There’s no band in the world like BABYMETAL, the metal dance unit, whose hit songs like “KARATE,” “Gimme Chocolate,” and “Megitsune” have captured the imaginations of fans around the globe. This fall, Z2 Comics, Hollywood film/TV production company Amuse Group USA, and BABYMETAL’s producer KOBAMETAL are collaborating on a brand new, original story for the graphic novel APOCRYPHA: THE LEGEND OF BABYMETAL, featuring art by award-winning illustrator GMB Chomichuk.
Formed in 2010, BABYMETAL is a metal dance unit made up of three performers, SU-METAL, YUIMETAL, and MOAMETAL. With their combination of powerful metal sound and dance performances, they are by far the most unique band out there. Since its inception, the Japanese metal dance unit has developed a devoted fan base that describes their concerts as both energetic and unforgettable. The band has received glowing praise from the industry’s top acts, including Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Guns N’ Roses’ Slash and Rob Zombie, who told Billboard that BABYMETAL “are like nothing I’ve ever seen before.” BABYMETAL is making waves in the music industry with their chart-topping albums that have solidified their cross-continent success.
The book will be published by innovative independent graphic novel publisher Z2 Comics, who has previously collaborated on acclaimed music-inspired graphic novels with the likes of rockstar Dan Auerbach, bluesman Robert Finley and the Music Maker Foundation, platinum selling DJ Paul Oakenfold, and jazz musician Dave Chisholm. “With the book still months from publication, it’s too early to reveal much,” said Z2 Comics Co-Publisher Sridhar Reddy. “In the months to come, BABYMETAL fans can expect more announcements, but today I would say the question we should be asking is not who is BABYMETAL, but what is BABYMETAL?’”
The graphic novel based on the band, APOCRYPHA: THE LEGEND OF BABYMETAL will be available online for preorder on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Kinokuniya USA, and on sale in comic book stores and bookstores in October 2018 and will retail for $24.99. Also, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Kinokuniya USA, and Japanese online market Asmart will each release a limited special cover edition of the graphic novel (pre-order dates for Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Kinokuniya USA are TBD). For more updates on the book, follow Z2 Comics on Twitter and Facebook and follow BABYMETAL on their official website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
*Besides the cover design, the special cover edition will be identical to the standard version
In May, BABYMETAL will be on a world tour across the United States and Europe with performances scheduled at Rock on the Range and Download UK.
■「APOCRYPHA: THE LEGEND OF BABYMETAL」
Scheduled release 2018/10
■BABYMETAL WORLD TOUR 2018
【US TOUR】
2018/05/08 Kansas City, MO / Uptown Theater
2018/05/10 Austin, TX / ACL Live at the Moody Theater
2018/05/11 Dallas, TX / House of Blues Dallas
2018/05/13 Houston, TX / Revention Music Center
2018/05/15 Atlanta, GA / Tabernacle Atlanta
2018/05/17 Charlotte, NC / The Fillmore
2018/05/18 Nashville, TN / Marathon Music Works
2018/05/20 Columbus, OH / 「Rock on the Range」appearance
【EUROPE TOUR】
2018/06/01 Nürburg, Germany /「Rock am Ring」at Nürburgring appearance
2018/06/02 Nuremberg, Germany /「Rock im Park」at Zeppelinfeld appearance
2018/06/04 Innsbruck, Austria/ Music Hall Innsbruck
2018/06/05 Utrecht, Netherlands / TivoliVredenburg
2018/06/06 Utrecht, Netherlands / TivoliVredenburg
2018/06/09 Derby, UK / 「Download UK」at Donington Park appearance
■BABYMETAL Official Web Site
Japanese http://www.babymetal.jp/
English http://www.babymetal.com
ABOUT BABYMETAL:
Formed in 2010 in Japan, BABYMETAL is a metal dance unit made up of three performers, SU-METAL, YUIMETAL, and MOAMETAL. Their combination of powerful metal sound and dance performances propelled their first studio album BABYMETAL onto the US Billboard charts. With their second album METAL RESISTANCE, they became the highest-charting Japanese band ever on UK’s Official Albums Chart, landing at number fifteen on the charts, and reaching the 39th spot on its debut on the U.S. Billboard, becoming the first album by a Japanese artist to break into the chart’s top 40 in more than 50 years.
BABYMETAL has performed with some of the most influential musicians in the world, having supported Lady Gaga on her ArtRave: The Artpop Ball Tour, opened for both the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns ‘N Roses, and performed as special guest for Metallica. They performed at the prestigious Wembley Arena in the UK, becoming the first Japanese artist to ever headline at the venue.
In summer 2017, BABYMETAL held a domestic tour 5 FOX FESTIVALS in JAPAN and BIG FOX FESTIVAL in JAPAN. In December 2017, BABYMETAL held a very special two-day concert in Hiroshima, SU-METAL’s hometown, to celebrate her “coming of age” at the Hiroshima Green Arena. In the same year, BABYMETAL was crowned “MTV EMA’s BEST JAPAN ACT” in which the group became the ultimate winner out of 32 countries and also became first Japanese act to be given such an award.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BABYMETAL.jp
Twitter: @BABYMETAL_JAPAN
Instagram: @BABYMETAL_OFFICIAL
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BABYMETAL
