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Legendary Japanese power metal band X Japan does surprise performance in Los Angeles

On July 1st 2010 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, CA a rare performance by legendary Japanese power metal band X Japan was seen by a packed house. The event was the ‘Yoshiki Foundation America Kick Off Party'. The Yoshiki Foundation is a charity that gives orphans free musical equipment started by X Japan drummer Yoshiki and this event marked the creation of its first U.S. chapter. All the surviving members of X Japan were in attendance including Yoshiki, of course, Toshi, Pata, Heath, and, standing in for their late guitarist Hide, was Sugizo from the band Luna Sea. Fans were able to attend the event free on a first come first serve basis. The event was not technically billed as a concert, there was a fashion show, a video talking about the charity and a contest, but what fans really wanted to see was a performance. Since the bands break up in 1997 they rarely perform at all and never perform in the United States. Finally they did play one song, an acoustic version of 'IV' their song from the Saw 4 soundtrack. Afterward, those who wanted to stay could be a part of a taping for an X Japan music video for a new song entitled "Born to be Free.” Since this would be the first time most fans had heard the song basically everyone decided to stay for the filming. Two hot girls in cages were brought to the stage and the taping began. After seven takes of the song the audience was just as enthusiastic as the first time through rabidly chanting "X, X, X." There is speculation that the song may not just be a stand alone single but is taken from a new album to be released in the future, however this has not been confirmed. It has been confirmed however that X Japan will play at the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago on August 8th on the main stage and will then go back to Japan for two shows on August 14th and 15th at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.