JESSE, frontman of RIZE and The BONEZ, has been arrested by Tokyo police on suspicion of using cocaine. His management company, PARADOX, has apologised to fans and says it is working to establish the facts.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested the 46-year-old on November 4th on suspicion of violating Japan’s Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. Investigators suspect he used a small amount of cocaine in or around Tokyo at around that time, and say a urine test came back positive.
Police are looking into how he obtained the drug and have not said whether he admits the allegation, which has not been tested in court.
On November 7th, PARADOX published a statement on the official websites of JESSE, RIZE, and The BONEZ.
“There have been reports today that JESSE, an artist with our company, has been arrested. We take this situation very seriously.
To the fans who always support us, and to everyone involved, we offer our deepest and most sincere apologies for the great concern and trouble this has caused.
We are currently working to establish the facts. Once they have been confirmed, we will take strict and appropriate action.”
PARADOX, translated from Japanese
A day earlier, PARADOX announced that JESSE would no longer appear at SANGENJAYA ART MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026 in Tokyo on November 7th, citing unspecified circumstances. His shop, Jesse’s Shop & Factory, also withdrew from running a stall at AIR JAM 2026 on the same day.
His arrest came the day after The BONEZ headlined TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO on November 3rd with the sold-out SUNTOWN -THE SECOND-, which was announced in July alongside news of the band’s return. JESSE had stepped away from live performances in January 2026 for treatment of nerve compression in his neck, before returning to the stage in August.
Born in Tokyo in 1980, JESSE is the son of guitarist Char. He co-founded RIZE with drummer Nobuaki Kaneko in 1997, and the band made their major-label debut in 2000. He also fronts The BONEZ, formed in 2012, alongside bassist T$UYO$HI and drummer ZAX of Pay money To my Pain, and guitarist KOKI.
In October 2019, the Tokyo District Court sentenced JESSE to two years in prison, suspended for three years, for possessing cannabis and cocaine at his home in Tokyo.
The BONEZ’s official schedule still lists five dates between now and January. They include a guest slot at the final of Yamaarashi’s tour at Ebisu LIQUIDROOM on November 21st, and a sold-out MASTERPIECE 2026 in Gifu on November 28th, where they are standing in for BRAHMAN, who pulled out following TOSHI-LOW’s bowel cancer diagnosis. No changes have been announced, and it remains unclear whether the shows will go ahead.
About JESSE
JESSE (Jesse McFaddin, born August 11th 1980 in Tokyo) is a vocalist, rapper, and guitarist best known as the frontman of RIZE and The BONEZ. The son of guitarist Char, he was raised bilingual at an American school and formed RIZE with drummer Nobuaki Kaneko in 1997. The band made their major-label debut with 'Kaminari' in 2000. In 2011, JESSE launched the multi-entertainment project Stand Up!, which led to the formation of JESSE and The BONEZ the following year. The group became The BONEZ in 2013. Under the name Jesse McFaddin, he released his first solo album, 'Crescent', in 2020, and it topped the iTunes hip-hop charts in Japan and Hong Kong. Solo singles including 'NEGAIBITO' and 'ZUTTO' have followed. He has featured on tracks by Age Factory, (sic)boy, JUBEE, and Novel Core, and brought in Dragon Ash's Kj for his own single 'Never Mind'. Outside music, he owns the clothing brand S&Co. and Jesse's Shop & Factory, a custom print shop in his home neighbourhood of Togoshi in Tokyo. He also makes art under the name VOICE.
