babymetal the other one tour

BABYMETAL Announce North American Co-Headline Tour With DETHKLOK

THE BABYKLOK TOUR TO COMMENCE IN AUGUST

The other one concept album available now .

Japanese metal band BABYMETAL have announced a co-headline tour with DETHKLOK, the on-screen heavy metal band and stars of Adult Swim’s “Metalocalypse,” and support from virtuoso guitarist Jason Richardson. BABYMETAL’s first time back to the US since before the pandemic, the 29-date Live Nation-produced BABYKLOK TOUR will kick off August 30th in Houston, TX, hitting Atlanta, Nashville, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and many more (full dates below) before wrapping October 11th at Los Angeles’ YouTube Theater. The tour will support their recent, first-ever concept album, THE OTHER ONE.

TICKETS:  Tickets will be available starting with a CITI presale (details below) beginning today at 12:00 PM ET. An artist presale will begin at 1:00 PM local time and include VIP package options for both artists. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning Friday, April 14 at 10:00 AM local time. More information is available at thebabykloktour.com .

PRESALE: Citi is the official card of the BABYKLOK TOUR. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning today at 12:00 PM ET until Thursday, April 13 at 10:00 PM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com .

Last year BABYMETAL was “sealed” from the world after a successful 10-year journey. In April 2022, THE OTHER ONE restoration project began to recover the BABYMETAL we never knew existed within a virtual world called the METALVERSE. A total of 10 songs were discovered within THE OTHER ONE restoration project, with each song representing a unique theme based on 10 separate parallel worlds that they have discovered.

On the heels of the tour announcement comes the news of the long-awaited return of Adult Swim’s favorite heavy metal adventure, “Metalocalypse.” In addition to DETHKLOK hitting the road, a full-length original film, written and directed by Brendon Small, “Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar ,” a companion soundtrack and “Dethalbum IV” will also arrive this year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BABYMETAL

PHOTO COURTESY OF Adult Swim

BABYKLOK 2023 TOUR DATES

8/30 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall

8/31 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom

9/2 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater

9/3 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy

9/5 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium

9/6 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre *

9/8 – Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC Events Center

9/9 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre

9/10 – Alton, VA – Blue Ridge Rock Festival *~

9/12 – Philadelphia, PA – The Mann Center

9/14 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

9/15 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom

9/17 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill

9/18 – Toronto, ON – RBC Echo Beach

9/20 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe

9/21 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

9/23 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life *~

9/24 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom *

9/25 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore

9/27 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park

9/28 - Omaha, NE – Steelhouse

9/30 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium

10/1 – Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex

10/3 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum

10/4 – Seattle, WA - WAMU Theater

10/7 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock *~

10/8 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort

10/10 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre

10/11 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater

*Not a Live Nation Date

~Festival Date

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

BABYMETAL

Ryan Cunningham | [email protected]

DETHKLOK

Maria Ferrero | [email protected] mailto: [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

Maya Sarin | [email protected]

BABYMETAL Discuss New Album THE OTHER ONE, the FOX GOD, and 2023 Tour Plans

"At first, you might not recognize the music as BABYMETAL because compared to our past works, it’s more dark and mature"

BABYMETAL just unleashed their new album, THE OTHER ONE , on Friday (March 24th). In conjunction with its release, members SU-METAL and MOAMETAL took some time to answer a handful of questions from Heavy Consequence .

THE OTHER ONE is the Japanese pop-metal band’s fourth studio LP overall, following up 2019’s METAL GALAXY . The new effort is a concept album that came about when BABYMETAL were “sealed” from the world after they completed 10 years as a band. The album details a “restoration project [that] began to recover the BABYMETAL we never knew existed within a virtual world called the METALVERSE.” Each song on the album represents 10 separate parallel worlds that BABYMETAL discovered within the METALVERSE.

Beyond the concept, BABYMETAL continue to evolve musically, incorporating new sounds into repertoire, including a darker progressive direction on a few tunes, and an alt-metal vibe on other tracks.

BABYMETAL kicked off promotion of the new album with a pair of January shows in Chiba, Japan. They will play two shows in Yokohama on April 1st and 2nd before supporting Sabaton’s UK/European tour beginning April 14th.

So far, their only scheduled US dates are appearances at the festivals Louder Than Life in September and Aftershock in October.

Below, SU-METAL and MOAMETAL offer insight into THE OTHER ONE, how the pandemic affected the recording of the album, and their plans for further shows in North America.

Please tell us about the new album THE OTHER ONE, and how each song fits into the overall theme?

SU-METAL: The overall theme of this concept album THE OTHER ONE is that is portrays the BABYMETAL we never knew existed. At first, you might not recognize the music as BABYMETAL because compared to our past works, it’s more dark and mature but we haven’t changed our style of experimenting with the combination of various genres as well as including comical earworms.

What was your experience like in the METALVERSE?

SU-METAL: In the world of the METALVERSE, we collaborate with our past selves, sit on a royal throne, see our future selves…we experience a whole lot range of things!

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Metal Hammer went to Japan to uncover the mysteries behind Babymetal's new concept album The Other One

Clap-clap, clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap-clap, “Yon yon!” Clap-clap, clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap-clap, “Yon yon!” The chant fills the thick air of the windowless, wood-panelled restaurant as 130 Babymetal fans at an aftershow party raise their glasses and cheer. Some have painted their faces white like Babymetal’s backing musicians, the Kami Band, and many sport official merch or custom t-shirts. All are ecstatic.

Metal Hammer are in Chiba prefecture, 30 miles east of Tokyo. It’s Sunday January 29, 2023 and we’ve just witnessed the second of two consecutive Babymetal shows at the Makuhari Messe convention centre in the company of 15,000 other fans. As with every Babymetal gig we’ve seen, they were loud, colourful and unlike anything else out there.

Yet until recently, there was no certainty that a Babymetal performance, or a party like this, would ever happen again. On October 10, 2021 (10/10/2021), following a 10-date series of shows to celebrate 10 years of Babymetal, a mysterious announcement online proclaimed the band had been ‘sealed’. No one knew when or whether they’d return.

Then, exactly a year and a day later, there was another announcement: ‘the seal would finally be lifted’ with a ‘two-day performance’ called Babymetal Returns – The Other One. A concept album, also called The Other One , would follow. Back at the gathering, superfan Susumu – more on him later – says he felt conflicted about the news.

“I had a mixture of anxiety and anticipation,” he remembers. “Is the Kami Band alive and well? Could they possibly become virtual or a backing track? But on the other hand, I was hopeful that I would be able to see their amazing performance again and experience Babymetal live with my whole body.”

Later, Babymetal co-vocalist Moametal will explain the reasons behind the duo’s hiatus to Metal Hammer . “It’s been 10 years of purely pushing forward and not looking back in order to achieve Metal Resistance,” she will say. “Taking a breather allowed me to take a step back and really appreciate how much love I have for Babymetal. So, I truly hope our fans understand that being sealed was an essential time for us.”

Still, other questions remain: What’s the story behind their new album? Will they ever bring in a permanent third member to replace the much-missed Yui, who departed in 2018? And what does their future hold? We’ve come to Tokyo for answers.

Metal Hammer Newsletter

Twenty-four hours earlier, we arrive at concrete behemoth Makuhari Messe for show one. In the foyer is a monument bearing the handprints of the wrestling and fencing athletes who won gold medals here during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. With his pink hair, matching pink t-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Funky Metal Babys’ and oversized yellow glasses, Babymetal fan Kenji resembles 90s UK personality Timmy Mallet. He’s been to more than 20 Babymetal shows. But for his Sanrio rabbit puppet My Melody, it’s the first one.

Near some lockers, a posse dressed like the Kami Band amasses, in full facepaint and white robes. By a bank of vending machines, we get talking to Uyumetal, who’s wearing cute black satin bows in her hair and sings in tribute band Dizzymetal, which formed in 2015. Why the name Dizzymetal? “We love alcohol! Good songs and drinks make us dizzy!” She laughs and waves her arms around her head, to illustrate her point.

What does she think will happen tonight? “A big bang! Ha ha ha! Moametal, Su-metal… big bang!” At the guestlist desk, we’re handed a grey and black ‘Savior Mask’ to slip over our plain one. Currently in Japan, masks must be worn when you’re within two metres of someone else, even outside. The good news is that, just yesterday, the government lifted restrictions on concerts, meaning people are now allowed to shout loudly.

An usher hurries us to our seat, and we watch messages loop on the big screens in each corner of the room. They include: ‘Please wear your Savior Mask at all times’, ‘No smart phones’ and ‘No banners’ – each accompanied by a cute skeleton illustration. The most entertaining ones are ‘No other nuisances’, alongside an image of two side-by-side skeletons getting clonked on the head by a crowd surfer, and ‘No big head costumes’, showing a skeleton wearing an oversized Fox God head.

At 6.10pm, the lights go out. A video message plays, accompanied by a voiceover: “The time has come for us to unify our voices once again,” it declares. “The Fox Gate is where a new journey begins.”

Ten figures robed in black march slowly down a central aisle, bathed in blue light, to the suspenseful intro of Metal Kingdom – the first track on The Other One . Each bears a golden staff that looks like an upside-down pair of scissors, two large Os sticking out the top to represent the album title.

At the head of the aisle, lights illuminate two enormous, stone-grey doors with fox heads carved into them, eyes glowing red. The doors part, and a platform wreathed in dry ice slides out to reveal three ornate thrones: Su-metal sits in the middle, Moametal is to her left… and the other throne is empty.

Moametal walks down the aisle while Su-metal starts to sing, and then she turns to face her bandmate. They end up on either side of a round stage in the middle of the walkway, sweeping and raising intricate tridents, before stepping forwards. Their podium rises. Firework showers detonate along the length of the gangway, causing a ripple of awe. Uyu-metal was right!

Since Yui left the band, Su and Moa have appeared with one of a revolving cast of dancers, dubbed ‘The Avengers’. This time they’re joined by Momoko, formerly of Babymetal’s previous band, Sakura Gakuin. The trio run through Divine Attack - Shingeki – The Other One’s second song – on the round stage, which by this point has moved to the other end of the venue, in front of another static stage featuring the Kami Band. Still with us?

During Pa Pa Ya!! , red and orange lights flash as pyro explodes, while the crowd whirl souvenir scarves above their heads like a Japanese version of Skindred’s Newport Helicopter. New Bring Me -inflected song Monochrome begins with a round of gunfire drumming, and the girls are thrown into dramatic light and shade. “Take your phone out!” yells Su. “Turn on your light!” The sight is breathtaking.

But the most WTF moment comes during upbeat 2013 classic Doki Doki * Morning . Before the song, the words ‘The Other One. In The Metalverse Of Madness’ flash onto screens in the Marvel font. A voiceover says that beyond the Fox Gate, there is a world we can’t even imagine. A parallel world, in which there exists a lifeform beyond comprehension – but are they a threat, or are they a friend? The gate of the new world is about to open…

The girls begin on the round stage, in front of the Kami Band – who, despite being out of the spotlight tonight, are Slipknot levels of thunderous. It glides towards the middle of the room – and then, another round stage sails up to meet it. Another round stage with another Babymetal on it, dressed in the red-and-black colour scheme of their earlier days. They mirror each other’s dancing, collapsing in a heap at the end. It is truly surreal. Then they disappear, as if they were never there.

There’s one more surprise. After closer The Legend , the Kami Band vanish. In near darkness, on opposite sides of the stage, Su and Moa ascend a flight of stairs, red horizontal strip lights appearing with every step. They pause in front of neon white coffin outlines, and a booming noise rings out like an advert for Dolby surround sound. The lights come up. It’s only 7.30pm, but it feels like we’ve been inside their Metalverse for hours.

The next afternoon, several hundred Babymetal fans assemble for a group photo on a staircase outside Makuhari Messe. Tipped off by a Tweet from ChiyoMetal, owner of a Fox God-themed bar in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku, we’ve come to take a look.

One of the fans on the staircase is Ukky, an engineer from Kawasaki, an hour and a half away. Ukky has been a Babymetal fan “for about five or six years”. He’s wearing a new Babymetal hoodie and holding a purple puppet of the Kami Band’s Ohmura Takayoshi. Impressively, it plays a pink guitar. It turns out he built it himself. “This took about a month to make,” he says with a smile. “First I bought a book about how to make a puppet, and then I made the guitar with a 3D printer.”

Ukky is part of a Facebook group called Bokuchi-kai. They’re having an aftershow meet-up at a nearby izakaya – a type of informal restaurant, where groups of friends or colleagues meet to let loose – but he can’t attend, because he has to get home to his family. Can we go to the meet-up? He smiles and says he thinks it’ll be OK, but he’ll have to ask his Leader. We exchange email addresses, and he takes a selfie with us as proof of identity. Then, we wait.

At 5pm, show two begins. This time, we notice more details. The new songs are mid-paced and mature, with choreography to match – there’s a greater emphasis on hand gestures, rather than frantic jumps or exaggerated facial expressions, making the likes of Gimme Chocolate!! seem sweetly ironic. It’s not surprising, given Su is now 25 and Moa is 23. Later, Su will tell us that Divine Attack - Shingeki is the first song she’s written lyrics for.

“From here, a new journey begins once again. It is a song about our determination to pave another path,” she will say mysteriously. The audience are rowdier, too, perhaps now accustomed to shouting behind their masks.

Although there’s a special ‘Silent Mosh’sh Pit’ area for people who have children or just don’t want to get pushed around, the regular pit goes off for Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! with its ‘dogeza headbanging’, where people fall to their knees and bow.

It’s pretty much the same show as last night, but, because this is Babymetal, there’s one final reveal. Fox Day – April 1 – will bring a new stage for Babymetal, “together with a departure into a new world”.

Two more shows are announced, for April 1 and 2 at Yokohama’s Pia Arena. Then, Su-metal and Moametal advance to their coffins like before. But this time, a third coffin appears in the middle, together with an unknown third person, their back to the audience. The atmosphere is electric.

The venue is emptying, and from backstage we can hear Bury Tomorrow’s Earthbound blasting over the PA. A rep from Amuse, Babymetal’s management company, appears with Su and Moa. They are still in their costumes, their holographic neck-pieces shining brightly under the harsh lighting. We congratulate them on the shows – so much energy! – and they say ‘thank you’, eyes smiling above white masks.

The Amuse rep asks if we noticed anything different about tonight’s show. Yes, we say – there was a third coffin! And a third member! But who is it? “Only the Fox God knows!” they giggle in unison. Well, it was worth a shot… We ask about the hiatus. The band were only gone for a year, and during that time, they obviously worked on fourth album The Other One . Yet, with a question mark hanging over their future, it felt like much longer for fans. Was there any doubt about the band continuing?

“I love Babymetal. I love our team, I love our fans more than anything, and everyone at Metal Hammer ,” says Moa. “But to be honest, there have been times when I felt unsure if I could continue or not. Words or attitude without any love will hurt people. There were times when no matter how much I put into performing, I felt as if I was not loved.

“At that moment in time, someone at Metal Hammer said, ‘Your dancing is incredible! I can’t imagine Babymetal without the dance component!’ I felt so happy to hear and Su-metal and Moametal perform with Momoko – one of their ‘Avengers’ realise that people notice my dancing. Being commended is always a great feeling, and as I’m saying this, I realise I’m so basic, aren’t I? Ha ha!”

We ask for more details about why she felt she wasn’t loved, but none are forthcoming – though when musicians express sentiments like this, it’s often related to unkind commentators online. Moving on to The Other One , we try to uncover more about the concept.

“It’s about Babymetal’s other story in which 10 parallel worlds were discovered,” says Su. “All 10 tracks are based on myths, and each track represents a myth.”

The myths are drawn from many countries, not just Japan, and the 10 worlds are called Cavalry , Illusions, Coffin, Inverted Mirror Reflection, Monochrome, Smoke, Light And Darkness, Transition, Mirror and Throne.

In October 2021, back when the band was ‘sealed’, a new piece of merch called Black Box was released, featuring postcards of the band depicted in these parallel worlds, plus online access to snippets of unreleased music. These snippets were then ‘restored’ to become the songs on The Other One . No doubt we’ll spend hours trying to make sense of the concept.

“It’s a bit difficult, isn’t it?” smiles Moa. “To put it simply, it’s like Babymetal existing in a world separate from the one we see now. And I think the title points to that ‘other’ Babymetal that exists in a parallel universe.”

When we ask who was in the alternative Babymetal during Doki Doki * Morning , we don’t get an answer… Babymetal founder/producer/Fox God emissary Kobametal materialises. It took him two-three months to think up the production for these comeback shows, he explains. Once he had the idea for the symbol for The Other One – two interlinking Os that represent the infinity symbol – it came to him quickly, and he’s already planning for April.

The trio thank us for coming, and present us with a gift bag containing a t-shirt and a transparent coffin keyring. We wave goodbye and leave them to a well-earned rest.

Back in the foyer of Makuhari Messe, we check our inbox. There’s an email from Ukky about the aftershow get-together, containing the address of the restaurant: Inawaraya Kaihin-makuhariten, on the first floor of the Excellio Makuhari shopping mall, a 20-minute walk down Chiba’s wide, immaculate streets. The Leader has approved our request.

When we arrive at the door, a stern-looking man in a Babymetal t-shirt is sitting behind a wooden table with some papers attached to a clipboard – presumably a guestlist – and he won’t let us in. After several minutes of back and forth, he goes inside, and returns with a man wearing a name badge that says ‘Vins Metal’.

“Metal Hammer?” We nod, and he opens the door. Vins Metal introduces us to the Leader – Susumu. Grinning from ear to ear, he leads us up the room and yells, “METAL HAMMER!” In response, everyone rises and cheers “METAL HAMMER!”, some standing on their seats and others filming us on their phones.

Susumu grabs hold of Hiroshi, a 74-year-old senior research assistant at Virginia Tech in the US, who’s fluent in English. He waves his arm, and everyone sitting along the side of his table immediately gets up, abandoning their food and drinks to make way for us. We remove our shoes and take a seat.

Susumu discovered Babymetal after his son showed him the video for Akatsuki, but when he went to see the band by himself, he felt lonely and walked out. Back then, you often had to apply for VIP tickets via a lottery, meaning many people ended up in the same position. Plus, he admits, many have wives and girlfriends who don’t like Babymetal, and aren’t interested in seeing them live.

In Japanese, a ‘bochi’ is a person who attends a gig alone, so the Facebook group he formed in 2018 is called ‘Bokuchi-kai’, meaning ‘The lonely fox’. It has 940 members.

What does his own wife think of the group? Susumu lets out a long laugh, and Hiroshi interprets. “Disgusted? No, actually, it’s a very difficult word in Japanese, because it’s a combination of ‘disgusted’ plus ‘I’ve given up’! He’s already paid 10,000 Euros ahead of time for tonight, so if nobody came, he’d be short. And he says, keep it a secret, because his wife doesn’t know about it! Ha ha!”

Luckily, the izakaya is packed. A stream of excitable members come over for selfies, and present us with homemade gifts. Mota-Metal hands us a sticker that riffs on the Red Hot Chili Peppers logo, and KIMI3 gives us a wooden keyring with a shiny golden fox head attached, plus a phone charm depicting Su-metal and Moametal on their thrones.

Minako-Metal gifts us a sticker of herself, and thanks us for including a photo of her and her friends dressed as the Kami Band in our last Babymetal feature. Periodically, the chant from 4 no Uta breaks out: clapclap, clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap-clap, “Yon yon!”

When the night’s over, we gather outside for photos. As we thank Susumu for his hospitality, he pumps his fist in the air and yells ‘METAL HAMMER!’ some more, and everyone follows his cue. We respond with a Babymetalstyle “See youuuuu!” And the group choruses “See youuuu!” and waves goodbye.

These gigs, and the imminent release of The Other One , mark a major new chapter in the Babymetal story. Since their initial burst of virality in 2014, they have been working towards establishing themselves as a bona fide metal band with staying power.

If second album Metal Resistance capitalised on their newfound fame, and 2019’s Metal Galaxy cemented it with collaborators such as Sabaton’s Joakim Brodén and Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz, The Other One feels like a sleeker, more grown-up statement about Babymetal in 2023. Or Babymetal and their interdimensional counterparts, to be exact.

“The theme this time around was The Other One – the other Babymetal we never knew existed. Therefore, this concept album needed to be comprised only of us,” says Moametal. “Although no guest singers were involved, now that I think about it, since we’re exploring the Babymetal from another dimension we never knew existed, maybe we are the guest singers!”

The girls still have ambitions to fulfil. Su-metal would like to collaborate with Bring Me The Horizon again, and Rammstein – “It would be so cool to blow fire!”.

Moametal’s are more… unexpected. “Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to the Backstreet Boys and we spoke about how we would love to perform together,” she reveals. “I think it would be so fun and interesting to go beyond genres and collaborate with them. Also, I would love to collaborate with Måneskin. I was surprised to hear that they were actually younger than us, because I totally thought they were older than me. But us both being in the same generation, I feel so inspired and also motivated.”

In turn, Babymetal have paved the way for the next generation. Later this week, we go for dinner with rising metallers Hanabie. With a song called We Love Sweets and an immense sense of fun, singer Yukina cites them as an influence.

“I feel honoured that a Japanese band like us is getting a lot of attention,” says Su-metal. “I would love to be onstage with them one day.”

As for the immediate future, the third member (Momoko? Yui?!), and the parallel-universe ( Doki Doki * Morning Babymetal?) All we can do is cross our kitsunes and hope for more intel on Fox Day.

“Babymetal is constantly growing and evolving, and I believe change is always good,” says Moametal. “At times, I want to be a bit lazy and slack off, but when I think about your radiant smiles, I know I need to shake it off and do my best! Even while I am being interviewed right now, I am growing, so I don’t want you to miss a single second of it. Please keep your eyes on us, OK?”

Babymetal's new album The Other One is out now.

Eleanor was promoted to the role of Editor at Metal Hammer magazine after over seven years with the company, having previously served as Deputy Editor and Features Editor. Prior to joining Metal Hammer, El spent three years as Production Editor at Kerrang! and four years as Production Editor and Deputy Editor at Bizarre. She has also written for the likes of Classic Rock, Prog, Rock Sound and Visit London amongst others, and was a regular presenter on the Metal Hammer Podcast.

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BABYMETAL Discuss New Album THE OTHER ONE, the FOX GOD, and 2023 Tour Plans

The post BABYMETAL Discuss New Album THE OTHER ONE, the FOX GOD, and 2023 Tour Plans appeared first on Consequence .

Beyond the concept, BABYMETAL continue to evolve musically, incorporating new sounds into repertoire, including a darker progressive direction on a few tunes, and an alt-metal vibe on other tracks.

So far, their only scheduled US dates are appearances at the festivals Louder Than Life in September and Aftershock in October.

Below, SU-METAL and MOAMETAL offer insight into THE OTHER ONE, how the pandemic affected the recording of the album, and their plans for further shows in North America.

Please tell us about the new album THE OTHER ONE, and how each song fits into the overall theme?

What was your experience like in the METALVERSE?

SU-METAL: In the world of the METALVERSE, we collaborate with our past selves, sit on a royal throne, see our future selves…we experience a whole lot range of things!

How does the FOX GOD fit into the new album?

MOAMETAL: We’ve continually received messages from our FOX GOD and have fulfilled all of his missions. This new concept album was also originally a message from the FOX GOD and we’ve managed to successfully complete this mission also. This time, we were directed to create an all-new feel, a BABYMETAL no one knew existed, and so we strived to demonstrate that. The FOX GOD always allows us to grow in any type of circumstance. He can be a little mean sometimes but I believe that He is always on our side and is there to encourage us.

I feel like “THE LEGEND” which is the last song in our concept album conveys the FOX GOD’s message to us after watching us for 13 years. I’m happy to sing this song with both SU-METAL and I because I strongly feel that it is a special song that only the FOX GOD can write.

Specifically, can you talk about the single “Light and Darkness”?

SU-METAL: I think the structure of this song is very interesting because it begins with a quiet rhythm and it gets gradually louder as the sound layers come together and the constant drum beats help accentuate my vocals and I think these aspects of the song portray the beauty of dualism between light and darkness as each one depends on the other to exist. The melodious piano and the fast-paced guitar sounds in the middle of the song create a beautiful yet heavy sound and I’d love to ask all of you to listen carefully to each and every sound in the song. And not only that, the beat of the kick drum and our dance choreography really match and I feel that the lyrics to this song shine the most in the chorus and so make sure to watch our live performance video on our official YouTube channel!

How did the pandemic affect the making of this album, both logistically and creatively?

MOAMETAL: I think this was the first time we were able to take our time producing this concept album. Due to the pandemic, a lot of our daily lives were restricted and we often faced a lot of uncertainties but the enforced regulations to STAY HOME allowed us to physically take a break and rest. I think it was such a good opportunity for us because what we thought was “normal” and “routine” was no longer available and it really put a lot of things into perspective. It was also a reminder that not only me but everyone to be mindful of their own health and again, it was such a prime time for us to reflect on what’s really important under such restricted circumstances. It was obviously a very difficult time for us all but personally, I learned that no matter what the circumstance may be, I shouldn’t take it negatively but see the situation in a positive manner. I believe that being positive in any situation will continue to bring me good fortune and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

What led you to tour with Sabaton? And what are you looking forward to the most about the tour?

SU-METAL: We’ve been lucky to have so many opportunities in the past to share our time with Sabaton. They were our special guests for our headline show in Japan back in 2018 and we even had the opportunity to collaborate with Joakim for “Oh! MAJINAI (feat. Joakim Broden)” in our 3rd album METAL GALAXY . And while we were sealed, we were presented the offer from Sabaton about supporting them on their Europe tour and we were so excited to hear from them and gladly accepted. Seems like Sabaton is always there when we challenge ourselves to something new and so I’m quite confident that this tour will be very fun and successful! We can’t wait to not only have the honor of touring with Sabaton but it’s been three years for us to get back into touring internationally so we’re looking forward to reuniting with all of our fans. I’m excited to see Sabaton’s tank up close and also I can’t wait to sing along to their songs as I’m a fan myself!

Can fans look forward to BABYMETAL playing more shows in North America this year beyond the recently announced festival appearances?

MOAMETAL: I’m hoping for the same thing! I hope I can see everyone in North America soon! I hope our fans feel the same way, too. But if don’t raise your voices, we won’t be able to hear you so please express your feelings that you want to see us a bit more louder, okay??

This year, I just want to charge forward. I hope I can count on our FOX GOD…! To everyone in North America, please continue to take care of yourselves and I hope to see you soon!

Our thanks to SU-METAL and MOAMETAL for taking the time to answer Heavy Consequence ‘s questions. Stream THE OTHER ONE below, and pick it up on vinyl or CD via Amazon .

BABYMETAL Discuss New Album THE OTHER ONE, the FOX GOD, and 2023 Tour Plans Spencer Kaufman

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BABYMETAL WORLD TOUR 2024 EU/UK Merchandise Announcement!!

BABYMETAL × ELECTRIC CALLBOY: Miracle Collaboration Merch Now Available for Pre-Order!

Information on "FOX_FEST" entrance meeting time

"RATATATA", a collaboration with ELECTRIC CALLBOY, is released today! Music Video will also be premiered!!

Announcement from HONE MASTER posted on THE ONE Discord!

Cover Story

BABYMETAL: “We plan to start a new journey… I can’t wait to see what the future holds”

Two years ago, after a decade of metal exploration, BABYMETAL disappeared. The end? Only of the first chapter. Now SU-METAL and MOAMETAL are back with a new album, THE OTHER ONE, and a massive tour. Recharged and more confident as a duo, forget the Metal Galaxy, they’re heading to a different dimension entirely…

The Fox God awakes.

Some thought he never would again. On October 10, 2021 , a cryptic message came from BABYMETAL that looked for all the world like a finality.

“Together with all 10 episodes of METAL RESISTANCE coming to a close, the 10-year legend will be sealed from the world,” it read. “Until that seal is broken, BABYMETAL will disappear from our sight. Time is running out. There is no eternity in God’s descent.”

The following day, a similarly is-it-isn’t-it dispatch came from the band, declaring that, “The three metal spirits that have been shining since 2010, even if they were to leave Earth, would continue to shine forever in our hearts and across the Metal Galaxy. A legend turns into a myth which turns into a Living Legend…”

Predictably, one deity and one deity alone had even the slightest knowledge of the next piece of the puzzle. And he wasn’t in the mood to cough to it in a hurry. “What lies ahead beyond the end of the stairway to becoming a Living Legend is something only the Fox God knows.”

Certainly, this walked and quacked like a final transmission, and BABYMETAL had sailed off to become part of the aether of their Metal Galaxy. With third member YUIMETAL having left the band in 2018 due to health issues, SU-METAL and MOAMETAL had released the following year’s METAL GALAXY album as a duo. At the start of 2021, they’d done a staggering run of shows at Tokyo’s legendary Nippon Budokan to (belatedly, thanks to COVID) mark their 10th anniversary. As a full-stop, it wasn’t exactly coming in the middle of a sentence.

‘Sealed away’ was apt for the silence that followed. Even at the best of times, BABYMETAL aren’t exactly foghorns of information, showing only the smallest amount of the hand the Fox God has dealt them. When they want to disappear, to call them ghosts is far too flamboyant.

And so, there was silence. For a full year, there wasn’t so much a question mark around BABYMETAL as a sort of acceptance that it was probably done.

And then, last October, exactly one year to the day since their last missive, a message came through. A new album, THE OTHER ONE , was coming in March 2023 – 10 new songs, each representing a previously unknown parallel world.

Rumours of BABYMETAL’s death, it seems, had been greatly exaggerated. They were still alive, they’d just been exploring other universes.

Really, we probably should have seen this all coming…

SU-METAL says that THE OTHER ONE is based around the theme of what she calls BABYMETAL’s ‘other’ story. That is, “visuals and songs scattered in 10 new worlds that we never knew existed”.

“THE OTHER ONE also revolves around the idea of perception in that what you see and understand may only reveal one side of the truth,” she continues. “Therefore, it dives into exploring the ‘other side’.”

“Through the parallel world called the METALVERSE, THE OTHER ONE restoration project began,” adds MOAMETAL. “THE OTHER ONE is comprised of 10 myths and it reveals the BABYMETAL that we’ve never encountered before. It is a multiverse story that transcends several dimensions from the past, present and future. And the concept album THE OTHER ONE consists of 10 tracks that were based on each of the 10 themes that have been discovered along the way. Some of the songs transcend time and space, restoring our voices that have been recorded in the past and merging them with our current voices.”

While you try to wrap your head around 10-dimensional space (somewhat disappointingly, that’s one-quieter than the 11 possible dimensions posited by some physicists in the mind-bending unifying idea of M-theory), let’s get back up to speed in a more conventional manner.

SU-METAL says that the announcement and the break was always intended to be a period in a chrysalis, gearing up for a next phase, albeit somewhat blown off course by COVID.

“The plan was, in 2020 when we commemorated our 10th anniversary of achieving METAL RESISTANCE, that BABYMETAL would complete season one of our legend and would enter a preparation period before they moved onto the next stage,” she explains. “At the same time, in 2020 the world entered into a pandemic. Although we had planned to enter a temporary break all along, we felt the need to properly announce that BABYMETAL would be sealed from live performances to avoid confusion among fans. This didn’t mean BABYMETAL would take a break from everything, but rather a slight pause on the front end to prepare for their next big move.”

Even intergalactic stars like they, and a mythical, all-powerful dieu renard , couldn’t avoid the effects of the pandemic. Such a machine coming to an emergency stop will leave its occupants discombobulated and off-bearing, as the pair quickly found.

“As BABYMETAL’s activities are based on meeting people and sharing happy times through music, we, like many others, were deprived of our normal daily lives due to the pandemic,” reflects SU-METAL. “Not being able to go on tour that we had been looking forward to and not being able to do live shows like before was mentally difficult for us. It made me anxious because all of a sudden, our ‘normal’ was no longer normal, and it was a big reminder of how much we have been really supported by [our fans].”

For MOAMETAL, there was also a feeling of helplessness as she saw such suffering going on through COVID.

“It was very painful and sad to see everyone who I love suffer during these painful times,” she says. “As I saw and heard the news of so many things happening around the world, I thought long and hard on how I could help.

“Things that crossed my mind were thoughts like, ‘I hope that fan of ours who came to our show is doing well,’ or, ‘I hope my friend who I haven’t seen in a while is doing okay.’ There were just so many instances like these. And I realised how helpless I was and all I could do was pray and hope. But although I felt helpless, this moment really put it into perspective for me to really value what is truly important.”

Not long before, when the decision was made that they would continue without YUIMETAL, MOAMETAL faced another question of what was important. Going from being one-third of a triptych to half of the band, would it be the same? More importantly, could she step up, and would their acolytes accept it, or see it as something of a two-legged fox?

“When we decided that it would be the two of us, I remember feeling scared of the audience and the way they looked at us,” she admits. “There were times when I would feel doubt in their eyes and I even started to doubt if the decision we made was a mistake. But discussing with SU-METAL, we both agreed that it wasn’t, and we shouldn’t run away. We decided, ‘Let’s put in everything we’ve got and move forward.’ It would be a lie if I said I didn’t feel uneasy at the time, but knowing that SU-METAL was with me gave me reassurance and it wasn’t just me that felt anxious. SU-METAL and I have always been there for each other and we both know that this is what has allowed us to come this far.”

The shows at Budokan in early 2021 were immense. After a year away for COVID, the achievement of doing 10 nights at the legendary venue, spread out over four months, became even more gilded. Though they were about to vanish again – and this time, very much on their own terms – it also marked a triumphant return of living life. Even if there were some concerns about still being match-fit after so long away.

“I definitely went through a pretty interesting experience, because with a lot of rehearsals lined up in preparation for our show, typically I would believe that my body would get tired, but the opposite happened,” says SU-METAL. “I felt more and more energised! I came to notice that I absolutely love performing live. The moment I stood onstage it felt very fulfilling, and not only that, I felt so proud to be able to do 10 shows in this day and age at the Budokan, a memorable place for us where we performed right before we started touring internationally.”

“I feel a sense of relief when I see everyone’s radiant, beautiful smiles from the stage – this is why I perform,” adds MOAMETAL. “I’m never nervous when I perform, so I felt at home when we played at the Budokan for the 10 shows.”

And the best bit?

“Food!” she laughs. “Every time we have a performance, our team prepares us delicious food. Keep it between you and me, but I was always looking forward to that moment!”

Six months after the curtain came down on the last Budokan show, and BABYMETAL drew their next veil over themselves as they went into stasis, the pair adjusted to the pause differently. SU-METAL admits that, “I’m sorry to say this, but during that time I forgot about the Fox God,” but for her bandmate, even returning somewhat to civvy street, she just couldn’t quit him.

“Well, the Fox God always appears in my dreams,” she says. “Even when we were sealed away, I thought that I’d be away from being MOAMETAL. But actually it was always in my mind and soul. So that being said, my faith in the Fox God was not shaken. He’s a bit mean for not letting me rest!”

THE OTHER ONE is great, fantastic, probably BABYMETAL’s best record to date. Often recalling Bring Me The Horizon – with whom SU-METAL and MOAMETAL collaborated in 2020 for Kingslayer on that band’s Post Human: Survival Horror – it’s a dizzying rush of high-energy metal and out-of-this-universe colour.

It also feels like something of a new beginning. Though not exactly breaking the BABYMETAL sound into a million pieces, it’s nevertheless sharper, stronger, a step upward and beyond. The dimensions each track represents are easier to grab onto and digest than the proposal might suggest, taking in themes that aren’t so much mind-bending as simply deep. Relatably so.

METAL KINGDOM is explained by the band’s musical brain KOBAMETAL as “ushering in the beginning of a new era while also representing the power and courage to step forward into uncharted territory. The track conveys imagery of one rising powerfully from the throne of silence, with a suitable fanfare announcing this new beginning.”

Detailing Mirror Mirror, he says, “Mirror, mirror on the wall… this song embodies a parallel world where the world inside the mirror and the world of reality go back and forth. Is what you see in the mirror your true self, or the self you wish to be?” Then there’s MAYA, posing the very big idea that “Reality is an illusion. The truth may be a deception. It is a feeling as if you wandered in between the real world and the virtual world. It may be magic, or it may be an illusion.”

This all chimes with SU-METAL and MOAMETAL, both of whom, when asked, can point to specific parts of the album that reflect their own feelings. For SU-METAL, it’s a line in MONOCHROME: ‘ No matter how long the night the morning will arrive .’

“It has been a long night for all of us. For us, it was difficult to perform live and even meet people,” she says. “Some people are still fighting through this difficult situation. But everyone is gradually returning back into their daily lives. I want to encourage people to keep their chin up and have faith that a brighter future will come even if the sky is pitch black.”

For MOAMETAL, a woman who says she prefers to live in the here and now, it’s METAL KINGDOM that most accurately speaks to her.

“There’s a line, ‘ No need to dwell on words that weigh you down and don’t look back on the road you’ve travelled / Live tomorrow at that place where light is present ,’” she says. “It’s my favourite, because I feel like it describes who I am. No matter what people around me may say, I’ve managed to pursue the direction that I believe is right.

“Even if there may be times when we’re feeling down and sad, although it may require courage, for me while I’m dancing, thinking about how we’ve conquered uncharted territories gives me the strength to do anything and everything,” she adds, before admitting, “But actually, this isn’t my favourite song, though!”

The start of this glorious new phase, after a period of recalibration as a duo, then COVID, then hibernating at the end of their first decade, is also an opportunity to take stock of a massive life lived while still young. SU-METAL is now 25 years old, MOAMETAL 23. They have been in BABYMETAL since they were 12 and 10, respectively. There is no other band in Kerrang!’s world who have grown up in quite the same way as they have. A decade-and-change of success of the sort BABYMETAL have enjoyed is one journey, to have experienced such a thing at the same time as one would normally be figuring out the world before eventually heading out into it much later on as an adult is quite another.

“I started when I was a teenager. I am now 23 years old and age-wise I feel more mature,” says MOAMETAL. “But I feel like even if it’s been 10 years, there are a lot of things that haven’t changed, like the motivation to explore a new type of metal, my love for our team, my love for having fun, my love of amazing food…

“Although a lot of things haven’t changed, looking back on the past 10 years, thanks to all our fans and all those who have been involved with BABYMETAL, I believe that I’ve gained so much knowledge and have had the experience of a lifetime. I guess that is definitely one thing that has changed. That, and these days I feel much more sore after dancing!”

She adds, though, that she is now more aware of her own autonomy as a human being. That, actually, her life is hers to mould herself, and that today affects tomorrow.

“I’m more of a person who likes to focus on the present,” she says. “I’ve always done my best to live in the present all this time, so I’ve never put in the time to think about the future. I guess, generally speaking, I’ve never really thought about the future at all. I’ve never really had the thought of, ‘I want to do that,’ and instead of what I want to do, I’ve focused more on what I am able to do and to be grateful for every opportunity that has been given to me. So now that you mention it, I guess now would be a good time to start considering the future.

“I would describe myself as someone who takes responsibility to heart. I’m not one to drop everything and do what I desire, unless it’s as a reward for myself,” she elaborates. “It might be good for me to consider what my heart is telling me to do. I believe that my future depends on what I am doing now, so I want to value being present and do the best I can.”

For SU-METAL, the eye-opening experience of seeing the world first-hand has gone in tandem with the idea that this band is more deeply rooted than something you do for a bit. It is her life.

“Over the past 10 years, I’ve travelled to many countries and have met a lot of people. I’ve witnessed a lot of times when music works wonders, and it is just fascinating how much influence music has on people,” she muses. “One instance I’ve seen many times is, even if people don’t speak the same language, they are able to communicate through music. Also, MOAMETAL and I have been together longer than my own family, so I sincerely think she is like my sister as we’ve shared so many experiences together through our 10-year journey.”

As the pair prepare for the release of THE OTHER ONE, and for their arena tour with Swedish military metal bears Sabaton, it’s time to look, as MOAMETAL says, to the future. Especially since previously – for those on the outside, anyway – such a thing was too fuzzy to see.

Big question first, then: who’s mightier – the Fox God or Joakim from Sabaton ?

“Very difficult question,” ponders SU-METAL. “I think the Fox God is stronger. But to be honest, I still haven’t gotten the chance to really get to know Joakim yet. I know he’s quite strong, so the results may be overturned!”

“I think our Fox God – he’s not human!” laughs MOAMETAL. “How should we measure who is stronger?”

Arm wrestling.

“Okay, if we go with arm wrestling, I would put my money on Joakim because he’s ripped. We have a song called KARATE, so should we have them do a karate match? Actually, what about an eating contest?”

Ball firmly in Joakim’s court, it’s time to climb aboard and get ready for the next 10 years. The future, they say, is bright, and BABYMETAL are seizing it.

“I pray that the future of all people will be happier than it is now, even if it’s just a little bit,” says MOAMETAL. “I hope that the world will be a place where people can live with more hope than now. I would be happy if BABYMETAL’s music were to add happiness and hope for someone.”

The past is the past. BABYMETAL are now primed and ready for the future. Out of stasis, and conquering worlds and universes far beyond our own, it seems the silence was just the end of the beginning.

“The seal has been lifted and our new legend will begin,” asserts SU-METAL. “We have had our 10 years, but we plan to start a new journey, one in which only BABYMETAL can create. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

The FOX GOD is back. Strap in.

This article originally appeared in the spring issue of the magazine .

THE OTHER ONE is out now via Cooking Vinyl – grab a limited-edition bronze record here . BABYMETAL tour the UK with Sabaton from April 14.

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BABYMETAL And ELECTRIC CALLBOY Collaborate On New Single And Video, 'Ratatata'

BABYMETAL and ELECTRIC CALLBOY , two of the most acclaimed bands right now, have collaborated on a new song that will make you dance and sing: "Ratatata" . This song masterfully fuses the signature styles of both bands, seamlessly blending their worlds and pushing the music to exhilarating new limits.

The video, produced and directed by Schillobros. , will debut at 11 a.m. EDT / 8 a.m. PDT today.

BABYMETAL comments on the new collaboration: "Unbeatable! Let's 'Fu Fu' together with 'Ratatata' ."

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Photo by Christian Ripkens

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PGA Tour-LIV Golf Timeline: One year has passed and golf fans still are waiting for a deal

It was one of those news drops all golf fans never will forget.

June 6, 2023: The PGA Tour and LIV Golf announce a "framework agreement" to merge business entities after weeks of secret negotiations.

The PGA Tour, whose roots go back more than a century, and LIV Golf, the upstart league launched in June 2021 with tour antagonist Greg Norman as its face and financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, forming an alliance?

This cannot be happening.

After two years of player poaching, lawsuits, nasty insults from both sides and talk of Saudi Arabia's atrocious human rights violations, the vision of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan side-by-side on a CNBC set detailing how the rival leagues will combine commercial businesses and rights into a new for-profit company, and drop all lawsuits, truly was surreal.

How has that gone?

At first, we were told that the "merger" — later reframed as an "agreement" — would be finalized by Dec. 31 and the PIF would be writing a very large check (somewhere between $1 billion and $2 billion) to boost PGA Tour Enterprises. But New Year's Eve came and went without a deal, and now, one year later, we appear no closer than we were six months ago.

And after a brief cease-fire, some members, from both sides, resumed taking shots at each other, and LIV Golf, which has headquarters in West Palm Beach, went back to poaching PGA Tour stars.

"It's messy, and it has been and it seems to get messier every week," Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America, said at the PGA Championship. "I don't think the game is big enough for two tours like that, and I think we are diluting the game in a way that is not healthy.

"I hope there's urgency because I do think it's doing damage to the tour, to the game. … I just don't think it's a healthy situation right now."

Here is a timeline of the ebbs and flows of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf when it comes to a possible merger:

If you can't beat them, join them

While surprised that everything came together so quickly, Rory McIlroy said the PGA Tour’s partnership with the PIF ultimately will be good for the game. Speaking the week the agreement was announced, McIlroy said much of it has been mischaracterized and it should not be viewed as a merger with LIV Golf.

“LIV has nothing to do with this," he said. "It’s the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund that are basically partnering to create a new company. That’s where I was a little frustrated. All I’ve wanted to do was protect the future of the PGA Tour and protect the aspirational nature of what the PGA Tour stands for. I think this does this.

"If you look at the structure, this new company sits above everything else. Jay on top of that. Technically, anyone involved with LIV would answer to Jay. The PIF was going to keep spending money in golf. At least the PGA Tour controls how that money is spent. You’re dealing with one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world. Would you rather fight against or have them as a partner?"

Greg Norman's message to staff

Although not involved in the negotiations, LIV's chief executive and commissioner Norman, who lives in Palm Beach Gardens, had a positive message for the staff. Norman, who was left out of the negotiations and not mentioned in any of the news releases associated with the agreement, told more than 100 people on a 30-minute call that LIV will see no operational changes and that work is already being done on a 2025 schedule.

“The spigot is now wide open for commercial sponsorships, blue-chip companies, TV networks," he said. "LIV is and will continue to be a standalone enterprise. Our business model will not change. We changed history and we’re not going anywhere."

Players losing trust in Monahan

The main topic of conversation at the U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club was the announcement the previous week. Some players were open about expressing their anger and lack of trust in the tour and Monahan.

"I think it gets to a point where you want to have faith in management, and I want to have faith that this is the best thing for all of us, but it's clear that that's not the consensus," Jon Rahm said. "I think the general feeling is that a lot of people feel a bit of betrayal from management."

Those words were prophetic coming from a man who, six months later, became the biggest name to defect from the PGA Tour.

Agreement dissected on Capitol Hill

About a month after the agreement, drama played out on Capitol Hill with tour COO Ron Price and policy board independent director Jimmy Dunne, of North Palm Beach, testifying at a Senate investigations subcommittee hearing.

They were grilled by a bipartisan committee that was concerned about antitrust violations. Aside from politicians attempting to bully Price and Dunne or just looking for air time, one of the more interesting revelations was the PIF proposing Tiger Woods and McIlroy being granted ownership of LIV Golf franchises. This idea was shot down by the PGA Tour.

Tiger getting involved

Before joining the PGA Tour policy board on Aug. 1, Woods led a group of more than 40 players in signing a list of demands of Monahan. The move was made to reestablish control of the PGA Tour after players heard about Monahan's secretive meetings with the PIF.

Woods became the sixth player director on the policy board, giving players more say in any final decisions.

Monahan regrets agreement rollout

Speaking for the first time since taking a medical leave of absence one week after the deal was announced because of anxiety over the deal, Monahan took responsibility for the awkward rollout of the framework agreement, saying there was a lot of misinformation leading to distrust.

"That's on me," he said.

“My biggest regret was not being more patient on the night of June 5, moving to make this announcement the next day."

Norman confident about LIV's future

In October, Norman spoke publicly for the first time since the agreement. He was at LIV's final event of the season at Doral.

Norman was upbeat and confident his league was on the upswing and promised LIV was here to stay. As far as his future … when asked about Price's comment at July's Senate subcommittee hearing that Norman is "out of a job" if a deal is reached, Norman shrugged.

"I knew it wasn't true," he said. "There's so much white noise floating around out there that I actually paid zero attention to.

"Sitting in this seat today, I know every step I've made has been for the right reasons. Right reasons for the game of golf. … So I was never in any fear of anybody saying anything or any animus against me or anything like that. Because the business model works."

LIV releases most of 2024 schedule

Soon after the conclusion of the 2023 season, LIV made it official that it was moving forward without interruption. Despite the ongoing negotiations, it announced most of its 2024 schedule, which included seven domestic and seven international events.

The original schedule did not include sites for the final two events: the individual and team championships. Those later were announced as Chicago and Dallas, respectively.

Rahm proves he has a price

Six months after the framework agreement, Rahm announced on Fox News: "I have officially joined LIV Golf." He was wearing an LIV letterman's jacket.

The Spaniard and No. 3 golfer in the world clearly is LIV's biggest and most important addition since its launch, sending the message, "We are still here, we are not going anywhere." And for LIV, that was worth the reported $550 million Rahm will receive, including bonuses.

The man who once refuted all LIV rumors by saying $400 million would not change his lifestyle proved he had a price after all.

Woods stands firm on deadline

Despite reports negotiations were dragging and Dec. 31 would come and go without a deal, Woods remained optimistic, right to the end.

Speaking in December from the PNC Championship in Orlando where he teamed with his son, Charlie, Tiger insisted nothing has changed when it comes to the deadline.

"As of right now, that is our time frame and our deadline," he said. "That was set forth back in early June. And that hasn't changed."

Nothing drops on New Year's Eve

Like the ball in Times Square, the PGA Tour and PIF were hoping to drop an announcement that would put an end to golf's civil war.

The year came and went and the only announcement was that the sides were prepared to continue negotiating.

PGA Tour finds major investor in SSG

The long-awaited deal between the PGA Tour and Strategic Sports Group was announced in late January. The SSG, a collective of marquee professional sports franchise owners headed by Fenway Sports Group, is pumping $3 billion into the tour. That included an initial investment of $1.5 billion into the launch of a commercial venture, PGA Tour Enterprises.

That makes SSG the tour's major financial partner, which had some, like Woods, now hinting maybe the tour no longer needed PIF's money.

"The monies that they have come to the table with, and what we initially had agreed to in the framework agreement, those are all the same numbers," Woods said about the SSG investment.

Tyrrell Hatton follows Rahm to LIV

LIV's strong offseason continued with the long-awaited signing of England's Tyrrell Hatton . The 16th-ranked golfer in the world joined in February, just before LIV's first event of the year, in Mexico. Hatton joined Rahm's team, confirming LIV would be adding a 13th team.

Hatton's signing came after Germany's Adrian Meronk, No. 39 in the world, joined LIV.

Monahan offers little at Players

Monahan's much-anticipated state of the game address from The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach in March lacked substance. The commissioner offered very little, other than confirming he recently met with Al-Rumayyan and talks are "accelerating."

While McIlroy continued to believe in Monahan's leadership and a deal being finalized — that later eroded, as we will see — Xander Schauffele was not so sure. "I would say in my book he's got a long way to go to gain the trust of the membership," Schauffele said.

And world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler placed the blame for golf's fractured state squarely on those who joined LIV.

"If the fans are upset, then look at the guys that left," Scheffler said. "We had a tour, we were all together, and the people that left are no longer here. At the end of the day, that's where the splintering comes from."

More false hope after Bahamas meeting

Members of the PGA Tour Enterprises board, including Monahan and all six player directors — Woods, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson and Peter Malnati — met with Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas soon after the Players Championship.

Monahan called the meeting "constructive." Woods said. "We're headed in the right direction."

LIV players: Deal needed to save sport

LIV golfers weighed in on the negotiations from the event at Doral with Bryson DeChambeau saying there needs to be more of a sense of urgency.

"The only answer is for us to somehow come together in some sort of terms where it makes sense and for us to be playing all again in somewhat of the same boat," DeChambeau said. "And it needs to happen fast. It's not a two-year thing. Like it needs to happen quicker rather than later just for the good of the sport. Too many people are losing interest."

LIV looking to buy golf courses

Norman revealed in May that LIV Golf has thought about owning all its golf courses with each team having a home venue on which to host an event.

"And now you can build out around that," Norman told Bloomberg News. "It’s not just a golf course. You bring in education, hospitality, real estate, merchandise, management, and all these other different opportunities that the game of golf has to deliver to a community or to a region. We are going to be doing that.”

Jimmy Dunne resigns from PGA Tour policy board

Dunne, one of the architects of the framework agreement, resigned from the tour’s policy board the week of the PGA Championship. The North Palm Beach resident and president of Seminole Golf Club said since helping negotiate the agreement, "no meaningful progress has been made towards a transaction with the PIF, I feel like my role is utterly superfluous."

Woods said the amount of work and dedication Dunne put into the board and into the PGA Tour has been "incredible."

McIlroy offered a grim outlook on the negotiations with Dunne no longer involved.

"I would say my confidence level on something getting done before last week was, you know, as low as it had been," McIlroy said. "And then with this news of Jimmy resigning and knowing the relationship he has with the other side, and how much warmth there is from the other side, it's concerning."

One year later and still no deal

A year has passed since that stunning announcement of a framework agreement and about six months since the deadline to turn that into a final deal.

And still, nothing.

But are we getting closer? According to The New York Times, possibly. Maybe?

More: Strong list of LIV, PGA Tour golfers attempting to qualify for U.S. Open at Bear's Club

The Times recently reported that negotiations between the PGA Tour and the PIF not only are very much alive but term sheets have been exchanged.

But it also added a deal is far from certain with the future of LIV Golf still to be decided.

And so we wait.

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf writer for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].

Alan Jackson Plots 2024 Last Call: One More for the Road Tour — See the Dates

Alan Jackson is taking his final ride with the announcement of tour dates in 2024 and 2025. The Last Call: One More for the Road Tour is an extension of his 2022 tour and is expected to kick off Aug. 2 at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The trek is currently set to run through May 17 with a show at Fiserv Forum, but more dates could be announced.

This will be the last time Jackson will perform at these arenas, and fans can expect to hear all of the songs they love.

“Fans know when they come to my shows, they’re going to hear the songs that made me who I am – the ones they love,” Jackson says.

“I’ve been touring for over 30 years – my daughters are all grown, we have one grandchild and one on the way… and I’m enjoying spending more time at home,” he continues. “But my fans always show up to have a good time, and I’m going to give them the best show I can for this Last Call.”

Is Alan Jackson Retiring From Country Music?

Speculation surrounding Jackson’s longevity in country music began after he revealed in 2021 that he had been living with a degenerative nerve condition for more than a decade. The “Chattahoochee” singer was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which causes nerve damage in the body, primarily in the arms and legs. The Mayo Clinic says the disease can cause muscle contractions, a loss of sensation and make walking difficult.

“There’s no cure for it, but it’s been affecting me for years. And it’s getting more and more obvious,” Jackson told Today at the time. “And I know I’m stumbling around onstage. And now I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable.”

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is not deadly, and it does not decrease life expectancy, but there is currently no cure for the inherited illness. Jackson says his grandmother, father and one of his sisters all lived with the disorder.

Complications from the disease prevented him from finishing his Last Call Tour in 2022. He refrained from calling the trek his farewell tour at the time.

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Will Alan Jackson Continue to Release New Music?

While the touring portion of Jackson’s career may be coming to an end, the longtime hitmaker says he is hopeful he will continue to be creative in the studio. He shared his optimism with his daughter Mattie on her In-Joy Life podcast in 2023.

“Well, yes. I would hope so,” Jackson said about recording new music (quotes via People ). “I mean, I may not have toured much, but like I said, the creative part jumps out every now and then. I’m always scribbling down ideas and thinking about melodies, and I feel like there’ll be some more music to come, yes.”

Alan Jackson’s Last Call: One More for the Road 2024/2025 Tour Dates:

Aug. 2 – Boston, Mass @ TD Garden

Aug. 24 – Grand Rapids, Mich. @ Van Andel Arena

Sept. 28 – Fayetteville, Ark. @ Bud Walton Arena

Oct. 26 – Kansas City, Mo. @ T-Mobile Arena

Nov. 16 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Delta Center

Jan. 18 – Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Paycom Center

Feb. 15 – Fort Worth, Texas @ Dickies Arena

March 7 – Orlando, Fla. @ Kia Center

April 26 – Tampa, Fla. @ Amalie Arena

May 17 – Milwaukee, Wisc. @ Fiserv Forum

Alan Jackson performs onstage for CMT Coal Miner's Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn

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Grayson Murray dies at age 30 a day after withdrawing from Colonial, PGA Tour says

FILE -Grayson Murray holds the trophy after winning the Sony Open golf event, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial(AP Photo/Matt York, File)

FILE -Grayson Murray hits off the 18th tee during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 20, 2023. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

FILE -Grayson Murray celebrates winning the Sony Open golf event, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Grayson Murray hits from the fairway on the 10th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Valhalla Golf Club, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Matt York)

FILE -Grayson Murray watches his tee shot on the third hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

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Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.

There were no immediate details on the circumstances of his death, only shock and grief from the PGA Tour and his management team.

“I am at a loss for words,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. “The PGA Tour is a family, and when you lose a member of your family, you are never the same. We mourn Grayson and pray for comfort for his loved ones.”

His management company, GSE Worldwide, confirmed the death and said it was heartbroken.

“We will hold off on commenting until we learn further details, but our heart aches for his family, his friends and all who loved him during this very difficult time,” GSE said in a statement.

Monahan said he spoke with Murray’s parents to offer condolences, and they asked that the tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, continue.

He said grief counselors would be on site at the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour event in Knoxville, Tennessee. Monahan headed to Texas and later appeared on CBS as the third round was ending.

“To see the devastation on the faces of every player coming in is really difficult to see and really just profound,” Monahan said. “Grayson was a remarkable player, but he was a very courageous man. I’ve always loved that about him.”

Lexi Thompson walks off the second tee during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Murray, who had dealt with alcohol and mental health issues in the past, made a massive turnaround this year and won the Sony Open , hitting wedge to 3 feet for birdie on the final hole to get into a playoff and winning it with a 40-foot putt.

He also won the Barbasol Championship in 2017.

“It was a huge shock. My heart sank,” said Webb Simpson, who learned of Murray’s death shortly before teeing off at Colonial. He said Murray was the first winner of his junior tournament and they shared the same swing coach as juniors.

“I just hate it so much,” Simpson said. “I’m going to miss him. I’m thankful he was in the place with his faith before this morning happened.”

Murray was No. 58 in the world rankings coming off a tie for 43rd in the PGA Championship last week at Valhalla. He also made the cut in his Masters debut, finishing 51st, and was in the field for the U.S. Open next month at Pinehurst No. 2.

FILE -Grayson Murray watches his tee shot on the third hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

Murray, who grew up in North Carolina, was among the most talented juniors in the country. He won the prestigious Junior World Championship in San Diego three straight years and earned the Arnold Palmer Scholarship at Wake Forest.

He wound up going to three colleges, lastly at Arizona State, and won as a 22-year-old PGA Tour rookie at the Barbasol Championship.

Murray said in January that he had been sober for eight months, was engaged to be married, had become a Christian and felt his best golf was ahead of him. He was appointed to the 16-member Player Advisory Council.

“My story is not finished. I think it’s just beginning,” Murray said in Hawaii. “I hope I can inspire a lot of people going forward that have their own issues.”

Murray said he used to drink during tournament weeks as a rookie because he knew he had talent and felt he was invincible. He also brought attention to himself through social media, openly criticizing other players and getting into one social media spat with Kevin Na over Na’s reputation as a slow player.

But he felt like he turned the corner when he sought help — letting others fight for him, is how he explained it this year.

FILE -Grayson Murray hits off the 18th tee during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 20, 2023. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

“It took me a long time to get to this point,” Murray said in January. “That was seven years ago, over seven years ago. I’m a different man now. I would not be in this position right now today if I didn’t put that drink down eight months ago.”

Peter Malnati played with Murray at Colonial. He offered to go on the CBS telecast Saturday afternoon and immediately broke down trying to talk about him.

“It’s a huge loss for all of us on the PGA Tour,” Malnati said. “As much as we want to beat each other, we’re one big family, and we lost one today. It’s terrible.”

This story has been corrected to show that Murray won the Barbasol Championship in 2017, not last year.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Kontinental Hockey League

Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals: atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final. While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut. Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so. But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd.

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime. Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30). Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date. Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles: Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30. In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans: Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship. The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize. The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it. Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that.

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth. There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat. Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role.

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games. They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL. They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL.

Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start.

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BABYMETAL BEGINS
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BABYMETAL、“THE OTHER ONE”で気になる新展開も歓声やウォール・オブ・デスを取り戻した1年9カ月ぶり復活ライブ
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Babymetal
【DATE】 Sunday, June 23, 2024 OPEN : TBA / START : TBA 【VENUE】 Zénith Toulouse Métropole, Toulouse, France
BABYMETAL Announce North American Co-Headline Tour With DETHKLOK
THE OTHER ONE CONCEPT ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW. Japanese metal band BABYMETAL have announced a co-headline tour with DETHKLOK, the on-screen heavy metal band and stars of Adult Swim's "Metalocalypse," and support from virtuoso guitarist Jason Richardson. BABYMETAL's first time back to the US since before the pandemic, the 29-date Live Nation ...
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After their BABYMETAL World Tour 2016: Legend Metal Resistance, they were invited to support none other than Metallica the next year. In 2019, they undertook their first-ever U.S. headlining tour, supported by Swedish metal act Avatar. BABYMETAL in Concert. Before joining the pre-fab band, BABYMETAL's singers had no idea what heavy metal even ...
BABYMETAL And DETHKLOK Announce 'Babyklok' Summer/Fall 2023 North
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Once you've heard it, you'll never unhear it. BABYMETAL is a band that you'll either love or hate. Amuse producer Key Kobayashi delved into the unknown and fused Idol (J-Pop) and Metal, creating a sub-group of Sakura Gakuin: BABYMETAL! Having blossomed in Japan, they exploded into the Western world after their first album release in February ...
BABYMETAL announce North American tour with Dethklok
The tour comes in the wake of BABYMETAL releasing their fourth full-length THE OTHER ONE, ... BABYMETAL and Dethklok tour 2023. August. 30 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall 31 Dallas, ...
Babymetal
Metalizm is an unhinged, rubber-stamped club tune, blending snappy snare and synth with melismatic Arabic vocalisation and that ye-olde guitar scalery Trivium so excellently wrangled on Shogun. Even the final run of - gasp - mid-tempo songs bangs. Unlike 2019's Metal Galaxy, this record is shorn of glittery guests.
The Other One (Babymetal album)
The Other One is the fourth studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Babymetal.It was released on March 24, 2023, by Babymetal Records, Amuse, Toy's Factory, Cooking Vinyl America, and 5B Records. Babymetal announced the album on October 11, 2022, and revealed it as a concept album. It is the group's last album as a duo, with Momoko Okazaki (Momometal) joining the band shortly after the album ...
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Merchandise - More Info - Thread. Also, those that purchase any combination of BABYMETAL CD, vinyl, DVD, or Blu-ray with a total value of 2,000 yen or more will get a "A4 Calendar Sheet" or "Ticket Holder" (whichever they choose) Official venue information - Map - Thread.
BABYMETAL Discuss New Album THE OTHER ONE, the FOX GOD, Tour Plans
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Inside Babymetal's exciting new chapter The Other One
Features. Metal Hammer. Inside Babymetal's ambitious new chapter: "there have been times I felt unsure if I could continue". By Eleanor Goodman. ( Metal Hammer ) published 13 April 2023. Metal Hammer went to Japan to uncover the mysteries behind Babymetal's new concept album The Other One. (Image credit: Babymetal (via Twitter))
BABYMETAL Discuss New Album THE OTHER ONE, the FOX GOD, and 2023 Tour Plans
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Official Tour Thread - BABYMETAL BEGINS - THE OTHER ONE - CLEAR NIGHT [2 April 2023] Tour threads are for anything and everything relating to the relevant show. Discussion, videos, pictures, tweets - anything! This thread is also to collect everything in one place, so that we and future fans can look back at each show.
Babymetal Official Website
日本語ENGLISH. 2024.05.24. BABYMETAL × ELECTRIC CALLBOY: Miracle Collaboration Merch Now Available for Pre-Order! 2024.05.23. Information on "FOX_FEST" entrance meeting time. 2024.05.23. "RATATATA", a collaboration with ELECTRIC CALLBOY, is released today! Music Video will also be premiered!! 2024.05.22THE ONE.
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Two years ago, after a decade of metal exploration, BABYMETAL disappeared. The end? Only of the first chapter. Now SU-METAL and MOAMETAL are back with a new album, THE OTHER ONE, and a massive tour.
BABYMETAL And ELECTRIC CALLBOY Collaborate On New Single And Video
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Krasnoznamensk, Moscow Oblast. Entrance to Krasnoznamensk. Flag. Coat of arms. Krasnoznamensk ( Russian: Краснознаменск) is a closed town in Moscow Oblast, Russia. In 2010, 36,103 people lived there.
The Other One world tour
The un-combined text is here "THE OTHER ONE" (regular edition) | BABYMETAL | A!SMART (asmart.jp) STORYLINE 1 a new era that will inspire you and give you the strength to step on an unknown path with a friend you trust. A fanfare heralding the beginning, rising from the throne of silence and resounding throughout the world.
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0:03. 0:54. It was one of those news drops all golf fans never will forget. June 6, 2023: The PGA Tour and LIV Golf announce a "framework agreement" to merge business entities after weeks of ...
Alan Jackson Plots 2024 Last Call: One More for the Road Tour
The Last Call: One More for the Road Tour is an extension of his 2022 tour and is expected to kick off Aug. 2 at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The trek is currently set to run through May 17 with a ...
Medvedkovo Map
Medvedkovo is a Moscow Metro station in Severnoye Medvedkovo District, North-Eastern Administrative Okrug, Moscow. Mapcarta, the open map.
Official Tour Thread
If you wish to look back at other shows from previous tours, or see the table of upcoming shows, you can find them in the Tour Thread Archive. You can also see upcoming tour dates on the fan-run BABYMETAL Calendar or on the Official BABYMETAL tour schedule. Show Info: Venue: PIA ARENA MM - https://pia-arena-mm.jp/ Capacity: 10,000 Doors: 16:30 JST
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dies at 30
2 of 5 |. FILE -Grayson Murray hits off the 18th tee during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 20, 2023. Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning, May 25, 2024 at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev
Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final. While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.
The One Japan Tour announced : r/BABYMETAL
Last year in Japan, they did THE ONE shows (2 at the in April, the rest in August), the July/August Summer festivals, and the 2 Tokyo Dome dates. + the Music Station Performance (there were lotteries to go too).
Flag of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia : r/vexillology
596K subscribers in the vexillology community. A subreddit for those who enjoy learning about flags, their place in society past and present, and…

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