Visual Kei. And with good reason. As far as the world of Visual Kei is concerned, X Japan is The Godfather. Founded in Chiba, Japan, in 1982, originally under the name X, by drummer Hayashi Yoshiki and vocalist “Toshi” (Deyama Toshimitsu), the band shredded the Japanese indie rock scene with their huge glam-rock hair, androgynous glamor, and balladic, whiny, speed-metal sound.

Although the band started in ‘82, founders Yoshiki and Toshi were both attending high-school at the time, and the band didn’t really get going with lives until ‘85, which were performed with support musicians. In 1986 Yoshiki founded the independent record label Extasy Records as a surefire way of releasing music and supporting their dream. By ‘87 the band had completed its first formal lineup, settling in with Hide (Matsumoto Hideto) on guitar, and Sawada Taiji on bass, and “Pata” as a support guitarist.

The band released its debut album, Vanishing Vision, in ‘88 through Extasy Records, and toured extensively throughout Japan. In ‘89 the band made a big break with the ultra-popular album Blue Blood, which incited the release of several singles, including the all-time favorites Kurenai and Endless Rain. In 1991 the band performed for the first time in the prestigious Tokyo Dome.

By ‘92 the band had become so successful not only in Japan, but worldwide, that they were required to adopt the name X Japan in order to distinguish themselves as a separate entity from the American punk band X. In the same year, bassist Taiji was replaced with bassist Heath.

In 1996 the album Dahlia was released– which would mark the end of X Japan as a band. Vocalist Toshi had already decided to leave the band, and without him, X Japan could hardly continue with dignity, so they decided to split up and pursue their solo activities. They performed for the last time on New Year’s Eve at the Tokyo Dome.

hide ~ December 13th, 1964- May 2nd 1998

Guitarist and sometimes-composer of the band, hide (not to be confused with Hyde of L’arc~En~Ciel/Vamps) was a figurehead for X Japan. As the band progressed and developed, the other members steadily let go of the original Visual Kei emphasis in favor of a more casual, straight rock style. The exception to this rule was hide, whose bright pink hair and ultra-flashy style became a trademark fans would, and will, never forget.

Along with his work for X Japan, hide worked on solo projects (and released several albums and singles), including hide with Spread Beaver and Zilch (based in the US).

Like all of the members of X Japan, hide had become, by their disbandment in ‘97, a rock’n'roll icon. Japan was, then, utterly crushed when his sudden death was announced one year after the band broke up. hide was discovered in his Tokyo apartment, hung from the bathroom doorknob by a towel. His funeral was held in Tsukiji Hongan-ji (a Buddhist temple in the Tsukiji district of Tokyo), and was attended by 50,000 people, 60 of which were hospitalized during the event, and 200 of which were tended to in first-aid tents. Three fans died in copy-cat suicides.

There remains some speculation as to whether hide’s death was an accident or a suicide. Members of X Japan commented that they had often utilized a technique involving a towel and a doorknob/handle as a way of relieving back-pain caused by constant use of a guitar-strap. Former bassist Sawada Taiji suggests that hide may have been attempting to implement this technique and, drunk, passed out and gotten tangled up in the towel.

On May 1st 1999, almost exactly a year following hide’s death, a memorial album was released under the title Tribute Spirits. The album featured covers of hide songs by illustrious names such as  fellow first-generation Visual Kei bands Luna Sea and BUCK-TICK. A Hide Memorial Summit concert was held at the Ajinomoto Stadium, where many bands, including X Japan, performed hide’s songs.

(Video: At the 2008 Hide Memorial Summit, X Japan performing together with Luna Sea)

But enough  history!

These guys rock, and sorting them neatly into the pages of Jrock text-books would be doing their 15 years of rebellion a vast disservice.

Aside from deciding that Visual Kei was to be crazy and image-driven, X Japan had a massive impact on the music and composition styles. Although classified as a speed/power metal and progressive rock band, they made generous use of balladry, piano, and orchestration. Vocalist Toshi supplied unique vocals characterized by a high-pitched, whiny timbre. Several songs, including the all-time-famous ballad Tears (from the album Dahlia) were written with all-English lyrics, and sung boldly by the iconic vocalist.

Many of their songs passed the 10 minute length, climaxing with the album Art of Life, which contained only the title song, running a whopping 29 minutes. (1993. Art of Life was composed and written by Yoshiki, and performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It was only performed live for three audiences.)

In the 15 years that X Japan was active, the band released 5 studio albums, 6 live albums, 10 compilation albums, 19 singles, and 15 video releases.

Links, Further Reading, and Info:

Official Website (Japanese)

Official Website (UK-English)

Yoshiki’s privately owned record label, EXTASY RECORDS (Japanese)

XJapan at MySpace (Japanese)

Yoshiki Official Website (Japanese, English, Chinese [simplified], Korean, Chinese [traditional]/ German, Spanish, French, Italian [news only])

“Yoshikitty” (Yoshiki + Hello Kitty collaboration) Info site (Japanese)

For a full list of member sites and official sites by country/region: go here

‘X Japan’, a fan-site made with dedication, packed with news, information, updates, and anything else you might want to check out related to X Japan.

Updates– Nov 09–

Just a quick note to address some changes that have happened here lately. :) I’ve been experimenting with all kinds of widgets, most of which didn’t survive the test-run (unfortunately). Somehow the sidebar keeps growing, though….I just added a list of the artists that have appeared on here, and that list will just keep growing (here’s a tip: it grows faster the more CDs I accumulate…), so every time a new artist appears, the name will be added to the list. No links yet, but hopefully in the future, when I become smarter(too late), more tech-savvy(riiiight), and, probably, bored (as if), they will appear. Hopefully this will help people quickly assess the information available. If there’s something missing that you would like to see, there’s nothing like a little motivation to get things rolling, so just drop me a line, either in comment form or via the Contact Me page. :D

The ‘Gacktpause Picks’ section will also keep expanding. This is stuff that I want (here’s a tip:…oh, you get the idea…), really like, and/or have acquired and think you all should check out.

Also– I didn’t realize this, but on WordPress, after you use a Tag enough times, it gets converted into an actual category. There’s something that bothers me about this (most likely a control issue buried deep in my psyche), but in the end I guess it’s helpful. You can now click right on abingdon boys school and Visual Kei as complete categories. Have fun.

Also, there’s so much I plan on adding (when I have the time, energy, and brain-power available to work with). I have stacks of CDs that need to be reviewed, profiles to be added, and names to stick on that list. This stuff is on its way….slowly but surely.

Questions, comments, and complaints appreciated as always here on Secret Garden-

 

“From Dusk Till Dawn”

…You would almost think the title of abingdon boys school’s new single was referring to how much I listen to them. But actually, it’s not. The mastermind band has hit it once again with an ending for an anime series, this time Darker Than Black 2. The single, to be released December 16th (Hallelujah– still early enough to add it to your Christmas list) features only the title song, From Dusk Till Dawn, for JPY500.

From Dusk Till Dawn is an almost shocking break in the heavy rock the band has been releasing lately (JAP, Kimi no Uta, STRENGTH…etc). A mellow swerve into melancholia, this may actually be the first legitimate ballad by our favorite school boys. If you’re looking for a late-night pleaser, pick up your copy today. Well, technically not till December. But pre-order now.

I don’t know about anybody else out there, but my piggy-bank has been so abused this year that it can practically file for harassment and get taken away by the government’s child-protection agencies and sent off to a foster-home. By my book, however, it would be worth going to court in order to have another gem added to the a.b.s. treasure-trove.

The Pros and Cons

Just back from the con this evening. And I feel like this:

And aside from totally throwing me off in every way, I find DST really exciting. If everything else fails, let the twice-a-year time-change exhilarate your life… I always have a hard time wrapping my head around the logic of DST. All the leaping forward and falling back and gaining hours and losing hours and the great extra sunshine in those god-forbidden hours no decent person should be doomed to witness. I was sort of paranoid that none of the clocks were going to change automatically, and I was going to sleep in too much and miss the early AM panels [at the con]. The hotel clock wasn’t automatic, but my phone didn’t fail totally, and at 2 AM when I checked the time it had performed its duty, and no panels were missed. No, rather, I woke up 1.30 hrs before the alarm went off. Now I feel like a Laputacian robot that needs some axle grease, requiring a very sturdy spatula to peel my crippled and still breathing carcass off the pocky-crumb dusted floor… 

The only thing I really missed this weekend was the music. Follow up from earlier post: con #1 of con: super extra no Jrock at the dance this year. Plus it started late and finished early, but what’s a chap to do, eh? Right before they played the last song, they said something about because it was an anime convention, needing to end it with certain style, so they played a high-energy meow-meow candy-pop song. If they were really worried about that, they should have played Jpop the whole (or even a 1/3) the way through. No, I’m not ‘con’plaining. :) Also, the dubious “Intro to Jrock” panel was removed from the events-list this year, much to my relief.

Hey-ho. Tomorrow is brutal re-entry to the cold and disinterested 9-5. Life can’t be all fun and anime, right? Wrong.

Week from Monday is London, and then scraping together any scant remaining quid to buy Double Decker boots. Day in the life of GP, your eternal host on Secret Garden, over and out. +

Cosplay #4 ~ the prince

Mana (MDM) by FallenAngel1973

Mana-sama, formerly of Malice Mizer, and currently leader and guitarist of “solo” project Moi Dix Mois, mentor to Lolita-rock rising star Kanon Wakeshima, founder of Elegant Gothic Lolita fashion label Moi Meme Moitie, and prince of gothic Visual Kei, is hailed as one of the most difficult cosplays to get right. You really have to have the natural physiology for it– a certain facial structure that makeup can’t alter. This Elegant Gothic Aristocrat version, done with roots in the MDM era, is pretty much spot-on. Check out FallenAngel1973’s page to see more Mana cosplays, as incredible as this one.

~Sources and Tutorials that may or may not help you achieve the perfect Mana Cosplay~

xxfullmoonxx’s makeup tutorial for a Gothic Lolita Bible-inspired Mana

Mana Wannabe’s Versailles-era inspired Mana makeup tutorial

and a few videos that may help you get the signature lips and hair down pat….

And remember…personality….is everything: