What do you call a band that has been around heavily influencing most current J-Rock artist for over Twenty years, continuing to evolve and improve over time, that are considered legends of the industry, that happen not to be X-Japan? Answer: Buck-Tick.

Their saga starts back in 1983 when a young Hisashi Imai decides he wants to form a band of his own. He put the word out around school. U-ta joined up on bass then Hide on guitar followed by Atsushi who heard about the band and asked to be a drummer and finally Araki was on vocals. Now that they were together they only had to do one thing. Learn to actually play their instruments they had chosen.

Over the next year they worked hard on their band, 'Hinan Go-Go', and even got to play at an amateur band festival. Shortly afterwards Hisashi and Araki moved to Tokyo and the band took on a new name, Buck-Tick. However B-T was about to face an even bigger change. Araki ended up leaving as the bands vocalist leaving them without a frontman. Astushi stepped out from behind the drums to take over as vocalist. Now they had that position filled but it left them without a drummer. They had a grand plan for that too.

U-ta happened to have an older brother, Toll, who was a drummer. When 'SP' the band he was in broke up they made their move. U-ta headed the campaign for him join as Buck-Ticks drummer. This wasn't easy since he wasn't very into the idea and was wanting to leave the band scene behind. They finally convinced him to give Buck-Tick a chance. If he did and it failed then he could quit. December 4th of 1985 the new lineup played their first show. In 1986 they signed up to Indies label 'Taiyo Records' and released their first single. A fanclub soon followed. From there they took off and could not be stopped.

They released their first album 'Hurry Up Mode' in April of 1987 and went on tour. They were quickly signed into a major label and their first major album was released in November of 1987. After that they began their endless cycle of releasing and touring, gaining popularity every step of the way. Each new album was an evolution and every new tour was something different then before.

Over the years they have had rough patches that threatened them both personally and professionally but they have seen it all through and risen above it more magnificent then before. Over 20 years after they first came together they are still as close and as imaginative as ever with their name still on the rise. They have proven their talent many times over and shown why Buck-Tick are able to withstand the test of time when so many others have faded.

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