X Japan — widely known in Japan for members' sky-high hair, makeup and outrageous costumes, as well as its fusion of hard rock and melody — is ready to take on North America. Its seven-city tour includes a Seattle stop.01.html
X Japan is poised to be the first Japanese band to take over the U.S.
Founded in 1982, the band has packed Tokyo Dome's 55,000-seat arena 18 times, sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and is on the soundtrack of the popular video game "Rock Band."
X Japan made its U.S. debut at Lollapalooza in Chicago in August, and is on a seven-city tour of North America, the group's first such tour.
"It's our dream come true, we've always wanted this," said co-founder Yoshiki Hayashi — who goes simply by his first name — about touring the U.S. "We are a bit nervous but excited at the same time."
The dream was stalled for some years. After overwhelming success, the band broke up in 1997 as Yoshiki and co-founder Toshimitsu Deyama grew apart and members pursued solo careers. Then in 1998, lead guitarist Hideto Matsumoto killed himself. The band reunited in 2007.
"We had internal problems," said Yoshiki, 44. "When we reunited, we didn't know if it was only a one-time thing or the beginning of something. Then last year, I had neck surgery and had to stop. At same time, we had to learn speak English, too."
The group's sound and look may be the key to its success. On stage, members are an amalgam of American classic-rock influences — the impact of Bono, the look of KISS and the sound of Chopin blended with Metallica.
"We are very flashy," said Yoshiki, on the phone from Los Angeles. "Some people think we have Kabuki influences."
Like actors in Kabuki, that traditional Japanese theater form, X Japan's look is larger than life. Members are glam rock at its best: sky-high hair, makeup and outrageous costumes. And their music is as loud as their clothes, a melodic fusion of metal, classical and punk rock.
Yoshiki is a rock star in his own right. He composes, plays drums and piano for X Japan. He was commissioned to compose and perform a piano concerto for the Japanese Emperor Akihito's 10th year on the throne in 1999. And he's the only person who has a Hello Kitty character named after him: Yoshikitty.
And that neck injury?
It's from headbanging.
"We play really fast songs," he said. "I was headbanging hard for a long time, but now I have to drum with a neck brace on, which makes it even harder to play the drums. ... but, I'll do anything for my fans."
