Making their debut at the world-renowned Coachella festival, X Japan headlined the Mojave stage on April 14, at the same exact time Beyoncé was due on the main Coachella stage. YOSHIKI played his first major concert on drums since the band headlined in London last year, and you can see from the photos nothing can stop them from giving the audience the best show possible. Yoshiki even rode on the audience’s shoulders with a brilliantly wide smile. Not much can beat seeing how happy the hard working man was, so let’s get to the photos!
With one more performance at Coachella Weekend 2 on Saturday, April 21 to come, take a look at the glowing review Yahoo, ROLLING STONES and LA WEEKLY left:
“…there was some perfect Beyoncé counter-programming in the form of X JAPAN, the only metal band of the entire otherwise largely rock-free weekend. Playing their first U.S. gig since the 2014 Madison Square Garden concert immortalized in their rockumentary We Are X, the Japanese glam legends performed a pyrotechnic, utterly unsubtle set featuring band leader YOSHIKI playing a crystal piano while joined by Limp Bizkit’s Wes Borland, Guns N’ Roses’ Richard Fortus and–in a different sort of reunion–holograms of the band’s two deceased members, Hide and Taiji. …the adjective “epic” very much applied to their ferocious, face-blasting show.”
–Lyndsey Parker, YAHOO Entertainment (4/15/2018)“…a masterful rock n roll performance.”
–Brett Callwood, LA WEEKLY (4/15/2018)“X JAPAN landed in the Mojave Tent to deliver on the flash and melodrama that has made them hugely popular across the globe. …There were hard rock explosions and teary ballads… ‘Jade’ began with a speed metal riff and geysers of pyro, then shifted into an emotional glam melody and lyrics sung in English. The star behind the drums and piano was band mastermind YOSHIKI, shirtless and wearing a leather neck brace. He ended the night with the band’s traditional show of unity, shouting ‘We are! We Are!’ and their followers responding with a rousing ‘X! X!’”
–ROLLING STONE “The 18 Best Things We Saw At Coachella Weekend One” (4/16/18)
YOSHIKI, leader of X JAPAN, added his own comment:
“Coachella is not only one of the biggest festivals in the world, but it’s edgy and fashionable,” he said. “I love the style and I’m heavily influenced by David Bowie, so we wanted to do something unusual and exciting. It was an honor for us to rock Coachella this year and we’re looking forward to doing it all again next Saturday with even more surprises.”
X JAPAN Coachella Weekend 1, April 14, 2018
SETLIST:
- Miracle
- Jade
- Rusty Nail
- Kiss The Sky
- I.V.
- Kurenai
- Endless Rain
- Born To Be Free
- X
- Tears
More info:
Yoshiki Official Website
X Japan Official Website
Yoshiki Foundation America
Yoshikimono
YouTube
Facebook
Facebook (We Are X)
Twitter
Instagram