I just found this on JamE:
According to the website Sponichi, visual-kei legend X Japan will make their comeback this year! This year they will release Without you, which Toshi recorded in March in Yoshiki's studio. There are also plans for a first live.
Both Pata and Heath seem to be joining too, but there is no official message about this yet. For the position of HIDE, they'll probably look for different guest musicians.
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So what does everyone else think of this? I myself think it's bullcrap. X-Japan isn't the same without hide. Even if he wasn't an orginal member he was around for so long and all the fans of X loved hide so much, it sounds disrespectful to him to be reforming X without hide.
It's like Led Zeppelin reforming without John Bonham, it just shouldn't be done for it's own obvious reasons. I can understand if they want to keep making music together but if that was the case they should at least do a side project or a special band that wasn't X-Japan and stated itself as such. Even if it has four of the members, it's not the same without hide and I don't think I can properly accept it as the real thing.
But that's just my opinion at least I understand some will be excited to hear of this.
I don't see what's disrespectful about it. They aren't replacing him with one person who will permanently take his place. In regards to Led Zeppelin; John Bonham was replaced by his own son who was equally as good; next best thing imo. Now it's not like they are rerecording albums and taking Hide out. I suppose just forming a new band would be safer. At the same time; I don't think they are being disrespectful either.
I'm not really excited about this because I'm expecting it to be all lame ballads...
anyway, X coming back without performing classics such as "X" or "BLUE BLOOD" would be fraud, but... can you really imagine Toshi singing those with the same energy? and anyway I haven't heard any of Yoshiki's solo albums but i think it was all ballads, so I imagine he wants to keep going in this direction.
I dunno, I think Yoshiki realized reforming X Japan and touring the US could be a goldmine.
yup yup i've heard about this ...honestly i can't say i care that much since i'm really not that big of an x fan anyway but i don't really see what's so wrong with it...so more power to them ~
hopefully they don't come back, they did their last live and left a great memory for everyone.
most of Yoshiki's solo records consisted of re-done Classical pieces, there were very few ballads, i actually only know of one. he does favor ballad type songs, but i can't see them only playing ballads. and anyway, whats not classic about Kurenai or Weekend? because i'm pretty confident that they'd play those two, at least.
and in what way would it be disrespectful to hide? what if hide actually wanted X to reform without him? it's not like, before he died he claimed that X could never play again unless he was there.
A lot of you seem to disagree with my opinion, but it's just mine. I'm not really wanting to defend it or argue it, that's why I made this in general discussion rather than flaming, I just want to see what others think.
Maybe disrespectful was too harsh a word. I know that they all miss hide and think of him everyday, even the single they're releasing will be all about hide. I just don't think they should be replacing him. Something like what Malice Mizer did was fine, support musicians but Kami was always credited. I just don't think hide should ever be completely replaced. Even if he did want X to continue without him, I'm sure a lot of people don't feel the same. He was as much a part of X as Toshi or Yoshiki, maybe a bit moreso. He was always the connection from the band to the fans and was so well liked.
I suppose I can accept support musicians helping out, but no one taking his place. It may not be really disrespectful to his memory, but I just don't care for the idea myself. X-Japan left well and a cornerstone of the band is gone, and it just won't be the same without him, ballad or not.
You said it yourself, they will be getting guest musicians to cover the 2nd guitar which is pretty much the same as MM getting support drummers to cover Kami (except probably the guests for X will be some big shots). Whoever said they were gonna permanently replace Hide with someone?
i expect it to be like any other reunion. they do a few tours and release some kind of redone album, then fade away.
i dont think hide was really as great as you're making him sound. yes, he was a really great guitarist and his sound did bring the best out of X, but that doesnt mean he made X what it was. if im not mistaken, Yoshiki got more praise for being a stupidly fast drummer and good song writer.
now, on to what i really want to know. does anyone know if Toshi will even be doing this? from what ive heard, he's kinda being stupid and brainwashed by that one cult thing. dont know if he is still in that after some 10 years though.
Quote from: Legato on June 09, 2007, 10:57:23 AM
i expect it to be like any other reunion. they do a few tours and release some kind of redone album, then fade away.
i dont think hide was really as great as you're making him sound. yes, he was a really great guitarist and his sound did bring the best out of X, but that doesnt mean he made X what it was. if im not mistaken, Yoshiki got more praise for being a stupidly fast drummer and good song writer.
now, on to what i really want to know. does anyone know if Toshi will even be doing this? from what ive heard, he's kinda being stupid and brainwashed by that one cult thing. dont know if he is still in that after some 10 years though.
I think hide accomplished more in his solo career than he did in X, but that's just my opinion. Yoshiki was more responsible for making X so huge than hide was, and Pata was actually a better guitar player by leaps and bounds.
Quote from: Seraneth on June 09, 2007, 01:05:22 PM
I think hide accomplished more in his solo career than he did in X, but that's just my opinion. Yoshiki was more responsible for making X so huge than hide was, and Pata was actually a better guitar player by leaps and bounds.
yeah. i feel the same. i think people see hide as a better guitarist because he had the crazier outfits and ran around the stage more. its good to build the crowd, but it doesnt make anyone a better guitarist.
im kinda surprised how little anyone cares about Pata. he has an awesome style of playing that i like more than hide, yet i cant find his solo stuff anywhere.
Quote from: Legato on June 09, 2007, 07:14:12 PM
Quote from: Seraneth on June 09, 2007, 01:05:22 PM
I think hide accomplished more in his solo career than he did in X, but that's just my opinion. Yoshiki was more responsible for making X so huge than hide was, and Pata was actually a better guitar player by leaps and bounds.
yeah. i feel the same. i think people see hide as a better guitarist because he had the crazier outfits and ran around the stage more. its good to build the crowd, but it doesnt make anyone a better guitarist.
im kinda surprised how little anyone cares about Pata. he has an awesome style of playing that i like more than hide, yet i cant find his solo stuff anywhere.
Agreed. hide was the better showman and Pata was the better musician. The only Pata stuff I've ever been able to find post-X was the stuff he did in Dope HEADz, but I didn't think it was anything exceptional.
theres no such thing as being "stupidly fast". yoshiki always played those generic "one-two kick beats" because they went with each song perfectly. alot of his fills were also nothing short of amazing.
and to answer the question on as to whether or not toshi is involved:
this entire thing was toshi's idea.
Quote from: 4skin. on June 10, 2007, 09:58:08 PM
theres no such thing as being "stupidly fast". yoshiki always played those generic "one-two kick beats" because they went with each song perfectly. alot of his fills were also nothing short of amazing.
and to answer the question on as to whether or not toshi is involved:
this entire thing was toshi's idea.
His double-bass work was just ridiculous, too. The speed he hits those pedals in the beginning of Dahlia makes me jaw-drop every time.
he really is a phenomenal drummer, especially when it comes to the double bass. btw, after hearing the official S.K.I.N. preview, i really think his drumming style has changed a bit, but i in no way think that it will taint his proficiency on the drums as the preview sounded awesome.
Quote from: 4skin. on June 12, 2007, 12:32:22 AM
he really is a phenomenal drummer, especially when it comes to the double bass. btw, after hearing the official S.K.I.N. preview, i really think his drumming style has changed a bit, but i in no way think that it will taint his proficiency on the drums as the preview sounded awesome.
I haven't heard the SKIN preview yet, so I can't form an opinion on that. I assume that his drumming style's calmed down a little bit since his X days? For some reason I picture his new style as something resembling the way Shinya from Luna Sea used to play.
you can check it out yourself, it's not much, but it's something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9OeCkmCmE
Quote from: 4skin. on June 12, 2007, 03:42:50 AM
you can check it out yourself, it's not much, but it's something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9OeCkmCmE
Shit, that got me all excited. He doesn't sound nearly as tame as I expected he would! The fact that I'm a Sugizo fanboy helps too, as does the concept of seeing Miyavi just playing guitar again, which is what I think he does best.
i think it'll be beyond awesome to see those two dueling back and forth with furious soloing. i hope they hire someone worthwhile to cover the bass vacancy. i just think this band could be alot cooler, it seems like it's missing something, IMO. preferably, a bass player.
Quote from: 4skin. on June 12, 2007, 04:22:31 AM
i think it'll be beyond awesome to see those two dueling back and forth with furious soloing. i hope they hire someone worthwhile to cover the bass vacancy. i just think this band could be alot cooler, it seems like it's missing something, IMO. preferably, a bass player.
No shit! All I ever hear about in regards to SKIN is people talking about the ego clashes and how it seems like a way for Yoshiki to make a quick buck, but all I think about is how fucking EPIC it's going to be if it actually does well.
And I agree with you on the bass thing. Even if they don't get a famous player to fill the gap, I hope they at least get someone who's skilled enough to match the virtuosity of everyone else in the band.
Quote from: 4skin. on June 10, 2007, 09:58:08 PM
theres no such thing as being "stupidly fast". yoshiki always played those generic "one-two kick beats" because they went with each song perfectly. alot of his fills were also nothing short of amazing.
and to answer the question on as to whether or not toshi is involved:
this entire thing was toshi's idea.
what i mean by stupidly is the fact that he had to repeatedly go to the doctor about the pain in his wrists and legs because of how fast and hard he hit the drums. its one thing to be fast, but when you actually start to hurt yourself, there is definitely wrong.
and thanks for ensuring me of Toshi's participation. i dont think this would have been very good if they just randomly put toshi up there to sing.
^ for an artist; no matter what your trade is; if you truly love it you can't stop yourself even if you know it's bad for you.
thats why he was occasionally seen wearing a neck brace. none the less, he's one of the best drummers in the world (IMO), and i've got tons of respect for him and his work. X coming back is really cool and all, but im not gonna lie, S.K.I.N. sounds alot more interesting.
Well... it's past June 29th and SKIN hasn't released anything have they? Also... why would Yoshiki want to do both that and X again? Whatever happened to Violet UK?! Was it ever even released? That man.. I swear... lol
Quote from: residentevilrulz on June 20, 2007, 05:46:29 AM
Well... it's past June 29th and SKIN hasn't released anything have they? Also... why would Yoshiki want to do both that and X again? Whatever happened to Violet UK?! Was it ever even released? That man.. I swear... lol
... it's June 20th.
WOOPSIES!!! ;D I don't know what the hell I was thinking.. honestly.. what do you think they are releasing?
Quote from: residentevilrulz on June 20, 2007, 10:02:50 AM
WOOPSIES!!! ;D I don't know what the hell I was thinking.. honestly.. what do you think they are releasing?
free hot dickings to the first 50 fangirls that comes to AX
lol, nice one
Quote from: ZeroDyne on June 21, 2007, 04:20:54 AM
Quote from: residentevilrulz on June 20, 2007, 10:02:50 AM
WOOPSIES!!! ;D I don't know what the hell I was thinking.. honestly.. what do you think they are releasing?
free hot dickings to the first 50 fangirls that comes to AX
Oh how the fangirls wish.