1998
This year Buck-Tick returns to playing more live shows than they have in a few years. In fact, it's the most live shows they've held in a single year since 1993. Yet, they did not play any new prefectures.
On February 4, Buck-Tick began their Tour Sextream Liner which was comprised of 33 dates. It was longer than the tour for Chaos but still a slightly shorter tour than most. The last two dates were on May 8 and 9 and were held at the Budokan. These shows were taped and released on August 12 as an album and as a video. The album was called Sweet Strange Live Disc and was Buck-Tick's first live album. The video was called Sweet Strange Live Film. There were a few differences between the album and the film. The album does not include "Gessekai". The video does not include "Tight Rope", "Mienai Mono Wo Miyou To Suru Gokai Subete Gokai Da", and "Candy".
On March 11, the single "Sasayaki" was released. All of the B-sides were remixed by foreign artists. "Thanatos" was remixed by Raymond Watts (Pig), "My Fuckin' Valentine" was remixed by Gunter Schulz (KMFDM), and "Schi.zo Genso" was remixed by Daniel Ash (Bauhaus as well as Love and Rockets). For the first time since "Just One More Kiss" in 1988 (and Taboo in 1989), this was also released on vinyl with slightly different tracklisting and artwork. It was entitled "LTD" as it was a limited release.
The band performed "Heroine" on the television show "Pop Jam" on March 14.
This is the year that Buck-Tick finally put out their own official web site. The domain name was registered on March 25 and the website launched on May 1. There was some exclusive paid content offered in the early years. Payment was made through Bit Cash. One could purchase a Bit Cash card at a convenience store or such and then use the credits to download items such as desktop wallpapers at the Buck-Tick web site.
On May 13, Buck-Tick released the single "Gessekai". The song's lyrics were written by Atsushi and music by Hisashi. There were two B-sides, an original song "My Baby Japanese" and a remixed "Muchi No Namida." "My Baby Japanese" had lyrics by Atsushi and music by Hideo. "Muchi No Namida" was remixed by Tomoyasu Hotei (formerly of Boøwy). "Gessekai" was used as the opening theme song for the tv cartoon show "Nightwalker: Mayonaka No Tantei". (Translated it means 'Middle of the Night Detective.') As a result, many people were introduced to Buck-Tick for the first time. This was the first time Buck-Tick's music was used for a cartoon and this would happen a few more times over the years, drawing in fans who may have never heard of the band if it were not for the show. The soundtrack for "Nightwalker" was released on October 14 and included 2 versions of "Gessekai", the second being a shortened instrumental.
I am not sure of the exact date but perhaps towards the begining of the year, Buck-Tick appeared on the television show "Rocket Punch" and performed "Heroine" and "Sasayaki". Sometime in July they returned to the show to perform "Gessekai". (This may be incorrect though. During their appearance on the show the following year, the interviewer notes that it's their second appearance on the show and roughly dates their first appearance as May 1998. Perhaps the 3 songs performed were all from one taping with a costume change. While on a fan site I have seen their appearance dates were July 20 and 27 so I think they must've filmed it on one date then split it into two shows.)
Atsushi and Toll were interviewed on the television show "Music Clique" on August 24.
In September, Buck-Tick official display model doll figures were sold at a limited edition of 1000. Assuming the same number of each member was made, then there were 200 made of each member. These were 1/8 scale (roughly 20cm tall) and also quite expensive at ¥58,000. Each had a serial number, came with an acrylic display case, and had a certificate of authenticity with the member's autograph. Each member came with their respective instrument and a microphone for Atsushi. For Toll, he had a simple drum kit with one snare, one tom, one floor tom, and one bass drum. Once a fan posted a photo that they had the complete set and it appears that Toll's drum kit only had two cymbals but I think the kit he had in the ad for the figures had more cymbals. I have a limited memory of these but I think one had to paint them by hand much like other kind of collector models such as cars and planes. But don't quote me on that.
When the Bauhaus Resurrection Tour reached Japan, all of the members of Buck-Tick were spotted in attendance at the Tokyo concert on October 18. Hisashi also wrote the liner notes introduction for the Japanese edition of their compilation album Crackle.
On October 21, Guniw Tools released Dazzle. Hisashi wrote the music to the track "Grazing".
Also on October 21, Masami Tsuchiya released Mori No Hito ~Forest People~. Atsushi wrote the lyrics and provided vocals for the tracks "Manatsu No Yoru No Mori (A Mid Summer Night's Forest)" and "Chisana Mori No Hito (Goblin Forest)". As Atsushi had long been a fan of Masami's work, it must have been quite an experience to work with him. (They later collaborated again when Atsushi released his solo material.)
