Heath dies:

Heath, the bassist for Japan’s most popular rock band X Japan, has died, the band confirmed today. He was 55.

The musician died of colon cancer on October 29, according to a statement from the band.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that esteemed bassist Heath of X Japan passed away on October 29, 2023 at the age of 55 after his battle with colon cancer,” the band said in a statement. “His cancer was discovered during a scan in June this year. Despite his efforts to fight the disease, his condition suddenly deteriorated in October and he died in hospital.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who appreciated Heath throughout his life. We, the members of X Japan, have personally said goodbye to Heath, but are still deeply saddened and devastated by his sudden loss.

Formed in 1982, the single members of X Japan became megastars in Asia with their second album in 1989 Blue blood. Heath joined the band in 1992 and played on the albums Art of living (1993) and dahlia (1996), both of which topped the Japanese album charts. The group performed a sold-out farewell show in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve 1997 before disbanding.

They formed in 2007 and Heath played bass in the band until his death.

Heath was born Hiroshi Morie on January 22, 1968 in Amagasaki, near Osaka, and pursued a solo career after X Japan disbanded in the 1990s. After releasing his debut album of the same name in 1995, he recorded several more CDs until 2009. traitor (1997) reached the top 40 of the Japanese album charts and was followed in 1998 by a pair of post-X Japan sets: Crack yourself And Cubist gang era.

In 2000, he formed Dope Headz with X Japan guitarist Pata and others. This band released four albums within 16 months between 2001 and 2002, all of which were recorded in Japan.

With the support of co-founder, drummer, pianist and songwriter Yoshiki, the group sold out venues abroad, but despite signing a record deal with Atlantic Records in 1992, they never achieved much success in the United States .

X Japan’s evolution into glam-metal-pop superstardom is as full of dramatic backstories as any international rock group. The group has survived divorce and the death of three members and has sold more than 30 million albums and singles worldwide. His glamorous fashion and musical aesthetic influenced other bands and young people in the region visual rock Rock movement.

Heath and X Japan were featured in a documentary in 2016. We are Directed by Stephen Kijak and produced by: Looking for Sugar Man EP John Battsek.

The band made a big push in the US in the 2010s and signed a new label deal with EMI Music in 2011. In the same year, Yoshiki presented Yoshiki radio, a weekly SiriusXM show that aired on Ozzy’s Boneyard channel and featured his favorite music while highlighting elements of Japanese pop culture. X Japan made its US concert debut during the 2010 Lollapalooza tour.

“Heath’s obituary was originally scheduled to be published later in November in accordance with his family’s wishes, but will be published earlier due to unjustified media coverage,” the group’s statement said. “The funeral will only take place in the immediate family circle. The family asks that visitors, donations and flowers be waived. The date of the funeral remains secret. Thank you for understanding. A formal farewell ceremony for Heath will be arranged at a later date…according to Heath’s wishes as communicated by his family.