X Japan have announced their first-ever concert in the U.S. Less than a week after a series of three comeback shows at Tokyo Dome, the band said at a press conference yesterday that they will play Madison Square Garden in New York on September 13, 2008. Following a previously announced show in Paris for July 5, the nature of the “World Tour” logo on staff shirts last week is becoming clearer. Band leader and drummer Yoshiki said a world tour was along-time dream, and that he has wanted to play MSG since watching Kiss perform a comeback show there in 1996. The untimely death of charismatic guitarist hide in 1998 not only put any such plans on hold but sent Japan’s leading rock band into hiatus for ten years. Hide was “brought back to life” at Tokyo Dome using a high-tech hologram screen, and the band plan to bring the technology with them for the overseas shows. The band also hinted at playing dates in Europe, Asia and South America, though without giving any details. X Japan already have many U.S. connections, with leader Yoshiki being based in Los Angeles and the recent shows featuring Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus and former Limp Bizkit axeman Wes Borland.