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X Japan Goes on Temporary Hiatus After Pata's Hospitalization
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
The members of the rock band X Japan announced on Wednesday that they would go on a temporary hiatus after guitarist Pata was hospitalized in Tokyo on January 15. According to the band's label, Pata is currently being treated at an intensive care unit, and is no longer in serious condition. He has been diagnosed with diverticulitis in his large intestine, as well as thrombosis in the portal vein. He is now in stable condition, and is undergoing intravenous feeding.
The band members have postponed their planned March 12 performance in London's Wembley Arena to March 4, 2017, and are currently watching the situation to determine whether they will postpone the release of their sixth album on March 11. The album will be the band's first album release in 20 years.
Band leader YOSHIKI commented "My heart is so full of sadness. I cannot put it into words, and I apologize for making fans worry. They say the 'show must go on,' but right now, all I can do is watch over Pata's condition."
The band's We Are X documentary film recently won the Sundance Film Festival Awards' Special Jury Award for Best Editing.
X Japan toured North America in 2010. They signed a three-year contract with EMI Music North America in 2011, and released their first North American single "Jade" that same year. The band's single "Scarlet Love Song" was used as the theme song for the anime film Buddha: The Great Departure. The band's music was also used as the ending theme for the X anime film and X - X2 double X original video anime.
YOSHIKI and Toshi formed X Japan in 1982 as X. Over the next 13 years, X Japan released five studio albums, six live albums, 10 best hit albums, and 20 DVD releases. The band disbanded in 1997 but reunited in 2007. Original lead guitarist Hide and bassist Taiji Sawada passed away in 1998 and 2011, respectively. The band has sold more than 30 million albums (with singles and videos combined), and has sold out Japan's 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome 18 times.
Thanks to Daniel Zelter for the news tip
Source: Oricon Style
