WELCOME!
Welcome to my shrine dedicated to Hide, one of my favorite older musicians. This page is a collection of information, photos, music, and things I admire about him!
Who is Hide?
Hide (松本 秀人) was X Japan's lead guitarist and one of the most beloved figures in Japanese rock. He was known for his bright pink/red hair, energetic personality, and amazing guitar playing. He became a symbol of creativity and individuality within the Visual Kei scene. Outside of X Japan, Hide also had a successful solo career, creating music that ranged from hard rock to experimental sounds. Even decades after his death, he remains an influential and celebrated musician whose work continues to inspire fans and artists everywhere.
X JAPAN
X Japan is one of the most influential rock bands in Japanese music history and a pioneer of the Visual Kei movement. Formed in 1982 by drummer and pianist Yoshiki and vocalist Toshimitsu, the band became known for their blend of heavy metal, rock, and elaborate stage performances. Their music and visual style inspired countless Japanese artists and helped bring Japanese rock to audiences around the world.
Is X JAPAN the Origin of Visual Kei?
Hide is regarded as very influential to not only contemporary Japanese musicians, but also to his generation. X Japan is considered one of the founders of visual kei, a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam, and subsequently are influences to many newer bands. Many beleive that the term "Visual Kei" was derived directly from the band's 1989 album slogan: “Psychedelic Violence Crime of Visual Shock.”
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Why I Love Hide
Hide and most of the X Japan members remind me of older western bands like Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, and other artists like Bowie and Van Halen. The members of X Japan themselves were inspired by Bowie, and admired him and his work. Hide sticks out to me more than the other members because of how striking and distinctive his look was. He was said to be a very kind and caring person outside of his stage time, and one of the best guitar players in Japan at the time. He was a wonderful, compassionate and thoughtful person when he was still around.
