X JAPANX JAPANエックス
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Early in the year, X (エックス) forms in Chiba (千葉).
V. TOSHI / G. TERRY (YUJI) / D. YOSHIKI
The band moves to Tokyo (東京)東京 and restart activities.
V. TOSHI / G. TOMO / G. TERRY (YUJI) / B. ATSUSHI (TOKUO) / D. YOSHIKI
Shortly after the release of the "I'LL KILL YOU" single, guitarist TOMO is replaced by EDDIE.
V. TOSHI / G. EDDIE / G. TERRY (YUJI) / B. ATSUSHI (TOKUO) / D. YOSHIKI
Live is held. Guitarist TERRY, guitarist EDDIE, and bassist ATSUSHI secede. Guitarist HALLY and bassist TAIJI later join in their place.
Guitarist HALLY secedes.
Guitarist JUN joins.
Guitarist JUN and bassist TAIJI secede. Shortly after, assist HIKALU joins and ZEN begins as support guitarist.
YOSHIKI opens his label EXTASY RECORDS.
Support guitarist ZEN ends support. Former guitarist JUN re-joins and changes his name to S.H.U.
V. TOSHI / G. S.H.U / B. HIKALU / D. YOSHIKI
First oneman held.
Guitarist S.H.U and bassist HIKALU secede.
Bassist TAIJI rejoins the band. Guitarist KERRY plays support.
Guitarist SATORU joins the band some time in November or December.
Guitarist SATORU secedes, and PATA briefly acts as support guitarist. Soon after, guitarist ISAO joins.
Guitarist HIDE joins.
First live with the band's historical lineup, "Bakuhatsu Sunzen live (爆発寸前撮影GIG)", is held.
Guitarist ISAO is in a motorbike accident and is forced to secede. Former support guitarist PATA officially joins.
Event, "Skull Trash Zone", is held.
Event, "Skull Trash Zone", is held.
Band contest event, "Band Explosion '87", is held.
X play a gig in the small diner Yashiro Shokudou (やしろ食堂ライブ). The footage is shown at a famous variety TV show, allowing the band to attract mainstream attention.
Oneman is held.
Live, "Xclamation Muryou Haifu live (Xclamation無料配布GIG)", is held. The video "Xclamation" is freely distributed.
Live, "Xclamation Muryou Haifu live (Xclamation無料配布GIG)", is held. The video "Xclamation" is freely distributed.
Event, "Rock Monster August", is held.
Winter tour, begins.
Winter tour, ends.
Event, "Heavy Metal Days Extra", is held.
The band auditions for CBS/SONY.
Event, "Dynamite Year End Party", is held.
Event, "ALL NIGHT METAL PARTY '87 to '88", is held.
Event, "Metal Indies 2", is held.
Tour, "VANISHING TOUR '88 SPRING", begins.
Tour, "VANISHING TOUR '88 SPRING", ends.
Event, "VANISHING TOUR SPECIAL", is held.
Tour, "VANISHING TOUR VOL.2", begins.
Event, "VANISHING TOUR SPECIAL", is held.
At their live at Sendai (仙台) FORUS, HIDE does the famous X jump For the first time.
Tour, "VANISHING TOUR VOL.2", ends.
Event, "HEAVY METAL DAYS VOL.7", is held.
Live, "X at SPORTS VALLEY KYOTO", is held.
Event, "The first EXTASY SUMMIT FESTIVAL", is held.
Tour, "BURN OUT TOUR '88 OCT.", begins.
Video concert is held.
Video concert is held.
Tour, "BURN OUT TOUR '88 OCT.", ends.
Event, "EXTASY SUMMIT", is held.
Event, "STREET FIGHTING MEN", is held.
Event, "ALL NIGHT METAL PARTY '88 to '89", is held.
Tour, "BLUE BLOOD TOUR", begins to commemorate the band's major debut.
Event outdoor live, "X Comin Home, Kaetteiku ze! Kiai wo Irete Mattero yo! (X Comin Home,帰って行くぜ!気合いを入れて待ってろよ!)", is held.
Event, "CLUB WONDERLAND", is held.
X achieve major debut with a deal with CBS Sony (a sublabel SIREN SONG is opened for X works only).
Live, "5ji SAT ROCK WAVE '89 (5時SAT ROCK WAVE '89)", is held.
Event, "EXTASY SUMMIT VOL.II", is held.
Event, "BLUE BLOOD TOUR SPECIAL BIG live", is held.
Event, "BLUE BLOOD TOUR SPECIAL BIG live", is held.
Event, "HEAVY METAL DAYS VOL.8", is held.
Event, "JR-EAST POP ROCKETS '89", is held.
Event, "KIRIN SOUND TOGETHER POP HILL '89", is held.
Event, "THE ROCK KIDS '89", is held.
Event, "Rock'n Roll Olympic '89", is held.
Secret live, "SECRET live Daimajin Goningumi (SECRET live 大魔神五人組)", is held.
Event, "EXTASY SUMMIT in ClubHouse", is held.
Event, "ROCK MONSTER X SPECIAL", is held.
Event live, "EXTASY SUMMIT SPECIAL ~Jougai Rantouhen~* (EXTASY SUMMIT SPECIAL~場外乱闘篇~)", is held.
Tour, "ROSE & BLOOD TOUR", begins. Some lives are cancelled due to YOSHIKI's health condition.
Tochigi Kaikan Main Hall -schedule
A live is scheduled to be held at Fukuoka (福岡) Momochi PALACE (ももちパレス), but is postponed due to YOSHIKI's condition.
Nagoya Koukaidou
A live at Mito (水戸) Shimin Kaikan (水戸市民会館) is suspended before a drum solo, due to YOSHIKI fainting.
A live is scheduled to be held at Fukui (福井) Fukui Bunka Kaikan (福井市文化会館), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
A live is scheduled to be held at Shizuoka (静岡) Shizuoka Kenmin Bunka Kaikan (静岡県民文化会館), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
Tour, "ROSE & BLOOD TOUR", is suspended after the cancellation of a few shows due to YOSHIKI's health problems.
A live is scheduled to be held at Shibuya (渋谷) Koukaidou (公会堂), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
A live is scheduled to be held at Aomori (青森) Aomori Bunka Kaikan (青森市文化会館), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
A live is scheduled to be held at Sapporo (札幌) Sapporo Shimin Kaikan (札幌市民会館), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
A live is scheduled to be held at Koriyama (郡山) Shimin Bunka Center (市民文化センター), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
Event, "ENFANT TERRIBLE~怖るべき子供達~ (ENFANT TERRIBLE ~Osomubeki Kodomotachi~)", is held. Drummer HIBARI plays support in YOSHIKI's stead.
A live is scheduled to be held at Nagoya (名古屋) Nagoya Koukaidou (名古屋市公会堂), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
A live is scheduled to be held at Ishikawa (石川) Kousei Nenkin Kaikan (厚生年金会館), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
A live is scheduled to be held at Niigata (新潟) Sangyou Shinkou Center (産業振興センター), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
A live is scheduled to be held at Shibuya (渋谷) Koukaidou (公会堂), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition.
A live is scheduled to be held at Shibuya (渋谷) Koukaidou (公会堂), but is cancelled due to YOSHIKI's condition. The tour, "
Event, "EXTASY SUMMIT", is held.
"Film live tour" which the members still do not attend, "1990 X FILM liveS ~Chi to Bara ni Mamirete~" (1990 X FILM liveS~血と薔薇にまみれて~)", begins.
Tour, "ROSE & BLOOD TOUR", resumes.
Zumity21
The viewing continues at Miyazaki (宮崎) MRT micc.
Nagoya Koukaidou
Ishikawa Ishikawa Kousei Nenkin Kaikan
Event, "5ji SAT ROCK WAVE '90 (5時SAT ROCK WAVE'90)", is held.
Tour, "ROSE & BLOOD TOUR", ends.
After a few delays related to YOSHIKI's health problems, the band moves to Los Angeles to record their new album.
Event, "1990 X FILM liveS ~Chi to Bara ni Mamirete~" (1990 X FILM liveS~血と薔薇にまみれて~)", is held for two consecutive days. The members do not attend as they are busy working on their new album. Black pine seeds, as well as a message CD, are distributed.
Event, "1990 X FILM liveS ~Chi to Bara ni Mamirete~" (1990 X FILM liveS~血と薔薇にまみれて~)", continues (the members do not attend). Red pine seeds, as well as a message CD, are distributed.
Kyoto kaikan
Nagoya Koukaidou
"Film live tour" which the members still do not attend, "1990 X FILM liveS ~Chi to Bara ni Mamirete~" (1990 X FILM liveS~血と薔薇にまみれて~)", ends.
Event, "JT SUPER SOUND '91 Have a Joyful Time", is held.
Tour, "CUP NOODLE 20th ANNIVERSARY HOT liveS Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991 ~Yume no Naka ni dake Ikite~ (CUP NOODLE 20th ANNIVERSARY HOT liveS Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991~夢の中にだけ生きて~)", begins.
Three consecutive live events are held at Nissin POWER STATION
Three-day event, "X Produce ~Nani ga Okoru ka Wakaranai. X ga POWERSUTE o Karikitta! (X Produce ~何が起こるか分からない。Xがパワステを借り切った!)", is held.
Three-day event, "X Produce ~Nani ga Okoru ka Wakaranai. X ga POWERSUTE o Karikitta! (X Produce ~何が起こるか分からない。Xがパワステを借り切った!)", is held.
Three-day event, "X Produce ~Nani ga Okoru ka Wakaranai. X ga POWERSUTE o Karikitta! (X Produce ~何が起こるか分からない。Xがパワステを借り切った!)", is held.
The tour final for the tour "CUP NOODLE 20th ANNIVERSARY HOT liveS Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991 ~Yume no Naka ni dake Ikite~ (CUP NOODLE 20th ANNIVERSARY HOT liveS Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991~夢の中にだけ生きて~)", was supposed to be a two-day performance. YOSHIKI faints during the first night and the second night (scheduled the following day) is cancelled. The lives are both rescheduled in November.
Event, "EXTASY SUMMIT 1991 Muteki to Kaite EXTASY to Yomu. Mubou to Kaite YOSHIKI to Yomu. (EXTASY SUMMIT 1991無敵と書いてエクスタシーと読む。無謀と書いてYOSHIKIと読む。)", is held.
Tour, "CUP NOODLE 20th ANNIVERSARY HOT liveS Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991 ~Yume no Naka ni dake Ikite~ (CUP NOODLE 20th ANNIVERSARY HOT liveS Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991~夢の中にだけ生きて~)" final lives are held.
Tour, "CUP NOODLE 20th ANNIVERSARY HOT liveS Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991 ~Yume no Naka ni dake Ikite~ (CUP NOODLE 20th ANNIVERSARY HOT liveS Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991~夢の中にだけ生きて~)" final lives are held.
Secret live is held.
A special concert with a full orchestra, "X with ORCHESTRA (X with オーケストラ)", is held.
Event ending the tour "Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991", "Kore de saigo ka!? Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991 Final FILM live SPECIAL (これで最後か!?Violence In Jealousy Tour 1991 Final FILM live SPECIAL)", is held.
Event, "ALL NIGHT METAL PARTY '91 to '92", is held.
Event, "Tokyo DOME 3DAYS ~Hametsu ni Mukatte~ (東京ドーム3DAYS ~破滅に向かって~)", is held for three consecutive nights. X becomes the first Japanese artist to hold three consecutive concerts at the stadium.
Yoshiki & Toshi appear at "Music Station,Tokyo" to perform "Say Anything
It is announced through a video message on the Japanese TV show MUSIC STATION that TAIJI left the band due to musical differences.
The band contract with CBS Sony expires.
A press conference to announce HEATH as the neww bassist is held at the Rockfeller Center in New York. The band also signs a deal with Atlantic Records in Japan and Warner in the United States (no release in the US eventually happened, however, due to TOSHI's pronunciation problems). The band name is also changed to X FROM JAPAN (later renamed X JAPAN) to distinguish themselves from the American band X. The members start working on their new album, but due to scheduling conflicts with the members' other projects and other issues it takes a year for them to release new materials. Their activity as X JAPAN would eventually consist in spare live performances and one more album release from 1993 to 1996.
EXTASY SUMMIT 1992 Minna mumei datta, da kedo...muteki datta (みんな無名だった、だけど・・・無敵だった) is held. It will be the first live of the new lineup.
EXTASY SUMMIT 1992 Minna mumei datta, da kedo...muteki datta (みんな無名だった、だけど・・・無敵だった) is held.
The first full fledged return oneman with the new lineup, Shingata X Dai 1ka Nippon Chokugeki Countdown X JAPAN RETURNS (新型エックス第1弾 日本直撃カウントダウン X JAPAN RETURNS), is held for two consecutive nights at Tokyo DOME. However, one more year will pass for them to hold another oneman.
After a year or little live activity, X JAPAN are back for two consecutive night lives at Tokyo DOME: Aoi Yoru And Shiroi Yoru (青い夜/白い夜)
DAHLIA TOUR 1995-1996 starts as their first tour in four years (a few concerts are cancelled again due to YOSHIKI's health problems). The tour was supposed to promote their new album, but recording had been postponed due to YOSHIKI's health problem as well as differences with the other members as well with the label management. The album would be finished one year later after most of the songs had been already released as singles in the meantime.
X JAPAN PRESENTS KOBE RETURNS is held as their only official concert in 1995.
MUSIC STATION Special SUPER live95 held.
The DAHLIA TOUR Interrupts due to YOSHIKI's health problems getting worse.
A memorial event is held in Harajuku for the release of Forever Love
DAHLIA tour final 1996 TOKYO DOME 2DAYS held.
TOSHI announces that he will quit the band due to musical differcenes.
X JAPAN members announce at a press conference that they would disband as they could not find a new vocalist, but that they will hold one last concert on December 31st.
THE LAST LIVE ~Saigo no Yoru~ (~最後の夜~) is held. X JAPAN disbands
hide funeral is held in Tsukiji at the Honganji temple.
YOSHIKI presents "X JAPAN FILM live ~X JAPANの軌跡 (no Kiseki)~is held in video
This setlist was presented from January 13 to February 23
01.KURENAI (English Ver.) - 02.AMETHYST - 03.Rusty Nail - 04.VANISHING LOVE - 05.BLUE BLOOD - 06.Drum Brake - 07.WEEK END - 08. DAHLIA - 09.Say Anything - 10.Longing - 11. 紅 (Kurenai) - 12.Orgasm - 13.Drum Solo - 14.Forever Love - 15.WORLD ANTHEM - 16.X - 17.ENDLESS RAIN - 18.Tears
Saemaul Sports Hall (서울 88체육관 / SEOUL'88体育館)
This setlist was presented from April 20 to April 21
Tokyo Bay NK Hall
01.KURENAI (English Ver.) - 02.AMETHYST - 03.Rusty Nail - 04.VANISHING LOVE - 05.BLUE BLOOD - 06.Drum Brake - 07.WEEK END - 08. DAHLIA - 09.Say Anything - 10.Longing - 11. 紅 (Kurenai) - 12.Orgasm - 13.Drum Solo - 14.Forever Love - 15.Silent Jealousy - 16.X - 17.ENDLESS RAIN - 18.Tears
YOSHIKI presents "X JAPAN FILM live ~X JAPANの軌跡 (no Kiseki)~ends
Tokyo Bay NK Hall
YOSHIKI presents "X JAPAN FILM live '03 featuring "ART OF LIFE""
After a few months hinting a reunion, X JAPAN members announce they will resume activities together and release a new song I.V., featuring unreleased guitar parts recorded by HIDE. The song is featured in the movie SAW 4.
Three consecutive concerts at TOKYO DOME X JAPAN Kougeki Saikai 2008 I.V. ~Hametsu ni Mukatte~ Are held. The plan was originally for two concerts on the 28th and 30th, but an additional live on the 29th was added due to the high demand.
V. TOSHI / G. PATA / B. HEATH / D. YOSHIKI / G. SUGIZO (support)
hide memorial summit is held for two days (March 3rd-4th). X JAPAN performs on the second day.
Livehouse countdown gig X JAPAN COUNTDOWN GIG ~Shoshin ni Kaette~ (~初心に帰って~) is held and broadcasted on TV, online and at over 13 cinemas.
Hong Kong ASIA WORLD EXPO
Hong Kong ASIA WORLD EXPO
V. TOSHI / G. PATA / B. HEATH / D. YOSHIKI / G. SUGIZO (support)
X JAPAN WORLD TOUR Live in TOKYO ~Kougeki Zokkouchuu~ (~攻撃続行中~) held for two days. SUGIZO is announced as the "sixth" official member of the band.
X JAPAN WORLD TOUR Live in TAIPEI "Hontou ni Yaru Yoru" held (本当にやる夜. The band was supposed to have a full scaled world tour in October but plans were cancelled due to YOSHIKI's health problems.
X JAPAN holds public video shooting for their new video in Los Angeles for six consecutive days.
X JAPAN play at THE YOSHIKI FOUNDATION AMERICA KICKOFF PARTY At Club Nokia in Los Angeles.
X JAPAN plays at the Lollapalooza 2010 main stage in Chicago.
X JAPAN WORLD TOUR Live in YOKOHAMA ~Sekai ni Mukatte~ is held for two nights. Former member TAJI appear as guest for one song each night.
X JAPAN WORLD TOUR Live 2010 North American Tour starts (7 gigs). It will be their first tour to be held without cancelling gigs since 1989.
Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Fox Theatre, Oakland, CA
Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC Canada
Riviera, Chicago, IL
Massey Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada
Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY
X JAPAN signs a deal with EMI
X JAPAN WORLD TOUR Live 2011 European Tour starts (4 gigs)
Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Zenith, Paris
Tivoli, Utrecht
Columbiahalle, Berlin
ex.Ba Taiji arrested
ex.Ba Taiji passed away
X JAPAN plays at SUMMER SONIC 2011 for two days (August 13th-14th)
X JAPAN appears as secret guest at the festival a-nation 10th Anniversary for Life Charge & Go!
Teatro Caupolican, Chile
HSBC Brasil
Teatro Colegiales, Argentina
Scencia Hall, Peru
X JAPAN WORLD TOUR Live 2011 South American Tour starts (5 gigs).
Circo Volador, Mexico
Seoul Olympic Park, South Korea
X JAPAN WORLD TOUR Live 2011 Southeast Asian Tour starts as their last leg of the world tour (5 gigs).
Shanghai Indoor Stadium, China
Hong Kong Asia World-Expo
TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, Taiwan
Inpact Arena, Thailand
Madison Square Garden
X JAPAN appears as guest at the first gig of the YOSHIKI CLASSICAL WORLD TOUR
Guerilla live held at Shinjuku Station Square.
Madison Square Garden
X JAPAN play at the TV show MUSIC STATION SUPER live 2014. It will be the first TV performance in 17 years.
X JAPAN TOUR 2015 starts (10 gigs)
PATA announces that he will temporarily take a break from musical activities due severe health problems including diverticulitis and thrombosis. Their concert planned for March 12th at the Wembley Arena is cancelled.
Visual kei festival VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 Is held and produced by YOSHIKI for three consecutive days.
X JAPAN live 2017 at the WEMBLEY Arena in LONDON is held.
YOSHIKI announces that the long awaited new album will be titled X JAPAN.
X JAPAN WORLD TOUR 2017 WE ARE X Acoustic Special Miracle ~Kiseki no Yoru~ 6DAYS starts. It was supposed to be a regular tour but was eventually changed into an acoustic tour due to YOSHIKI's health problems.
X JAPAN Fukkatsu 10sshuunen Kinen X JAPAN LIVE 2018 America Fest Shutuen Chokuzen PREMIUM GIGS ~Yoshiki Fukkatsu no Yoru~, two special gigs with YOSHIKI back on drums are held before their headline appearance at the Coachella Festival in California. YOSHIKI announces that the new album is 99.7% complete.
X JAPAN headline Coachella Festival for both days (April 14th-15th). YOSHIKI performs with Marilyn Manson.
Live, "X JAPAN Live Nihon Kouen 2018 ~Kurenai ni Somatta Yoru~ Makuhari Messe 3 Days (X JAPAN Live 日本公演 2018 ~紅に染まった夜~ Makuhari Messe 3Days)", is held. The first night is cancelled due to a typhoon forecast. The members decided to play the live without audience and live stream on WOWOW and YOSHIKI CHANNEL. The other two lives were held regularly.
Beyond an announcement of an album release, no future activities from the band have surfaced, with their three oneman lives, performed in September of 2018 at the Chiba Makuhari MESSE, being their final known bits of activity.
X JAPAN are currently presumed to be on hiatus
It is announced by news outlet PostSeven that bassist HEATH has passed away from a sudden bout of cancer, aged 55, sometime in late October.
X JAPAN officially announces HEATH's passing from colorectal cancer, which occurred on October 29th.
X JAPAN was a visual kei band in Tokyo. They were part of the okeshou kei subgenre. They were active from 1982 to 2018 and are currently paused.
It seems that legendary Rockin'f magazine editor Izumi Hosoi passed away. He is one of the guys credited for the chorus of "ORGASM", which also includes a bunch of other big names from that era.
Dada Records was an independent label of which Nobukatsu Hayashi (林 信克), a manga artist, music journalist and acquaintance to Yoshiki, was the boss. I can't for the life of me find any more releases on the label, so I assume that it wasn't active for a long period of time - only around 1985.
Funny trivia: one of Nobukatsu's novels has the same Keizo Miyanishi illustration on the frontcover used on THE STALIN's trash. I almost thought it was a Michiro Endoh's biography the first time I came across it haha.
A couple of years ago, someone posted on Twitter this ad he did for I'LL KILL YOU (still a sono-sheet at the time) in a magazine:
A good chunk of these are double-checked; I will continue to do so this week. Re-releases, laserdiscs, and compilations need to be added. Film gigs are to be removed and actual lives are to be added.
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