Violet UK

The concept of a non-X JAPAN project for YOSHIKI dates back as far as 1991, when YOSHIKI held a jam session with Japan's Mick Karn and Jane Child. The group was called Violet. YOSHIKI spent most of the '90s focusing on X JAPAN; yet, around the time of the band's dissolution in 1997, YOSHIKI had also been experimenting with different musical styles, influenced by artists such as Massive Attack and Portishead.

After hide's passing months later, YOSHIKI sank into something of a depression, delaying Violet UK for several years. Yet, by 2005, he claimed to have created over 300 songs, with recording costs in the millions of dollars. Several of these songs were used in 7-11 commercials featuring YOSHIKI in 2002; others were performed with Daughter at the YOSHIKI Symphonic Orchestra 2002 Featuring Violet UK concert. Yet, most of those songs were never released. More recently, the song Rosa was used for the film "Goemon" in 2009.

Despite the mass of songs recorded and performed, a debut album has yet to surface, having initially been announced in 2002. A few songs have seen commercial release, however; Red Christmas appeared on YOSHIKI's solo album, Eternal Melody II, while Sex and Religion and Blue Butterfly have been made available through iTunes Japan.

As of 2010, fans continue to look forward to what YOSHIKI's project will have to offer. For now, though, digital download, movie soundtracks and YOSHIKI's MySpace profile will have to do.