The guy began his career as the lead guitarist for the metal band X Japan. Hide (real name Hideto Matsumoto) became a cult musician in Japan in the 1990s. During his short solo career, he experimented with all kinds of musical styles, from catchy pop-rock to hard industrial.
He has released two highly successful alternative rock albums and a number of equally successful singles. He became a co-founder of an English-language side project. His death at the age of 33 shocked fans around the world. He remains one of the most beloved and influential Japanese musicians to this day.
Childhood Hide
The legendary guitarist, no less than the legendary Japanese rock band X JAPAN, was born in 1964 in the city of Yokosuka. It is difficult to call his childhood cloudless. He was a rather fat boy who made fun of the children. Notorious and quiet, he led a solitary life.
Hide, in addition to all his "flaws", was also a good student. The fat, smart and downtrodden boy was a tasty morsel for his peers. The "whipping boy" was often subjected to moral pressure and physical abuse. However, these experiences further shaped his character. And music and love for his younger brother helped him survive all this.
Hide's early career
At the end of high school, hide's grandmother gave her grandson a Gibson guitar. It was an awesome gift. A few friends of the future star came to see her. Having mastered playing the instrument, the boy decides to create his own group.
Saver Tiger
Hide formed the independent rock band Saver Tiger in 1981. The glam metal band influenced the creativity and stage image of the musician Kiss. Especially their album Alive.
Acquainted with their work at the age of 16, later hide often used their methods of working with the audience on stage. Thanks to their unusual appearance and rock music, the group quickly gained popularity.
A year later, Yokosuka music lovers were talking about them, and their performances were held at the most famous local venues. Striving for the ideal forced Hide to constantly change the composition. He constantly played "fifteen" with his musicians.
But the love of perfection let the "founding father" down a bit. The group broke up, and hide decided to become a cosmetologist. The gifted guy managed to complete the courses and get a certificate that allows him to work in the beauty industry.
X Japan
Hide met the leader of the famous rock band X at one of the venues during a joint concert. True, the acquaintance turned out to be something else ... The musicians of the two groups did not share something behind the scenes, and a fight began. Hide and Yoshiki calmed the bully, and that's how they got to know each other.
Yoshiki invited Hide to become the lead guitarist for his heavy metal band X Japan. After some thought hide accepts the offer. And for 10 years he has been playing rock in this band.
Fame Decade Hide
Love for rock has changed hide not only internally, but also externally. People who have known him since childhood did not recognize this stylish rocker as a fat, clumsy child. Sophisticated costumes, colorful hair and dizzying stage antics - this was the new hide. But the main thing is the virtuosity of the guitar, memorable vocals and the crazy energy that he shared with the audience.
The complexity and unusualness of guitar riffs, catchy vocals and a sense of style. Hide quickly became one of the most recognizable and revered members of X-Japan, second only to Yoshiki himself.
The group was waiting for world fame and three albums recorded together with Hide. In 1997, the group decides to end its activities. Hide is thinking of starting his own career, especially since he already had solo experience.
Solo career
Hide's solo performances began at the very beginning of the 90s. As an active member of X Japan, hide recorded a solo album. His first album, 1994's Hide Your Face, showcased an alternative rock sound that was different from X Japan's heavy metal.
After a successful solo tour hide divided his time between two projects. In 1996 he released his second solo album "Psyence" and went on an independent promotional tour. After X Japan disbanded in 1997, Hide officially announces his solo project "Hide with Spread Beaver".
At the same time, he co-founded Zilch, an American side project featuring Paul Raven, Dave Kushner and Joey Castillo. There were a lot of plans, a joint album was being prepared for recording, information about which the musicians carefully concealed. The interest of the public was skillfully warmed up, but no information leaks were allowed. And suddenly the shocking news about hide's death shocked the whole musical world.
Afterword ...
Unfortunately, the musician did not live to see the completion of his projects. May 2, 1998, after heavy drinking, the musician was found dead. The official version is suicide, but everyone who knew hide does not agree with it. A bright personality, with grandiose creative plans, who loves life could not end his life in a noose. He left at the height of his fame, at the age of only 33.
May 2, 2008 was an ordinary day for many. But for fans of the Japanese musician Hide (Hide) this is a tragic date. On this day, their idol died. But his songs are still alive today.
