X Japan: Heath performing, SUGIZO joining

With only two days to go before their Tokyo Dome concerts this weekend, rock band X Japan officially finalized their lineup on Thursday. They confirmed that bassist HEATH will indeed be participating, along with a newly added sixth member, SUGIZO.

In March, it was discovered that problems had arisen with HEATH’s management agency, resulting in the cancellation of two Korean concerts and the delay of ticket sales for the Tokyo Dome shows. HEATH suggested that he leave the band in order to avoid further complications, but Yoshiki managed to persuade him to stay.

Along with the announcement of HEATH’s participation, X Japan revealed that former LUNA SEA guitarist SUGIZO has been officially added to the band, as many predicted. SUGIZO has already been closely connected to Yoshiki through the supergroup SKIN that formed in 2007, and SUGIZO served as a support member for X Japan in their three reunion concerts at the Tokyo Dome in March 2008. He also attended a fan meeting at the start of April as a substitute for a sick Yoshiki.

Source:
Sankei Sports