Yoshiki

Full Name: Yoshiki Hayashi
Birth Date: November 20, 1965
Birth Place: Tateyama, Japan

Yoshiki formed X Japan with vocalist Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama in 1982. Four years later, he founded his own independent label, Extasy Records, in order to issue the band's music. Their breakthrough came in 1989 with the release of the Blue Blood album. After three more albums and several tours, the group broke up in 1997 but releases of arranged material and reissues continue until today.

Aside from his work with the group, Yoshiki has also collaborated with several noted artists such as Queen drummer Roger Taylor, Beatles producer George Martin[5][6] and various others on the international Kiss tribute album Kiss My Ass. As a producer, he has provided several bands with first time recording contracts through Extasy Records, i.e. Luna Sea, Glay and Zi:Kill.

After X Japan disbanded, his next major endeavor was expected to become Violet UK, but the release of a debut album has since been postponed repeatedly. Beside a symphonic concert performed in 2002 and released on DVD in 2005 (which contained arrangements of old X Japan songs along with music supposedly created for Violet UK), no major publication of the project has yet surfaced.

Yoshiki remains active as a producer, i.e. for the bands Dir en grey and TRAX and has also briefly joined the pop band Globe. He has also contributed the theme song for the Expo 2005 and music for the movie Catacombs. More recently, he has helmed the JRock Revolution festival in Los Angeles, California. during which his participation in the upcoming supergroup S.K.I.N. alongside pop/rock artists Gackt and Miyavi, and former Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo was announced.

Yoshiki has also confirmed that X Japan will reunite, with a new single and a tour tentatively scheduled for later this year.

On September 20, 2007, at a Catacombs preview in Japan, it was announced that Yoshiki will be producing the soundtrack of the rock musical Repo! The Genetic Opera, along with composing one extra track. In 2003, Yoshiki worked with the lead singer of Pussycat Dolls Nicole Scherzinger on in his Violet UK project. She sang the English version of "I'll Be Your Love" live with the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra. The track also appeared on the 2003 Various Artists album Exposition of Global Harmony.

In 2007, X Japan reunited. On October 22, 2007 they appeared together for the first time in over 10 years at a public filming of the promotion video for their new single "I.V." which was created for the movie Saw IV.

In March 2008, X Japan performed shows on three consecutive nights in Japan.

In 2009 X Japan will be making a world tour. Stops will include North America, Europe, and other places in Asia.

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