Japan's biggest rock band readies US debut at Lollapalooza

Among the many top acts set to perform at the 2010 Lollapalooza Festival, scheduled for August 6-8 in Chicago, few can claim the success of X Japan, by far the biggest rock band in Japanese history. That band is set to make its non-Asian debut at Lollapalooza, which will be headlined by Lady Gaga, Soundgarden, and Green Day.

Formed in 1982, X Japan is a heavy metal band that has created and popularized a signature glam style in its home country. The band's performances have sold out the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome 18 times, and the group has sold a reported 30 million albums while remaining virtually unknown outside of Asia.

In an interview between Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell and X Japan's Yoshiki that was posted on YouTube July 30, Farrell explained the band's enormous appeal. According to that interview, some fans outside Asia may have unknowingly come across X Japan's music: The band wrote and performed the closing credits for the film Saw IV.

X Japan disbanded in 2007 and is now readying its first studio album in 14 years for release in fall 2010. That album will be the first ever to get a US release (label and release date are not yet determined), and it will be supported by the band's first US tour, planned for October. On his Twitter feed, Yishiki said those dates might be finalized before the band's Lollapalooza gig.

Those attending the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago can see X Japan from 4:00 to 5:00pm on the Parkways stage on Sunday, August 8. Following that show, the band has two shows scheduled on August 14 and 15 at Japan's 150,000-capacity Nissan Stadium.

Watch the interview between Farrell and Yoshiki: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6jaYJQUqBg

Follow Yoshiki on Twitter: https://twitter.com/YoshikiOfficial

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