X Japan Founder Reveals Details of His Sudden Bounce-Back

 

It seems like every time we turn around, X Japan's Yoshiki is off to something new. An impressive feat, considering his potenial career-ending injuries and major surgery. But the rocker appeared at his first post-surgery press conference last Tuesday in Tokyo to greet fans, clarify plans, and demonstrate that he can't be kept down for long.

 

Yoshiki announced that the upcoming tour dates -- which were previous presumed to be canceled due to his surgery -- will include a special 60-minute cut of We Are X, aired one hour before the film starts. The concert itself is expected to last two hours, and the group will be accompanied by a string section onstage.

 

Additionally, it was revealed that Yoshiki is being monitored at all times while he travels the world to promote the rock documentary. In the X Japan entourage is UK physiotherapist Carl Dunstan. Dr. Dunstan has previously worked with members of U2 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and was James Bond star Daniel Craig's exclusive physiotherapist during the filming of Spectre.

Also, long standing plans for the Yoshiki Premium Dinner Show 2017 to be a charity event were made public during the press conference. $150,000 will be donated to the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, whose dean, Shelly Berg, orchestrated the string arrangements for both the tour and the dinner show.

 

Of his recovery, Yoshiki said: “I don’t know if I will be able to play the drums again. Even if I am able to do so, it may be impossible to perform with the same intensity as before. I can’t even say for sure, at this point, whether I would do so if I could.”

 

He added: “If there were no X Japan reunion, I would not have had surgery twice. But the time put into the reunion and the challenge of taking on the world are worthwhile. I do not regret it. And I will not stop until I break down the wall.”

 

Due to the nature of the X Japan tour changing -- going acoustic with Yoshiki playing piano rather than drums -- ticket refunds are being offered for those who no longer wish to attend.

 

Source: RESONANCE Media

 

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Kara Dennison is responsible for multiple webcomics, blogs and runs interviews for (Re)Generation Who and PotterVerse, and is half the creative team behind the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. She blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos.