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