Free piano sheets for X Japan

X Japan (エックス ジャパン, Ekkusu Japan^?) is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama and Yoshiki Hayashi.^[2] Originally named X (エックス), the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood. They started out as a power/speed metal band and later gravitated towards a progressive sound, at all times retaining an emphasis on ballads. Their sound is extremely raw, sometimes countered by the incorporation of classical style piano passages and vocal melodies. They have well-developed percussion parts and often use harmonized guitar riffs and solos.

Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label,^[3] the group is widely credited as one of the pioneers of the visual kei movement.^[1][4] They were known in their early years for their excessively large hairstyles resembling fountains, but toned these down in later years. As of 2010, the band has sold over thirty million records and over two million home videos.^[5]

After sixteen years, four albums, and selling out the 50,000 seat Tokyo Dome 18 times, X Japan disbanded in 1997. The band did not perform or record any material for another 10 years. However, in 2007, the band re-united and performed live for the first time since their break-up. After performing concerts through-out Asia in 2007 through 2009, the band performed their first North American tour from September 25 through October 10, 2010. They also plan to release their first studio album in more than 14 years in 2011.

X Japan started in 1978, originally called Dynamite, when its founding members Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama and Yoshiki Hayashi were only 13. Dynamite changed its name to Noise in 1980, while they were still in high school. In 1982, they changed their name to X, while they tried to think of another name, but the name stuck. X began to actively perform in the Tokyo area in 1985 with a frequently changing lineup. Their first single, "I'll Kill You" was released on Dada Records in June and the band contribued "Break the Darkness" to the sampler Heavy Metal Force III in November.^[11][12]

To ensure a continuous outlet for the band's music, Yoshiki founded the independent label Extasy Records. The following year a second single, "Orgasm", was released on the label.^[13] The songs "Stab Me in the Back" and "No Connexion", recorded for the 1987 Victor Records sampler Skull Thrash Zone Volume I,^[12] mark the group's first material featuring Tomoaki "Pata" Ishizuka as a support guitar player. He formally joined the group later that year. Likewise, guitarist Hideto "hide" Matsumoto and bassist Taiji Sawada both briefly performed with X on separate occasions before completing the group's first steady lineup.^[11]

X Japan - Alive.pdf

X Japan - Longing.pdf