Hideto Matsumoto

In the end of 80's (http://vampirefreaks.com/cult/Pink_Spider)

Hideto “Hide” Matsumoto was born in Yokosuka, Japan, on December 13th, 1964. He was the guitarist of Japan’s legendary rock band, X Japan. His interest in metal and modern music began when he was 15, when the first time he listened to KISS and BowWow. At that time, Japan’s music industry had just been invaded by pop music, so the hard sound of foreign artists such as KISS was still very uncommon. Hide who fell in love with the extravagant look, sound and style of music, started learning guitar at the same year.

During a photoshoot in the early 90's (http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Hall/1356/)

When he was 17 years old, he formed Saver Tiger band, and started playing shows at local live houses a year after it. As a member of a heavy metal rock band, Hide dressed in gothic clothes, did his red hair up, and used hard make-ups, just like his idol, KISS. Unfortunately, Saver Tiger disbanded in 1987. But this self-taught guitarist was immediately asked to replace X Japan’s guitarist. Hide agreed and joined X Japan in 1987. He became the lead guitarist and songwriter. His fashion style in X Japan was just the same as in Saver Tiger, although he dyed his hair pink a few years after. Their eccentric style will be later called “visual kei”, or the one which is now often known as “Harajuku style”. This style is still followed by many Japanese rock bands and teenagers until now – thanks to X Japan to found it! For 6-7 years, X Japan rocked all over the country. Their singles were released to Japanese chart’s high positions, had over than 30.000 audiences watching every concerts, and sold millions copies of albums, singles, and tour documentary VHS’.

In the backstage of a concert in 1996 (http://www.pbase.com/hidefish/image/15553929/original)

When X Japan members took a break, Hide spent his time for his own solo project. He made a song with other artists in 1993, starred in a film, and released his own label named LEMONed. Besides songwriting for his first solo album, he also played all the guitars, bass, and all the vocals! After his second album, sadly, X Japan disbanded in 1997. Then Hide continued his solo project, “Hide with Spread Beaver”. Not only that, he also formed his second band, Zilch, with American and British artists. He gained a lot of success, because he was very creative in mixing everything, from ska to industrial metal, along with fun-filled punk, old-fashioned Los Angeles rock, 70’s glam, speed rock, and even ballad pop songs. This “Japan’s Kurt Cobain” was also a marrow and blood donor, and also a member of Make a Wish Foundation. One day, he visited his ill fan who wrote to that foundation that her last wish was to meet him. Not long after that, the girl began recovering from her illness, and made e-mail friends with him!

The ex-members of X Japan in Hide's funeral (http://hidespace.iespana.es/memorial.htm)

It was said that Hide was enthusiast about 1998, because it was going to be the busiest year for his career. He had planned some new singles, a new album, a tour concert – he had nowhere else to go, but up. Until he suddenly, after went drunk with his friends, found dead in his apartment's bathroom in a strange way in May 2nd, 1998. More than 50.000 people came to his funeral at Tsukiji Honganji Temple, Tokyo, including X Japan’s ex-members. Many teenagers there said that they came to say thank you to Hide, because he had cheered their life up with his music. His popularity didn’t end there – his family built Hide Museum in Yokosuka in 2000. Although the museum had to be closed in 2005 because of lack of funds, many fans and tourists came to Tsukiji Honganji and wrote letters for him; saying thank you, happy birthday, Merry Christmas, etc in a table named Hide Corner. I have gone there twice last year and I saw it by myself, that almost everyday a person came and write there, until now.

Hide Museum (http://www.flickr.com/photos/indrasarrow/139037555)

I know that he was an alcoholic and smoker, but still, he is a hero for me. I really like his songs, but most of all, I love his attitudes. He dared to be different, to be himself the way he was, and to had a great dedication on his dreams, worked extra hard on it and made it to reality by gaining an impressive reputation as a musician although it was some kind of shock and rebellion against the elderly at that time. But THOSE are the things that I admire about him. Now I’m doing like what he did: I dress up as what I am, not dictated by the current trends, and striving for the best on my dream – although my dream is still rather eccentric in my country. Hide may be dead already... but not in my heart.