Editing Extasy Records (section)

==History==
[[Yoshiki (musician)|Yoshiki Hayashi]] founded Extasy Records in Japan in 1986, using money he received from his mother when she sold her business.<ref name="JRR">{{cite web|title=Visual Kei and EXTASY RECORDS|url=http://jrockrevolution.com/2007/08/webzine/visual-kei-and-extasy-records-23|work=JRock Revolution|date=2007-08-25|access-date=2013-03-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128051136/http://jrockrevolution.com/2007/08/webzine/visual-kei-and-extasy-records-23|archive-date=2016-01-28}}</ref> His band X Japan (then still named X) released their second single, "[[Orgasm (song)|Orgasm]]", as the label's first release. In 1988, their debut album ''[[Vanishing Vision]]'' came out and was a huge success for an independent band.<ref name="JRR"/> Over the next couple of years Extasy signed many bands that would go on to have varying degrees of success and produced their early records, including [[Zi:Kill]], [[Tokyo Yankees]] and Ladies Room.

In February 1991, Yoshiki's X Japan bandmate [[Hide (musician)|hide]] saw a band called Lunacy perform, and introduced him to them.<ref name="JRRGodBless">{{cite web|title=LUNA SEA: God Bless You|url=http://jrockrevolution.com/2007/08/webzine/luna-sea-god-bless-you-26|work=JRock Revolution|date=2007-08-27|access-date=2013-03-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109153939/http://jrockrevolution.com/2007/08/webzine/luna-sea-god-bless-you-26|archive-date=2016-01-09}}</ref> Yoshiki signed them to Extasy, they changed their name to [[Luna Sea]] and took part in the label's Nuclear Fusion Tour in March with Gilles de Rais and Sighs of Love Potion.<ref name="JRRGodBless"/> On the tour, a 3-track sample CD including a song from each band was released.<ref>{{cite web|title= Various – Nuclear Fusion Tour |url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-Nuclear-Fusion-Tour/release/2766254|work=[[Discogs]]|access-date=2013-03-01}}</ref> The following year Luna Sea's [[Luna Sea (album)|self-titled debut album]] was released and they held a successful 45-date tour, enabling them to sign with major label [[MCA Victor]] in May 1992.<ref name="JRRGodBless"/>

hide gave one of [[Glay]]'s demo tapes to Yoshiki, who then brought an entourage to watch their October 1993 show, where he offered the band a contract to Extasy Records.<ref>{{cite web|title=VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 Day 2: Part 3|url=http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-123483-visual-japan-summit-2016-day-2-part-3.html|work=jame-world.com|access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref> Their debut album, ''[[Hai to Diamond]]'', was released on May 25, 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.en.barks.jp/news/?id=1000004618|title=GLAY Rereleases Album From Indie Days In Anthology Format|work=Barks|access-date=2015-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423204002/http://www.en.barks.jp/news/?id=1000004618|archive-date=2015-04-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>

To promote their bands, the label organized concerts called Extasy Summits, which besides current contracted bands, also included former acts who had left for major record labels.<ref name="JRR"/> The first was held at Osaka Bourbon House in September 1988, with several more held, including one at [[Shibuya Public Hall]] in September 1989.<ref name="JRR"/> Footage from two of the concerts was recorded and released on VHS (the second also on [[Laserdisc]]); {{nihongo|''Unrivaled is Extasy!!''|無敵と書いてEXTASYと読む!!}} recorded at the [[Nippon Budokan]] in October 1991 and {{nihongo|''Extasy Summit 1992 ~ Minna ga Mumei-Datta, Dakedo... Muteki-Datta''|EXTASY SUMMIT1992~みんな無名だった、だけど…無敵だった}} recorded at [[Osaka-jō Hall]] in October 1992. The October 1992 Summit was actually X Japan's first public performance with their new bassist [[Heath (musician)|Heath]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Jrock Legend: X JAPAN |url=http://jrockrevolution.com/2007/08/webzine/the-jrock-legend-x-japan-25 |work=JRock Revolution |date=2007-08-26 |access-date=2013-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023143246/http://jrockrevolution.com/2007/08/webzine/the-jrock-legend-x-japan-25 |archive-date=2015-10-23 }}</ref>

The compilation album ''Lighting & Thunder'' was released in October 1998. On June 21, 2000, the compilation album ''History of Extasy 15th Anniversary'' was released.<ref name="OriconEx">{{cite web|title=History of EXTASY 15th Anniversary|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/52027/products/music/110104/1/|work=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=2013-03-01}}</ref> It includes 19 songs released by 14 different bands while on the label in celebration of its 15th anniversary. The album reached number 14 on the [[Oricon]] music chart.<ref name="OriconEx"/>

In 2000, Yoshiki signed a deal with [[Warner Music Group]] to distribute the record labels '''Extasy Japan''' and '''Extasy Records International'''. Records on Extasy Japan were distributed in Japan by Warner Music Japan and records on Extasy Records International were distributed in America by [[Warner Bros. Records]], marking the first time the two companies worked together in this way. The first release on Extasy Japan was the July 2000 single "Pearl" by singer Shiro, while the first release on Extasy Records International was by singer Aja in 2001.<ref name="billboard2000">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4A8EAAAAMBAJ&q=Extasy+Japan+and+Extasy+International&pg=PA48|magazine=Billboard|title=Japan's Yoshiki Teams With Warner In Venture|page=48|issn=0006-2510|publisher=Nielsen Business Media|year=2000|volume=112|issue=28}}</ref>

In September 2007, Yoshiki announced that the soundtrack for the [[United States|American]] movie ''[[Catacombs (2007 film)|Catacombs]]'' would be released on Extasy Records International. The soundtrack includes songs by [[Violet UK]] and [[Zilch (band)|Zilch]].<ref name="catacombs_ost">{{cite web| title = "Catcombs Soundtrack" release information| work = [[Tower Records (music retailer)|Tower Records]]| url = http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=1677413&GOODS_SORT_CD=101| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071018031218/http://towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=1677413&GOODS_SORT_CD=101| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2007-10-18| language = ja| access-date = 2007-09-17}}</ref>

Yoshiki has referred to the first day, October 14, 2016, of the three-day Visual Japan Summit at [[Makuhari Messe]] as "Extasy Summit" as it saw X Japan, Luna Sea and Glay perform.<ref>{{cite web| title = "VISUAL JAPAN SUMMIT 2016 Powered by Rakuten" Press Conference | work = musicjapanplus.jp| url = http://www.musicjapanplus.jp/specialfeatures/12810/visual-japan-summit-2016-powered-by-rakuten-press-conference/page/4/| access-date = 2016-08-08}}</ref>

In 2022, Yoshiki's brother, Kouki Hayashi, became president and CEO of Extasy Records, establishing a distribution partnership with [[TuneCore]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=YOSHIKI設立の伝説のレコード会社 弟の元俳優が社長で20年ぶりに再始動 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能 |url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2022/11/19/kiji/20221118s00041000856000c.html |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=スポニチ Sponichi Annex |language=ja}}</ref>