X JAPAN at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Tuesday, June 28th, was quite a significant date for X JAPAN: not only was Jade, their first CD single since 1998, released, it was also the day of the first leg of their world tour and their first ever live gig in Europe.

Since doors opened at 7 PM and the band wasn't due out until 8:45, fans were due for a bit of a wait. British support group Japanese Voyeurs filled half an hour of the time, and in between there were intermittent chants of "We are X!" from time to time as anticipation built. The O2 Shepherds Bush Empire in West London, with a capacity of 2000, was ram-packed with people of all ages, colours and creeds, all linked by their love of the band. It wasn't until after 9:00 that the lights dimmed and a grandiose orchestral and choral introduction piece played over the hall, in typical X style. After a minute or two, the drummer and band leader YOSHIKI appeared on the higher back section of the stage, where his drum kit stood proudly in full view. Guitarist SUGIZO followed shortly after, choosing to keep his back to the crowd, before HEATH, PATA and vocalist TOSHI made their appearances. YOSHIKI continued to stand on his drum seat, seductively adjusting his clothing and hair while the choir's vocals swelled dramatically as if singing a national anthem. "We will show you a place where dreams and life become one. Memorise the night we will spend together, and keep us in your hearts," announced a female voiceover. "Introducing X JAPAN". Behind YOSHIKI's drum kit was a large LED screen, upon which loomed and flashed a huge red "X" as the woman's voice repeated "Japan" over and over. They had truly arrived.

PATA's powerful metal guitar riff signalled the beginning of brand new single Jade. YOSHIKI started off the same way he would continue, smashing at his drums ferociously. The long, open shirt he arrived in was already discarded to allow him to play totally unhindered. TOSHI's vocals were just as strong as ever, powering through the anthemic chorus and the final, lingering "My Jade" emotionally. Despite it being a new song, the fans gave their all trying to sing it word for word, some aided by it being almost all in English. "Hello London!" TOSHI yelled after it was over. "Are you ready to rock?", resulting in a firm positive response. The unmistakeable harpsichord intro to the classic Rusty Nail was their reward, raising the cheers again. SUGIZO displayed his usual showmanship onstage, pouting and posturing between his extravagant guitar strums. After the initial warm up it seemed that the mood was catching on, as even HEATH and PATA, who were quite stationary during the previous song, moved across the stage and interacted with the audience, while TOSHI was already playfully spraying bottles of water impressively far across the standing area.

A clear Kawai piano with YOSHIKI's name engraved onto the corner stood on the right hand side of the stage, and it wasn't long before he treated everyone to some of his playing. He began with about a minute of a romantic, sweeping original piece before starting the introduction of Silent Jealousy, and after the first two chords the crowd were already cheering in recognition. TOSHI led an a capella singalong, allowing YOSHIKI to get back into his drummer's role for the explosive start of the song proper. Mad strobing of the lights and a flashing pattern of dancing strokes on the LED screen accompanied this non-stop adrenaline rush. The whole band played their instruments with heads down and a lot of focus for the most part; such were the demands of this old favourite. In fact most of the members went off for a breather after, leaving TOSHI and HEATH alone to keep the audience going with a backing track thumping away. PATA returned to reel off one of his famous riffs, this time from Drain. The trio performed the song alone, more than filling in the void of the missing members. TOSHI was beginning to flag slightly however, struggling a bit with the higher notes and yelling them out instead.

Luckily the vocalist and the others got a break afterwards as SUGIZO came on to display his flair with the electric violin in his Violin solo. He played against a deep, undulating backing track. Featured in the ten minute long solo were the theme from "The Godfather", his violin part from old LUNA SEA song Providence and the theme from the 1968 version of "Romeo and Juliet". In between each section he would blow kisses or swing his bow round theatrically and point at sections of the hall, causing them (and everyone else) to whoop wildly. Occasionally he would flip the end of the bow up to elicit more if he didn't think the response was appreciative enough. YOSHIKI, with a new shirt on, joined him at the end and they played an artful duet which later became the introduction of Kurenai to the crowd's joy. YOSHIKI ended his piano part in typical crazed hammering of the keys, discarded the new shirt and moved to his drums to recommence hammering at those instead. TOSHI returned refreshed, and was able to belt out the chorus with renewed vigor. Halfway through he went up to stand behind the drummer on his raised platform as he often used to back in the day, noticeably basking in the moment as in front YOSHIKI thrashed so energetically that he needed to have a sturdier white neck brace fitted over his black collar towards the end of the song.

TOSHI then took the time to ask the audience, "You want something hot? You want something crazy??", creating as many laughs as cheers. He then passed MC duties over to YOSHIKI, who justified the continued removal of his shirts with "it's f**king hot in here!" "I need green tea...no no, how do you say...PG...Tips. PG f**king Tips!" he screamed to a roar from the crowd and the sound of TOSHI playing around on the drums. He started a "We are X!" call and response, TOSHI still providing the percussion before attempting to get on the drummer's seat and failing comically. YOSHIKI took a slightly more serious tone to describe how they had dreamed of playing in London and how it had been long overdue.

Following his expletive-laden MC, YOSHIKI resumed on the piano. It was the looping intro to new song Born To Be Free, a big, dramatic Bond-esque song with a bold chorus and epic, wailing guitar solo from PATA that got everyone jumping madly. After the crashing finish, the bass drum continued pounding away. "On drums, YOSHIKI!" TOSHI announced as he gave us an electrifying drum solo, the rapid bass thumping so strongly that the sound vibrated through the sternum. He dropped the sticks and was on the piano again in a heartbeat and playing the most well known part of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. "On piano, YOSHIKI!" Swan Lake ended abruptly with a forearm smash to the keys and it was back to the drums again, then snapping back to the piano one more time to play part of the chorus of I.V., another new song. TOSHI got to the task of getting everyone to provide his backing vocals, commanding them to repeat "in the rain" and "find the way" after him, which they continued throughout the song. Someone in the front offered a large union flag emblazoned with the X logo to TOSHI, who draped it around his shoulders and continued to sing.

"This is the last song!" TOSHI roared, "We are!" he cried, to which there was only one answer of course. "X!!" was the universal reply, a whole sea of crossed arms, glow sticks and the odd Yoshikitty raised in unison. The last song could be none other than the iconic X. A mass of voices joined TOSHI's all the way through, but not more so than in the chorus where everyone leapt up together forming the "X" symbol with their arms. It was a fiery and energetic performance which saw SUGIZO leaping onto the higher stage in the moment and TOSHI rejoining a grinning YOSHIKI at the top, headbanging in time and occasionally smashing a cymbal with his fist. When the song was seemingly over, TOSHI led more calls of "we are X!" and YOSHIKI chose this moment to do an elegant spinning stage dive into the left of the crowd. Luckily there was no shortage of hands to catch him but then they weren't eager to let him go easily either, resulting in several burly guards having to fish him out. Spirited as ever, YOSHIKI took the mic to take over screaming TOSHI's call until hoarse before handing it back to launch into the final, raging round of the chorus.

It was a long time before the band returned for an encore and some weren't able to wait it out. Those who did saw YOSHIKI seat himself at the piano in a purple kimono and the union flag, and TOSHI return still in his jacket, gloves and scarf despite what one would imagine was an uncomfortable temperature onstage. YOSHIKI rounded off the messages for the night on a more sombre note, saying how the band thought it had seen its end over ten years ago. Of course he couldn't end this milestone gig without mentioning departed X guitarist and dear friend HIDE, who would always be playing together with them. He sat silent for a moment, as chants of "HIDE! HIDE!" rose up in tribute. "You guys make me f**king cry, man!" was his response.

"Sing with me again!" cried TOSHI. The other band members came back onstage for the encores, and SUGIZO turned round to cheekily show off his change of outfit - an open webbed-back shirt - to his numerous admirers. The first encore was a moving performance of Endless Rain, to the delight of those who had chanted for it earlier. Towards the end the other instruments dropped away to leave only the piano and the crowd's singing, a moment which seemed to be quite emotional for YOSHIKI who had his head bowed for much of the time. It was an emotional moment for many of those who shared it with him. SUGIZO returned to play a beautiful, mournful violin piece. The repeating piano part of the piano duet from ART OF LIFE then played over the speakers, setting off an excited buzz round the hall. YOSHIKI reappeared to play the intricate top part of the duet, running up and down the keys masterfully and absolutely captivating those watching. Some started to clap in time during part of it, causing him to shake his head at them to stop. He played the piano much as he plays the drums - with incredible intensity, limitless passion and a kind of fury, sometimes throwing himself on the keys or smashing at them with an elbow. It was eight minutes of pure musical art. He suddenly twirled from the piano back to the drums for the exhilarating last five minutes of the piece, the band reunited once more to unleash a last bit of glorious rock. It is such a long and complex song that YOSHIKI needed the score next to him which an assistant flipped through speedily. The band poured every last fibre into it, down to TOSHI's final refrain and almost pained cry of "in my life" right at the end. The crowd made their appreciation clear as the band bowed out in their curtain call to a recording of Forever Love, which fans still continued to sing and sway along to. Several of the band members recorded and photographed the audience for their own memories.

One thing was clear, and that was that nobody in that concert hall would forget what they had experienced that night. With their immense amounts of energy, skill and obvious love for what they do, it is not surprising that after over twenty years X JAPAN are still a commanding stage presence. Interweaving old and new, light and dark with rock and classical, they brought together loyal followers and newer fans from all around the world. YOSHIKI concluded before they took their leave, "We are X!"


Set list

1. Intro
2. Jade
3. Rusty Nail
4. Silent Jealousy
5. Drain
6. SUGIZO - violin solo
7. Kurenai
8. Born To Be Free
9. YOSHIKI - drum and piano solo
10. I.V.
11. X

EN1. Endless Rain
EN2. ART OF LIFE (second movement)