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Profile

Life

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Matsumoto Hideto, known as 'hide', was born in Midorigaoka, Yokosuka on December 13, 1964. hide was overweight as a child, Hideto was known as the shy bookworm who had trouble interacting with other children. But everything changed when he was 15 years old, at a friend's house, and heard Alice by Kiss.

Kiss' commanding sound and wild visual aesthetics enthralled him, and later that same year, his grandmother bought him a Gibson guitar, a gift that would forever change hide's life.

In 1981, hide formed the independent rock band Saver Tiger, where he served as both lead guitarist and songwriter. But hide's talent couldn't stay hidden for long, and not long after, he was discovered by a man named Hayashi Yoshiki, and in 1987, hide joined Yoshiki's band X Japan, then called simply X. He became the lead guitarist and secondary composer, while Yoshiki was the main composer and drummer.

X's sound was nothing like anything currently existing in the Japanese music scene. Their wild costumes, sky-high hairdoes and in-your-face sound quickly attracted crowds, and they became the first band in history to completely sell out the Tokyo Arena-- not once, but three consecutive nights. But after ten years together as a band, lead singer Toshi announced his official departure from X, and the band dissolved.

Hide set off on what would become a remarkably successful solo career. He recorded his first album, Hide Your Face in 1994, and played all guitars (including bass guitar) and performed all vocals. Two years later, he recorded the album Psyence, which is regarded as hide's best album due to its remarkable versatility, and thus began the Psyence a Go Go tour.

Later, hide created a band which would become known as "hide with Spread Beaver," and he served as guitar player and vocalist for them as well. They began recording their first album, Ja, Zoo, but midway through production, a tragedy struck.

Death

On May 2, 1998, after a night of drinking and partying with his girlfriend, hide returned to his apartment around 6:30 in the morning. An hour later, at 7:30, hide's girlfriend returned to the apartment and found hide suspended from his bathroom doorknob by a towel tied around his neck. hide died en route to the hospital.

hide's death shocked the nation of Japan. Hundreds of fans came to his funeral; so many, in fact, that the line stretched more than a mile down the streets of downtown Tokyo, and the city essentially ground to a halt. By the end of the day, twenty-six fans had been hospitalized due to excessive screaming, crying, or injury in the crowd. In the days following hide's death, three young girls died in copycat suicides, and many more tried, but failed.

hide's death has been the source of much speculation. Some believe that it was an accident, as a result of a botched attempt at autoerotic asphyxiation or some other means, while some believe that it was a suicide. hide was, by his own admission, an alcoholic, and after X Japan's disbandment, his drinking became even more pronounced. Though there was no note to indicate suicide, some believe that his song "Pink Spider" was in fact his suicide note, as the song speaks of a 'spider' who wishes for wings so he can 'be free.'

Former X Japan drummer Yoshiki sent this message out to his fans following the death: "Everyone, please watch over his eternal sleep warmly."


Discography

Albums

Singles

VHS/DVD

External Links

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