ATMYBABEL translated this article from Japanese
To the Main Stage Finally!
Looking back on BABYMETAL`s Appearances at Summer Sonic
Looking back on BABYMETAL`s Appearances at Summer Sonic
It has been announced lately that BABYMETAL will participate in Summer Sonic Festival.
The girls, touring worldwide these days, have played at the festival every summer since 2012.
Climbing up a ladder step by step, they will appear at last on the Main Stage this year.
So let us look back on the history of BABYMETAL at Summer Sonic.
The girls, touring worldwide these days, have played at the festival every summer since 2012.
Climbing up a ladder step by step, they will appear at last on the Main Stage this year.
So let us look back on the history of BABYMETAL at Summer Sonic.
--2012 First Appearance as Youngest Performer in SS History:
Their first appearance was in 2012. They performed on the “sideshow” stage, set up mainly for performers
such as stand-up comedians, in a food court area. Furthermore, their appearance was announced at the very
last moment when the tickets had already been sold out. So the girls were worried whether people would come
out to see them in the first place. But once the show began, their live performance instantly grabbed the heart
of the audience, including those who happened to be in that area. So much so that they just stopped eating.
The excitement caused by their performance was soon reported in the media, which became the first step for the
group to be recognized as the unique combination of “metal and idol”.
(Note: They tweeted after the show.) “Thank you Summer Sonic!! Since our appearance was announced after
the tickets were all gone, it was a “Doki Doki Evening” for us. But when we went on stage, so many people were there
and we had to look over far away to see them all. It was so moving for us, DEATH!! Felt a real sense of togetherness!!
Thanks to everybody!! Thanks!!” August 19th, 2012.
By the way, SU-METAL was 14 years old at the time, and YUIMETAL and MOAMETAL 13 years old, making them the
youngest artists to perform at the festival.
Their first appearance was in 2012. They performed on the “sideshow” stage, set up mainly for performers
such as stand-up comedians, in a food court area. Furthermore, their appearance was announced at the very
last moment when the tickets had already been sold out. So the girls were worried whether people would come
out to see them in the first place. But once the show began, their live performance instantly grabbed the heart
of the audience, including those who happened to be in that area. So much so that they just stopped eating.
The excitement caused by their performance was soon reported in the media, which became the first step for the
group to be recognized as the unique combination of “metal and idol”.
(Note: They tweeted after the show.) “Thank you Summer Sonic!! Since our appearance was announced after
the tickets were all gone, it was a “Doki Doki Evening” for us. But when we went on stage, so many people were there
and we had to look over far away to see them all. It was so moving for us, DEATH!! Felt a real sense of togetherness!!
Thanks to everybody!! Thanks!!” August 19th, 2012.
By the way, SU-METAL was 14 years old at the time, and YUIMETAL and MOAMETAL 13 years old, making them the
youngest artists to perform at the festival.
--2013 Real Stage: Their exciting “sideshow” performance from the previous year drew many people’s attention and led them to play
on a “real” stage in 2013. They performed on the Rainbow Stage, the stage where they thought they wanted to play,
when they watched Momoiro Clover Z as a headliner a year ago. By then, their live performance had been further
reinforced by adding the backing Kami Band and its super technique and sound.
During the show, a mosh pit and a circle pit were seen just like at usual rock or metal concerts. Since the headliner
of SS that year was Metallica, they were exposed to some of the metal audience as well.
They also appeared at SS Osaka for the first time, performing on a hot simmering stage. Members of Metallica were
witnessed on the stage side. Moreover, two bands came to know each other by taking photos together backstage.
Now recognized by the metal master, the opportunity for performing overseas was getting bigger and bigger.
on a “real” stage in 2013. They performed on the Rainbow Stage, the stage where they thought they wanted to play,
when they watched Momoiro Clover Z as a headliner a year ago. By then, their live performance had been further
reinforced by adding the backing Kami Band and its super technique and sound.
During the show, a mosh pit and a circle pit were seen just like at usual rock or metal concerts. Since the headliner
of SS that year was Metallica, they were exposed to some of the metal audience as well.
They also appeared at SS Osaka for the first time, performing on a hot simmering stage. Members of Metallica were
witnessed on the stage side. Moreover, two bands came to know each other by taking photos together backstage.
Now recognized by the metal master, the opportunity for performing overseas was getting bigger and bigger.
--2014 Mountain Stage: In 2014, just two years from their first appearance, they made it to the Mountain Stage, the second biggest
one at SS. In March that year, they performed at Budokan to become the youngest female artists to play at the arena.
Just before SS, they went on a world tour and played also as an opener for Lady Gaga in US. With their popularity
growing, many people came to see them at SS that year. Indeed, so many people came to the Main Stage that admission
was limited. The world tour and its experience made them perform stronger and excite the audience even more. They
were now captivating a wide variety of audience, crossing over the genre of metal or idol.
one at SS. In March that year, they performed at Budokan to become the youngest female artists to play at the arena.
Just before SS, they went on a world tour and played also as an opener for Lady Gaga in US. With their popularity
growing, many people came to see them at SS that year. Indeed, so many people came to the Main Stage that admission
was limited. The world tour and its experience made them perform stronger and excite the audience even more. They
were now captivating a wide variety of audience, crossing over the genre of metal or idol.
--2015 Mountain Stage Again: The girls appeared on Mountain Stage again, the following year. Their fan base abroad had grown bigger through the previous world tour, and their unprecedented overseas success as Japanese artists was talked about
more often, raising the popularity of the band further. More and more people now wanted to see them live, which resulted in another limited entrance around the Mountain Stage area that year.
more often, raising the popularity of the band further. More and more people now wanted to see them live, which resulted in another limited entrance around the Mountain Stage area that year.
At SS 2015 in Osaka, the audience got wild and lively despite heavy rain and mud allover. The girls showed their power,
turning adverse circumstance into opportunity. Many of those who saw them live for the first time posted their comments
on internet, making them ranked as the number one tweeted artists that year.
Furthermore, they were very popular among foreign artists at the festival. Members of the band Circa Waves dived into a
mosh, and Wolf Alice were witnessed among the audience, during the BM show. Since Circa Waves are performing on the
same day on the same stage this year, we may be able to see them in a mosh pit again.
turning adverse circumstance into opportunity. Many of those who saw them live for the first time posted their comments
on internet, making them ranked as the number one tweeted artists that year.
Furthermore, they were very popular among foreign artists at the festival. Members of the band Circa Waves dived into a
mosh, and Wolf Alice were witnessed among the audience, during the BM show. Since Circa Waves are performing on the
same day on the same stage this year, we may be able to see them in a mosh pit again.
--2016 Headliner on Osaka Sonic Stage: So the girls’ popularity was great enough to limit admission at the Mountain Stage twice. In April 2016 they became the first Japanese artists to perform at the SSE Arena Wembley in England, and their album cracked U.S. Top 40 for the first time in 53 years as Japanese artists. Another legend was created. Although they only appeared on the Sonic Stage in Osaka that year, they were the headliner, moving up to a prominent spot in the festival lineup. What was more, their show was
scheduled to end later in time than the act on the Main Stage, giving them the honor of wrapping up the festival.
Not to mention, full-capacity crowd gathered to see them live on the Sonic Stage, and their performance generated a
sense of unity among the audience as if it was their solo live concert.
In the same year, they participated at Fuji Rock, Rock in Japan, and Rising Sun Rock Festivals, completing the list of four
major rock festivals in Japan. At each of those shows the size of the audience and the excitement were the topic of conversation.
scheduled to end later in time than the act on the Main Stage, giving them the honor of wrapping up the festival.
Not to mention, full-capacity crowd gathered to see them live on the Sonic Stage, and their performance generated a
sense of unity among the audience as if it was their solo live concert.
In the same year, they participated at Fuji Rock, Rock in Japan, and Rising Sun Rock Festivals, completing the list of four
major rock festivals in Japan. At each of those shows the size of the audience and the excitement were the topic of conversation.
--2017 Long-waited Appearance on Main Stage: Ever since they drew capacity crowd at Mountain Stage, people have said
"Only the Main Stage will hold the crowd next." Finally, they have realized the dream of performing there this year. They will play before the headliner, the Foo Fighters. The girls, who are recognized worldwide after opening for such major bands as RHCP, G&R, and Metallica, deserve to be on the Main Stage.
Just how many people did actually expect that the girls who were performing on a “sideshow” stage would grow into such a fame?
As the girls have said that “we have been reared (by SS)”, Summer Sonic and the fans have been watching them develop.
It is deeply moving to see the girls growing out of the idol and performing on the Main Stage as artists. Their show this year
may well become another legend to be told.
"Only the Main Stage will hold the crowd next." Finally, they have realized the dream of performing there this year. They will play before the headliner, the Foo Fighters. The girls, who are recognized worldwide after opening for such major bands as RHCP, G&R, and Metallica, deserve to be on the Main Stage.
Just how many people did actually expect that the girls who were performing on a “sideshow” stage would grow into such a fame?
As the girls have said that “we have been reared (by SS)”, Summer Sonic and the fans have been watching them develop.
It is deeply moving to see the girls growing out of the idol and performing on the Main Stage as artists. Their show this year
may well become another legend to be told.
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