X-Japan-The Other Face of Japan

They filled the Tokyo Dome to capacity more than once. X Japan, a Japanese rock band, was formed in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi.  The band released their first album Vanishing Vision in 1988. It  did several tours to promote the album and was also featured in a Hollywood film called ‘Tokyo Pop’.

The band tasted success with their second album, Blue Blood, which was released in 1989. Some songs from the album are Kurenai, Celebration and others.  Kurenai is one of the best songs of the band. Other albums by the band are Jealousy, Art of Life and Dahlia, which were released in 1991, 1993 and 1996 respectively. The band was disbanded in 1997. However, the members reunited in 2007. Several tours were conducted in 2008 and 2009. 

They also recorded some songs during this time. The band performed in Hong Kong. In 2011, the band went on a world tour comprising countries from Europe, North America and South America. The songs of the band were re-produced even after it was disbanded.

Their album Jealousy sold more than 6,00,000 copies throughout the world. It was a breakthrough album for the group which went truly global after this success. The death of one of the members of the band, Hide was a turning point for the band. They released, Art of Life in 1993 which solely comprised  of a heavily orchestrated title track lasting 29 minutes.

Before the band was disbanded in 1997, a live performance aptly named, The Last Live was held at the Tokyo Dome in December. The band reunited with a new member named Sugizo. Surprisingly, after it reunited, their concerts were sell-outs. Some of them were attended by more than 1,00,000 people in countries from Europe, Asia and North and South America. 

The members of the band are Yoshiki (Drums and Piano), Toshi (Lead Vocals), Pata (Rhythm Guitar), Heath (Bass and Backing Vocals) and Sugizo (Lead Guitar, Violin and Backing Vocals).