BABYMETAL: History
From improbable experiment to consolidated force (2010–2026)
In the BABYMETAL universe, almost nothing is presented in an ordinary way. Releases are not just releases, comebacks are not simple returns, and stage transitions are never communicated as mere management decisions. Everything is wrapped in a different logic — a kind of self-made gospel in which the band moves guided by the Fox God. That figure, half symbol, half narrative device, was essential to building the BABYMETAL myth. Behind that entire architecture stood Kobametal, the producer and mastermind of the project: he did not just mix two seemingly incompatible worlds, but turned that mix into a coherent identity — with internal rules, symbols, silences, and a narrative that made it enduring.
15
Active years
2010-20264
Studio albums
2014 – 20234
Lineup changes
Multiple eras30+
Countries visited
On world tourInteractive Timeline
Explore 15 years of history through our interactive timeline. Click on any period to learn the details.
The Dawn
The origins of the phenomenon (2010–2014)
BABYMETAL was born as a subgroup within Sakura Gakuin and grew into its own entity. From the first songs to the historic Nippon Budokan, the band built the foundations of a legend.
The Western Assault
Conquering the world beyond Japan (2014–2015)
"Gimme Chocolate!!" went viral, Sonisphere UK faced the world's most skeptical metal audience, and the opening slot for Lady Gaga in the US. BABYMETAL went out to the world, and the world started to listen.
The Tokyo Dome Conquest
The highest year of the original lineup (2016)
Metal Resistance, Wembley Arena and two epic nights at Tokyo Dome with more than 100,000 people. In 2016, BABYMETAL reached the peak of what seemed possible.
Turbulence, Darkness and Tragedy
The hardest years of the project (2017–2018)
Yui's absence, the death of Mikio Fujioka and the definitive departure of YUIMETAL tested the very existence of the project. The darkest period in BABYMETAL's history.
The Avengers and the Fox God's Seal
Resistance, expansion and the great silence (2019–2021)
The rotating Avengers system, Metal Galaxy and 10 Budokan shows during the pandemic. Then, the Fox God sealed the legend and BABYMETAL disappeared from public view.
The Multiverse and the Metal Forth Era
Rebirth, MOMOMETAL and the global legacy (2023–2026)
The Other One, MOMOMETAL's official announcement on Fox Day, Capitol Records and the Metal Forth era. BABYMETAL completed its transformation into a consolidated global actor in contemporary metal culture.
The Protagonists
The growth of those who built the myth (2010–2026)
SU-METAL, MOAMETAL, YUIMETAL and MOMOMETAL: the people behind the myth and how each one transformed BABYMETAL in their own way.
The Legacy
From improbable experiment to a force that changed metal (2010–2026)
BABYMETAL demonstrated that even a genre as protective of its boundaries as metal can be transformed from within by something that, at the time, seemed unthinkable.
2010
2026
A history that redefined metal
From humble beginnings in 2010 as an idol subgroup to conquering the world's biggest stages, BABYMETAL proved that genres have no boundaries. This is more than a biography: it's the story of how an improbable idea forever changed the global music landscape.