Music

Japanese rockstar Yoshiki engages in piano battle with hologram of himself

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Yoshiki impressed attendees at SXSW festival by engaging in a piano battle with a hologram of himself
The unique performance comes as Yoshiki prepares to embark on this first ever classical world tour, due to begin in Costa Mesa, California on April 25
The real Yoshiki joined his hologram self from stage left
Yoshiki impressed attendees at SXSW festival by engaging in a piano battle with a hologram of himself
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Following in the virtual footsteps of Tupac Shakur, at the SXSW festival last weekend Japanese musical icon Yoshiki used a hologram not just in an attempt to add a little flair to his performance, but to indulge those fans who can't quite get enough of him.

Yoshiki, a musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, front man of heavy-metal band X Japan and classical soloist, appeared on stage at the music and technology festival to a rousing reception and proceeded to sit himself at one end of a double piano.

All appeared normal as Yoshiki began stroking the keys, but when a more clearly defined and life-like Yoshiki emerged from the left of stage, the audience began to grasp they had a one-of-a-kind piano battle on their hands.

We're not sure if you'd classify this as a solo or duo performance, but it lasted around two minutes and involved intense playing from equally animated Yoshikis, with gestures even exchanged across the piano top.

The unique performance comes as Yoshiki prepares to embark on this first ever classical world tour, due to begin in Costa Mesa, California on April 25.

You can watch the entire performance in the video below.

Source: Yoshiki

Update (March 22, 2014): As some commenters have kindly pointed out, Yoshiki and his band X Japan actually beat Tupac to hologram form with a performance in 2011.

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6 comments
Stefan Andersson
Well to be fair, X Japan (Yoshiki's band) did the hologram-thing before the Tupac-event ;)
Key Hernández
In fact, X Japan did it before. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwwg5v57kig
socalboomer
as has Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood in their concerts for several years. . .
Patrick Suarez
Yoshiki was the first one to do it back in 2008! When X-Japan they had their reunion tour. Way before Tupac. You need to change or edit your article that Tupac was following Yoshiki or more like Hide virtual footstep. Since they were the first one to do it.
Ed
I prefer the Kraftwerk way...playing two concerts in different countries at the same time...one concert had Kraftwerk playing, the other venue had automatons. Neither venue knew which was Kraftwerk or not...
磊清 张
2008.3.28 X Japan Live in Tokyo Dome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAfgarsODf0 See 3:30 for #Hide #Hologram! It's really so touching! Yes, Yoshiki used Holography 4 years before #Tupac(in respect)!!