X Europe

X Japan has announced that the veteran hard rock band will finally perform in Europe with three concerts planned for London (June 28, Islington O2 Academy), Paris (July 1, Zenith de Paris) and Berlin (July 4, Huxleys), all relatively intimate venues for a group that tends to play stadiums in its native Japan.

In addition, X Japan has been added to the lineup of this year’s Summer Sonic festival in Tokyo and Osaka, whose headliners are the Strokes and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Another hugely popular Japanese rock group, B’z, which played Summer Sonic last year, has also announced an overseas tour, its first in eight years.

The duo of guitarist Takahiro Matsumoto, who recently won a Grammy for best pop instrumental album, and vocalist Koshi Inaba will play the Vogue Theater in Vancouver July 20, the Fillmore in San Francisco July 22, and Club Nokia in Los Angeles July 24.

In mid-April, B’z released its 44th No. 1 single in Japan.