In 1983, high school students Hisashi Imai on guitar, and Yutaka (U-ta) Higuchi on bass, decided to start a band together. They recruited guitarist Hidehiko Hoshino, drummer Atsushi Sakurai and vocalist Araki, and became the band Hinan Go-Go. Without prior knowledge of their chosen instruments, the group learned to play through cover songs. The following year, Hinan Go-Go played their first festival in their native Gunma, and decided to officially change the name of the band to BUCK-TICK, said to be the romanization of "fire-cracker".
The year 1985 saw major changes for the band. The original vocalist Araki mutually parted with the young group, leaving the lineup without a vocalist. It was then that Atsushi assumed the role of vocals, leaving the drums to U-ta’s older brother Toll Yagami, who had just seen the break-up of SP, the band he had been in since the early 80’s.Toll was less than enthusiastic about the prospect of joining his younger brother's band, but in the end U-ta succeeded in convincing him. The lineup for the BUCK-TICK we know today was born: Atsushi on vocals, Imai and Hidehiko on guitars, U-ta on bass, and Toll on drums.
The following years saw a flurry of activity for BUCK-TICK. The band signed with Indies label Taiyo Records in late 1986 and released their first single, To-Search and first album Hurry Up Mode. Following their indie release, BUCK-TICK signed on to major label Victor/Invitation. The group was touring non-stop, and the steady release of albums and videos, including their first major label release SEXUAL XXXXX! in 1987, kept them in the public eye where their popularity continued to grow.
Four tours, multiple single live performances, three albums, and a non-stop stream of media exposure took its toll on the band, and in April of 1989, Imai was arrested on charges of drug possession. However, after a forced break of several months, the band was back on top once more when they re-emerged in December and sold out the Tokyo Dome.
The band continued on their rise to stardom over the next several years, with no less than eight tours between 1990 and 1997, and eleven album releases in the same time period.
BUCK-TICK became well-known for their amazing live shows, in which the stage sets themselves are worth the price of admission. From intricately decorated Egyptian themed sets to deadly looking steel rods and terrifying circus acts, a BUCK-TICK live is like no other. Throw in the band's endlessly changing wardrobe styles, and BUCK-TICK gives "Visual Kei" a whole new, or perhaps rather a literal, meaning.
1997 saw the end of BUCK-TICK's long relationship with Victor records when they signed with Mercury Music Entertainment. During these next years, the band members branched out and began the first of many side projects and guest appearances, including Imai's collaboration with Maki Fujii. Ten years had elapsed since their major label debut, and the band showed no signs of slowing down.
The year 1998 was the band's first foray into the world of anime when they released the song Gessekai, which was used as the opening theme for "Night Walker." A remix of their hit, Dress, would later be used as the opening theme for "Trinity Blood". The band changed labels once again in 2000. One Life, One Death was their first release with BMG-Funhouse, which they are presently still signed.
The next several years saw even more side projects, which included the bands Schwein and Lucy, solo work, guest appearances, and more tours. There were eight more tours between 2000 and 2007, as well as numerous single live shows and another nine albums. Plans in 2008 presented two new singles, Galaxy and Heaven, both of which will be released on 2009’s album, Memento Mori.
In their 20 plus year career, BUCK-TICK has undergone the evolution from a spiky haired indies band to polished professionals. Between births and deaths, marriages and divorces, BUCK-TICK has grown up in the public eye.
Their musicianship improves with each new release, and luckily for fans, the band shows no signs of stopping. Whether it be side projects like Lucy & Dropz, or solo work like Sakurai's Planet of love, BUCK-TICK's members never fail to please and surprise their fans. With any luck, they'll be entertaining for many years to come.
BUCK-TICK, one of the pioneering bands of visual kei, have a sound that is uniquely their own. With lyrics covering topics from the uselessness of life, to love, to the death of a parent, BUCK-TICK always have something to say, and they say it in their own way.
These 20 year veterans easily carry a wide variety of styles under their belts, both in music and in fashion. From pop, to goth, to experimental; this band does it all. In each song there is a special BUCK-TICK "je ne sais quoi" that makes the group identifiable before vocalist Sakurai Atsushi sings a note.
In the early years the band could often be found sporting foot-high hair, gas masks, fish-net stockings, ladies' scarves and matador gear. Happily, as the band has matured, they have settled in to a sleeker, more sophisticated style, featuring classic suits, trench coats, and darker, yet subtle apparel. With the exception of drummer Yagami Toll, BUCK-TICK's hair styles no longer pose a threat to society.
