Justin’s Japan: X Japan Signs North American Deal with EMI
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X Japan will release its first album in 15 years especially for North America. (Nishioka)
By JQ magazine’s Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) for Examiner.com. Visit his NY Japanese Culture page here to subscribe for free alerts on newly published stories.
Hot on the heels of a rapturous North American tour last fall that climaxed with a sold out gig at New York’s Roseland Ballroom, X Japan is one step closer to cracking America.
The supergroup, which began recording in the mid-’80s and went on to become one of the most successful in Japanese history, has inked an exclusive three-year North American manufacturing and distribution agreement with EMI Music. The first release will be the track “Jade” on March 15, followed by the band¹s as yet untitled American debut set for a summer 2011 release.
“We are so honored to have X Japan as part of the EMI Label Services/Caroline family,” commented EMI Label Services executive VP Mike Harris in a press release issued Thursday. “After the highly successful North American tour last fall, the timing is perfect for the upcoming X Japan release.”
Led by the charismatic drummer/pianist Yoshiki (whom this reporter conducted an exclusive interview with in October), X Japan is currently putting the finishing touches on the disc, the band¹s first new studio album since 1996 and fifth overall. Half of the songs will be culled from some of the band’s gold and platinum Japanese singles, while the other half are brand new songs. An estimated 95% of the lyrics are being sung in English by vocalist Toshi.
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