In 2004, when Buck-Tick announced a little break, the members decided to
try out different projects. With Schwein and Lucy being the most significant (sorry Toll and Hide fans) ellaborations, Atsushi
Sakurai also started his solo project.
His first solo single, Sacrifice, came together with his first ever movie acting try in the form of Longinus,
a movie directed by Ryuhei Kitamura (who also directed Azumi). Sacrifice was used as the movie's ending credit music, while
Sakurai actually played a main role as the mysterious man who uses the Longinus spear to kill the vampires (yes, the same
spear they used to poke poor Jezus with).
After Sacrifice, he released his solo album Ai no Wakusei (rebirth) and the single (represented on that
album) Taiji (Smell).
With the release of this album, Sakurai Atsushi gave two concerts in the NHK Hall in Tokyo, which
were used in the making of the Live DVD Exposion - Ai no Wakusei Live 2004 (which is a must-have for any Sakurai Atsushi
fan).
This DVD shows wonderful live guest performances of Cube Juice and Sato Taiji (that performance made
me drool like a retard...wow).
Memorable songs, besides the ones already mentioned, on the dvd and cd are: Neko (which should give
goosebumps to every cat lover and owner), his version of I Love Chopin and his tribute to the almighty David Bowie;
A Space Oddity.
