Babymetal’s Momometal Recalls Fan Reaction When She Joined the Band: “It Totally Blew Me Away”
There was a moment in time when Japanese sensation Babymetal were the hottest and/or most controversial thing in metal, depending on who you ask. Naturally, that means there’s a lot of pressure on the members of the band, especially when the lineup changes.
After longtime member Yuimetal departed the band in 2018, Babymetal left the former performer’s slot in the group open until earlier this year, when they officially announced new member Momometal (real name Momoko Okazaki) as the group’s third member when performing at Pia Arena in Yokohama. Speaking to Metal Hammer, Okazaki said that she was extremely nervous about the possible fan reaction, despite having been a backup dancer with the group since 2019.
“I was most anxious about if I would be accepted or not. A lot of thoughts ran through my head, and I knew that to try and be suddenly accepted through the course of Babymetal’s long history was going to be very difficult. I honestly had absolutely no confidence whatsoever, and couldn’t quite really believe that I’d be an official member until the exact moment of the announcement. I remember I was so nervous that I was slightly shaking.”
Ultimately, though, the fans were stoked and it felt like a homecoming of sorts.
“The moment it was announced, it totally blew me away that the fans roared and shouted with such excitement and not only did I feel relieved, but it was also as if our fans were relieved, and to me, it felt like they had been waiting for this moment to happen for such a long time.”
Babymetal and Dethklok are currently acting as the touring entity known as Babyklok, so don’t blow your chance to see the package.
Mon-Sep-18-23 – Toronto, ONT – RBC Echo Beach
Wed-Sep-20-23 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Thu-Sep-21-23 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
Sat-Sep-23-23 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival
Sun-Sep-24-23 – Milwaukee, MN – The Rave/Eagles Club
Mon-Sep-25-23 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore
Wed-Sep-27-23 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park
Thu-Sep-28-23 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
Sat-Sep-30-23 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
Sun-Oct-01-23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
Tue-Oct-03-23 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum
Wed-Oct-04-23 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater
Sat-Oct-07-23 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival
Sun-Oct-08-23 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort
Tue-Oct-10-23 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theater
Wed-Oct-11-23 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
Thu-Oct-12-23 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
