太陽に殺された

A few beautiful moments of MISTY BLUE.

Since finding out the news of Atsushi Sakurai’s passing I’ve had so many thoughts and emotions that it’s taken me until now to begin to sort them all out. I first began listening to Buck-Tick several years ago and have fallen more in love with the band and their music as time goes on. …Occasionally, you’ll come across a band or an artist that embodies a feeling of magic. For me Sakurai and Buck-Tick are just such a band, and in the time that I’ve listened to them, I have experienced so much magic from their music and have so many memories that are connected to their songs. Whether it’s memories of my late grandfather and father whenever I listen to Angelic Conversation or Message, and the comfort I found from Buck-Tick's music during that time. Or the magic of watching the beauty of the sunrise while listening to Cosmos, and of taking in the landscape of the countryside while driving through it with any number of Buck-Tick’s songs playing on my car’s radio. I also think of the magic of being inspired by Buck-Tick’s music while writing my stories and listening to them as I bring scenes to life with words. Or in coming up with ideas for modifying the shirts I’ve purchased from their website to make a unique piece of clothing for myself, and in some small way having my own creativity fused with that of Sakurai and Buck-Tick. Which in itself is a very special sort of magic. I’ve sometimes heard that magic is a form of energy, and if so then it can never be destroyed but only change form. So now rather than being embodied by Sakurai himself, a piece of that magic will continue on as long as he is remembered and as new and old fans continue to listen to and enjoy the art he created during his lifetime.

I'm deeply saddened by the news of his passing, as I can imagine a lot of people are. With his music he's inspired people for decades and we will never forget him for that. I'm deeply grateful to have lived at the same time as him, even though I never got to experience Buck-Tick live.

Now and forever, he will live on in our hearts and through his music.

We love you. Rest easy, legend. 🖤