When hide joined X in 1987, it consisted of only three other members: Yoshiki, the brilliant leader and drummer; Toshi, the raspy, throaty vocalist; and Taiji, possibly one of the greatest bassists Japan has ever seen. Shortly after hide joined, another guitarist, Pata, also joined the group. Pata had a more tuned-down, refined sound to his guitar playing in contrast to hide's own elaborate and energetic style; but the two worked well together and further accented the other's sound. All the members except Toshi had been leaders of their own former bands before joining X as well, which made for a group of artists each with their own ear and styles to contribute to what would eventually become a legendary band.

In April of 1988 that following year, X released their first album under an Indie label Yoshiki established known as Extasy Records. The album, Vanishing Vision, included their first major hit single and IMO one of the greatest songs in the history of metal: "Kurenai". X was leading on the Indie charts and only grew in popularity from there, gaining a fan following to their mixture of brash, hard-hitting sound and beautiful ballads, along with the riveting performances and drama they evoked on stage; not a single concert was held that wasn't sold out. By the end of 1988, X had been picked up by Sony Records. The next year in 1989, X released their first album under a major record label, debuting visual kei unto the mainstream music industry: Blue Blood.

Blue Blood included a re-mastered version of X's popular single "Kurenai", along with a conglomeration of songs in mixtures of other mainstream styles: "Endless Rain", an emotional piano ballad with a hard electric rock feel; "Rose of Pain", a lengthy 12 minute long rock-ballad mix that's dark, gothic and moody; along with some fast paced, head-banging metal songs like "Orgasm" and "Blue Blood" to break the mood, among others. The album was a classic tribute to all that was great in metal; along with X's own creative styling and mixes of genres. Blue Blood was the album that shot X into national fame, and countless artists in Japan today continue to draw inspiration from this very album. Just about every J-rock band in Japan today gives recognition to it. X wasn't the first with the visual kei look, but it deffinately wouldn't have the dedicated fan following and popularity that it does in Japan today if it hadn't of been for this very album. Blue Blood wasn't a masterpiece, but in my opinion the direction the music industry in Japan went in would have been a-lot different without it.

X released their second major album - Jealousy - in 1991. The album, like Blue Blood, was a hit and consisted of X's usual creative hard-hitting rock mixed in with aggressive metal and clear, beautiful ballads. It was that year that X was given the honor of playing at the 42nd annual Kohaku-Utagatsen, (an annual New Years eve festival, where only the top artists are invited to perform), and their first 3 Days Live in Tokyo Dome concert was held. X was becoming a household name, but at the same time, the band wasn't without troubles of their own. After Tokyo Dome, Taiji expressed to the others that he wanted to leave the band. Taiji didn't like the direction in which X was going, and at the same time, he felt restricted. His style had changed, he had too, and he felt it was time to leave and focus all his attention upon his solo career. With that, Taiji left X, and after holding auditions Heath was brought in to replace him. X would go on, but it still wouldn't be the same without Taiji.

Taiji wasn't the only one to change, however; X itself was beginning to change, too. The gravity-defying hair, makeup, shock style of clothing, and extreme "visual" style the band became stereotypical of was beginning to fade away. Yoshiki opted for a more normal rock look with leather pants and sunglasses, Toshi cut his hair, and the others pretty much followed suit. It was like X was "maturing". At the same time, X also made it's most prominant change: they changed their name from "X" to "X-Japan", in the hopes to better broaden their market overseas to an international audience and distinguish themselves from American band X.

Among all these changes however - while he did tame somewhat from his original exotic look - hide was still staying with his "visual" identity; most noticably his hair, which he continued to keep dyed his usual bright electric pink. His clothes, while not as over-the-top as before, were still prominent of his visual look as well. Yoshiki was meant to be the fan favorite, but hide had such personality and enthusiasm on stage that he quickly grew his own immense fan following as well; his choice in style only helped alongside his energetic nature to better distinguish him even more. That next year in 1993 marked the start of hide's work upon his solo career. Following hide's debut singles was X-Japan's new single: "ART OF LIFE".

(( "ART OF LIFE" is a progressive song over 20 minutes long, with many guitar riffs and a long piano ballad in the middle done by Yoshiki (just think of it as X-Japan's attempt at a "Stairway to Heaven"). Many people claim this to be their "greatest and most defining work". ))

That New Years Eve, X-Japan did something different: they held a Count Down concert at Tokyo Dome, which they would continue to do every year afterwards. This was a big deal to the Japanese and X-Japan fans alike, because major foreign artists normally held Count Down concerts. Now they would have their own Count Down concert at Tokyo Dome, with their own major Japanese metal-rock band to bring in the New Year.

Things were looking great for X, but then in September, something very unexpected happened: The vocalist, Toshi, announced to the other members of the group that he wanted to leave X. Everyone agreed that without Toshi, the band just wouldn't be the same; but Toshi was intent with his decision upon leaving the band, and no-one could change his mind. After some serious talks, X came to the morose decision of disbanding. Toshi wasn't like a guitarist they could just replace; he was an integral part of their group and X-Japan's sound. All the members agreed that the band would just not be the same without Toshi, and in light of that, it was time for X to finally come to an end. On the 22nd of September, X-Japan gave an official press conference announcing their disbandment, and on New Years Eve 1997, they held their final Tokyo Dome countdown concert. hide loved X; they were a group of people who didn't just make up a band, but a group of some of his closest friends. hide had been in X for 10 years, and he would miss it.

After X-Japan disbanded in 1997, hide and Yoshiki continued to keep in touch and talk frequently, even discussing the possibility of reuniting X at some point later on in the future. hide hoped to work alongside Yoshiki in 2000 to bring the band together again, but unfortunately that possibility ceased to be with hide's sudden death. After hide died, Yoshiki opted out of his musical career entirely, stating that it harbored too many painful memories for him. He later went on to become a manager, director, and coordinator behind the scenes of the music industry instead, working with bands like Dir en Grey. He claims he never will play the drums again either, but that doesn't really bother me, since I never thought he was that great of a drummer anyways. *Gets pelted with rotten fruit by Yoshiki fans* X_X Recently however, Yoshiki has become active in the music scene once again and begun work with his new band Violet U.K., merging with pop-sensation group GLOBE. I'll refrain from commenting on my impressions in regard to this aspect of his career, though. ^^;

With hide now dead, Toshi having joined some type of cult, and the other members of X-Japan for the most part putting their own musical careers on an indefinate hold, there is no longer any chance we will ever see X-Japan again in the future. However, X-Japan isn't entirely gone; their influence upon the music industry in Japan was paramount, and you can see that with every visual kei and rock band in Japan today.