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Happy New Year, Blog-Tickers! It's officially Buck-Tick's 30th anniversary now, and it just so happens to also be the Year of the Red Fire Cock. Coincidence? We don't think so. Sure, your friends at work are probably genteelly insisting that it's the Year of the Rooster, but here on Blog-Tick, we call it like it is. This is also an excellent year to enjoy Sriracha Red Pepper Cock Sauce, so stock up while supplies last!
Anyhow, as y'all may have heard, Buck-Tick's plans for this momentous year are somewhat hazy at the moment. Following the Atom Miraiha Hall Tour Final at the Nippon Budoukan on December 29th, the following was announced:
For those of you who can't read Japanese: Buck-Tick's 30th anniversary project kicks off in September. They'll be playing a solo show outdoors on Odaiba, followed by a Day in Question national tour that will run from October through December. On December 23rd, they will play a Day in Question concert at Takasaki Arena, followed by the DIQ at the Budoukan on December 29th. They will then be releasing a new album in spring of 2018.
If you're confused about what this actually means, you're not alone. The Japanese fans are confused, too, not least because of the fact that there have been absolutely no announcements regarding whether or not Buck-Tick will undertake a general-admission standing tour to support Atom Miraiha No. 9. Their Fish Tanker's Only tour kicks off at the end of this month, but ticket sales have been unusually stagnant and some of the shows have now gone into an unheard-of fourth round of lotteries. Would they have sold more tickets if they'd made the shows general admission instead of fanclub-only? Almost certainly. Are they having management problems? We don't want to start rumors, but it certainly seems like it. For one thing, announcing an album to be released in spring of 2018 sounds more than a tad premature. Back when they were fresh-faced twentysomethings, Victor was known to work them like a slavedriver, forcing them to write and record songs while simultaneously touring the country...but this time around, they're supposedly still on Lingua Sounda, so shouldn't things be different? Plus, frankly, Buck-Tick are not the hot shit like they once were. If the stagnating Fish Tank ticket sales are any indication, they're losing popularity, not gaining it. They cannot possibly be Victor's cash cow anymore. Overworking the band at this mellow and mature point in their career seems like a waste.
Also, it's not looking like they'll be mounting a 30th anniversary festival, and if they were looking to attract new fans, that's a damn shame, because the 25th anniversary festival brought in a lot of new blood out of the visual kei scene. Festivals are a great way to get exposure to people who might like your music but aren't quite sure. Perhaps they decided not to mount one due to the logistical hell of dealing with all those contracts, but the 25th anniversary festival was such a lovely experience overall it's very disappointing that they seem to have chosen not to relive it. We can only hope that whatever concert they mount on their own is unusually long and special to make up for it.
As for the Day in Question 2-month national tour, I think this is a coded way of saying they're going to do a full-on national tour playing tracks from their back catalogue. Whether it will be a hall tour, a standing tour, or a mix of both remains to be seen - but kids, let's cross our fingers and hope for a standing tour, because rock music simply was not intended to be listened to from a red plush seat at the back of some government-owned auditorium.
Anyhow, if there is any chance of an Atom Miraiha standing tour, it's unlikely to happen until spring, since the December issue of the Fish Tank newsletter made no mention of any such possibility. Keep your fingers crossed and your eyes peeled.
All in all, if all this sounds like a bit of an anti-climax together to you, well, pray that those words at the bottom, "And More," are not lies.
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We'll try to get our live report up sooner rather than later. We're sorry we've been so behind on the articles. In truth, the Curse of 2016 had its fair share of negative effects on us just as it did on many other people, and consequently, we've having a bit of a crisis of faith of late. The more comments you leave to remind us that Buck-Tick's fans (and management...not gonna name names) aren't entirely horrible people, the more incentive you'll give us to put the past in the past and press ahead with a brave face.
To quote a favorite author of ours: "People who didn't know the music industry believed that the movie business was the ne plus ultra of vicious, asshole-chewing, hyena-like behavior."
It's true, kids, and it sucks. Please remind us why we started this blog in the first place: for y'all, and not for those people. But honestly. You'd think that if you got to work with a band as cool as Buck-Tick, you'd be so satisfied with your life that you wouldn't need to be a vicious hyena-chewing asshole...yet not so. It's a sick, sad world, but let's get our Red Fire Cock anyplace we can.
Happy New Year too Cayce!We've all been waited with bated breath about your reports tbh, but we understand when you're late. We all got a taste of the tour with the NicoNico broadcast that some gentle souls decided to record and share with those who aren't premium members. Everybody thought that the live was wonderful and we got to see a bit of the thightease. However, what you say sounds rather disappointing. Did the japanese fans not like the album? Western fans sure loved it and were feeling pretty jealous of those who got the opportunity to attend.I personally thought that the audience was really, really quiet during and after the performances tbh and that was underwhelming. We were also very excited when we read that DIQ announcement, but now Idk what to think anymore.:/ Hoping for the best though and may you have a brilliant year!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently in the process of writing an article about the problems I have been encountering with the Japanese fandom which will explain all this a bit better. I think the fans did like the album, insofar as they care about the music at all. Unfortunately, for a lot of them these days, the music seems to be a mere accessory to idol worship. I believe this is the reason for the tepid crowd response at the tour. It's hard to tell but I think the fandom's taken a sour turn over the past 2-3 years or so, too. More on this in the upcoming article.
DeleteAww man, this sucks! Can't believe that B-T would have these kinds of problems at their age. Looking forward to your article as usual. Thank you!
DeleteAre things really that bad? I mean, what Sakurai Ao said after the Budoukan show was about thighs, just like all those fans, but Sakurai Ao certainly loves B-T's music, doesn't he?
DeleteSakurai Ao is a professional gay man. He can talk about man-thighs as much as he wants.
DeleteWell, even fanboys present at the lives were talking a lot about the thighs and garters tbh, lol ... At least from the comments I've read.Maybe that's why everybody was so quiet, they were waiting for "le thighs".
DeleteIt has been my observation that even self-declared heterosexual fanboys tend to question their sexual orientation when it comes to B-T. And B-T have a lot of queer fans to begin with.
DeleteI definitely have my fingers crossed for some general admission standing tour action. I'm all for F-T only tours as well, but can't see the benefit of having one in place of an album tour and immediately on the heels of a hall tour during which the fan club folks frankly are probably the ones who spent the most.
ReplyDeleteI had no clue some arseholes are capable of viciously chewing hyenas. What kind of butt exercises could they possibly do? And why? Let's just hope they don't want to test their powers on bengals soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad to hear that. Also quite scared of how this will affect the band. Hang in there, Buck-Tick and Cayce. I don't even want to think of the possibility of either of you being gone from my life.
Hi there, been a reader for quite a while but never really commented. Just wondering what happened to inspire those last 2 paragraphs? All Buck Tick fans I've ever have words are lovely people (minus the people in The Mortal live report, that sounded pretty bad), so I'm just curious.
ReplyDeleteIn a nutshell, it's the phenomenon of celebrity worship - the objectification and dehumanization of famous people, and all the horrible behavior that phenomenon gives rise to: jealousy, possessiveness, stalking and influence-peddling. If everyone respected Buck-Tick primarily for their music, things would be different, but unfortunately, the people who respect the band as artists are in the extreme minority, and I'm including segments of the band's management in that statement. Everything looks better from further away. If you've only ever met nice B-T fans, try to keep it that way.
DeleteOh, also - rampant racial profiling of foreign fans, which is a new thing. Examples Cayce has witnessed:
Delete- Live house security demanding that foreign fans leave a public smoking area on the street outside a venue, on the assumption that they were there to hang around stalking band members (when in fact, they were just having a smoke.) Fans pointed out that the guards had no right to demand they leave a public street. Guard became angry and started yelling at fans.
- Security guard physically pushing foreign fans out of a venue a mere ten minutes after the show was over (they were preparing to leave, they were just trying to finish their beer first.) Fans had not done anything inappropriate to provoke security. Guard was male, fans were female. Guard laid hands on the fans without their consent - totally out of line.
- Security guards at the Budoukan attempting to prevent foreign fans from re-entering the hall after leaving to use the toilet. Male guard grabbed hold of female fan's arms multiple times before the fan was able to elude him and return to her seat. In previous years, it has always been perfectly fine for fans to leave the hall to use the toilet, then return right after. Japanese fans did not report similar treatment.
- Security guards getting so close to a foreign fan with a front row seat on the Atom Miraiha hall tour that she barely had room to stand in front of her seat and had to move into the aisle instead (this despite the fact that the fan in question had made no attempt to get inappropriately close to the stage, touch the band members, or interfere with the show in any way.) Guards were male, fan was female. Guard was kneeling on the floor with his face extremely close to the female fan's pelvic region. Borderline sexual harassment. Female fan's Japanese male companion received similar treatment and became irate.
It's worth noting that these security guards are not in the employ of Buck-Tick's management, but are temporary contract employees employed by venues. However, their behavior demonstrates a fundamental lack of trust and respect - an automatic assumption that fans must be up to no good, despite zero evidence that this is the case. Being treated this way by venue security really puts a damper on the live experience.
DeleteFurthermore, all of the above incidents occurred within the past year and a half. If you'd asked me about racial profiling incidents back in 2014, I'd have told you it was unheard of.
DeleteWow this sounds absolutely terrible :[
DeleteDespite most likely not having the opportunity to go to Japan to see them, the racial profiling has really put me off to even attempt in the first place. Disgraceful when people like me (UK reader here) follow the band while importing their stuff overseas to support them can only really have a limited experience of being a Buck Tick fan while people in Japan are squandering it and ruining other people's enjoyment. I appreciate every article you make on here, and I'm sure everyone who's reading this blog feels the same.
Looking forward to your next article, as always.
Oh, please don't take racial profiling as an excuse not to visit Japan! For the most part, visitors to Japan are treated with courtesy, warmth and respect.
DeleteHonestly, one big reason why the incidents of racial profiling have been so galling is that typically, this kind of stuff very rarely happens. I do wonder why it started to happen so much more recently. It could be that a foreign fan perpetuated some sort of problematic incident and now all foreign fans have been tarred with the same brush. Unfair, because usually if anyone's causing trouble it's the Japanese fans, but this goes along with what I said in my Japanese concert guide about the need to be on your best behavior while traveling abroad - when you go abroad you're an ambassador for your country. Anything you do as a foreigner in Japan reflects on all foreigners in Japan, so choose your actions wisely.
That said, Blog-Tickers: if a security guard touches you without your consent, please defend yourself. And if someone other than a police officer tries to get you to leave a public street, you should feel no obligation to move. If you're visiting Japan on a valid visa you have as much right to be in the street as anyone else.
Cayce, you should mail BT at bt@buck-tick.com (is this the famous one and only BT e mail address available and also the solely way of fans to contact the band?) and tell them they should put pressures on who the f%#$ hired those disgusting security guards to launch an investigation so that those terrible people will get arrested or smthn. But then again, how can we be sure your account of all those examples of sickening behavior you witnessed will be read by the team in charge of receiving e mails from fans, let alone BT themselves?
DeleteI think I already said this, but security guards aren't employed by the band, they're employed by the venue through an intermediary agency, so the band has no control over them. But even if they did, I doubt they would listen to any sort of complaint. Decades of dealing with bad behavior by a few crazy fangirls has made Buck-Tick's own security management sour and paranoid to a rather excessive degree. Fans are guilty until proven innocent. That, my friends, is what fangirl culture has brought us.
DeleteI must confess, I sometimes read from diligent and informative bloggers like you and imagine I know the band more than a mere fan does, I'll keep an eye on myself. It's been only an year and half since I started to like the band, but I got to know some really nice fans, and foreigners like me with awful Japanese rely on bloggers like you alot. Every post makes my day. BT had ups and downs in their long career and this actually reflects real life, which makes them all the more attractive. Lets hope anything awful will work out eventually. For those without the ability (like myself), to work with the band is a dream come true (because we don't know better!), just something to think of :)
ReplyDeletePlease keep on keeping on with the sassy, snarky blog-tick!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Cayce and everyone :) It's finally here... can’t express how grateful I am for B-T being blessed to see their 30th year. This year, after much back and forth (lol I almost convinced myself it’s a bad idea), I will go to see them. Well, compared to all the other bands I’ve been a fan of for much longer but never got the chance to see – I didn’t have to wait so long to see B-T. I guess that’s a good thing. Though I do feel unworthy. This year… I wish that everyone who holds the hope in their heart to see B-T, I’m certain, much more than I do.. I wish that the cosmos would orchestrate it so that your dreams would come true.
ReplyDeleteNow I’m one of those fans that are so excited at the idea of seeing B-T I thought a rocket launcher might very well sprout from my own butt any moment, so I have to say this post immensely dampened my spirits lol. The thought of the band having management issues and the consequences it could have are scary – but, knowing how badass they’ve always been from the start in dictating what they want and just how they want it, I have confidence in them that everything will be all right. Long live B-T!!!! But it sucks to know that after overcoming all the obstacles on my end in getting my butt to Japan to see them, more obstacles await. Prejudice body guards? Well, I’ll definitely stand out so I guess I’ll be extra super suspicious. I’d cry if I got booted from the concert. That’s like my worst nightmare now lol.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to dampen people's enthusiasm here. I'm sure Buck-Tick will figure out their management issues one way or another, and if you end up coming here to see the band, in all likelihood you'll be treated with nothing but courtesy and respect.
DeleteI don't really understand what's going on with the security guards (venue security, not bodyguards of the band members!)...but you can't live your life being scared of things.
I was mainly sharing this stuff because it's been getting me down, as someone who lives in Japan and goes to see the band often. If you come from abroad for a short while to see the band, you're likely to have a stellar trip and love everything you see. But when you live in a place, dealing with these little things on the regular gets you down over time. I'm sorry to see the fumbles with the tour planning, ticket sales, etc. because they could be handled so much better. It doesn't really affect overseas fans just visiting for the short term, but I'm sick of keeping quiet about it.
Which venue did this happen at?
DeleteIf you're asking which venue the issues with security guards happened at, it happened at many different venues, though the worst offender is Shimokitazawa Garden. However, in the case of the big venues such as Nakano Sun Plaza and the Nippon Budoukan, security staff are employed by an outsourcing agency specializing in security which contracts with the venue, so they're not under direct control of the venue, neither are they under control of the band's management in any way, shape or form. Also, it seems that the foreign fans who are obviously confused and dazzled tourists have largely been left alone and the ones who have been hassled are the long-time regulars. I don't know why this occurred but it does speak to a deepening culture of global racial tension, which is very sad and depressing.
DeleteAnd Cayce, you grant them generous attention in so many of your posts. But these savage fans… they elude me lol. Every B-T concert I’ve watched, everyone ‘seems’ pretty well-behaved. And from the endless posts on Imai’s blog, I’ve been convinced forever now that B-T’s fan base today predominantly comprises people my parents and grandparents age LOL All the fans have grown up too now, I guess. But seriously, seeing those photos, I was thinking this would be the chillest concert I could ever attend and so there’s really no need to be nervous about anything because other than the fact that I’m a foreigner and a younger fan, I won’t stand out.. too much. These wild animal fans that beat you down to fight their way to the stage and who probably collect Acchan’s sweat droppings – where are they? Perhaps you have a better chance of encountering them at standing lives instead of hall tours which might explain these apparently misleading photos on Imai’s blog?? I know you’ve talked of B-T having pooled in some younger fans.. And I apologize for assuming that it would be the younger fans that would exhibit such behavior – correct me if I’m wrong. Though I seriously hope that older fans would behave in a more respectable fashion. I also imagine these fans would be the type fans you’ve called out for not really giving a crap about the actual music. And I can’t really wrap my head around it because.. well, B-T are old-er now. With the buffet of pure and virginal k-pop boy bands and Johnny’s kids available – it sort of makes me think.. maybe even these fans recognize a little something more in B-T beyond the surface? I don’t know lol. Happily married…kids – they aren’t available. So doesn’t that sort of, you know, ruin the fantasy? But for the disillusioned fan, I suppose their mind is so warped they don’t live in reality anyway. Welp. If anything, it certainly makes me feel less silly about being as attracted to B-T members as I am lol. You know. Since they’re old enough to be my dad..
ReplyDeleteAfter my long essay – I’m simply posting to thank you for clarifying for us about B-T’s schedule that has been released so far. I was hoping you would. I guess we’ll find out in March or so if they’ll be having the parade tour in June/July like their previous anniversaries. But from the looks of it now, I guess I’ll be waiting just a little longer and going to Japan at the end of the year sometime instead. A Climax Together tour… sounds pretty amazing to be honest. The chance to hear them perform their old songs & get to attend several shows at that… is a dream come true for my B-T experience. I can’t believe this is happening, and I won’t forgive any stupid body guard or rabid fangirl/boy who ruins this moment for me…which.. will surely be my best moment ever. Regardless.
Maybe, if I’m lucky, someone here on Blog Tick will be attending those shows as well. I feel like I could truly enjoy it more if I wasn’t so self-conscious about being in that sea of folks by myself, sticking out like a sore thumb. The body guards are probably less likely to pull some crap if I’m not alone, too! Ha
Sorry for the super long post on your blog..
manda
First - it's going to be a Day in Question tour they're doing in the fall, not Climax Together. Doesn't really make much of a difference either way, but I thought I'd clarify.
DeleteSecond, if you've only ever seen B-T shows on video, you certainly wouldn't have witnessed nasty fan behavior. Also, you're not going to see that stuff happening at hall tours because everyone is stuck in their seats. It's at standing tours where the violence occurs, and believe me, if you stand in the front section, there's violence in abundance, especially at the Tokyo shows, because Tokyo fans are spoiled and much more likely to be badly behaved as a result.
Third, Buck-Tick seem to have picked up quite a crop of younger fans overseas, but they have very few young fans in Japan. I've seen young people drift in and out of the fanbase over the years, but the really devoted followers are mainly people in their 40's who first encountered the band in the late 80's or early 90's, back when they'd first debuted. Never underestimate the capacity for violence possessed by middle-aged Japanese women! I've come to think that in some cases, they're almost more interested in beating each other up than they are in watching the show. And of course, it has nothing to do with any belief on their parts that they'll actually marry the band members. They're not living on planet earth to begin with. Applying normal logic to their though process will get you nowhere.
Thanks for responding to me :)
ReplyDeleteYes, *DIQ – don’t know why I wrote Climax Together, and *security guards.
I know it’s not your intention to get us down. I like that you don’t sugarcoat things and tell it how it is. Here at Blog-Tick, we get all the nitty-gritty details on everything. It’s important not to overlook the negative aspects of the fandom, etc. So thanks for always bringing us the truth and keeping us in the know. I can see it from your POV – someone who’s been a fan for long, attending concerts, etc. Things like that which continuously fail to improve would be very frustrating to see. Especially for a band like B-T who’s been around so long.. you’d think they had it all down now. (Also, as this is your blog – I hope that you always feel free to express whatever you feel.)
I don’t know why I didn’t think they’d obviously edit out any unsavory behavior that was caught on those concerts lol. But this is definitely stuff you’ve educated us on before, the demographics of B-T’s fans, who the crazy ones are – I’m sure I’ve read this stuff in your live reports. I’ve read so many of those reports… you always pack them and really all your posts with so much great information (that I’m certain I couldn’t learn anywhere else) that it’s just my brain has failed to retain it all. This is basic info I should know as a B-T fan lol. Forgive me.. Thank you for refreshing my memory.. It’s expected that B-T’s devoted followers are in their 40s. Maybe it was just too hard to believe that it’s the middle-aged fans that are the unhinged ones lol. Still, for the same reasons as you, I’m hoping that their DIQ tour will be a standing tour if I attend.. crazy mobs or not. ..Hoping it’s not long before we hear more exciting news for this year’s plans.. I pray the guys will be in tip-top form this anniversary year!!