Yoshiki

The story of YOSHIKI is one of relentless creative ambition. His career began leading the band X JAPAN — as drummer, pianist and visionary — fusing thrash-metal intensity with classical piano melody into a theatrical, emotionally charged sound that has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Trained in classical music from early childhood, he s built a parallel career as a composer of soaring orchestral works, connecting with fans at major international venues from New York s Carnegie Hall to the 2000-year-old Nabataean Tombs in Saudi Arabia. For decades, YOSHIKI has shattered the expectations of genre, proving that power and vulnerability, chaos and elegance, rock and classical music can coexist in a single performance. He is inspired by all of it — as an artist, composer, bandleader, producer, impresario, fashion designer and entrepreneur. But onstage is where he thrives. I m a very, very energetic person onstage, YOSHIKI told Revolver in 2022. Even recording, I play drums very, very hard. Even when I play piano in the recording studio, I play like I m onstage. That intensity, however, has come with a cost. In 2024, after years of physically punishing performances and his trademark headbanging behind the drum kit, YOSHIKI underwent his third serious surgery in just over a decade, this time on his spine — a cervical artificial disc replacement that doctors warned might end his performing career. Now, after a successful operation resolved one of the most difficult chapters of his life, YOSHIKI is ready to return. This July, he will perform at Los Angeles Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry s gleaming architectural landmark, for his first full U.S. concerts since beginning his recovery. Backed by an orchestra, he will perform on both grand piano and drums across two nights, bringing together the two extremes of his musical identity in a single setting. He s an artist known for pushing himself beyond normal limits, dedicated to both his audience and a need to express himself emotionally through music. Getting here has been a long journey of triumph and personal tragedy, as he s lost loved ones and band members along the way. Without music, I don’t think I would survive, he once told the Los Angeles Times. That vulnerability is present in his classical work and when thrashing with his bands X JAPAN and the Last Rockstars. Always open about his struggles with mental health and painful surgeries, YOSHIKI credits his fans with rescuing him again and again, pulling him from the brink in his darkest hours. So his Disney Hall concerts on July 16th and 17th represent more than a comeback. He will be there to celebrate, performing opening night under the title Scarlet Night, exploring the theme of resilience in the face of adversity. The second is called Violet Night, a reflection on inspiration and dreams for the future. In the weeks leading up to the July concerts, YOSHIKI has maintained the relentless schedule that defines his life and career. He recently accompanied Diana Ross on piano, then dominated the stage during his headline heavy-rock set at Global Citizen s first-ever concert event in Tokyo. At the same time, he s hard at work in his Hollywood studio on a slate of overlapping music and film projects. Whether performing explosive rock anthems, creating orchestral pieces or performing solo on grand piano, YOSHIKI continues to thrive by pushing himself forward, reinventing what an artist can be. Yoshiki Classical 2026 in Los Angeles: Walt Disney Concert Hall Scarlet Night and Violet Night July 16, 2026 (Thu) July 17, 2026 (Fri)Tickets and information at yoshiki.net