Coachella debut, Marilyn Manson, an English album, neck surgery and the dangers of head banging: Yoshiki of X Japan opens up

The main songwriter and drummer of the famed Japanese rock group talks about their first new album since 1996, playing a tough slot at the upcoming Coachella festival and why he no longer head bangs

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Musician, songwriter, composer and record producer Yoshiki Hayashi, aka Yoshiki, leader and co-founder of the heavy metal band X Japan. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:04pm, 13 Apr 2018Updated: 8:03pm, 13 Apr 2018

More than 25 years after X Japan first attempted to conquer the US market, the metal heads are trying again – and recent events, at first glance, do not appear auspicious.

Yoshiki Hayashi, the fiercely energetic drummer and principal songwriter of the rockers who were superstars in 1980s Japan, last year urgently had an operation on his neck that was severely damaged from years of head banging.

But Yoshiki is doggedly persistent, and this weekend he is taking X Japan to Coachella, the US’ most famous music festival – a prelude to the band’s first studio album since 1996.

In perhaps the worst possible luck of the draw for an act playing the party in the California desert, X Japan will take to a smaller stage on Saturday night at the same moment as headliner Beyoncé.

This is likely to mean an unusually small crowd for the rockers who still enjoy a fanatical fan base at home and have played arenas in New York and London.

“I’m very excited but at the same time I’m wondering what kind of reaction we’re going to get,” says Yoshiki.