BUCK-TICK Vocalist Atsushi Sakurai Dies at 57

by DatRandomDude
Oct 24, 2023 7:57 PM | 30 Comments

BUCK-TICK vocalist Atsushi Sakurai died on October 19 at 11:09 p.m. from a brainstem hemorrhage. He was 57. A funeral was held by his immediate family, and a public memorial by his agency is planned for later.

BUCK-TICK was scheduled to perform a fan club concert at KT Zepp Yokohama on October 19, but canceled it due to Sakurai's poor condition. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died shortly after.

Sakurai formed BUCK-TICK with fellow members Hisashi Imai, Hidehiko Hoshino on guitars and backing vocals; Yutaka Higuchi, and Toll Yagami in 1987. The band made a breakthrough with their single "JUST ONE MORE KISS" the following year and became prominent in the J-rock scene with several hit albums in the 90s. Since their debut, the band has not changed members and released 23 studio albums and 43 singles over 36 years. BUCK-TICK is often credited as one of the main founders of the visual kei movement.

BUCK-TICK performed anime theme songs for Shiki, xxxHOLiC, Trinity Blood, and Night Walker: Mayonaka no Tantei (Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective). Their most recent anime song was the fifth ending theme of 2018's Gegege no Kitarou.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun, Music Natalie

Life Event

20 of 30 Comments Recent Comments

It has been almost two months since he passed away and I'm still not fully recovered from the shock... I discovered the band last year and started listening to it's songs since the beginning of this year...

Thank you, Acchan. I will forever be grateful for all the times your mesmerizing voice saved my life.

Dec 13, 2023 9:00 AM by SamSamy

Oh my god. Rest in peace. GOAT

Nov 21, 2023 12:55 PM by Ketereles

That's rough. Nightwalker was one of the first anime I rented as a teenager and Gessekai has been one of my favorite anime OPs ever since. RIP my guy.

Nov 4, 2023 11:10 AM by NTAD

The vocals for Kuchizuke, the first OP for Shiki, were top class. May he rest in peace.

Oct 28, 2023 4:35 PM by Rebia-tan

Just heard about this sad news... I was listening to Buck-Tick and Malice Mizer a lot last winter.
Rest in peace king

Oct 28, 2023 2:24 PM by Verdandi-

Rest in Peace, Japanese singer.

Oct 28, 2023 7:44 AM by KingMegumi

this is shocking :(

Rest in peace ♥️

Oct 27, 2023 2:22 PM by Hirax

WHAT
I just finished Shiki like 2 weeks ago. His song was stuck in my head.
RIP

Oct 26, 2023 5:05 AM by -Lwy-

I was completely taken by surprise by this sad news 😔, Dress is one of my favorite songs, rest in peace Sakurai-san! 🙏

Oct 25, 2023 4:31 PM by Jonas-K

RIP, gone too soon. I still listen to the first xxxHolic opening.

Oct 25, 2023 3:37 PM by malvarez1

I am so sad. RIP you talented person. Never forgotten ❤️

Oct 25, 2023 1:22 PM by Oddish

Rest in peace, Acchan. 🖤 Thank you for everything.

Oct 25, 2023 10:47 AM by ishiruchan

Man, the OP Buck-Tick did for Shiki was an absolute banger that I blast on my Spotify playlist to this day. RIP.

Oct 25, 2023 9:54 AM by PeripheralVision

Ohgod, I can't believe he's dead 🤧 I remember writing about him for a writing assignment I had way back in college 💔 I practiced Japanese listening to their songs and comparing my grammar notes, I still know the lyrics to their song "Dress" and learned many slang vocabulary from them, too ❤️ My heart is broke for his family and friends 😔 Rest in peace legend 🛐

Oct 25, 2023 8:20 AM by hinfatuation

@geppe It’s hard to forget that already legendary story about how he saw his photo on a classmate's desk and was motivated to become a rock star. Yes, considering what a perfect embodiment of a rocker Atsushi was, I understand him.

Oct 25, 2023 7:35 AM by RobertBobert

@RobertBobert hey someone realized! yes Kyo is my favorite singer, he loved Atsushi Sakurai and BUCK-TICK apparently.

Oct 25, 2023 7:30 AM by geppe

@geppe Do you love Dir En Grey?

Oct 25, 2023 7:16 AM by RobertBobert

your hauntingly beautiful song Dress on Trinity Blood would help me fall asleep as a kid. you were also the inspiration for one of my favorite singers of all time. thank you! rest well.

Oct 25, 2023 6:55 AM by geppe

RIP, the songs they did for Shiki are really good and memorable.

Oct 25, 2023 6:02 AM by Ramkec

@Yubisoft This is the modern age of the stars of the 80s and 90s. Although it would seem that just yesterday you could have been called “kid” because of your love for them.

Oct 25, 2023 4:51 AM by RobertBobert

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