Although he has achieved many milestones throughout his career, X Japan’s drummer and pianist Yoshiki keeps pushing ahead. With massive albums dating back to the 1980s, his famed hard rocking band have topped the charts in Japan multiple times and they’ve been headlining arenas for decades. But he restlessly pushes himself forward into new territory.
His latest film and directorial debut, Yoshiki: Under The Sky features his musical collaborations filmed during the pandemic. Some were done in-person and socially distanced, others were virtual link-ups, and the styles range from pop to rock to classical. The star power includes St. Vincent, Scorpions, Nicole Scherzinger, his current Last Rockstars bandmates Hyde and Sugizo, and others located from Europe, Asia, and America. It’s a global concert of sorts curated into one movie, and it also offers some intimate documentary scenes. The film made its international debut last Thursday in NYC, and a Los Angeles screening today (9/14) will take place after Yoshiki becomes the first Japanese artist to get his handprints on the forecourt of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Other things have been going on in Yoshiki World this summer. Both his classic band X Japan and his new supergroup The Last Rockstars (featuring Hyde, Sugizo, and Miyavi) have released new singles. X Japan fans have long awaited a new album – 27 years, in fact – and hopefully the wait will be over soon.
But wait, there’s more! Next month, Yoshiki takes his Requiem tour on the road, celebrating the 10th anniversary of his Classical album. He will reportedly be the first Japanese musician to headline shows at the Tokyo Garden Theater, Royal Albert Hall Carnegie Hall, and L.A.’s Dolby Theater. He will be playing piano with an orchestra and balancing iconic classical pieces with his own works.
During his recent stop in Manhattan, Yoshiki sat down with BrooklynVegan in his swanky Midtown hotel, with a gorgeous view of Central Park, to talk about balancing all the different projects in his life. There certainly aren’t many heavy rock artists who successfully cross over as many avenues as he does.
You directed Under The Sky, on top of coordinating these collaborations. How long did it take to put this all together?
A long time. What’s a positive way of saying pain in the ass? [laughs]
A labor of love.
Yeah. It was not easy, man. It took a long time.
Seeing that Hyde and Sugizo perform with you in Under The Sky, are we seeing the birth of The Last Rockstars?
At that time, there was no Last Rockstars. So in the process I started realizing this scenario might be good.
There are many virtual collabs here. At one point, you, Sugizo, and Hyde are performing in three different locations. Intuitively, as a musician, how does that work when you’re not in the same space?
You’re synching to certain rhythms – here, there, or wherever you are. It’s a live vibe, but it’s not completely live. It’s a tricky one.
The most rocking part is with Japanese idol boy band SixTONES. You jump from piano to electric guitar to drums. How much did you rehearse that?
I was rehearsing in the recording studio to make sure what’s next. Actually, my in-ear says, “go to guitar” or “go to piano”. Otherwise, I’d get confused. Some of the piano parts are not completely the kind of same tempo. [There were] tempo changes.
St. Vincent is the most unorthodox performer out of this whole bunch. What was it like collaborating on her song?
First of all, I love that song “New York”. She gave me complete freedom to do any arrangement. So I just took it my way, and she liked it.
What do you like about her music?
She’s very innovative, and she’s not afraid to express her[self]. She’s very edgy [but] still beautiful on her music style.
Performing “Wind Of Change” with Scorpions fit the times in a weird way. Who chose that?
I did. Because when I was in Berlin, just out of nowhere, I decided to play [it during] my solo classical concert. I was doing a world tour, and I was playing the song that fit each country. I went there the day before and asked, “What’s the song that’s popular here?” I thought I should play “Wind Of Change”. I pretty much learned it that day, and people loved it. So I asked the Scorpions if they wanted to play the song [for this].
You collaborate with a wide range of musicians. The closest person I can think of in metal is Serj Tankian who has also gone off on many different explorations. Not every metal fan appreciates that. How do your fans in Japan react to all these different things that you do?
I think maybe a long time ago it was more divided by genre. But I think there are Generation Z people who listen to hip-hop and then classical music or whatever. It’s pretty much genre-less – good music and bad music.
As a kid, I wouldn’t have wanted any of that. Then you get older and your musical tastes expand. Many middle aged rockers get that now.
I feel the same way actually. I started playing classical music, and then I went to rock I was only doing rock. Of course, I was practicing piano but I was not playing piano for anyone for a while. I thought that was not cool. Then one day when I was touring, hardcore thrash metal. There was a piano in the club and you couldn’t move that fucking piano off the stage. I thought I might as well use it. So I played Bach, and I had a spiked hair. People were like, “What the fuck?”
This was back in the ‘80s?
Yeah. “This guy can play piano?” Then I started becoming more comfortable doing it.
We heard that you were a fan of hardcore punk band GISM.
Oh my God, how do you know that? I went to see their concert a couple times.
Do you like their music?
They’re very violent.
The band or the fans?
Both.
What intrigues you about them?
I love hardcore punk music.
What did you grow up listening to?
I loved Sex Pistols. GBH. Chaos UK. Exploited. Stuff like this. You know, a little harder than Ramones. I liked the Ramones too.
The singer of GISM just died.
I know, I just saw it…
I can see a bit of the hardcore punk aesthetic in X Japan.
That’s why I had a spiked hair [in the ‘80s]. I used to have spiked hair, but one day before the show I hadn’t finished [doing it] and I had to go to the stage. So I went halfway with spiked hair and the other side was not. But people liked it, so I kept that image for a while.
You’ve been friends with Gene Simmons for years. You showed up at a KISS show in 2019, right?
Yes. They were playing Tokyo Dome. I was only going to play the piano on “Beth,” but the day before the show they asked me if I want to play “Nite.” I was like, “Hell yeah!” I had to learn the song that day of the show. Of course, I know the song, but [it was] the live version.
Did they have both drummers, or did you just take over?
I took over, but Eric [Singer] was behind me. He was playing toms.
That must have been a dream come true.
Completely! I heard KISS haven’t really been collaborating with a lot of people [throughout their career]. Only a handful, like three or four, in their career, and I’m one of them. I played Tokyo Dome and Osaka Dome [with them] as well.
You’re getting your handprints in front of the famed Chinese Theater.
Gene is coming. He’s one of the guest speakers who is kindly joining my ceremony. I really respect him because he’s one of the reasons I started becoming a rock star. So I found out about KISS first. KISS opened the doors to the rock world for me.
You’re the first Japanese artist to get his handprints at the Mann.
Can you believe that? One of my friends, Lee Byung-hun, is speaking too. He’s in Squid Game.
You have your charitable foundation. How much time can you devote to that, and what are the intricacies of your involvement with your foundation raising?
Pretty often, whenever the world needs something. When I donate, I usually announce it so that people can find out what kind of people, which country, needs something. We emphasize it so people can know. Also, if I donate sometimes my fans are joining so we can multiply that donation. I started doing charity work because I grew up without my father, after my father’s death [by suicide]. I had a very painful way of growing up, so I wanted to support all those kids who have unfortunate [circumstances] – maybe no parents or they have a disease – so I started helping them. Then in 2010-2011, there was a humongous earthquake in Japan because of the tsunami. I wanted to support that kind of disaster relief. Since then, there is the climate change issue, and because of the war there are people who lost homes. I just donated last week [to help Ukrainian refugees].
There’s a new X Japan power ballad and a dancier new Last Rockstars song. Quite a contrast. Do you like balancing these groups and your classical work?
I just love being performing music or composing, regardless [whether it’s] classical or punk rock or rock or anything.
In a poignant part of Under The Sky, you do a video chat with a fan whose wife had passed from a terminal illness. You initially connected with them via message prior to her death. What was it like to be connecting with a fan that way?
Completely strange. First of all, I was filming. Then I was going through some of the social media. There were some fans writing…
This was live?
Yeah, pretty much. I was reading [messages], and it could have been a scam. People wanted to get my attention. I didn’t know if it was real or not. But he said, “please help me” so I responded. Maybe it’s kind of strange, but this guy may really need help. So I sent a film crew to his place, not knowing that this person may even exist. I didn’t know till the last minute that the person I’m talking to is the actual real person. It could be a catfish. I sent a film crew in Japan, and I was shooting in Los Angeles. I didn’t say I was going to show up. They said “Yoshiki’s people want to interview you.” He didn’t know I would show up there. I didn’t know if that person’s for real. Then I showed up [on camera], then he showed up. This was real. It was so strange. It was a beautiful story. It was so sad. He lost his wife, but his wife lived as long as she could because of the music [I made]. That was very inspirational for me as well.
Right after the pandemic started, Bono reached out to you to play piano on “Sing4Life,” right?
Actually, it was will.i.am. He’s a good friend of mine. He was doing it with Bono and Jennifer Hudson. He reached out – “Can you play the piano tonight?” I didn’t know the existence of the song until 4 or 5 pm [that day]. Nobody was in the recording studio, but I wrote the score [out] at home without any instruments, then just recorded it.
It’s been almost a decade since X-Japan headlined Madison Square Garden. What was that experience like for you? How does that compare with the larger Tokyo Dome?
For some reason Madison Square Garden looked bigger than Tokyo Dome. Actually, I played Tokyo Dome a few months ago with SixTONES. I showed up as a guest. I’ve played Tokyo Dome more than 20 times. But Madison Square Garden is very special. So is Carnegie Hall. I’m kind of nervous for the next concert there. I’m planning on playing drums on this classical tour.
Are we talking drum set or timpani?
A drum solo with orchestra which nobody has done, I guess, that kind of style. We’ll see if I can pull this off. I’m 80% convinced. The drums are so loud, will the orchestra be able to hear [each other]? I don’t know how it’s going to work. [chuckles]
K-Pop is big right now. Do you think in the wake of that we could see J-Rock get more popular?
I think so. I recently produced a group called XY. It’s like a dance and vocal group meets a band. [It’s] heavy. They just debuted two months ago. There are 13 of them.
So they’re like a boy band that also has instrumentalists?
Yeah. I had a TV show called Yoshiki Superstar Project X, so I had the opportunity to audition thousands and thousands of people. I was very fortunate to meet those amazing talents combined together – amazing rock guitar player, rock bass player, rock drummer, and amazing dancers.
You have been juggling all of these brands – Yoshikitty, champagne, your new Maison Yoshiki Paris fashion line, and more. What lures you to certain concepts? What’s important for you when you’re doing these things?
Something I can really devote my time to as well as something I’m really into. Business is secondary. I’m an artist, so I like the artistic process.
Have you ever been presented with an idea that was really outrageous?
I’m so lucky. When I wake up I have something they want to do – a new Yoshiki line or film project or something. Pretty much every day.
What was the silliest product that somebody pitched you?
I didn’t think they were serious, but Yoshiki curry. I actually made it. Yoshiki candy. X-Japan had a condom before, and we donated part of the sales to an AIDS foundation.
You did Yoshiki curry?
Just limited edition. As long as it makes sense. I don’t do anything not completely related to me. There’s a story about curry in Japan. For our first Tokyo Dome show, the day before I had a very spicy curry. I got upset and left the rehearsal. It’s a very famous story, so I made fun of myself by releasing the curry.
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Under The Sky makes its Los Angeles premiere tonight (9/14) at the TCL Chinese Theater with performances from St. Vincent, Scorpions, SixTONES, and more.
