entertainment

X Japan to make U.S. debut at Lollapalooza in August

27 Comments

Popular rock band X Japan is looking to make a serious debut in the United States, having been officially invited to participate in outdoor music festival Lollapalooza 2010. This will be the achievement of a long-time dream of the band since their debut in 1989.

The band said in a statement that they are currently working on their first album in 14 years, with leader Yoshiki declaring, "We'll be performing the new songs at Lollapalooza."

Lollapalooza is one of the world's largest music festivals, and will be held this year from Aug 6 to 8 at Chicago's Grant Park. X Japan received the offer directly from the event's organizers, and will be the only Japanese artists to perform.

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27 Comments
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I love xjapan but they should not go to us but the worst part is Lollapalooza

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mokgohan: funny you say that I thought Hole was pretty weak as well, Love seemed like a drunk primadonna at the Chicago date. Ministry rocked the second one, saw them at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. They played at dark and had this dude blowing flames over the crowd. The Jesus Lizard is probably my favorite band but Lollapalooza was the wrong setting, they aren't a reserved seating act. Saw them on New Year's eve this year in Chicago, their last reunion show. David Yow is still the ultimate wild frontman even at 50.

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I'm surprised that Lollapalooza is now a stationary act as the festival used to play around the US for the whole summer

...and Canada too- I saw the first one in Toronto (Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Butthole Surfers, Rollins Band, Souxie & the Banshees, etc...), the second in Barrie (Pearl Jam, Jesus & Mary Chain, Soundgarden, MINISTRY, etc...), and the fourth in Vancouver (Jesus Lizard, Beck, Cypress Hill, Hole, Sonic Youth, etc...). Highest Highlight: MINISTRY (they conquered all) Lowest Lowlight: Hole (Courtney Love was in an arm cast, but the crowd wished her jaw had been wired shut.)

X-Japan? Err... I'll be checking out whatever's on the 2nd stage.

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Plenty of bands around making come back from the 90s or earlier now a days... I've recently seen Slayer (several years break until 2006 album), Megadeth (although they have been releasing "stuff", they have been out of form for a long time), Judas Priest (since painkiller-1990, they have been on and off), Status Quo (Steadily active, but old), deep purple (5years since their last album), fleetwood mac (7 years since their last album), Sonic Youth (steadily active but an old band) Pixies (19years since their last album!!).

Nothing wrong with 14years since last album... considering their lead guitarist died 16years ago. It will never be the same without Hide, but hey... Yoshiki is a great musician, and acclaimed around the world in the scene in the know. How about the headliner for the festival? SOUND GARDEN. ALSO 14YEARS SINCE THEIR LAST ALBUM.

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"Still loses something without Hide, he was known in the US and respected among metal and punk musicians."

Absolutely ! Hide was pretty much the heart and soul of the group- yet I sense that this version of "X Japan" will be roundly received in Chicago- you just watch !

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newsninja - totally agree about the "Ballads" album -- that's the one I tend to listen to the most.

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define "outside of Japan" for me. You guys might think there's no other countries out there but your home state and Japan, but there are over 200 countries out there, and X japan has played in at least 10 of them (that I know of)... Has massive following in many Asian countries and been touring around Asia quite extensively as well as their German tour (which I have no idea how they went, but it was before Hide topped himself)

I do apologize, I was just commenting on the fact that he said that they didn't have a fan base outside of Japan, and I was just citing a recent event. I know X has toured all over the world and has an international fan base, I picked the L.A. video shoot because it was also in the US.

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Booking X Japan is pretty bold for Lollapalooza. They usually stick to safe well known crap like Beck and shoegazer acts. The only two years that "alternative" festival was trully "alternative" was 1992 with Ministry and 1995 with the Jesus Lizard. Those bands are way more whacked out than X Japan but still booking a foreign act is surprising. Still loses something without Hide, he was known in the US and respected among metal and punk musicians. As an aside, I'm surprised that Lollapalooza is now a stationary act as the festival used to play around the US for the whole summer.

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whats the point? 14 years NO new cd. lollapalooza is from like 94- 90's usually corny Bands. why doesn't X just perform their own shows here? in the states? with another band that fits them. that would make more sense. get real many fans are newbies & anime fans. the show it self will attract a huge crowd.

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for a bit of introspective escape on a rainy day - check out the X-Japan "BALLADS" album... it rocks.. well, actually it isn't rock... nor what you typically expect from X... it ballads i guess you would say... some emotive stuff... talented pianist (and a moving singer) is Yoshiki... i stumbled across this gem - suggest people actively seek it out... worth having in the collection...

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goddog-LOL!

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lot better than SMAP and-or many nu-mental can. i just don't like the hair spray and make up, but their works are as good as any world class progressive metal can offer.

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Can they sing on key, or are they like SMAP and all tone deaf?

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Though I am not a fan of Toshi's voice, X Japan has an enormous following. I have no doubts that they will attract a huge crowd in Chicago.

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO why X-Japan ? they are horrible. In america they have awesome bands like Metallica, Slayer, Down, The Black Dahlia Murder.... why these idiots? can't believe this.

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Cool -- but they should invite Seikima II !

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I'm and old rocker and have been to concerts ranging form Alice cooper, ACDC, the Stones, Police, Clapton, Linkin p, etc.. I have also been to see X-Japan twice (before hide's parting) and I have to say despite Toshi's voice they were right up there with the best of them.

I am not a fan of most Japanese "talento" and j-pop unoriginal and off key singing but X-Japan are the "original" they started the VK sound and look (nowhere near a "hair band") Yoshiki is a world wide respected produser, song writer who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music around the world ranging from classical, rock to Jazz.

I suggest that those who have doubts about how they will be received in the USA, that you go to youtube and check their following world wide and just for the heck of it look at the following of some of the other VK groups.

My 15 year old daughter is pure Goth/VK and is more into the newer bands but she also loves X-Japan as do my non-Japanese 15 year old niece and 21 year old nephew back in North America along with the rest of their VK friends.

Yes ladies and gentlemen Japan's VK, manga and anime culture has probably spread to your country.

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Ritalynn-Thanks for the update. I wasn't aware they were together again since the broke up in 1997ish.

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define "outside of Japan" for me. You guys might think there's no other countries out there but your home state and Japan, but there are over 200 countries out there, and X japan has played in at least 10 of them (that I know of)... Has massive following in many Asian countries and been touring around Asia quite extensively as well as their German tour (which I have no idea how they went, but it was before Hide topped himself)

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They are still around? Who's the new guitarist after Hide?

The new guitarist is Sugizo, He's the guitarist in Luna Sea.

No offense to X fans but they aren't that great.

And hoserfella, this won't be the first time they've perform outside of Japan, they did a video shoot in L.A. that attracted lots of fans.

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If in front of a real American audience instead of Japanese, this cruel joke of a band will finally get the message that crap hair bands went the way of the dinosaur some 20 years ago. I suspect they won't venture outside of comfy Japan again.

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It's a good news! Their live performance has been very cool since their debut.

They sing some kinds of songs, a cappella, a ballade, a rock, a metal and so on. You should give it a try. One of my favorites is "紅"(kurenai).

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They are still around? Who's the new guitarist after Hide?

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21 years later they make their American debut...

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Aren't they late at least, say, two decades? Anyway the best Japanese hair-band.

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Im no X expert but didnt they disband and give up after Hide did himself in. Thats like 2pac have more new singles after he was dead.

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Very cool -- too bad this will be in Chicago and not near Los Angeles.

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