Seminar Series 2014Wednesday 28 May 2014
6:00pm
The Power of Music: Yoshiki Classical
13/14 Cornwall Terrace, Outer Circle, London NW1 4QP
Organised by The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
YOSHIKI, leader of X JAPAN and one of Asia’s most influential musical artists, performed at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 29 May 2014. The day before this, he gave a talk and mini recital at the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, as part of our annual theme of “Power” to prove that music is the power that goes beyond country borders and reaches people’s hearts directly. No Japanese politician can attract the kind of crowds that YOSHIKI can.
There are not many heavy metal drummers on global classical tours. As leader of X Japan, he is Japan’s biggest rock star, a fashion icon and an actual superhero – thanks to Marvel Comic legend Stan Lee, who created the comic book series “Blood Red Dragon” based on YOSHIKI.
YOSHIKI began the classical piano at four years of age. At ten, after his father’s suicide, drumming helped him work out his depression and anger, sending him onto his celebrated path as a rock icon. However, classical music never left his side. From working with Beatles producer Sir George Martin, to composing the 2012 Golden Globe Awards theme song and an orchestral piece and piano concerto to commemorate the Japanese Emperor’s 10th anniversary, his classical journey has shadowed his X Japan career.
At the event, he showcased the recently released album Yoshiki Classical, (Number 1 in the iTunes Classical Music Chart in 10 countries). He also discussed his dual career and how for him, the genres of heavy metal and classical are intertwined.
Summary of the talk by Yoshiki and Michael Spencer
You can view an interview with Yoshiki, together with excerpts of his mini-recital at the Foundation here:
About the contributors
YOSHIKI
YOSHIKI is founder of Japan’s biggest rock band X Japan, and was the catalyst for the flamboyant visual-kei rock sub-genre. YOSHIKI is also a world-renowned classically trained multi-instrumentalist/composer/musician. His first classical album has recently been released and he is currently touring around the world. X Japan has sold more than 30 million singles and albums combined, along with several sold-out world tours. YOSHIKI’s brand has spread even further as Madame Tussauds recently made a YOSHIKI wax figure, YOSHIKI has his own clothing and jewelry line, his own branded YOSHIKI VISA Card and a line of wine called Y by YOSHIKI. For the first time in history, a Hello Kitty product line was named after a person – Yoshikitty.
Michael Spencer
Michael Spencer (Discussant) is Managing Director of Sound Strategies, Visiting Professor, Research Centre for Music and Culture at Ueno Gakuen University (Tokyo), and Communication Director, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.