Hideto 'hide' Matsumoto (December 13, 1964 - May 2, 1998)
Ten years. Ten years since an amazing artist who could still have accomplished so much more passed away. And all through this time are dragging the speculations - was it a suicide, mere carelessness, or a tragic accident - but a lot has been argued already and I don't want to dwell on it now. It is no huge discovery that no one can be perfect. Today is the day when I have invariably set aside some time to think about hide ever since I came to appreciate his work and the enormous talent he must have had. Like many of his fans nowadays, I only came to the "party" when it was too late.
A year ago, this anniversary left me genuinely sad. I'm not so pretentious as to claim what I felt compares to the grief of the people who had known hide in person, or that I can judge what he was like. But there is something about those like hide - they are the people who reach out to you, through both their art and their personality, and on some level you can truly relate to them. At least, that's how it turned out to be with me. hide is an artist I both respect and absolutely adore.
Last year, it really was a sad day. A lot has happened since then, though - even the nearly unthinkable. X-Japan reached a reunion after a decade in 2007, released new material, and in March we could see them back on the stage together. Yes, even with hide, or at least hide's presence. Yoshiki and Toshi performed the long-anticipated song Without You for him during these concerts, reconciled at last. And as a tribute to him, a hide memorial with an impressive amount of bands, both new ones and his contemporaries, is taking place. All this goes to show that hide was not only a talented man who died. What he left behind retains its value, keeps attracting new admirers to him, and continues to be inspiring.
It seems that ten years, while it may be a short time next to many other icons' centuries, is enough to demonstrate that hide has not been forgotten.
I'll tell you something else. It really doesn't matter how long it has been since I first heard any of his songs, saw the first of his pictures, or watched the videos starring him. None of these works have become boring, and each has its own significance to me.
So, now I know that I can join all those voices who say, crying or shouting or whispering softly, "hide, thank you."
'Good Bye' - hide
ETA: Also, littleflapper's tribute video.
A year ago, this anniversary left me genuinely sad. I'm not so pretentious as to claim what I felt compares to the grief of the people who had known hide in person, or that I can judge what he was like. But there is something about those like hide - they are the people who reach out to you, through both their art and their personality, and on some level you can truly relate to them. At least, that's how it turned out to be with me. hide is an artist I both respect and absolutely adore.
Last year, it really was a sad day. A lot has happened since then, though - even the nearly unthinkable. X-Japan reached a reunion after a decade in 2007, released new material, and in March we could see them back on the stage together. Yes, even with hide, or at least hide's presence. Yoshiki and Toshi performed the long-anticipated song Without You for him during these concerts, reconciled at last. And as a tribute to him, a hide memorial with an impressive amount of bands, both new ones and his contemporaries, is taking place. All this goes to show that hide was not only a talented man who died. What he left behind retains its value, keeps attracting new admirers to him, and continues to be inspiring.
It seems that ten years, while it may be a short time next to many other icons' centuries, is enough to demonstrate that hide has not been forgotten.
I'll tell you something else. It really doesn't matter how long it has been since I first heard any of his songs, saw the first of his pictures, or watched the videos starring him. None of these works have become boring, and each has its own significance to me.
So, now I know that I can join all those voices who say, crying or shouting or whispering softly, "hide, thank you."
'Good Bye' - hide
ETA: Also, littleflapper's tribute video.