X Freaks Forum
The band => The Members => Yoshiki => Topic started by: ben on June 24, 2008, 12:56:25 AM
-
Since Yoshiki is pretty much the musical director of X Japan, I was wondering if anyone knew what bands he grew up listening to, or if he's ever claimed any specific bands as influences?
Maybe this information is out there in any number of Japanese interviews but due to the language barrier I've missed it. Thanks.
-
Since Yoshiki is pretty much the musical director of X Japan, I was wondering if anyone knew what bands he grew up listening to, or if he's ever claimed any specific bands as influences?
Maybe this information is out there in any number of Japanese interviews but due to the language barrier I've missed it. Thanks.
I know he and hide both were huge KISS fans and they're a big influence. I also know that while he may not have grown up listening to it, Yoshiki is a bit of a classical music fan (he mentions playing Bach on his Myspace, and in lives, "Ode To Joy" is often played along with "Orgasm")
-
He also mentioned in a JaME interview that he likes Radiohead. =D However, other than KISS, I'm not sure if he has any influences per say, though if he does, I'd like to know who they are, too. ^^
To further prove the classical music thing, there's the "Yoshiki Selection" CDs. ^^ And he's been playing piano since age 4, so I imagine he probably did grow up listening to at least some classical music. o.o
-
He also mentioned in a JaME interview that he likes Radiohead. =D However, other than KISS, I'm not sure if he has any influences per say, though if he does, I'd like to know who they are, too. ^^
To further prove the classical music thing, there's the "Yoshiki Selection" CDs. ^^ And he's been playing piano since age 4, so I imagine he probably did grow up listening to at least some classical music. o.o
o.o I'm not saying he didn't. I just meant to say I wasn't sure whether his interest started early or developed later as he worked toward the more "sophisticated and refined" image.
-
I wasn't trying to argue what you said. XD" I was just supporting it. o.o Sorry if it came out the wrong way. ^^"
-
Thanks for your input.
I know he's undoubtedly a classical music fan and alot of X Japan's music, even the earlier thrash/hard rock material translates well orchestrated, for that reason..
But I'm interested for what he's into in terms of hard rock / metal / punk bands. There's got to be more stuff he listens to, or at least listened to; "Stab me in the back" couldn't have come from the piano..
-
I'm pretty sure he was/is a Bauhaus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus_%28band%29) fan, or he just used to wear that bandshirt because he thought it was cool :P
-
I'm pretty sure he was/is a Bauhaus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus_%28band%29) fan, or he just used to wear that bandshirt because he thought it was cool :P
Atsushi Sakurai was/is also Bauhaus fan.
-
This is offtopic talk, woman :x
I know ;P
-
Sorry, ferret. :oops: :(
I wrote it for you. :twisted:
-
He also mentioned being a fan of Sergei Rachmaninoff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachmaninov) somewhere. He uses Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 (Op. 18) - Moderato in his drum solos.
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZRbko3UsnQ[/youtube]
Watch from ~00:38
Yoshiki Drum Solo from The Last Live
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z22nSEgrAQI[/youtube]
From 01:36
-
He uses Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 (Op. 18) - Moderato in his drum solos.
It's awesome! Thanks for pointing that out. Now I don't understand how I never noticed before....
-
I also pointed that out here:
http://www.x-freaks.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47&start=37
:P
-
Ohhh, how did I miss that thread?
:roll:
-
There is a compilation CD of classical music that's called Yoshiki Selection or something like that.
There are some amazing pieces in there, including one in the drum solos and the fugue by Bach that inspired Rose of Pain. Check it out, yo.
-
Thanks alot for your replies guys. I listen to alot of different music so sure I'll check out some of those classical artists mentioned as well.
-
But I'm interested for what he's into in terms of hard rock / metal / punk bands. There's got to be more stuff he listens to, or at least listened to; "Stab me in the back" couldn't have come from the piano..
Yeah, I'd be really interested in knowing this too.
Not very helpful, but: there's an episode in Taiji's book where (to make a long story short) he talks about Yoshiki buying a Beatles CD to play in the band's van during their indies days. So I guess Yoshiki is (or was) into the Beatles, but that's not particularly interesting for a rock musician, since it's kind of like saying "I guess Yoshiki is into breathing".
And there must be something else, because it's hard to imagine that all that metal came out of classical + KISS + Bauhaus + Beatles.
-
I guess it's safe to assume that the bands they covered influenced X to some degree? T-Rex, Hanoi Rocks, Steppenwolf, etc.
-
Yeah, good point. I guess Loudness too in that case. Probably fair to assume the Sex Pistols as well-- that cover at Extasy Summit, I forget if it was Anarchy in the UK or God Save the Queen (or both?).
But I'm thinking there must be some other, later punk or metal influences as well, even just to account for his double-bass drumming.
-
Probably fair to assume the Sex Pistols as well-- that cover at Extasy Summit, I forget if it was Anarchy in the UK or God Save the Queen (or both?).
Both, yeah.
On topic ... eh ... I dunno. I assume some 80's Metal bands. Must be so. XDD Can't think of some specific names atm though xD; aw.
-
I can speak from personal experience that what an artist listens to or gains influence from, their music rarely sounds like it.
I wouldn't be surprised if Yoshiki listened to something extremely odd (to us at least). Such as Rob Zombie, if I remember right, is a big fan of the soft band sound from the 50s.
I do think that he was influenced by Zeppelin.
-
Didn't they cover Iron Maiden once too?
-
Jazz maybe, Hollywood? Double bass is heard in jazz a lot too.
-
Well, on X early days and pre-X bands (Dinamite and Noise) they did covers from some bands like:
Deep Purple
Led Zeppelin
Frank Marino (World Anthem was released on "Blue Blood", but apparently they had already covered it on Noise, in 82!)
Loudness
Iron Maiden
Sex Pistols
Since Yoshiki was always like, the "boss", I guess we can assume he at least likes these bands, or he wouldn't cover them...
-
I have covered the Bee Gees and Sting & the Police, among others. That doesn't mean they are big influences to me... :)
-
I am wondering if he liked Queen as well. I know later on he did a song with Roger Taylor..
But... a few of their songs sound a bit like Kiss songs..lol
Kurenai - Black Diamond (which Yoshiki did a tribute on KISS my ass cd)
-
I'd say lots of musicians and bands influence Yoshiki.
Particular classical musicians/ pianists/ composers whose songs were ever played by Yoshiki or integrated to his own music:
- Alive: Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata (intro part)
- Rose of Pain: Bach, Fugue in G minor
- AoL : Schubert, Symphony no 8, Unfinished
- drum solo: Sergei Rachmaninoff, op 18 c minor
- he played Turkish March (mozart) couple of times & Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky) and other classical pieces.
Look into Yoshiki Selection & Yoshiki Selection II, I'm sure those songs pretty much influence him.