Pata

Tomoaki Ishizuka (石塚 智昭), 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 formed his first band in 1980, and two years later created the band Black Rose, later known as Judy, but chose to disband it in 1985 or 1986.

Prior to disbanding, Yoshiki filled in on drums at several performances.

Pata actually asked Yoshiki to join Judy, as at the time X Japan was going through member changes, but he declined.

According to Yoko of United, Pata was a roadie for brief X member Hally and used Hally's guitar when he joined X himself.

He joined the band in 1987, stayed with them until their dissolution in 1997, and rejoined when the band reunited in 2007.

Pata first played with X Japan (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.

After supporting them at a couple live shows, he officially joined the band later that year.

They released their first album Vanishing Vision in 1988 and toured extensively in support of the record.

They would become one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label, and later widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei.

X 's major label debut album, Blue Blood, was released in April 1989 and debuted at number six on the Oricon chart.

Its success earned the band the "Grand Prix New Artist of the Year" award at the 4th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1990.

Their third album Jealousy was released in 1991 and debuted at number one, selling over 600,000 copies.

It was later certified million by the RIAJ.

Shortly after the release of 1993's Art of Life, which also topped the Oricon, the members of X Japan took a break to start solo projects.

In 1993, while still in X Japan, Pata released his first self-titled solo album, which featured many veteran American musicians such as Tommy Aldridge, Tim Bogert, Mike Porcaro and James Christian.

His second, Raised on Rock, was released two years later and again featured Christian, as well as Chuck Wright and Ken Mary.

He also played at a number of concerts for fellow X Japan lead guitarist Hide's solo career from 1994 to 1998.

A year after X Japan's breakup, he formed P.A.F. (standing for "Patent Applied For", named after the PAF guitar pickups) with singer NoB.

In about one year's time they released: two albums, one mini album, one live album and two singles.

Dahlia, which would become the band's last album, was released on November 4, 1996, and once again, it reached the number one spot.

In September 1997, it was announced that X Japan would disband, they performed their farewell show, aptly titled The Last Live, at the Tokyo Dome on December 31, 1997.

For the 1999 Hide tribute album, Tribute Spirits, Pata teamed up with X Japan bassist Heath and former Spread Beaver percussionist/programmer I.N.A. to cover the X Japan song "Celebration".

A year after their breakup, he formed the short-lived duo P.A.F. with singer NoB and created the band Dope HEADz with X Japan bassist Heath and former Spread Beaver percussionist/programmer I.N.A. in 2000.

He would reunite with them again in 2000 when they formed Dope HEADz, adding vocalist Jo:Ya.

Right after they ceased activity, Pata formed the instrumental band Ra:IN in 2002, which still tours extensively to this day.

His stage name is taken from the manga Patalliro!, as he was said to resemble the title character.

Little is known about Pata's early years as he tends to keep his past and personal life to himself.

He first played a guitar in junior high school.

It was an acoustic one that his younger sister bought, and which he still owns.

He taught himself to play guitar on a Fender Stratocaster.

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.

The same year he formed the instrumental rock band Ra:IN (standing for "Rock and Inspiration"), with bassist Michiaki and drummer Tetsu (he later having previously played with him in P.A.F.).

In 2003, Pata played live support for Miyavi at a couple of his concerts, along with former Spread Beaver bassist Chirolyn, Seikima-II guitarist Luke Takamura and Luna Sea drummer Shinya.

In 2005, Pata appeared on Nanase Aikawa's album R.U.O.K.?!, as did DIE, Shinya, Dead End bassist Crazy Cool Joe and former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman, they all supported her on the album's tour.

According to a report by the newspaper Sponichi, X Japan vocalist Toshi visited drummer Yoshiki in Los Angeles in November 2006 to work on a song as a tribute to Hide.

In 2007, after three albums, former Spread Beaver member DIE joined Ra:IN as keyboardist.

They tour extensively, having performed quite a few overseas shows, including a lengthy European tour in 2009.