At the end of March 1984 Yoshiki moved to Tokyo and rent a room in a house in the luxurious Egota District in Nagano region. This place was meant for students of musical institutions to live in, so there was a bedroom, equipped with sound proofing, and a living room, where a piano and a drum kit, designed for exercise were put, and free space not occupied by clothing and personal belongings remained as well. Mother had promised to transfer 500,000 yen to his bank account each month. She made successful investments, and Yoshiki had not to worry about money. It was quite enough for living, so it was not necessary to work. However, he soon began to look for a job. So far he had not worked a single day, and it was interesting to get a new experience. So he got a job as a waiter in a cafe-restaurant Sing-sing-sing in Shibuya for 500 yen per hour.
Yoshiki worked in the evening from 5:00 to 12 am, and visitors quickly remembered him. A polite young man with a pleasant smile attracted the attention of young men and women, and the number of customers had grown with each passing day. However, a beautiful face and shapely figure combined with an incredible temperament, and it brought Yoshiki quick popularity.
Like years of high school did not become the thing of the past, Yoshiki repeatedly quarreled with visitors of the cafe. Reprimanding arrogant visitors, Yoshiki angrily raised his voice. Hearing the noise, the Director of the cafe had been appearing and many times Yoshiki got it hot and strong from him.
"I'm sorry, I tried too hard."
Normally quiet, he was able to instantly explode under the influence of emotions - and this changeability made Yoshiki extremely popular. Regular visitors started conversations with him, called him to their tables and treated to cocktails. Sometimes he had to drink up to 20 cocktails a night. But even swaying on his feet, he continued to serve visitors. Yoshiki liked to talk to people. In addition, in the kitchen worked young people who played in groups and in some measure shared his interests.
In his spare time he played the piano and drums, and now, in the new environment where he could concentrate fully on the affairs of the band, the new world that became his purpose appeared in his imagination.
However, the reality did not correspond to those bright hopes. First of all, it was necessary to find a bassist for a band. In addition, it was necessary to find live-house, which would become their main place of activity. But none of them knew what exactly should be done to begin to perform. They had no friends in Tokyo, as well as friends in the world of rock music, so there was nobody to explain to them the rules of the game.
They had no other choice but to find a clue to the future of X themselves.
To find out the unknown, Yoshiki primarily bought the information magazine "Pia", opened a section on live-houses and began to visit on foot all the establishments in a row.
He appealed to the owners or employees, and said directly: "We would like to play here. "If you checked all the addresses from the magazine, then necessarily you would get a chance somewhere.” He was determined not to act in haste.
"We have a band, and we would like to perform at the concert. What do we need for this? "
Live house employees coldly greeted young man from an amateur group, which appeared suddenly, without prior arrangement and immediately announced his desire to perform.
"There are different places, depending on the genre; you can't play just like that anyplace."
In some places, they refused to talk to Yoshiki at all, but there were also friendly staff who explained the situation.
"We have a rock band."
Frowning, the employee replied:
"We do not work with rock music"
"Really?-It is clear, thank you. "
Yoshiki made notes and went to the next place to repeat the same question.
"To perform here, you need to conduct a preliminary audition. So it is unreal for a beginner- band. And even if you suddenly pass the audition, it will be impossible to play right away, because the schedule is already filled by two to three months in advance, so that will be only after this "
"Right."
It became clear that their intention to play in live-houses immediately could not be realized. Moreover it turned out that to negotiate about the concert, a demo was needed. In many places, employees said Yoshiki the following:
"Did you come with empty hands?"
"Yes."
"It is useless, you spend time in vain. First of all, bring a demo, we'll listen and if we like it, then we'll think about it. "
"Demo?"
"Yes. Demo recording. Record with you music, which you can give to listen to. "
Yoshiki understood that the search of live-house to play, the attraction of new band members - all that was his work as a leader of the group. And now it was necessary to find a way to make a demo tape.
On the other hand, the search for new members of the group was going with difficulty. Of course, if they started to perform, then the probability that after seeing and appreciating their play, suitable candidates would be found would have grown many times over. Now, while X was not playing, to meet the right people accidentally was not possible.
In a music magazine section "Looking for members of the group" Yoshiki placed a line that bassist and guitarist were required for the band, and prepared to begin the interview.
Yoshiki and Toshimitsu and guitarist Izumizava gathered on the rehearsals and drove eager conversations.
"I wish we would start to perform sooner! You always have to wait so long! "- said Toshi, and Yoshiki nodded vigorously. They were waiting for an opportunity to perform and for now they could only support each other with conversations.
Finally, they began to receive feedback on the ad, placed in a magazine and began the interview with guitarists and bassists. And it was a great tension for Yoshiki and Toshimitsu, because the young men responded to the announcement were clearly more experienced than them.
"Oh! Look, what a cool hair he's got! I wonder why such an awesome guy responded to our ad? "- Yoshiki whispered in Toshimitsu's ear. Both of them had finished school only recently, and their hair was still short, so the young man with hair below his waist made a great impression on them.
"When he discovers of our performances, probably, he will refuse."
Words of Toshimitsu confirmed.
"Although you play your own music, but the arrangements are too punk. If start to play this at the concert, the audience will run away. "
"You play heavy metal, huh? And why is your hair short? "
Thus, coming to the interview candidates only criticized the music of X and the appearance of both band members.
But they received important information. During these meetings, they realized that there was an irreconcilable opposition of punk and heavy metal bands in music world.
The manner of performances by these groups was also different. Punk bands used stamping fast tempo chords, but without the reef. And in heavy metal music was built on the reef, but without the punk expression. Yoshiki analyzed the differences in the genres of rock music and was forced to think about which genre X would play.
"We will play thrash metal, which corresponds with both punk rock and heavy metal."
Talking about this with Toshimitsu, Yoshiki was forgetting about the time, however, they failed to find new band members for now.
Yoshiki tried to restrain the impatient heart. He understood that they had no experience of performing and, naturally, that could not find like-minded people.
But he was not only waited for the responses to ads, but was actively looking for new people himself. That was how he met in Tokyo Tokuo Atsushi, who graduated the same high school a year early. Yoshiki outlined plans for X to become professional rock musicians, Atsushi, wanted to continue playing in the group, too. And Yoshiki decided to accept him as a bassist of X. At first glance Yoshiki liked his playing technique, and also raised upright hair and punk clothes. And although the voices were heard around: "You are a hard rock band, why did you accept punk?" Yoshiki did not pay attention to the difference in genres.
With bright-dyed hair, Atsushi did not hide his hot temper during performances, or in fights. Yoshiki liked his integral character.
While the second guitarist was not found, they decided to start four of them and began to prepare for recording a demo tape. Yoshiki selected the songs and wrote a musical party for all members. He wrote in detail, indicating the intonation features, special vocalist sheet music for Toshimitsu. To write the music took a long time, but Yoshiki did not feel tired.
And finally, X could perform on the afternoon audition in live-house La Mama, which was located in Shibuya on the street Dogenzaka. And though it was just ordinary listening for musicians it became an important event. Tickets were sold for 500 yen, and of course, compared with evening concerts, it was a minor event, but Yoshiki was very glad that there was finally an opportunity to play on stage.
However, just 20 people came to the concert, and expected from the performance in a live-house excitement was not felt at all. Looking at the empty hall, Yoshiki, biting his lips, promised himself that someday they would present a concert, and crowded hall would be boiling with excitement. Thinking about it, he eagerly started to record demo. It was completed just in time when almost one year had passed since the date band members moved in Tokyo.
In February 1985, in the rented for 10,000 yen per hour studio in Takadanobaba district the demo tape of three songs of Yoshiki's authorship was made - «I'LL KILL YOU", "We are X" and "Stop Bloody Rain". Unthinkably long rehearsals took place before the recording. Expenditures for rental studio and equipment grew more and more. All the money earned, as well as transfers from mother, even what was meant to pay for the rent and food, Yoshiki used to cover these expenses.
Once the recording, in which so much time and money was invested, was ready, Yoshiki took the following actions. Determined to begin performances in live-houses, he took the tapes with demos and gave them out visiting all the places he was interested in, on foot.
"This is X. We recorded a demo, please listen. "
Hearing these words, almost all live-houses were taking the tape immediately. Even the employees appreciated the enthusiasm of Yoshiki.
He had a feeling that soon the performance in a live-house would become a reality at last. The decisive moment was approaching. Grown to his shoulders hair was dyed light. There was no other group where all participants would have light hair, and Yoshiki decided that X would be the first one, and encouraged Toshimitsu:
"Toshi, you're a vocalist, so hair must be light by all means. This attracts attention immediately! ".
Following this plan, Toshi also began to grow his hair and dyed it light. However, his hair had been short, and the lighter tone made him old-looking, so that sometimes other teased him, saying that he looked like a granny.
No matter how young people praised freedom, but in reality, only rock musicians had their hair dyed blond. Walking through the city, Yoshiki caught the curious glances of passers-by and even in a crowd people parted, letting him pass. And this hair color was often used as a reason to refuse a working place.
The impression of hair color on the surrounded people was greater than expected. Yoshiki felt curious and condemning glances and his heart beat stronger when it seemed to him that he had made a step towards the world he was longing to be in.
Loneliness - or the opportunity to look down on the crowd.
But he had support - X, so there was no reason to worry.
Shortly after the demos were distributed, the first concert was appointed. The venue for the concert was the Club Shibuya Yaneura. Yoshiki and all band members continuously rehearsed before the performance. Three songs that were included in demo, gained more energetic arrangement.
Yoshiki's songs, while having a furious pace, at the same time had a beautiful melody. Therefore, Toshi, understanding the complexity of the compositions of Yoshiki, paid special attention on how not to disturb the beauty of the melody.
Yoshiki focused not only on selection of the repertoire, but also on costumes and set design of the performance. Although in Tateyama X was the brightest band, but in Tokyo it would have to enter a competition with many other bands with a strong personality. Yoshiki decided to make a flashy makeup to match the blond hair, and produce unusual clothing.
In addition, Yoshiki was busy in order to collect the audience.
For the band to appear on stage in appropriate time, it was necessary to sell tickets to the concert. There was rate of ticket sales in life-houses, whichever group performed .If the tickets were completely sold out, then that group was recognized as popular, and it could count on regular concerts. And if tickets remained, the group members would have to redeem them at their own expense. Although Yoshiki got enough keeping from mother, but for other musicians such expenses would have been a heavy burden.
Therefore, Yoshiki contacted classmates and friends from high school who entered universities in the capital, and invited them to come to the band performance. On the day of the concert of X Shibuya Yaneura was packed. Live-house, where hard-rock concerts always took place, was filled with more than 200 common students. Friends and comrades of Yoshiki and Toshi gathered in the hall and warm atmosphere, as if at a meeting of classmates or someone's birthday was established. Employees of the club, looking at overcrowded hall, were simply speechless. It had never happened before that an entirely new band made a sell-out.
When the concert began, the audience happily welcomed the emergence of Yoshiki and Toshi. Crowning feature of the group was a fierce drumming of Yoshiki and the corresponding high-pitched voice of Toshi. It seemed Yoshiki had been turning on more from his play increasing the speed still more.
After the concert staff and managers of the club, not hiding surprise, asked Yoshiki:
"What kind of band X is? How were you able to gather so many people? "
"They are all my friends."
"Will they be coming every time?"
"Yes, I think they will."
"Really?- Well, then, let's assign next performance.”
As was said by Yoshiki, the hall was filled with classmates at the next performance again.
In no time all live-houses heard the news that X was a band that could pack concert halls better than anyone.
Since the spring of 1985 X started to perform in the popular live-houses of Tokyo, such as La Mama, Shibuya Yaneura, Rock House EXPLOSION, Yotsuya FOURVALLEY. Group gave 5-6 gigs each month.
More visitors came at the concerts, exceeding even the expectations of Yoshiki, and tickets were sold out very quickly. Fans of hard rock and heavy metal heard about the band which made a full house, so not only friends and acquaintances, but ordinary viewers were coming to the concert. Rumors about a new great group quickly spread in the circles associated with rock music.
In addition, new fans of Yoshiki and X appeared in places totally unrelated to live-houses. Getting acquainted in bars, Yoshiki was inviting new friends - students, employees of firms to concerts, members of other groups with whom he sometimes quarreled on the streets of the city at night, and then became friends, they all came to the concerts.
Bands performing together with X on the same stage, closely watched their ability to attract viewers. It often happened indeed that newcomers could not always fulfill the quota of ticket sales.
But X was the complete opposite. Yoshiki alone could sell from 200 to 250 tickets. Proceeds from the tens of thousands of yen for the first concert had grown to several hundred thousand yen. Performances in the crowded hall filled Yoshiki with joy, and he was thinking about how to make image of X even brighter. He was thinking what to do to stand out among other groups, in other words, to find a way to further attract more attention.
"What to do to surprise everyone? What to do, so it looked like exploding a bombshell? "
Everything went well, but even after a rough gig in a crowded hall stuffed so that you could not breathe, Yoshiki did not feel completely satisfied. He tried to get the bright costumes and various accessories to make performances more vivid.
There was a lot of tricks, which allowed to make gigs of X singled out from all other bands. Regrown at last to the mid-back Yoshiki's hair were set up in the form of sharp peak in the punk style, defiant makeup on the face, with red and black lines around the eyes and on the nose line , the suit looked like a woman's dress.
This appearance, which had been chosen by Yoshiki and other members of the band, totally separated them from the ranks of artists who played hard rock and heavy metal.
But even more than the costumes and makeup, the audience's attention was attracted by the behavior of artists on stage.
"The most important is passion. We will act without fear of damage. "
Following his words, Yoshiki, standing on a chair, jumped off the stage into the audience, launched around the band members who continued to play firecrackers and fireworks. Sometimes he jumped up and started smashing a drum set. After the end of X performance the scene was a mess, so that there was no place to make a step. Sometimes even equipment and lighting fixtures were broken. Yoshiki invested almost entire income from the concert in organization of the next gig. Viewers not only listened to music, but also enjoyed the unusual show. However, other groups and managers of live-houses often burned their fingers at concerts of X.
It happened that totally unmanaged artists started fights with the audience, threw and broke not only their instruments, but the club furniture during a concert.
Although the group was considered heavy metal one, but the influence of punk rock was strong enough, so that Yoshiki had many acquaintances among punk bands. Numerous punks gathered at the concerts, pushed and brawl.
Suddenly, Yoshiki began receiving warnings from the managers.
"The next time observe the order in our place, please."
"What's up?"
Attracting scandalous viewers, violent group X became a byword. Other groups, hearing the name of X, became gloomy, and tried to avoid them.
"To perform together with X is something you do not want ..."
"Of course, the audience is numerous, but in fact the whole scene is broken down."
"And their music is something hard to understand."
Many musicians, even heard the music of Yoshiki, regarded it as pointless.
There was another reason for the alienation of X from other groups – it’s after parties. More than a hundred fans were gathering in the restaurant for these parties.
Getting drunk, Yoshiki each time made such a fuss that nearly smashed up whole place.
No matter how outraged was the surrounding, but for Yoshiki such psychological relaxation was needed vitally.
Handing down burning of the live until evening, and sharing this sense of spiritual ascent with friends, Yoshiki stored energy for the next concert.
Overfilled with force, Yoshiki often put up a fight. In the evening the restaurant during these parties was also visited by employees returning from work at the firms. Seeing Yoshiki's blonde hair and strange clothes, they started to laugh at him. However, Yoshiki, replying calmly at first, suddenly flared up and began the scandal.
He did not hesitate to beat the dishes, to break walls and partitions, to turn the tables and tatami. Seeing flew into a rage Yoshiki, opponents immediately fled, but this could not pacify his anger.
Early in the morning drunk Yoshiki, hugging a bottle of sake, sat down on the first train on Yamanote line, and regardless of the place sprawled out on the seat and fell asleep. In the rush hour a lot of people were coming and going from the train, but no one disturbed the sleep of the fair-haired boy.
Waking up after midday Yoshiki was met by ominous notice prohibiting entering the restaurant and a huge bill for recovering losses. Almost all of the proceeds from the concerts had to be given to the settlement of these accounts.
Yoshiki earned the nickname "Dynamite without Bickford fuse. None of the people around could understand why he needed to brawl that much. Yoshiki could not explain such behavior even to himself. But it was precisely in this mad race that he felt the confirmation of the reality of his own existence, and could not restrain himself.
"We play lives, which no one else could play. And we excel others in music and performance. "
Bright concerts strengthened Yoshiki's confidence in their own abilities, and he did not pay attention to any external hindrances.
A few months after the start of regular appearances in live-houses members of X, like a storm, burst into the world of rock music, received an offer of disc recording from indie studio DADA. Yoshiki, readily agreeing, decided to record the very first song he composed for X - "I'LL KILL YOU". Released in June 1985, 1000 copies of the CD were sold out within days.
It seemed that X could take on a wave, and things were on the up and up. But in fact there were serious reasons for concern. Gradually, the relationship between the band members declined. Yoshiki spared no effort to remain an unprecedented group and to become majors, and Toshimitsu supported him unconditionally. At the same time Tokuo believed appearances in live-houses were enough. Yoshiki understood that a lot of work was needed to move forward and spent a lot of time rehearsing, which did not suit Tokuo. There were serious disagreements, and finally Tokuo left the group. Not many people were able to sustain the impetuous run next to Yoshiki.
However, since then X had to invite a temporary bassist for performances.
"But who will now be the bassist?" Reflecting on this, Yoshiki thought of Taiji Sawada.
Taiji, who played in a band called DIMENTIA for about a year, was a wayward man who, after becoming drunk began to brawl and venturing scandals with anyone, regardless of the person. Yoshiki saw performances of this group and was able to assess the style of Taiji. That's why he called Taiji, who, by that time, had no longer played in the group.
"We don't have a bassist now. Maybe we'll work together? "
Taiji had not been to the concerts of X, and therefore he did not hurry to answer. Besides, he had heard unflattering comments about the group and could not immediately accept the offer. Then Yoshiki called him again, offering to listen to recording of the concert. In fact, it was very different from what Taiji was playing, since he preferred the music in the style of heavy metal, similar to that played by the band Judas Priest.
Yoshiki understood the stubbornness and intractability of Taiji. And although he had not agreed to join the X yet, Yoshiki asked him out for a drink, and they immediately became close friends. Taiji passed for a wayward man among his friends, and Yoshiki felt a kindred spirit in him.
"Taiji is like my younger brother."
Soon Taiji moved into the apartment of Yoshiki. After that he made Yoshiki a condition:
"I'll play with X, if you replace the guitarist. I'm not going to play with Izumizava. If you take my guitarist, I'll be with X ".
Yoshiki hesitated, but the group needed a bass player urgently, in addition Yoshiki was fascinated by Taiji's bright personality, and he had to fulfill this condition. Taiji immediately brought guitarist Yosifumi Yoshida, known as Hari. He replaced Izumizava, who was a member of X since its inception.
In addition, Yoshiki, who always wanted X to have two guitars, chose Ishizuka as a second guitarist. After BLACK ROSE group was disbanded, a newly created group JUDY also broke off its activity, and now Ishizuka was moonlighting in video rental store .At the time, when Ishizuka was the leader of JUDY, Yoshiki sometimes acted with them as a drummer, and he invited him to their group.
"Do you want to play with our band permanently?"
Ishizuka remembered that during school years Yoshiki received an award as the best drummer on the East West Music Festival in Chiba.
"No, I've got X"
Ishizuka, knowing that there were only two permanent members of X - Yoshiki and Toshimitsu kept up with the idea.
"That's ok. You will stay as support-drummer with X."
"No, I will not leave X".
After this, Ishizuka no longer insisted.
Being the same age as Yoshiki, Ishizuka dropped high school and became a professional guitarist, and even Yoshiki sometimes envied him.
And so Yoshiki called this man to invite him in the band.
"I ‘ve always wanted X to have two guitars, Pata, help me out"
Ishizuka got a playful nickname Pata among friends, because he loved manga "Patariko".
Pata immediately responded to the invitation.
"Okay, with pleasure, I'm not busy at the moment."
Ishizuka did not ponder for a long time, because he had been rather tired already of working in a video hire store and he wanted to play a guitar again.
During performances X often used the services of temporary guitarists and at the same time, Yoshiki often played with other groups as a temporary drummer. One day before the first concert of the band DOOM Yoshiki was preparing to go on stage. To put the hair upright, about an hour and two bottles of spray were needed. However, it was not enough time this day. Yoshiki did only half of the hair, as soon going out on stage was announced.
"What to do? I don't have time! Makeup and hair are not ready! "
Seeing Yoshiki's problems, one of the band members said:
"Once you have done only half of the hair, you should do only half of the makeup."
"It's interesting, I'll try!"
Yoshiki had half of the hair stand vertically, the other half fell off freely at the shoulders, as well as his face had a half of makeup. The audience, noticing unusual style of Yoshiki, made a noise and riveted the eyes on his strange appearance permanently.
After that, asymmetrical form became Yoshiki's house style. He himself liked it very much, and used this make-up, which was born as a result of lack of time, up to the time they became majors.
In contrast to feminine style of Yoshiki, who often appeared on stage in a dress, clothes of Taiji, who became member of X, reflected emphasized aggressive style. Leather clothing was decorated with broken glass and metal rivets. He made all of this completely by hand.
To look more aggressive vocalist Toshimitsu put dyed in light color hair vertically and wore leather jacket, also made by Taiji. All clothes looked very expensive, but were made entirely by hand, so that the total cost made up around 10-20 thousand yen.
In summer of 1985 X, whose performances became increasingly powerful, for the first time performed on stage written and arranged by Yoshiki song Kurenai, which confirmed the continued development of the group and in musical sense as well. During their gig, the audience swayed their heads to the beat of drums furious pace, swung their whole bodies to the growing sound of music. Blast beat and speed of Kurenai gave the possibility to feel the power of heavy metal and hardcore punk, and at the same time, gentle melody and dramatic lyrics won the hearts of listeners. This work is very different from that performed by the Heavy Metal groups of that time. It was this form Yoshiki was longing.
However, despite the strong performances, the question of the final membership of the group remained unresolved.
Taiji, stipulating for his accession to X Izumizava's exclusion from the band, ultimately failed to overcome musical disagreements with Yoshiki , and left X. Unlike Yoshiki, Taiji insisted that the essence of the heavy metal band is a loud vocal and total use of reefs. Yoshiki, in contrast, was not kept within the rigid limits perceiving punk influence as well, and did not considered it necessary to constantly use the reefs. Dissatisfied Taiji left the group.
After Taiji and guitarist Yoshida, who came with him, left, there were no more performances and Ischizuka returned to his work in a video store.
Deeply regretting his decision concerning Izumizava, Yoshiki visited him, bringing a sincere apology.
"I made a serious mistake. Forgive me please! Maybe you will come back in X again? "
Izumizava remained calm.
"Never mind. Perhaps your decision was not a mistake. But I have my pride. I'm going to become a professional and will not return to the group from which I was turned out. "
Yoshiki looked into his eyes and could only nod in response.
To find new members of the group auditions and interviews on the recommendations of many friends began. Yoshiki started looking for people himself. The number of candidates was huge but often newcomers were saying goodbye to the band in a couple of days. And the reasons were very different.
Some musicians were not able to take an unusual style of music that combined punk rock and heavy metal, perfectly complemented by elements of classical music. But most beginners did not withstand heavy loads, which Yoshiki gave at the rehearsals.
Watching wild concerts it was difficult to imagine how much time the group paid to constant rehearsals. From the standpoint of Yoshiki, constantly dissatisfied with the level of musical performance, it was a natural thing. However, if the newcomer started complaining: "I do not want to spend so much time rehearsing!" he did not stay long in the group. Although Yoshiki was distressed because the band was not in the whole, but he was not going to let into the world of X just anybody. He looked not only at technique and performance style, but he was searching for a man who would match by nature.
Although Yoshiki was head over hills in looking for new band members, he created a new plan. In early autumn 1985, he said Toshimitsu:
"I think we need to start recording. We have already mastered performances in live houses, so our next goal will be to release the disc. "
These words sounded as a sudden inspiration, in fact, expressed not only a sincere desire of Yoshiki to make progress in the rock world, but also carefully deliberate strategy.
Yoshiki understood that the release of indie records would make a big impression on the audience and those who look down on the group.
Of course, all the groups, who played in live houses, except for the amateurs, wanted to release records. And there was a standard procedure for this. To perform in live-houses gathering more people to gain recognition of music critics and wait for proposals from producers and managers of major recording companies.
However, Yoshiki was not eager to follow the beaten paths. About the same that in due time he did not know how to get to the scene of life-houses, now he did not know how to release the record. To make a release, not using the services of other people, Yoshiki decided to study the production process from the outset.
"What is needed for the release of the single?"
Yoshiki acted openly. First of all, he turned to the factory where discs were produced.
"Please tell me how much it will cost to release the disc?"
The employee called the factory price for the manufacture of 1000 copies. Thus, bringing the source and paying a few hundred thousand yen, you could get ready-made discs.
Research continued.
"How a cover for a disc can be made?"
He went to the publisher:
"How much will it cost to produce the cover?"
Finding out prices, Yoshiki started to think about where a design could be ordered.
"Probably, the design can be done in photo-studio."
Proceeding to a photo studio, Yoshiki also asked about the prices and conditions.
Now his mind developed a preliminary plan. To make a record first and then give the source to the factory to produce copies. To bring made in studio photographs and logo to the publisher, order covers, and everything would be ready.
Understanding the case, Yoshiki began thinking about the next step - the sale. The production of discs was not an end in itself. The more people bought them, the more of them would be able to hear the music of X.
"Where can I turn to, so as many ordinary people as possible could buy the record?"
From music magazines Yoshiki knew that across the country there were shops that sell indie discs, their complete list was also published there.
"So, if we collect enough money, we can release the record ourselves. And when the disks are ready, they can be sold through these stores. "
After Yoshiki with youthful curiosity explored all the way from printing in the factory prior to sale in the store, he immediately began to act.
In order to collect money for the release of records, Yoshiki decided to use his monthly payments from his mother. However, this was clearly not enough. He had to ask his mother to increase the amount.
"Mom, I want to release disc, so I need to have more money."
After hearing about the release of the disc, mother responded to the request and increased the amount of payment. However, requests of her son grew with each passing month, and concerned, his mother demanded that Yoshiki led a normal life and then reduced the amount of remittance. Of course, this was enough to live carefree for a 19-year old boy, but it was absolutely not enough for saving money on records production.
To reduce the cost of housing, Yoshiki moved from apartments in Ekoda to the cottage in the town of Narita, Chiba Prefecture, which he inherited from his father. Having obtained a driver's license and having bought a cheap used car, Yoshiki each day traveled to Tokyo for rehearsals and performances, spending for 2 hours on the road each way.
It took too much time, and once he stopped at his schoolmate's who lived in Medziro.
"It takes too much time to get home. Why don't I sleep here?" "
And then he, to save time, had lived in this apartment for about 3 months. Living together in one room the size of 6 tatami (about 1.6 square meters) was strikingly different from freely living in an apartment in Ekoda, however, for Yoshiki, busy with preparations for the record, the question about the overnight stay appeared to be completely insignificant.
The goal - to produce the disc - was a challenge for Yoshiki and woke fighting spirit. Whatever high barriers stood in his way, he had been seething with energy more, to destroy them.
Once, to the house where Yoshiki had been staying, another classmate came. Yoshiki gave him black plate and white pencil and said:
"Write down what I am about to say."
And Yoshiki spelled a word that popped up in his mind. Friend wrote and asked:
«E-X-T-A-S-Y - what is it?"
Ecstasy - is a name of my record company.. "
Yoshiki got up and left the room and attached the plate to the door.
"So, from now on, my firm will be situated here."
That's how, in a small studio apartment in Medziro the new indie firm was born.
"It will be the firm for recording the music of X".
And since that day Yoshiki started his activities as a businessman. First, release the article of trade, and then sell it. Maybe business acumen was in his blood.
In order to control production costs and revenues from sales and pay taxes, it was necessary to establish a firm. Before that, Yoshiki bought many books and studied them all nights long, and consulted with his mother, who had experience in management of fabric store. Mother, who walked away from it all, explained to him some of the necessary procedures and rules. And finally, the recording company Ecstasy was officially registered, and Yoshiki, who had not yet turned 20 years old, became its director.
Of course, the organization of a small company, where, except him, was not a single employee, had not brought much change to the life of Yoshiki. But he believed that this company could communicate the music of X not only to live-house attenders, but to many fans of rock music.
Continuing the preparations for the record, Yoshiki found guitarist Takai Hisashi, known as Jun, and bassist Udaka Hikaru, performed as Hikaru. Both had impeccable technique and understood the music of Yoshiki.
Yoshiki was glad that the time of record was approaching and started more intense rehearsals.
After that, he individually rehearsed on drums. Using a metronome to set the pace, he could drum for several hours, forgetting about food and sleep. Sometimes during these exercises, he stayed in a rented studio more than 10 consecutive hours without going out. The studio seemed to become his own. And although the cost of rent grew, it was not his concern.
Thus, the achievements were needed, in drumming, as well as in the level of performances. Sensing this, Yoshiki pushed himself to the limit with all his might, the same way as was during preparation for exams in a music institute. And although the drumming technique perfected really obviously, Yoshiki did not stop at what had been accomplished. He went on with grueling exercises, after which he could not even move his hands.
"I want to learn how to play those rhythms that sound in my head."
Yoshiki shared this thought with Toshimitsu. But the task exceeded the capabilities of his physical body. Completely exhausted by prolonged exercises, sometimes he fell powerless to the floor. But the restless soul haunted tired body.
Due to the incomprehensible from the standpoint of common sense long-term exercises Yoshiki's body suffered from excessive load. However, it seemed to him that reached the limit pulse rate and tiredness to seizures were necessary for the rhythm of the music to force its way into each cell of his body, and therefore felt more relieved than tired.
In early 1986, recording began. The song, for which a few arrangements were made, was chosen for the single by Yoshiki. The song named “Orgasm”.
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