In Memoriam: Heath
Sad news to share today as Japanese rock legend Hiroshi “Heath” Morie has died from cancer. The X Japan bassist was 55 years old.
Heath was a member of the groups Paranoia, Sweet Beet, and Media Youth/Sweet Death before being invited to join X in 1992 following the departure of bassist Taiji. The following year he was featured on the album Art of Life. Other members of the band began working on solo projects, and after 1996’s Dahlia, the band announced a breakup.
He would rejoin the group when they reunited in 2007, staying with the band until his passing. The group never released a studio album beyond Dahlia, but stayed active with live performances and singles. Heath was also prolific in his solo work, which began with a self-titled album in 1995.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Heath.
I’ve found a number of bands I’ve deeply enjoyed and admired, but X Japan has been my favorite since I discovered them in 1999.
I knew as I got older, this would start to happen, but it’s still a sad shock.
RIP Heath.