Hiroshi Morie , known exclusively by his stage name Heath, was a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He was best known as bass guitarist of the rock band X Japan from 1992 to 1997, and again from 2007 until his death in 2023.
Heath performing with X Japan in São Paulo, Brazil 2011
Heath at X Japan's concert at Madison Square Garden, 2014
Heath at Lollapalooza in 2010
Heath's bass guitars at X Japan's São Paulo concert in 2011
X Japan is a Japanese rock band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer and pianist Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi. Starting as a predominantly power/speed metal band with heavy symphonic elements, they later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads. Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label, the group is widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei, a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam.
X Japan at New York Comic Con in 2014. From left to right: HEATH, PATA, YOSHIKI, TOSHI and SUGIZO.
X circa 1990: Toshi, Taiji, Yoshiki, Pata, Hide
X Japan with guests Richard Fortus, Sugizo, and Wes Borland in 2008.
A special illumination in Taipei, in celebration of the first X Japan live concert in Taiwan in 2009.