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They're big in Japan - very big. X Japan have sold more than 30 million albums, singles and videos, and filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times. Now they're set to take to the rest of the world by storm - and while they might not yet enjoy the same dizzying heights of fame overseas that they do in their homeland, breaking into the foreign market may not prove much of a challenge with the band discovering foreign fanbases they never knew existed. Last year X Japan made their North American debut with several high profile gigs to packed crowds - including a Lollapalooza appearance - and earlier this year they announced a three year deal with multinational music giant EMI. Their first ever London concert sold out almost immediately with fans queing up around the corner of the famed Shepherd's Bush Empire Band drummer, founder and leader, Yoshiki, said the London gig was a dream come true. SOUNDBITE Yoshiki, X Japan drummer, saying (English): "We grew up with a lot of famous, legendary artists from London. The Beatles, of course, Dave Bowie, the heavy stuff like Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin. Anyway so last night we were like: 'Oh my God we are playing, you know, the venue our rock stars played. So it almost made me cry." The London concert came the same day as the release of the single "Jade" from the band's first English language album. Originally scheduled for a March launch, they decided to postpone the single's release after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan. SOUNDBITE Yoshiki, X Japan drummer, saying (English): "Tsunami just took over everything that we just felt how vulnerable we are, how fragile we are. So I'm still just trying to digest what's going on in my head but instead of thinking about it I said lets just take a break from recording or whatever we are doing, lets concentrate on charity, at least a few months. We're still doing charity but slowing going back to recording again now tour has started." Following a series of European concerts X Japan will return home for several festival gigs before starting the South American leg of their world tour. Doug Maclaurin, Reuters.

Credits: uk.reuters

Today is the day!! X JAPAN’s new single “JADE” is available in North America, Latin America, and Europe!!!

MTV Iggy calls it an “epic return”, writing “Jade is X Japan at its global-dominating best…”

Available on iTunes and on other digital outlets: http://bit.ly/kevjEl

WE ARE X!!

Credits: XJapan

Yoshiki and and his reunited bandmates in X Japan may have waited 15 years to release new material, but “Jade” is about as epic a return to form as their devotees could hope for. To settle most fans’ curiosity, the single is indeed unmercifully heavy, or at least begins and ends that way. Metal mixer extraordinaire Andy Wallace (Slayer, Sepultura, System of a Down, et al) knows exactly when to thrust “Jade” forward with a monster, Megadeth-worthy riff from Pata and half-time drum assault courtesy of Yoshiki that’s lit ablaze by Sugizo’s caterwauling lead guitar. But the mix is absolutely effortless at marrying X Japan’s bursts of chaos — their musical id — with their undeniable ego: arena-size melodies, classical arrangements, and soaring messages of hope and empowerment (“Stop holding your fear/Let memory live and die alone/No need to be there/Let your desire scream ‘til you feel alive/‘Cause you are beautiful/Your scars are beautiful/Like the Jade”). “Jade” is X Japan at its global-dominating best, a six-minute thesis in hard rock and the band’s own history. Toshi in particular triumphs in an English-language performance of Yoshiki’s touching, inspiring lyrics that sacrifices little in transitional fluency or grandeur. And if anything, the song may have trouble finally crossing X over to a wider mainstream appeal because of how genuinely heavy it is when called for. For all its orchestral heights and operatic arcs, “Jade” brings to mind the infectious brutality of Heartwork-era Carcass during its more punishing moments, even if the swooning chorus will remind newer audiences of epic Muse power-ballads like “Invincible.”

X Japan have always been a huge-sounding and massively influential band, but “Jade” is, quite simply, one of the strongest and most labored-over comeback singles a metal outfit’s ever released, and will absolutely blow the minds of anyone first being introduced to the cult of X.

Credits: MTVIGGY

At the end of this month, metal/rock fans will finally get the chance to own Jade, the first English-speaking single from Japan's greatest musical export X Japan, when the track gets a world-wide digital release on June 28. The masterful single, which RockStar Weekly had the chance to preview this week, is a colourful combination of metal, fusion and voice. The song, which has been around since the band's 2009 Tokyo Dome shows, was performed when the band visited North America for the first time in October 2010 and accepted with open arms at the sold-out show RockStar Weekly was at in Vancouver. It's also the first new release since 2008's IV. With most lyrics sung in English, Jade is a hauntingly romantic tale of embracing the beautiful sadness of death, and showcases X Japan's eclectic mix of rock, goth and classical music. By far a better and more intelligent song than most metal/rock bands are cranking out these days, Jade packs the best of X Japan's amazing history into one powerful track. It's also hard not to comment on Toshi's vocals, which ring loud and clear throughout. Meanwhile, Yoshiki's drums are comparable to Lars Ulrich and Tommy Lee, while Heath's bass and the dual guitars of Pata and Sugizo (who also jams on the violin) round things out. The breakdown about half way through showcases the music, with powerful guitars, drums and then branches into a slick acoustic guitar ballad for a minute - eventually returning to blistering metal.

It's easy to see why Japan has taken to this band so well, because the band is what Japan itself is all about - class, style and dignity. X Japan is a class act with precision instrumentation and a master vocalist, not to mention Yoshiki's compassion and fundraising for the Japanese people when the Tsunami and earthquakes hit.

Written and produced by Yoshiki and mixed by Andy Wallace, "Jade" was recorded in both Japan and at Yoshiki's Los Angeles studio, the same studio where Metallica recorded its classic Black album before Yoshiki bought it and turned it into a private facility.

The release of "Jade" coincides with X Japan's June 28 sold-out show at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire and the kick-off of their world tour that includes stops in Europe and South America.  Click here for the full itinerary.

X Japan is one of the most successful rock bands in Japanese history, having sold more than 30-million albums, singles and videos, and filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times with its classic "Queen meets Guns 'N Roses meets 'The Matrix'" sound.  The popularity of the band in Japan has made them a cultural phenomenon in music, fashion and business.

X Japan made its North American debut at the 2010 Lollapalooza festival, and sold out their New York City debut at the famed Roseland Ballroom as part of the band's first American tour last fall.

The band is currently finishing the recording of the full length album that will accompany Jade later this year. Listen to a sample of Jade here.



Lyrics:

Walk through the light to find the shadow,
Til’ your gods stall you from the edge,
Sunk in the thought, the feel, the distance,
Was it your secret?
Stop holding your fear, let memory live and die alone.
No need to be there, let your desire scream,

Til' you feel alive.
‘Cause you are beautiful,
Your scars are beautiful,
Like the jade.
You’ll still shine, when you sink into the sea,
When the bleeding scarlet jealousy, carves the way you believe.

Brink of the light, the wings of the night,
Look into the eyes of fallen angels,
Sink like a stone into the dark,
Where no light can touch.
Will god break my fall?
I feel the mystery, tries to take me along,
To the end of the world, where I still believe,
The colour is from your eyes.

‘Cause you were beautiful,
Your blood was beautiful, yesterday,
I still hide at the seam of memories,
Oh, I still hold my rosary, beneath the pain of life.
Where the tears, when the bloody face of love, they take away the stain,
Know that the stars of the sky,
Glow in the ocean,
The art of life,
Makes me wanna die in the colour of heaven.

Oh, another day has gone,
Another friend has gone into the flame,
It’s burning now, jibun de kirisaita mune no kizuato sae birei ni naru made.

Oh, 'cause you are beautiful,
Your scars are beautiful, like the jade,
You’ll still shine, when you sink into the sea,
When the bleeding scarlet jealously carves the way you believe,
Now and forever, you’ll be loved,
Let your destiny lead your heart
My Jade

Credits: rockstarweekly

"Jade," the long-awaited, epic, glorious and culture-crossing new single from X Japan, one of the most influential rock bands in Japanese history, will be released in North America, Europe and Latin America on Tuesday, June 28th in all digital formats.

"Jade" is the first track from the band's English debut album, currently in the final stages of recording. Go here to enjoy a sample of "Jade." We love the come-hell-or-high-water percussion that emboldens itself in this snippet. It's nothing short of stunning.

A "Jade" full-length ringtone will be made available exclusively in Japan on June 28th, and the single will be released there and in Southeast Asia two weeks later on July 13th.

"This is a years-long dream of X Japan's, to release a record in the Americas and in Europe," said Yoshiki, X Japan's leader/producer/songwriter/drummer/pianist. We actually would just call him a visionary, since that's what he is! Yoshiki continued, "Music is very powerful, and we believe it can help us bridge the gap between east and west. We hope that 'Jade' will be the first step."

Written and produced by Yoshiki and mixed by Andy Wallace, "Jade" was recorded in both Japan and at Yoshiki's Los Angeles studio, the same studio where Metallica recorded its classic Black album before Yoshiki bought it and turned it into a private facility of awesomeness.

The song features the thunderous drums and bass of Yoshiki and Heath, respectively, the searing twin guitar work of Pata and Sugizo, and Toshi's dynamic vocals. With most lyrics sung in English, "Jade" is a hauntingly romantic tale of embracing the beautiful sadness of death, and showcases X Japan's eclectic mix of rock, goth and classical music.

The release of "Jade" coincides with X Japan's June 28th sold-out show at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire and the kick-off of their world tour that includes stops in Europe and South America.

X Japan had initially planned to release the single earlier this year, but they put those plans on hold when an earthquake rocked their home country of Japan.

Here's a brief refresher course on X Japan: They are one of the most successful rock bands in Japanese history, having sold more than 30-million albums, singles and videos, and filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times with its classic "Queen meets Guns N' Roses meets The Matrix" sound. The popularity of the band in Japan has made them a cultural phenomenon in music, fashion and business. X Japan made its North American debut at the 2010 Lollapalooza festival, and sold out their New York City debut at the famed Roseland Ballroom as part of the band's first American tour last fall.

What did you think of the sample of "Jade?" Did it make you a fan of X Japan? It should, kids!

Credits: artistdirect

X-JAPAN leader YOSHIKI will make his official debut as a photographer for the rock band’s upcoming digital single, “JADE“! The jacket cover for “JADE” was taken by YOSHIKI himself. Sources say that YOSHIKI had an interest in this from the very beginning, so a close friend allowed him to shoot the photo for the cover.

“Music possesses an unfathomable strength. By communicating through music, we believe that we can bridge the gap between the East and West,” said YOSHIKI about X-JAPAN’s newest song. “We hope ‘JADE’ can be that first step.” He also added, “Releasing a song in America and Europe has been a longtime dream of X-JAPAN’s!”

The song was originally scheduled for release on March 15th, but was postponed due to the Tohoku earthquake. “JADE” is currently slated for an online release through mu-mo beginning on June 28th; a subsequent worldwide release will follow through the iTunes Store on July 13th.

Credits:tokyohive.com/2011/06/yoshiki-to-make-his-photographer-debut-for-x-japans-new-song/

We are proud to announce the release date of our long-awaited single “Jade.” This marks X Japan’s FIRST single for our English debut album! On June 28th, “Jade” will be released in North America, South America, and Europe in all digital formats. A “Jade” full-length ringtone will be made available exclusively in Japan on June 28, and the single will be released there and in Southeast Asia two weeks later on July 13.

“This is a years-long dream of X Japan’s, to release a record in the Americas and in Europe,” said Yoshiki.  “Music is very powerful, and we believe it can help us bridge the gap between east and west.  We hope that ‘Jade’ will be the first step.”

The release of “Jade” coincides with the X Japan’s June 28th sold-out show at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire and the kick-off of our world tour that includes stops in Europe and South America.  Click here for the full itinerary!
 
Credits: xjapan

X Japan’s newest song “Scarlet Love Song,” the official theme song for the film Buddha, reached #1 on iTunes Japan on June 8, 2011

Credits: xjapan