X JAPAN’s “We Are X Soundtrack marks first-ever #1 debut outside of Japan

March 20, 2017 | By LRI More

X JAPAN

TAKES OVER LONDON FOR THE RELEASE OF

‘WE ARE X’

AND EPIC SHOW AT

LONDON’S WEMBLEY ARENA

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK FROM THE

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY

‘WE ARE X’

REACHES #1 ON THE U.K. ROCK AND METAL CHART AND TOP TEN DEBUTS AROUND THE WORLD

X JAPAN is no stranger to excitement, inciting a spectacular energy with every performance—and their arrival at London’s Wembley Arena was no exception.

On Saturday, March 4, X JAPAN—YOSHIKI/drums, piano; TOSHI/vocals; PATA/guitar; HEATH/bass; and SUGIZO/guitar, violin— performed their first major show of 2017 on #XDAY at SSE Arena, Wembley. following the release of WE ARE X (film) in theaters across the U.K. (here). The WE ARE X soundtrack-released worldwide March 3 on Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings–has taken Number 1 in 9 countries on iTunes and claimed the #1 spot on the Rock And Metal Chart (U.K), Top 30 U.K. Albums Chart and Number 3 on the U.K. Soundtrack Chart.

The film WE ARE X, which premiered to a sold-out audience at Piccadilly’s Picture House in London (February 28), tells of the trials and heartache the band has endured since their start in the 1980s but their continued success and growing fandom proves the power their anthems have to stir something inside us all. So empowering is their music that on the day of their signing at HMV (March 3), Oxford Street was forced to shut down overrun with more than 1,000 fans in line to see the dynamic members of X JAPAN.

X JAPAN TAKES OVER LONDON FOR THE RELEASE OF 'WE ARE X'

Over 1,000 X JAPAN fans outside signing at HMV in London.

Hailed as “fascinating” by the New York Times, WE ARE X is a transcendent and beautifully shot rock & roll story about the most successful rock band in Japanese history, X JAPAN. They’ve sold over 30 million albums, singles and videos combined; sold out Japan’s 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times; and played to tens of thousands of fans outside of Japan. Under the enigmatic direction of YOSHIKI–composer, classically-trained pianist, drummer and the creative force behind the group–X JAPAN has captivated a wide range of admirers as Sir George Martin, KISS, Stan Lee, and the Japanese Emperor-while pioneering a spectacle-driven style of rock music called “Visual Kei” (visual-kay), a one-of-a-kind cultural phenomenon.

In late 2016, ‘WE ARE X’ was released to theaters across America after winning multiple awards at the Sundance and SXSW Film Festivals. Directed by acclaimed documentarian Stephen Kijak (Stones in Exile, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man), and produced by the Oscar-winning production team behind Searching for Sugar Man, WE ARE X is an astonishingly intimate portrait of a deeply haunted–but truly unstoppable–virtuoso and the music that has enthralled legions of the world’s most devoted fans.

X JAPAN TAKES OVER LONDON FOR THE RELEASE OF 'WE ARE X' AND EPIC SOLD-OUT SHOW AT LONDON'S WEMBLEY ARENA

The film continues to expand internationally in new cities every week; and will arrive on Blu-Ray™, DVD and Digital HD on April 25 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet label. Territories include U.S, Bermuda and Bahamas. Critical praise for the film ‘WE ARE X’ continues to pour in: NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, PITCHFORK, BUZZFEED, USA TODAY, YAHOO and LA WEEKLY.

Check out a handful of live reviews from X JAPAN’s headlining show on March 4 at SSE Arena Wembley in London.

“Their show proves eye-poppingly captivating”

— METAL HAMMER MAGAZINE

“Perfection”

— POWERPLAY MAGAZINE

“Intoxicatingly triumphant”

— METAL TALK

“Fervently mesmeric”

— RECORD COLLECTOR MAGAZINE

“X JAPAN deliver a unique, moving experience.”

— MY GLOBAL MIND

“Mesmerising, they hover around a magical musical sweet spot”

— MUSIC-NEWS

“X JAPAN are the biggest band you have never heard of, provoking Beatles-esque levels of hysteria from rabid fans that hang on their every word and movement. They split up some time ago and reformed in 2007 but the culmination of the release of the We are X documentary, a long awaited spectacular Wembley arena show and the release of the soundtrack to the Documentary has provoked a flurry of media and fan activity. After all of this time of stasis, one would assume the fandom would have waned……but these are the most loyal fans in the universe and have engaged with the band throughout socials, online and in person….resulting in a chart position of 27 in this weeks Official Chart for a soundtrack release. A massive achievement for them – and sets the band in great stead with their army for the release of their first Studio album in 20 years later this year. They. Are. X.”

— Julie Weir, Head of Music for Nations at Sony Records

Following is the full tracklisting for the WE ARE X soundtrack (Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings):

1. La Venus (Acoustic Version)*

2. Kurenai (from The Last Live)

3. Forever Love

4. A Piano String in Es Dur

5. Dahlia

6. Crucify My Love

7. Xclamation

8. Standing Sex (from X Japan Returns)

9. Tears

10. Longing ~Setsubou no Yoru~