Atsushi Sakurai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atsushi Sakurai
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Sakurai performing in 2017
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | 桜井 敦司 |
| Born | March 7, 1966 Fujioka, Gunma, Japan |
| Died | October 19, 2023 (aged 57) Yokohama, Japan |
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| Years active | 1983–2023 |
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Atsushi Sakurai (櫻井 敦司, Sakurai Atsushi, March 7, 1966 – October 19, 2023) was a famous Japanese musician and singer. He was best known as the lead singer and main songwriter for the rock band Buck-Tick. He joined the band in 1985 and stayed with them until he passed away in 2023.
Before becoming the singer, Sakurai started as the band's drummer in 1983. He led Buck-Tick for 38 years, releasing 23 studio albums. Almost all of their albums reached the top ten on Japan's music charts. Buck-Tick is often seen as one of the bands that started the visual kei music style.
Outside of Buck-Tick, Sakurai also released his own solo album called Ai no Wakusei in 2004. He was also part of other music projects like Schwein and The Mortal. Sadly, Atsushi Sakurai passed away on October 19, 2023, after becoming ill during a Buck-Tick concert.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Atsushi Sakurai was born in Fujioka, Gunma, Japan, on March 7, 1966. He was the younger of two sons. When he was in elementary school, he bought his first music record and loved listening to music. He enjoyed bands like Kiss and the Bay City Rollers.
Later, in high school, he became friends with Hisashi Imai. Imai introduced him to punk rock music. They often talked about starting a band, even though they couldn't play instruments yet. Sakurai decided he wanted to play the drums because he thought it looked cool.
He was inspired by other bands from his area, like Boøwy, and also by artists like Bauhaus and David Bowie. After finishing high school in 1984, Sakurai got a job but kept playing music with his band, which soon became known as Buck-Tick.
Music Career
Buck-Tick's Rise to Fame
When the other members of Buck-Tick moved to Tokyo after high school, Sakurai stayed in Gunma for a while. He then decided he wanted to be a singer. In December 1985, the singer of Buck-Tick left, and Sakurai successfully became the band's new frontman.
Buck-Tick released their first major album, ... XXXXX!, in 1987. Their song "Just One More Kiss" became a big hit in 1988, reaching number six on the Japanese music charts. The next year, their album Taboo reached number one. They even performed at the famous Tokyo Dome for the first time.
In 1990, their song "Aku no Hana" and the album of the same name both reached number one. Buck-Tick continued to be very successful for over 30 years. Almost all of their albums after that also reached the top ten on the charts. Their last album with Sakurai, Izora, was released in 2023.
Sakurai had some health challenges during his career. In 1996, a tour was postponed because he became seriously ill and had to be hospitalized. In 2018, he finished a concert even though he was visibly unwell. He was later diagnosed with a health issue that required treatment.
Solo Work and Collaborations
Besides Buck-Tick, Atsushi Sakurai also worked on other music projects. He sang on songs for other artists like Der Zibet and Xymox. He also provided backing vocals for Pig.
In 2001, Sakurai and his Buck-Tick bandmate Hisashi Imai formed a supergroup called Schwein with musicians Raymond Watts and Sascha Konietzko. They released an album and went on a tour in Japan.
In 2004, Sakurai released his first solo album, Ai no Wakusei. He also acted in a short film called Longinus that year. He even released a book of his poetry and song lyrics.
In 2015, he started another solo project called The Mortal. This group released a mini-album and a full album, and also went on tour. Sakurai also wrote lyrics for other artists and sang a duet with Ringo Sheena for her 2019 album.
Death and Lasting Impact
On October 19, 2023, Atsushi Sakurai was performing with Buck-Tick at a concert in Yokohama, Japan. During the show, he suddenly became ill and was taken to the hospital. The concert had to end early. Sadly, he passed away later that night at the age of 57. The cause of death was a brainstem hemorrhage.
His death was announced a few days later, and a private funeral was held for his family and close friends. Buck-Tick held a special two-day memorial event for him in December, which about 20,000 people attended.
Many musicians and fans remembered Sakurai as a very important figure in Japanese rock music. He was known for his unique singing voice and his strong presence on stage. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 65th Japan Record Awards in December 2023.
Atsushi Sakurai's looks and style also inspired many fictional characters in manga and anime. Other famous musicians, like Dir En Grey's Kyo and Mucc's Tatsuro, have said that Sakurai influenced them greatly. He left a lasting mark on the music world.
Images for kids
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Sakurai performing in 2017
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KT Zepp Yokohama, where Sakurai performed his last concert.
