Interest

X Japan Featured on America's ABC World News

On Tuesday, the American television program ABC World News aired and began streaming a video feature focusing on the J-rock group X Japan and its drummer, pianist, and songwriter Yoshiki Hayashi. The article showcases YOSHIKI's popularity and product lines in Japan and goes on to talk about X Japan's current attempt at mainstream popularity in America, including an upcoming English-language album. The video also features footage from X Japan's recent performance at Lollapalooza and an interview between YOSHIKI and ABC News journalist Dan Harris.

ABC News also posted a text feature written by Harris with streaming audio of an X Japan performance of the song "I.V."

X Japan's most notable anime contributions were the songs in the X² music video collection and later X movie. The animation studio Madhouse adapted both productions from CLAMP's X manga. The surviving band members — Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama, Yoshiki Hayashi, Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka, and Hiroshi "Heath" Morie — reunited in 2007, ten years after they first disbanded and nine years after the death of guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto.

This past January, X Japan filmed four music videos in Hollywood with the help of fans. A month later, the band announced that it was moving to Los Angeles. Since then the band has performed at Otakon and Lollapalooza and has announced details for a fall U.S. tour and new album.

The Los Angeles Times newspaper also profiled YOSHIKI on July 25.

Thanks to Nick Cervenka for the news tip.