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Y: [In our INDIES days I started my own label called [Extasy Records]
and we were operating under that, but as we grew beyond expectation,
the business side of things became really hectic. We were so snowed
under with promotion and interviews, that I started to think that its
okay to make our major debut without having to do all of that
ourselves].
In 1982, with YOSHIKI and TOSHI in the centre, X JAPAN first known as
X, was born. The two were in senior high school at the time. At the
time YOSHIKI was thinking of moving on to a music university, but
ended up giving that up.
Y: [I had intended to sit various music university exams, but in the
end I didn’t want to make an escape route for myself. If my band
failed then I really didn’t care what happened to my life. That was
how I felt. I have this need to ‘rebel’ inside me].
At the stage of high school graduation one must be extremely brave to
decide on the one direction of their future. Especially in that day
and age to even know what one wanted to do in the future was rare. If
one considers this, then the speed of this man’s life was abnormally
early.
Y: [I’ve probably been like that for as long as I can remember. But,
from a long time ago I’ve been the destructive type (laughs). Even now
I don’t think about the future that much].
Having no connections the two of them went to Tokyo formed their band
and rose above any expectations. In June of 1985, they released their
first single as an INDIES band.
Y: [First and foremost, at that time I simply wanted people to listen
to the songs that I wrote. I didn’t think as far as wanting to be
excepted by the critics. When we released the CD there were some
things written in magazines by critics about us, and they wrote some
pretty horrible stuff. But now I feel that that was a good thing]
This event only furthered your devotion to make music and express what
you wanted to didn’t it?
Y: [It was like a role model.. a textbook in a way---- There is
unwritten rules saying ‘You must do rock in this way!’, right? Well at
that time being told that really got to me. I thought ‘Shouldn’t I do
what I want to do?’ In short, people should be able to understand you,
or what’s in your heart. You should be able to be totally immersed in
music and be able to excite someone with your music, so when people
talk about a formula, or one-way of doing things, I got irritated by
it. And I was determined to completely destroy everything that was
seen as the norm].
‘The more opposition you have, the more determined you become’, ‘A
personality like one up against 1000 others’. This is in short,
YOSHIKI’s self-introduction. They faced being banned from entering
live houses due to their destructive nature, but still their legend
was born. It is possibly this nature that was their blessing. This
sense of danger was just one of X’s attractions.
At the same time, through the wide distribution of their unusual
promotional videos and their own aggressive promotional activities
etc.. they instantly became nation wide celebrities.
In April of 1988 their previously released album shot into the major
charts, to become a record breaking album. Then, in August of that
year they were signed with a major recording label.
In 1991 they appeared for their first time on NHK’s KOUHAKU, and
became the first Japanese artists to hold live at Tokyo Dome. Over the
3 day live they drew crowds of over 150,000. In 1993 they moved to
Warner Music’s Atlantic label in order to tie up a world wide debut,
and changed their name to X JAPAN. They undoubtedly would leave their
mark on the Japanese music world under that name. However, looking
back over X JAPAN’s activities, YOSHIKI tells about...
Y: [Of course the most important thing was the meeting of all our
members. I think that it was due to those members that we were able to
continue as we did. The biggest thing was meeting TOSHI in primary
school. We happened to live in the same neighborhood, but I think its
still mysterious. hide at the time was the leader of another band. I
went to recruit him, but at the time he refused saying that he had his
own band already. But then that band disbanded, and he was on the
verge of quitting music. In fact, at that time I was having a talk
with him and I said ‘So then why don’t you just give up music then?’
He thought that I was definitely going to ask him to join us.. and I
think he got a shock and things changed. And in the end after that he
said to me quietly ‘I wanna join X’. So, it was a really mysterious
meeting].
Add to that guitarist PATA and bassist TAIJI and you have X’s debut
members. In fact, in their amateur Indies days before they named
themselves X, they went through close to 20 members, constantly
chopping and changing.
Y: [The reason we ended up with the final members was because
musically we bonded well and it sort of felt right at the time. So I
guess you can say that the atmosphere was like a marriage without an
engagement. But I have no doubt that it was because I was able to meet
them that I am who am now].
YOSHIKI’s activities, would exceed the essence of simply a band. Using
the classical music skills that he had developed since he was a young
child, he released a collaboration album with the London Philharmonic
Orchestra. It went on to sell 30,000 copies. In 1994 he did a joint
project with Queen drummer ‘Roger Taylor’.
In 1997 X JAPAN disbanded, and in 1998 he lost his most precious
friend, hide. However, he still kept on going. This year he produced
the World Expo official theme song and conducted at the opening
ceremony. And now, after a long time in the making, his new mixed
project ‘Violet UK’ will at last begin its musical debut. Without
stopping for a moment.. he appears to be living ahead of time. What is
it that gives him the strength to progress at to this extent?
Y: [I think that after all its because I love music. Although, it
tires me out sometimes (laughs). Having said that, there’s never an
OFF switch for me! Because OFF = death, to me. That’s because I also
don’t know my limits. For example, it may be one’s goal in life to
become a multi millionaire, or to get married and raise children. You
see I have no idea even now (hehe)].
That is the very thing that gives YOSHIKI such limitless charisma. Now
again, he continues… on his quest.
Y: [So, even now it is unclear. If I thought at ‘1 million album
sales’ I’d achieved my goal, I’d have to say now ‘Not really’... ‘Holding
over 10 concerts at Tokyo Dome?’, I’d think that’s about it. Do I
think that it feels good to own 3 Ferrari’s?... It’s not such a great
achievement... Whatever I do, I still don’t know what my goal is. In the
end, it is about making my ideal music. That’s why I think I can
continue making music].
‘In the past and now I’ve simply been devoted to thinking about
music’, says YOSHIKI. And he continued until now to be recognized
throughout the world. That is the very reason that YOSHIKI says that
he’s lost sight of his future intentions. I really think that nothing
is impossible!’.
Y: [In the past there were various limitations... But I
think that people who say ’I want to be OOO’ can really become who/what
they want to. If you said that it was impossible, I think that’s just
an excuse. It is simply running from the things in front of you that
are holding you back. I think that if you stay true to what you love,
and do what you want to do in life, then your path will naturally
appear in front of you].
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