Image via Heath’s official fan club website
© Heath project Inc. All rights reserved.
X Japan released an official statement on Saturday, confirming the band’s bassist Heath (real name Hiroshi Morie) passed away from colorectal cancer on October 29. He was 55 years old.
The full statement reads:
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of XJAPAN’s treasured bassist HEATH after a battle with colorectal cancer, on October 29, 2023, at the age of 55.
His cancer was discovered during a checkup in June this year. Despite his efforts to fight the disease, his condition suddenly deteriorated in October and he breathed his last in hospital.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to those who treasured HEATH throughout his life.
We, the members of X JAPAN, personally bid farewell to HEATH but are still extremely saddened and dismayed by his sudden passing. Personal tributes from X JAPAN members will be shared on HEATH’s official website at https://www.heathproject.com/.
HEATH’s obituary was originally scheduled for release in mid-November per his family’s wishes, but it was released today due to unwarranted media coverage over the past few days.
Funerals will only be held among close family members. The family requests that any visits, donations or flowers be declined. The funeral date will not yet be revealed. We appreciate your understanding.
An official farewell ceremony for HEATH will be arranged at a later date. That ceremony will be presided over by X JAPAN leader YOSHIKI in accordance with HEATH’s wishes as conveyed by his family.
X JAPAN sends our love and prayers to HEATH and would like to thank everyone who supported him.
Heath, real name Hiroshi Morie, was born on January 22, 1968 in Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture. He joined X Japan in 1992, replacing Taiji Sawada.
X Japan’s most notable contributions to anime are the songs in the X² music video collection and the later X movies. Animation studio Madhouse adapted both works from CLAMP’s X manga. The four band members—Toshimitsu”Toshi”Deyama, Yoshiki Hayashi, Tomoaki”Pata”Ishizuka and Hiroshi”Heath”Morie—reunited in 2007, 10 years after their breakup and nine years after the death of guitarist Hideto ”Hide”Matsumoto.
Source: Email correspondence