Whew, made it just in time, before their United States debut at Lollapalooza tomorrow. Part of X-Japan specifically Yoshiki and Sugizo were at Otakon’s Masquerade last weekend as half time guests. They performed at the very end after the 30 skits of the Masquerade was over. (Jon took pictures when that happened…) Yoshiki and Sugizo performed a piano and violin acoustic set of Forever Love and Endless Rain.Definitely some of their iconic songs of what their group is, Forever Love being the theme for X the Movie..
This is a transcript of my notes from the the press conference that was after the masquerade (reorganized for clarity). Jon has video of this event, but let’ s see what happens when he posts it up. I was able to get in some questions..(My questions are going to be bold font).. I found a place with a much better transcription, than what notes I have, so if you want to refer to that, then here is the link.
Can Yoshiki talk about a rumor of reconciliation with Taiji?
He denies it, but they are in talks about a possibility of reunion. Nothing is confirmed though.
What led to the decision to re-film “Rusty Nail” at their Los Angeles appearance?
They have rewrote Rusty Nail as an English release. (Actually for a new project, they are completing at this time, 80% are old songs getting redone in English.)
What is their feeling for what the future of visual kei going to be like?
Yoshiki – Deep Question. Someone has to break into the market and not sure of what will happen. The scene will keep evolving, changing and attempts of trying will happen though.
What is the personal preference in performance..quiet or loud?
Yoshiki – Both.
What is their favorite manga or anime? (What do you expect me to ask? I write for an anime press, Yoshiki’s answer/reaction was quite unexpected and funny. But yes Sugizo was confused when I followed up and asked him which version of Gundum he liked the most..so that’s why I clarified in the answer)
Yoshiki – Sailor Moon
Sugizo – Original Gundum, or Ghost in the Shell
What songs are they going to be performing at Chicago? (Lollapalooza)
Mix, depends. Personal fans of X Japan will probably expect to hear Japanese, although they do have many English songs.
What message do you have for American fans as well as people who will see them at Lollapalooza?
Yoshiki – “Something new… something historical” is going to happen. “There are consistent walls between the east and west. Hopefully [X Japan] can smash hole in the wall.” Without fan’s support then X Japan wasn’t able to reunite and perform. Will do anything to make up to the expectation of fans.
Sugizo – “Music has no boarders” He is very excited to perform with X Japan, since he has looked up to X Japan for a very long time.
Hopefully my summarization/transcription of this press conference isn’t as confusing to look over. What I am very excited for, is the fact that Yoshiki has confirmed future concerts to be held at New York… as well as Washington DC. I have an intention to definitely be there for the New York concert! Trying to not think or estimate the wait though. (>_<)
Following the press conference, we did see Yoshiki and Sugizo exit the premises, I saw Yoshiki sign a fan’s guitar. Yoshiki who is on Twitter now, tweeted this on August 2.
I’m in LA now. I already miss my fans in Baltimore.
As I mentioned, Jon did take more pictures of their appearance, but we are still in the process of putting it up on flickr. So check back on images yet to be posted. I have one more picture of their press conference that was able to be used.
X-Japan was the King of the 90s. It was their golden era. Yoshiki was at Comicon too? That’s cool. I always saw him on TV with X-Japan, whenever they performed. He was a very influential person in Japan. I wish I could be at Comicon too. He got older looking at this picture. “Forever Love” was used by Premier Koizumi, it was his favorite song.
I remember a lot of my classmate girls loved X-Japan. I think X-Japan was the band that really appealed to both girls and boys. Some of my classmates started playing piano because of him. But these boys were very different from otaku-kind, and they were the one getting girls’ attention. I was more into gentle music with therapeutic female vocal, like My Little Lover. It’s great that people like Yoshiki are coming to otaku’s field and admitting that they love otaku culture. It was unimaginable during the 90s.
This was Otakon.. but yeah, they were on route to debut in the United States. That was this past Sunday, Eastern Standard Time. X Japan rocks!