HEATH no longer with X Japan?

[Tokyograph News]

According to the Sports Nippon newspaper, rock band X Japan has already lost its bassist HEATH due to unresolved issues with HEATH's management company. The problems first publicly surfaced last month, when X Japan suddenly canceled two scheduled concerts in Korea.

The issues between HEATH and his management, apparently stemming from his contract, remain unsettled after weeks of negotiation. The band's production management committee had already received word of HEATH's withdrawal from the band, but tickets for the band's Tokyo Dome shows on May 2-3 still went on sale on April 18. All 100,000 tickets sold out the same day.

X Japan is hoping to avoid a last-minute cancellation similar to their Korean concerts and a few other overseas concerts that were scheduled last year. Leader Yoshiki has also publicly promised that the Tokyo Dome shows will not be delayed. In order to keep that promise, the band will reportedly select a substitute bassist within the next few days. Still, that would not leave much time for rehearsals before the actual concerts.

Yoshiki is currently said to be at home in Los Angeles, but it seems he will return to Japan this week for another discussion with HEATH.

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