Pata (musician)

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".