"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 its 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. After three more albums, X Japan disbanded in 1997.
The band did not perform or record for another 10 years. In 2007, the band re-united and performed live for the first time in a decade. The band will perform their first North American tour beginning in September of 2010 and will release their first studio album in more than 14 years in the autumn.
