X JAPAN has recruited Wes Borland (LIMP BIZKIT) to play guitar for the band at this month's Coachella festival in Indio, California. Borland is filling in for X JAPAN's regular guitarist Sugizo, who is unable to make the gig due to visa issues.
Sugizo told Oricon News: "Since they haven't finished processing my visa application yet, there's a chance it won't be ready in time for Coachella. "I'm still not giving up on going to the USA. I'm banking on the chance until the very last minute, but these visa problems don't resolve themselves according to my wishes. If worst comes to worst and the band has to use a support guitarist, I think the positive side is that fans will get to see a special X JAPAN they could only see on that day. I'll be happy if fans can take that positive attitude. Regardless of what happens, fans will get the very best X JAPAN can give."
X JAPAN leader and drummer Yoshiki, who underwent spinal surgery last May to insert an artificial disc in his neck, said that he was anxious about returning to the stage. "I'm in a bit of a panic," the drummer said. "Since I still can't play the drums perfectly, these past few days I've been more worried than I expected about how far I can really push myself. Since I absolutely can't move my neck to feel the rhythm like I used to, it's like playing a completely different instrument."
X JAPAN will play Coachella this Saturday, April 14.
The group played two warm-up shows in Japan on April 10 and April 11, the first since its March 2017 performance at SSE Arena, Wembley, London.
Borland previously performed with X JAPAN at three reunion shows at the Tokyo Dome in March 2008.
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Sugizo told Oricon News: "Since they haven't finished processing my visa application yet, there's a chance it won't be ready in time for Coachella. "I'm still not giving up on going to the USA. I'm banking on the chance until the very last minute, but these visa problems don't resolve themselves according to my wishes. If worst comes to worst and the band has to use a support guitarist, I think the positive side is that fans will get to see a special X JAPAN they could only see on that day. I'll be happy if fans can take that positive attitude. Regardless of what happens, fans will get the very best X JAPAN can give."
X JAPAN leader and drummer Yoshiki, who underwent spinal surgery last May to insert an artificial disc in his neck, said that he was anxious about returning to the stage. "I'm in a bit of a panic," the drummer said. "Since I still can't play the drums perfectly, these past few days I've been more worried than I expected about how far I can really push myself. Since I absolutely can't move my neck to feel the rhythm like I used to, it's like playing a completely different instrument."
X JAPAN will play Coachella this Saturday, April 14.
The group played two warm-up shows in Japan on April 10 and April 11, the first since its March 2017 performance at SSE Arena, Wembley, London.
Borland previously performed with X JAPAN at three reunion shows at the Tokyo Dome in March 2008.
Continue reading...
