X Japan Details North American Tour, New Album

In a press conference on Thursday, Japanese visual-kei rock band X Japan announced their first North American tour and a new album. Though this merits a bit of deju va (since we've heard this before, this time -- I hope -- it's different as more details arise). The tour will begin on October 1 in California and travel to more than 10 cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Boston.

In related news, this fall we will see X Japan's newest album will ship simultaneously in the U.S. and in Japan. The album will have about 10 songs, including the new song "Jade," which will be the first American single. The album will also have "ART OF LIFE" and the English versions of the songs "Tears," "Rusty Nail," and "Kurenai."

X Japan will perform in the U.S. prior to their North American Tour. The band members already appeared at the Yoshiki Foundation launch party with comic creator Stan Lee in Los Angeles on July 1. During the benefit, X Japan performed an acoustic version of "I.V." and then recorded a music video with audience participation. The event also included a fashion show and a masquerade contest. Members of X Japan is set to perform at the Baltimore-based anime convention Otakon this July 31 and at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago in August. [Source: Sankei Sports via ANN]