“It’s not just music. It’s magic”: The true fandom behind BABYMETAL

Every deity, fox or otherwise, needs its disciples. And BABYMETAL have the perfect legion of devotees. From around the globe, we tracked down the band’s most ardent followers, and got a glimpse at what true fandom looks like…

“A friend on a wrestling forum shared the video for Gimme Chocolate!!, and I decided to check it out. Afterwards, I spent the next several nights binge-watching BABYMETAL videos – I was completely hooked.

“I love everything about their presentation. Their shows feel more like stage productions than traditional concerts. The ongoing storyline makes it feel like I’m following a musical that unfolds with each new release. When they announce new music, I don’t just wonder what it’ll sound like, I wonder what it’ll look like.

“I discovered the band in 2018, during a time when I was definitely feeling a void in my life, and I can’t help but feel that BABYMETAL filled that void. They’ve inspired me creatively, and share a message that I like to think has shaped my outlook on the world in a very positive way.

“I flew from Florida to California to see them at The Forum in 2019, and I’m planning to make that same trip again this November. I’m a big enough fan that I have a tattoo, and I even wrote a book exploring my personal journey into BABYMETAL fandom: Down The Fox Hole.

“While I try not to go overboard with merch, I do own all their CDs and DVDs, I’ve got the Funko POP! set, and I always pick up a tour shirt whenever I see them live. They’re constantly evolving and experimenting, and I’m consistently enamoured by what they come up with next.”

“I first discovered BABYMETAL when I was eight years old, in 2014. My grandma was teaching me how to type on her computer, and after practicing, I got to use YouTube. That’s when I saw their Gimme Chocolate!! performance from Legend 1997.

“At first, I thought, ‘What the heck is this?’ But watching those three girls onstage with so much energy and passion made me feel happy in a way I hadn’t felt before. I kept coming back to that video, and Doki Doki Morning pulled me in – I even tried copying the dance! But Megitsune is the song that truly stuck with me, even before I understood its meaning.

“When I got my first phone at 10, I dove deeper. I looked up lyrics, translations and their back story. Ijime, Dame, Zettai really hit home. I was a loner, often bullied, labelled the ‘fat’ or ‘dumb’ kid. But BABYMETAL kept me going. I couldn’t attend concerts when I was younger as my parents didn’t even know I was a fan. But now I’ve seen them five times: in Hamburg, Berlin, Offenbach, at Nova Rock, and most recently, in Berlin. Every show has been magical. I queue up at 4 or 5am just to get front row.

“I missed The O2 show because I was in a mental hospital at the time. That broke me. But later, seeing them live in Berlin helped heal me more than I can put into words.

“I don’t have a huge merch collection – just a few vinyl and tour shirts – but that’s not what makes someone a superfan. What makes me a superfan is how deeply they’ve impacted my life. They’re not just a band I like; they’re part of who I am. I grew up with Suzuka, Yui and Moa. Now I’m growing with Suzuka, Moa and Momoko.

“I look forward to everything they have ahead: more music, more surprises, more growth. Their sound, their spirit, their strength… it all means the world to me. BABYMETAL is not just music. It’s magic. And I’m proud to be part of it.”

“What caught my attention when Gimme Chocolate!! went viral on YouTube in 2014 was the quirkiness. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen before – the choreography, the music, SU-METAL’s vocals, it all came together to give me a musical experience that truly shocked me in the best way. It helped me break free from what I thought metal was supposed to sound like.

“Their music means a lot to me, and it’s even more special because my wife and I have been huge fans ever since we got married. We’ve seen them live five times, and we are also flying out to see them again in LA this November and then to Japan in January!

“BABYMETAL filled a musical void in my life I didn’t even know existed. Discovering them at an older age made me feel like I did when I was 15 and discovering great music for the first time. They make me feel young again. Their upbeat and positive songs are so refreshing compared to what I normally listen to. My wife and I often say, ‘The world would be a better place if everyone had BABYMETAL in their lives.’

“Besides being in the top 0.01 per cent of listeners on YouTube, I’d call myself a superfan just based on the time and money I’ve invested. My wife and I often laugh, wondering what we’d even talk about if we weren’t talking about BABYMETAL. I have over $3,000 worth of merch and memorabilia including some custom-made items like a country-specific BABYMETAL flag.

“Long-term, I’m most excited to see how they continue to evolve and innovate, just like they have over the past 15 years. They’re true pioneers.

“It’s hard to put into words how much we love BABYMETAL. There’s not a day that goes by where we aren’t listening to them or talking about them. We don’t just love the music, we love who they are as people. We truly can’t get enough.”

“BABYMETAL were the first metal band I ever listened to, and they opened a whole new genre of music for me. Their music helped me connect with wonderful people and filled my days with positivity.

“YouTube recommended me a video of Gimme Chocolate!! in 2019, and just a few months later I became an active fan. I was impressed by their dancing, loved their cute voices, and really enjoyed the overall positive vibes. I remember showing the video to some friends – they were a bit confused, but I absolutely loved it. That’s when I fell into the Foxhole.

“At first, I felt pretty alone with my new favourite band, but after about half a year, I met a kind kitsune online who introduced me to the amazing BABYMETAL community. Suddenly, I was surrounded by great people who were just as obsessed with BABYMETAL as I was. It felt so good to finally have people I could talk to about the girls.

“Sometimes I’ll sit on a train, looking out the window while being lulled into another world by SU-METAL’s voice. It feels like a dream, like I’m floating in a world full of comfy cotton where time slips by. They’ve even appeared in my dreams, where I meet and interact with them backstage, and I always wake up in the best mood afterward.

“I run a BABYMETAL Instagram account – @nakalina_ – and try to convert my non-metal friends. I have a small shrine in my room with CDs, fox statues, shirts, magazines, prints and fan-made merch. I’m always looking forward to new songs, dances and concerts. I can’t wait to see them grow and collaborate with more amazing artists. I love them to the Metal Galaxy and back, they’ve been a huge part of my life, and they’ll keep making my days better in the future!”

“Like many people, I discovered BABYMETAL when Gimme Chocolate!! went viral. I thought they were so fun. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t make me a superfan right away. I stayed a casual listener until I saw them for the third time at Download Festival in 2018. I don’t know why, but something just clicked. After that show, I listened to them non-stop and fell in love pretty quickly.

“BABYMETAL genuinely changed my life. They bring me so much joy that I often joke they cured the depression I battled for years. And like many jokes, there’s truth in it. When I fell down the Foxhole, my life became filled with happiness and purpose. In a world that’s on fire and politically divided, BABYMETAL has become my sweet escape. They mean so much to me, and I collect vinyl, art prints, patches, masks and little treasures. Every time I see them live, I buy my boyfriend a T-shirt, just so I can see something I love on someone I love. I went to Tokyo in April, and I made a beeline for Tower Records to look for BABYMETAL records. It felt so special being in a place where they had once performed on a small stage – just like another band I really love, Shampoo.

“BABYMETAL make me so happy. I get incredibly emotional listening to certain songs: Starlight, The One, Megitsune. Seeing them live feels spiritual. When the intro to Megitsune hits, I can’t stand still. It feels like my calling. A song about being a girl, a woman, pure-hearted – it’s an anthem.

“Some people in the metal community complain about BABYMETAL not fitting the mould – the dancing, the vocals – but those are the exact reasons I love them. Whether or not you like the vocals, you can’t deny the music is technically brilliant. The Kami Band are fire. I’ve seen them 11 times now. It may not be a world tour tally, but every show is a blessing, and I can’t wait to see them again.”

“I heard BABYMETAL just days after their very first performance of Doki Doki Morning was uploaded to YouTube. At the time, I thought it was kind of odd – these little girls pretending to be ‘metal’ didn’t make much sense to me. But the instrumentals were awesome, and the more I listened, the more I liked it.

“Fast-forward three years, I was struggling with severe depression and wasn’t taking care of myself. Then I remembered this Japanese group I’d listened to on and off for years. That’s when I watched a live recording of Road Of Resistance for the first time. There was one girl in the group, Moa, who caught my attention in a way I’d never felt before. She made me smile and feel joy, and the more I saw her, the less depressed I felt. Two years later, I was happier than ever and truly enjoying life again. Road Of Resistance holds a special place in my heart because it was when Moa helped me see a better path forward.

“I’ve now seen BABYMETAL live nine times, and when work and finances allow, I’m willing to travel anywhere to see them. I’m proud to be three-for-three in Denmark, plus shows in Amsterdam and scattered around Germany, with the most unforgettable one being in Frankfurt.

“Nine years ago, I got Moa’s name tattooed in kanji as a reminder that better days would come. I don’t have nearly enough memorabilia, and I can never have enough! The only thing holding me back is timing and money. I’m looking forward to making amazing memories with friends at every show, the new friends we meet and the shared commitment we all have as fans. There’s something special about being surrounded by people from all over, united by BABYMETAL, experiencing so many different things from the same concerts. That’s what keeps me coming back.”

“Music has been a part of me since I was born. I grew up on classic rock, and didn’t really get into metal until middle school, ironically, through cheerleading. We always performed our routines to rock and metal – Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Volbeat – and that energy stuck with me. My favourite artist is Guns N’ Roses, so when they toured in 2016, I had to see them. After that show, I followed them on social media and saw they were heading to Japan with BABYMETAL opening. I looked them up, and I was speechless. The hair, the outfits, the sound, the Kami Band, it was all so interesting. I was drawn to it immediately.

“Since then, BABYMETAL have helped me through some really rough times: moving away from family, being deployed, relocating across the world. Most importantly, they’ve kept me connected with my friends. My best friend Wil and I saw BABYMETAL for the first time together in 2019 during the Metal Galaxy World Tour in Washington, D.C. That was also the first time we hung out, and we talked every single day afterward. When he passed away four years ago, I was devastated. But even now, every time I listen to a BABYMETAL song, it feels like he’s right there next to me, headbanging along.

“What makes me a superfan is how deeply connected I feel to them, how much they inspire me, and how much I admire their artistry and journey. I don’t own a lot of memorabilia yet, but I’m hoping to grow my collection when I move to Japan next year.

“I’ve only seen them live once, but I’m really hoping to attend one of their Legend shows in the future. I’m beyond excited for the METAL FORTH album, and can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes them. They’ve already come so far, and I know there’s more greatness ahead. I just hope they get the rest they deserve after this tour!”

“I discovered BABYMETAL around 2014 when Gimme Chocolate!! became popular. At the time, I had never seen anything like it – this unique blend of J-pop and heavy metal – and it immediately caught my attention. Later on, I became a dedicated fan, and as a musician myself, I really started to appreciate the craftsmanship behind the songs. The arrangements, the instrumental work, the songwriting, all of it was so well done. SU-METAL’s powerful yet soothing vocals fit so perfectly, and it became the perfect music for me.

“BABYMETAL have had a huge impact on my life. I was going through a period where I had lost my passion for music, but their songs reignited that spark. I started learning their music, practicing techniques I had avoided before like lead parts and solos, and it massively improved my guitar playing and songwriting.

“Emotionally, they helped carry me through the hardest times in my life. When I really got into their music, I was grieving my father’s death from cancer, recovering from addiction and trying to start over in a new country. I felt completely lost, but watching their live DVDs, translating lyrics and learning about the band gave me purpose and positivity. More recently, after losing my mother just before their European tour, I almost didn’t go to the shows. But I remembered how much they had helped me in the past, so I went. And it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve made.

“I’ve seen them live three times so far – once traveling all the way from Iceland to Belgium – and I hope the fourth will in Japan in 2026.

“It’s hard to describe what they mean to me. They didn’t just influence my taste in music, they influenced who I’ve become. I’m forever thankful I discovered them, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.”

“I first found BABYMETAL in 2016 when the Gimme Chocolate!! video was blowing up on YouTube. At the time, I didn’t get too into it, but everything changed in 2021 during the COVID lockdowns. For whatever reason, I decided to check them out again, but this time I dove into their entire catalogue. From that moment, I was hooked. I didn’t listen to any other music for the rest of the year – just BABYMETAL on loop!

“The perfect mix of kawaii and heavy metal, the amazing choreography, SU-METAL’s stunning voice – there’s literally nothing like them out there. There’s something truly special about having a ‘main band’ that you devote yourself to, and I just love enjoying their music on the level that I do.

“BABYMETAL became something I looked forward to. It gave me joy, excitement and a sense of purpose in hard times – especially during lockdown and long work hours. They still carry me through life every day. Lyrics like ‘For your dream, for your faith, for your life’ from Arkadia make me tear up and smile, and remind me that everything I do matters.

“The furthest I’ve travelled to see them was Pittsburgh in 2023, and I went with a friend. So far, I’ve seen them four times, and I fully plan to raise that number as high as I can!

“I run a BABYMETAL fan account – @the_babymetal_galaxy – on Instagram to help spread the word of the Fox God as far as possible. My merch collection takes up about a quarter of my room: posters, T-shirts, jackets, hats, Blu-rays, CDs, vinyl, cassettes… and I’m not stopping anytime soon.

“I love BABYMETAL in a way that’s hard to describe. Because of them I’ve met my girlfriend and found amazing friends, as well as falling even more in love with music. They’ll be my favourite band forever.”

“In 2021, I randomly came across BABYMETAL’s Gimme Chocolate!! video on YouTube and got curious. By the time I saw Road Of Resistance – Live In Japan, I was in tears. I was amazed and absolutely hooked. And then I found out they were on hiatus… it was heartbreaking. I felt like I had just discovered my favourite band, only for them to vanish. So when they resurfaced in 2023, I was totally overjoyed and dove in head-first.

“I was neither a metal nor a J-pop fan before, but the combination of the two felt right. SU-METAL’s vocals cutting through the heaviness of the metal, it was like nothing I’d heard before. Then I noticed how fun the guitar riffs were to play. But what really got me was the stage presence: these three teenage girls commanding entire arenas was something I’d never seen before.

“I’ve been a musician as a hobby for years, but BABYMETAL inspired me in a way no band has in over a decade. Their music gave me this feeling of catharsis. The guitars and drums acknowledge pain and anger, while the vocals seem to wash them away. I started playing guitar again because of them. I even learned the Gimme Chocolate!! solo – and I’d never played lead guitar before that!

“I flew halfway across the world to see them on their first European arena tour in Belgium, and I even got a front-row spot. When they appeared, all I could think was,
‘Oh my god, they’re actually real!’ Now I’m taking my whole family, including my 11-year-old son, to their show in Manila.

“I talk about them constantly, made action figures, customised a guitar, and learned almost all their songs. I even framed my Brussels show memorabilia!”

METAL FORTH is out now via Capitol. This feature originally appeared in the special-edition Kerrang! Presents BABYMETAL magazine.

Read this next:

• A deep dive into BABYMETAL’s KARATE video
• BABYMETAL: “We plan to start a new journey… I can’t wait to see what the future holds”
  
• How BABYMETAL entered uncharted territory