Hisashi Imai

Hisashi Imai (今井 寿, Imai Hisashi, born October 21, 1965 in Fujioka, Gunma, Japan) is a Japanese musician and songwriter. He has been known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Buck-Tick since 1983. He has also performed in musical side-projects such as Schaft (1991–1994, 2015),[2][3] Schwein (2001),[4] and more recently Lucy (2004).[5]

Hisashi Imai
Born (1965-10-21) October 21, 1965[1]
OriginFujioka, Gunma, Japan
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, theremin
Years active1983–present
Member ofBuck-Tick
Formerly ofSchaft, Schwein

Career

Imai has been the guitarist and main composer of Buck-Tick since 1983.[6][7] Despite being right-handed, he plays guitar left-handed.[8] In 1984, when Imai and his friend and Buck-Tick's original singer Araki graduated high school, they moved to Tokyo together, where Imai entered design school.[9] Imai was also the main lyricist on their first two studio albums, Hurry Up Mode and Sexual XXXXX!, both released in 1987.

In April 1989, Imai was arrested for LSD possession and the band briefly halted activities.[10][11] The guitarist was given a suspended sentence, and the band's agency was flooded with fan letters pleading for them not to disband.[12] That autumn, they entered the studio to record their fifth studio album Aku no Hana. When released in February 1990, it reached number one and became their best-selling album to date.[13]

In 2008, Imai announced on his blog that he got married.[14] He announced the birth of his first child in August 2013.[15]

Imai has also appeared on/composed for Mika Kaneko's Kick, Naoko Nozawa's Tonkichi Chinpei Kanta, Der Zibet's Shishunki II, Soft Ballet's Million Mirrors, The Stalin's Shinda Mono Hodo Aishite Yaru Sa, PIG's Sinsation and Wrecked, Yukinojo Mori's Tenshi no Ita Wakusei and Poetic Evolution ~With Eleven Guitarists~,[16] Guniw Tools's Dazzle, Acid Android's Code, the compilation Tribute to The Star Club featuring Hikage, and Tomoyasu Hotei's All Time Super Guest.[17] Together with Yukinojo Mori, Imai covered the song "Eyes Love You" for the 2013 Hide tribute album Tribute VII -Rock Spirits-.[18]

In 2004, Imai formed the rock band Lucy with guitarist and vocalist Kiyoshi (ex. Spread Beaver, Machine) and drummer Katsushige Okazaki (Age of Punk).[19] Both Imai and Kiyoshi play guitars, sing, and write music and lyrics for the group. Lucy has released two albums; Rockarollica and Rockarollica II, three DVDs; Lucy Show - Shout, Speed, Shake Your Rockarollica, Lucy Show 002 Live at Unit and Lucy Show 002 Live at Studio Coast, and one single; "Bullets -Shooting Super Star-".[19] However, they have been inactive since November 2008.

Discography
With Buck-Tick
Main article: Buck-Tick discography
With Lucy
  • Rockarollica (June 9, 2004) Oricon peak position: #16[20]
  • Lucy Show - Shout, Speed, Shake Your Rockarollica (November 17, 2004) #35[21]
  • "Bullets -Shooting Super Star-" (March 29, 2006) #28[22]
  • Rockarollica II (April 26, 2006) #42[20]
  • Lucy Show 002 Live at Unit (November 1, 2006) #52[21]
  • Lucy Show 002 Live at Studio Coast (November 1, 2006) #46[21]

References
  1. "今井 寿" (in Japanese). Vogue Japan. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  2. "SCHAFT Interview" (in Japanese). Gekirock. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  3. "SCHAFT Releases First Album in 20 years". Jrocknews. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  4. "Sakurai Atsushi JaME Profile". jame-world.com. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  5. "Lucy". Jame World. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  6. "Discrogaphy". buck-tick.com. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  7. Josephine Yun (2005). "X Japan". Jrock, Ink.: A Concise Report on 40 of the Biggest Rock Acts in Japan. Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 9781880656952.
  8. "氣志團 綾小路 翔、ロックスターであり続けるBUCK-TICKへの憧れ　青春を捧げた思い出から交流秘話まで明かす" (in Japanese). Real Sound. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  9. Love Me, Yasue Matsuura, Takao Nakagawa; Shinko Music Publishing Company, Ltd. 1989. ISBN 4-401-61275-2.
  10. "櫻井敦司さん急逝 芸能界から追悼の声 メンバーや後輩IZAMら悲痛　音楽業界に衝撃…出版社もコメント". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  11. "バクチク　リーダー今井 LSD汚染". Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 1989-04-22. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30.
  12. "【追悼】BUCK-TICK・櫻井敦司さん急逝に布袋寅泰ら音楽界から悲しみの声、「解散するなら死にます」熱狂的ファンから過激に愛され続けた"カリスマバンド伝説"". Shūjo Prime (in Japanese). Shufu to Seikatsu Sha. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  13. "【オリコン】BUCK-TICKの主な記録 『悪の華』など5作でオリコン週間アルバムランキング1位獲得". Oricon (in Japanese). 2023-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  14. "Imai Hisashi from Buck-Tick has Married!!". musicjapanplus.jp. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  15. "[Column] Buck-Tick Imai Hisashi, first child born!". musicjapanplus.jp. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  16. "Yukinojo Mori - Poetic Evolution". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  17. "Hotei Tomoyasu's Anniversary Album Featuring Imai Miki and MIYAVI". musicjapanplus.jp. Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  18. "hide Tribute VII -Rock SPIRITS-". cdjapan.jp. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  19. "Lucy JaME Profile". jame-world.com. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  20. "Lucyのアルバム売り上げランキング". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  21. "LucyのDVD売り上げランキング". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-05-20.
  22. "Lucyのシングル売り上げランキング". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2012-05-20.
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