Hisashi Imai, of Buck-Tick
Happy birthday to Hisashi Imai, guitarist of the Japanese rock band Buck-Tick, who turns 43 today!!
Buck-tick originally formed in 1983, with four members: Araki on vocals, Hisashi Imai on guitar, Hidehiko Hoshino on guitar and keyboard, Yutaka “U-ta” Higuchi on bass, and Atsushi Sakurai on drums and percussion. Sakurai decided that he wanted to form a band and spread the word, and the other members gathered. None of them knew how to play their instruments, so they began from scratch.
In 1984 the Hisahi Imai named the band “Hinan Go-Go”, and the band played live for the first time at an amateur band festival called “Little Rock.” Later that year, Hisashi and Araki moved to Tokyo, and the band’s name changed to “Buck-tick.”
In 1985, Araki, who under mutual understanding did not fit in with the rest of the band, departed, and Sakurai switched from drums to vocals. Toll Yagami, U-ta’s older brother, joined the band as the drummer after his previous band broke up. The new members performed for the first time in December at Shinjuku Jam.
Buck-Tick recorded its first demo in 1986, and then signed to the indie label Taiyo Records. After they released their first single in October, their fan club was established. They released their first album in April of 1987, the first indie album ever to be released on CD, and after a tour to promote the CD, Buck-Tick signed to the major record company Victor/Invitation.
A year later, while recording their album Taboo in London, they performed their first international gig. On New Years Eve of 1988, they performed at Nihon Record Taisho, a big-time music awards show. In April of 1989, while they were touring to promote their “Sabbath I” and “Sabbath II” live videos, Hisashi Imai was arrested for possession of LSD, and the tour was abruptly ended. Despite the scandal, the group reunited and played a live show in December, which was sold-out.
In 1990 more successful singles, as well as an album, was released. They also performed at several live venues, and released a remix album and an orchestra album composed by the Berlin Chamber Orchestra.
1991 sported more releases and live performances, but Sakurai experienced personal conflict when his mother died. Later, he married the band’s stylist, and several months later they had a child. They divorced in 1992 when his wife’s affair was widely publicized in the media.
Buck-Tick changed their label to Mercury/Polygram in 1997, and released their first single under the new label in November, following with an album in December. In August 1999 Buck-Tick had the privilege of opening for Marilyn Manson at Fuji-kyu Highland Conifer Forest. In 2000 they changed their label again to BMG/Funhouse. They released their first single under this label in September, and another album a few weeks later.
They played for the first time in Korea in 2001 at the Soyo Rock Fetival 2001 in Seoul, and a Korean fan club was established. In September 2002 all the albums released under the Victor label were re-released and digitally remastered under the Mercury label.
2004 was the year of solo and side projects. Sakurai released a solo single Sacrifice in May and Taiji/Smell in July. Hisashi’s side project Lucy released its album Rockarollica in June. U-ta’s side project Wild Wise Apes released an album 3rd World and played 2 live shows, while Toll Yagami released his album Toll Yagami and the Blue Sky. Also, Sakurai married again in this year. In 2006 Hoshino announced that he was married as well.
Buck-tick has recently concluded touring for their latest album, Tenshi no Revolver, which was released September 12. In May, they re-released nearly all of their new albums in first-press limited edition forms. They are also expected to release a new single, Heaven, in December. They have also said that they are working on their next album, though the release date is yet unknown.
Also known as: Baku-Chiku, バクチク
Labels:
1986-1987: Taiyo Records (indie)
1987-1997: Victor/Invitation
1997-2000: Mercury/Polygram
2000-present: BMG Funhouse
Current Members:
Vocals: Atsushi Sakurai
Guitars, noises, backing/second vocals: Hisashi Imai
Guitars, keyboards, backing vocals: Hidehiko “Hide” Yoshino
Bass: Yutaka “U-ta” Higuchi
Drums, percussion: Toll Yagami
Former members:
Vocals: Araki
Discography:
Singles:
10/21/1986 - To-Search/Plastic Syndrome
10/261988 - Just One More Kiss
01/24/1990 - Aku no Hana
01/21/1991 - Speed
06/05/1991 - M・A・D
10/30/1991 - Jupiter
05/21/1993 - Dress
10/21/1993 - Die
03/24/1995 - Uta
04/21/1995 - Kodou
09/21/1995 - Mienai Mono o Miyo to Suru Gokai Subete Gokai da
05/22/1996 - Candy
11/12/1997 - Heroin
03/11/1998 - Sasayaki
05/13/1998 - Gessekai
07/14/1999 - Bran-New Lover
10/20/1999 - Miu
09/06/2000 - Glamorous
11/21/2001 - 21st Cherry Boy
02/20/2002 - Kyokutou Yori Ai wo Komete
01/18/2003 - Zangai
12/03/2003 - Gensou no Hana
03/02/2005 - Romsnce
08/02/2006 - Kagerou
06/06/2007 - Rendezvous
08/08/2007 - Alice in Wonder Underground
12/17/2008 - Heaven
Mini-Albums:
03/21/1988 - Romanesque
03/11/1999 - LTD
Albums:
04/21/1987 - Hurry Up Mode
11/21/1987 - Sexual xxxxx!
06/21/1988 - Seventh Heaven
01/18/1989 - Taboo
02/01/1990 - Aku no Hana
02/08/1990 - Hurry Up (1990 Mix)
07/21/1990 - Symphonic Buck-Tick in Berlin
02/21/1991 - Kurutta Taiyou
03/21/1992 - Koroshi no Shirabe This Is NOT Greatest Hits
06/23/1993 - Darker than Darkness -style93-
08/24/1994 - Shapeless
05/15/1995 - Six/Nine
12/01/1995 - Catalogue 1987-1995
06/21/1996 - Cosmos
12/10/1997 - Sexy Stream Liner
08/12/1998 - Sweet Strange Live Disc
03/20/1999 - BT
03/29/2000 - 97BT99
09/20/2000 - One Life, One Death
03/28/2001 - One Life, One Death Cut Up
12/19/2001 - Super Value Buck-Tick
02/06/2002 - Kyokuto I Love You
02/13/2003 - Mona Lisa Overdrive
04/07/2004 - At The Night Side
12/22/2004 - Akuma to Freud- Climax Together 2004
04/06/2005 - 13kai wa Gekkou
12/07/2005 - Catalogue 2005
09/19/2007 - Tenshi no Revolver
Chronological Discography
1st single: 10/21/1986 - To-Search/Plastic Syndrome
1st album: 04/21/1987 - Hurry Up Mode
2nd album: 11/21/1987 - Sexual xxxxx!
1st mini-album: 03/21/1988 - Romanesque
3rd album: 06/21/1988 - Seventh Heaven
2nd single: 10/261988 - Just One More Kiss
4th album: 01/18/1989 - Taboo
3rd single: 01/24/1990 - Aku no Hana
5th album: 02/01/1990 - Aku no Hana
1st remix album: 02/08/1990 - Hurry Up (1990 Mix)
2nd remix album: 07/21/1990 - Symphonic Buck-Tick in Berlin
4th single: 01/21/1991 - Speed
6th album: 02/21/1991 - Kurutta Taiyou
5th single: 06/05/1991 - M・A・D
6th single: 10/30/1991 - Jupiter
1st compilation album: 03/21/1992 - Koroshi no Shirabe This Is NOT Greatest Hits
7th single: 05/21/1993 - Dress
7th album: 06/23/1993 - Darker than Darkness -style93-
8th single: 10/21/1993 - Die
3rd remix album: 08/24/1994 - Shapeless
9th single: 03/24/1995 - Uta
10th single: 04/21/1995 - Kodou
8th album: 05/15/1995 - Six/Nine
11th single: 09/21/1995 - Mienai Mono o Miyo to Suru Gokai Subete Gokai da
2nd compilation album: 12/01/1995 - Catalogue 1987-1995
12th single: 05/22/1996 - Candy
9th album: 06/21/1996 - Cosmos
13th single: 11/12/1997 - Heroin
10th album; 12/10/1997 - Sexy Stream Liner
14th single: 03/11/1998 - Sasayaki
15th single: 05/13/1998 - Gessekai
1st live album: 08/12/1998 - Sweet Strange Live Disc
2nd mini-album: 03/11/1999 - LTD
3rd compilation album: 03/20/1999 - BT
16th single: 07/14/1999 - Bran-New Lover
17th single: 10/20/1999 - Miu
4th compilation album: 03/29/2000 - 97BT99
18th single: 09/06/2000 - Glamorous
11th album: 09/20/2000 - One Life, One Death
2nd live album: 03/28/2001 - One Life, One Death Cut Up
19th single: 11/21/2001 - 21st Cherry Boy
5th compilation album: 12/19/2001 - Super Value Buck-Tick
20th single: 02/20/2002 - Kyokutou Yori Ai wo Komete
12th album: 03/06/2002 - Kyokuto I Love You
21st single: 01/18/2003 - Zangai
13th album: 02/13/2003 - Mona Lisa Overdrive
22nd single: 12/03/2003 - Gensou no Hana
3rd live album: 04/07/2004 - At The Night Side
6th compilation album: 12/22/2004 - Akuma to Freud- Climax Together 2004
23rd single: 03/02/2005 - Romsnce
14th album: 04/06/2005 - 13kai wa Gekkou
7th compilation album: 12/07/2005 - Catalogue 2005
24th single: 08/02/2006 - Kagerou
25th single: 06/06/2007 - Rendezvous
26th single: 08/08/2007 - Alice in Wonder Underground
15th album: 09/19/2007 - Tenshi no Revolver
27th single: 12/17/2008 - Heaven
Credits: Buck-Tick Zone, Wikipedia
For the most part, I usually rather like Buck-Tick. They have a really dark sound but it’s really great music. The vocalist has a really deep and penetrating voice that, when used in conjunction with the sometimes gothic-like music, makes really dark and meaningful music.
Kagerou
This song is just as dark as any of their others, despite the kind of faster melody, and it’s not just because the video is really dark and everything is in black. Lol. It just kind of has a feeling of being a heavy song, a meaningful but dark (sorry I just can’t think of any other word lol). The lyrics aren’t really dark but their kind of…unhappy. I can’t exactly describe the feel I get from the song or the lyrics. You just have to listen to understand.
Lyrics + Translation | PV | Download
Please comment if you downloaded, or if you want to say something! I'm up for comment discussions. =D
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