, better known by his stage name

Stage name

A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...

 Pata (taken from the manga Patalliro!

Patalliro!

is a long-running manga series written and illustrated by Mineo Maya, one of the few known male manga artist for shōnen-ai manga. Patalliro! is the first anime series to present shōnen-ai themes on television.- Plot :...

, as he was said to resemble the title character), is a Japanese musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

. He is best known as rhythm guitarist for the popular heavy metal group X Japan

X Japan

is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...

. He joined the group in 1987 and stayed with them until their dissolution in 1997.

After the breakup he formed Dope HEADz with X Japan bassist Heath and former Spread Beaver

Hide (musician)

, better known by his stage name hide , was a popular Japanese musician. He was primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan from 1987 to 1997...

 percussionist/programmer

Programming (music)

Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...

 I.N.A. in 2000. The group ceased activity after its second album in 2002. Soon after Pata formed the instrumental band Ra:IN, which still tours extensively to this day. He is currently participating in X Japan as they reunited in 2007.

Career

Little is known about his early years as he tends to keep his past and personal life to himself. But it is known that he formed his first band in 1980. Two years later he created the band Black Rose, later known as Judy, but chose to disband it in 1985. Pata first played with X Japan

X Japan

is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...

 (then named X) in 1987 as a session musician, on the songs "Stab Me in the Back" and "No Connexion" for the sampler Skull Thrash Zone Volume I. Later that year he officially joined the band.

In 1993, while still in X Japan, Pata released his first self-titled solo album, and his second, Raised On Rock, two years later. He also played at a number of concerts for fellow X Japan guitarist hide

Hide (musician)

, better known by his stage name hide , was a popular Japanese musician. He was primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan from 1987 to 1997...

's solo career from 1994 to 1998. A year after X Japan's breakup, he formed P.A.F. (stands for Patent Applied For, named after the PAF

PAF (pickup)

P.A.F. or just PAF is the world's first humbucker guitar pickup, invented by Seth Lover in 1955 as an engineer for Gibson and began use in mass production guitars in 1956 or 1957. However Rickenbacker and Gretsch had developed humbucking pickups also...

 guitar pickups) with singer NoB

Nob

NOB is also about describing someone.Nob was a place in ancient Israel in the vicinity of Jerusalem. It may have been located close to Bahurim, near the Mount of Olives or possibly further north at Tell Shuafat...

. In about one years time they released: two albums, one mini album, one live album and two singles. For the 1999 hide tribute album, Tribute Spirits

Tribute Spirits

Tribute Spirits is a hide tribute album released on May 1, 1999. It collects cover versions by various artists, among them most members of hide's former band X Japan....

, Pata teamed up with X Japan's bassist Heath and former Spread Beaver

Hide (musician)

, better known by his stage name hide , was a popular Japanese musician. He was primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan from 1987 to 1997...

 percussionist/programmer

Programming (music)

Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...

 I.N.A. to cover the song "Celebration". He would reunite with them again in 2000 when they formed Dope HEADz, adding vocalist Jo:Ya. They released two singles and an album, when in 2002 they recruited new singer Shame and released Planet of Dope. Soon after its release they would cease activity.

Pata wasted no time, as that same year he formed the instrumental rock band Ra:IN (stands for Rock and Inspiration), with bassist Michiaki and drummer Tetsu (who previously played with Pata in P.A.F.). In 2003 Pata played live support for Miyavi

Miyavi

, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese visual kei musician. His work as guitarist for Dué le Quartz and his successful solo career have established him as an accomplished musician in the Japanese music scene.- Early life :...

 at a couple of his concerts, along with former Spread Beaver bassist Chirolyn, Seikima-II

SEIKIMA-II

is a Japanese heavy metal band formed by guitarist Damian Hamada in 1982.According to the mythology created by the band, Seikima-II is a group of "Akuma" , from the futuristic hyper-evolved dimension "Makai", that are preaching a religion, in order to propagate Satan through the use of heavy metal...

 guitarist Luke Takamura

Luke Takamura

is a Japanese musician and songwriter. He is best known as guitarist of the heavy metal band Seikima-II from 1987 to 1999. In 1995 he joined the short-lived supergroup Kings, with Shuichi Aoiki on vocals, Taiji Sawada on bass and Satoshi "Joe" Miyawaki on drums...

 and Luna Sea

Luna Sea

Luna Sea is a rock band from Kanagawa, Japan, formed in 1989. The band was initially founded by bassist J and rhythm guitarist Inoran, when they were in high school. They soon recruited lead guitarist and violinist Sugizo, drummer Shinya and vocalist Ryuichi, a lineup that has remained the same...

 drummer Shinya

Shinya Yamada

, referred to as simply , is a Japanese musician. He is best known as drummer of the rock band Luna Sea.- History :Before joining Luna Sea in 1989, high school friends Shinya and Sugizo were in the band Pinoccio....

. In 2005 Pata appeared on Nanase Aikawa

Nanase Aikawa

is a Japanese musician known for employing a variety of musical styles, most notably rock. She publishes her music under the Motorod label, a division of Avex Group.- Early life :Nanase Aikawa was born on February 16, 1975, in Osaka, Japan...

's album R.U.O.K.?!, as did former Spread Beaver keyboardist D.I.E, Luna Sea drummer Shinya, Dead End

Dead End (band)

is an influential Japanese metal/rock band formed in Tokyo in 1984. They were one of few Japanese metal bands who had international exposure in the United States during the eighties...

 bassist Crazy Cool Joe and former Megadeth

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

 guitarist Marty Friedman

Marty Friedman

Marty Friedman may refer to:* Marty Friedman , musician* Marty Friedman , basketball player and coach-See also:*Martin Freedman, Canadian judge*Martin Freeman...

, they all supported her on the album's tour.

On October 22, 2007, X Japan

X Japan

is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...

 announced their reunion and released the Saw IV

Saw IV

Saw IV is a 2007 Canadian-American horror film and midquel to 2006's Saw III. It was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by newcomers Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan and Thomas Fenton. The film was released in North America on October 26, 2007...

theme song, "I.V.

I.V.

"I.V." is a single released by X Japan on January 23, 2008 as a digital download. It is the band's first new song since "The Last Song" released in 1998. "I.V." is the main theme for the film Saw IV, which was released on October 26, 2007.- Overview :...

".

Also in 2007, after three albums, former Spread Beaver member DIE joined Ra:IN as keyboardist. They became very successful, touring Japan extensively and even going on a lengthy European tour in 2009.

Pata, although still in Ra:IN, is focusing on X Japan, who in October 2010 finished their first North American Tour.

Gear

Pata is almost always seen playing a Gibson Les Paul

Gibson Les Paul

The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...

 guitar; often using his distinct, yellow 1959 Les Paul Standard. Pata is noted as the only member of X Japan

X Japan

is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...

 who plays American-made instruments. In addition to his lineup of Les Pauls, he occasionally uses a Gibson EDS-1275

Gibson EDS-1275

The Gibson EDS-1275 is a doubleneck Gibson electric guitar introduced in 1963 and still in production. Popularized by both rock and jazz musicians such as Jimmy Page and John McLaughlin, it was called "the coolest guitar in rock."-History:...

 double neck guitar

Double neck guitar

A multi-neck guitar is a guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks. They exist in both electric and acoustic versions. Although multi-neck guitars are quite common today, they are not by any means a modern invention...

 and a rare 1950's Gibson Explorer

Gibson Explorer

The Gibson Explorer is a type of electric guitar that made its debut in 1958. The Explorer offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its sibling, the Flying V. The Explorer was the final development of a prototype design which years later Gibson marketed under the name Futura.The...

.

Discography

Solo

• Pata (November 4, 1993)
• "Fly Away" (September 21, 1994)
• "Shine on Me" (January 21, 1995)
• Raised on Rock (July 5, 1995)
• Improvisation Guitar Style (August 20, 2007, DVD)

With P.A.F.

• "Love & Fake" (February 21, 1998)
• Patent Applied For (March 25, 1998)
• "Slapstick Life" (October 21, 1998)
• "The Big Time" (January 21, 1999)
• Pat.#0002 (February 24, 1999)
• Live (July 23, 1999)

With Dope HEADz

• "Glow" (February 21, 2001)
• "True Lies" (April 25, 2001)
• Primitive Impulse (June 6, 2001)
• Planet of the Dope (July 24, 2002)

With Rain