Tomoaki Ishizuka (Japanese: 石塚 智昭, Hepburn: Ishizuka Tomoaki; born November 4, 1965), known exclusively by his stage name Pata, is a Japanese musician. He is best known as rhythm guitarist of the visual kei rock band X Japan. He joined the band in 1987, stayed with them until their dissolution in 1997, and rejoined when the band reunited in 2007. Pata began a solo career in 1993, releasing two studio albums featuring Western musicians such as Tommy Aldridge, Tim Bogert, James Christian and Chuck Wright. When X Japan disbanded, he formed the short-lived duo P.A.F. in 1998 with former Make-Up singer NoB and the rock band Dope HEADz in 2000 with X Japan bassist Heath and former Spread Beaver programmer I.N.A. Both projects released two studio albums before ceasing activity. Pata then formed the instrumental band Ra:IN in 2002, which still tours extensively to this day. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Pata the ninth best guitarist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election".
Bands
- X Japan - current member
Credited On
- X Japan - Blue Blood Tour Bakuhatsu Sunzen GIG - X Japan, released September 5, 2001 (
KSB5-5734). Guitar.
Biography
Translated from the ja.wikipedia article PATA (CC BY-SA 4.0), revision 108990645.
History
PATA was born in Chiba, Chiba Prefecture. In 1982, he formed the band BLACK ROSE, which was later renamed JUDY. JUDY disbanded in 1985. His stage name, PATA, derives from Patalliro, the protagonist of the manga series Patalliro!, whose full name is Patalliro du Malyner VIII.
In January 1987, he participated in X (X JAPAN) recording sessions as a supporting guitarist. In April, after X guitarist ISAO left the band following an accident, PATA was again called in as a supporting guitarist for live performances. He formally joined X after the performances. On April 21, 1989, he made his major-label debut as X's guitarist through CBS Sony.
On November 4, 1993, he made his solo debut with the self-titled album PATA, released through BMG VICTOR/ariola. Around the same time, he also participated in the activities of hide of X JAPAN, who had likewise made his solo debut, including hide's solo tours in 1994 and 1996 and the hide with Spread Beaver tour following X JAPAN's dissolution in 1997. On February 21, 1998, he formed P.A.F with NoB, the former vocalist of MAKE-UP, and made his debut with the single “LOVE & FAKE”.
hide died suddenly in May 1998. For hide's tribute album hide TRIBUTE SPIRITS, released in May 1999, PATA participated in “CELEBRATION” with HEATH and I.N.A, using demo tapes left behind by hide during his lifetime. In the autumn of 2000, he formed Dope HEADz with HEATH and I.N.A; Dope HEADz suspended its activities in March 2003. In 2002, he formed Ra:IN with Kyoaki Suzuki and Tetsu Mukaiyama.
He participated in the 2007 reunion of X JAPAN and released the single “I.V.” In March 2008, X JAPAN held the three-day Tokyo Dome concert series Attack Resumes 2008 I.V. ~Towards Destruction~. On May 3, 2008, he appeared at the hide tenth-anniversary memorial concert, “hide memorial summit”.
He appeared in the rock film attitude, released on July 19, 2008. On August 1, he performed under the name “TOKYOYANKEES + PATA” at “ROCK ALIVE”, a screening commemorative concert for the film held at Meguro Rokumeikan, where he performed with TAIJI, a former member of X JAPAN.
On January 15, 2016, he canceled a Ra:IN performance and was hospitalized due to poor health. On February 3, YOSHIKI announced that PATA had developed both colonic diverticulitis and portal vein embolism, and X JAPAN's planned concerts were postponed. His discharge from hospital was revealed during YOSHIKI's speech at SXSW 2016 on March 18. He was hospitalized again for surgery in August and reported his discharge on his Facebook page on August 10.
In April and May 2023, he participated in hide with Spread Beaver concerts held for the first time in approximately 25 years. In November, he appeared as a guest at The LAST ROCKSTARS' “PSYCHO LOVE” concert in Tokyo.
In 2024, he released his first autobiography, PATA: Drunkard's Memoir, through Rittor Music.
Sources
- Wikidata entity Q557207.
- en.wikipedia, Pata (musician) (revision 1360307358), CC BY-SA 4.0.
- ja.wikipedia, PATA (revision 108990645), CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photograph: RaIN 20090703 Japan Expo 14.jpg on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, by Georges Seguin (Okki).
