BAND-MAID

BAND-MAID formed in Tokyo in July 2013 around singer and guitarist Miku Kobato, who had previously worked at a maid café in Akihabara. The idea of pairing the polite maid image with heavy, technically sharp rock turned into one of Japan's most successful rock exports of the past decade. The five musicians deliver tight riffs, layered vocals and an intensity on stage that has little to do with the cosplay suggestion the visuals might imply. Live shows are called Servings, audience members are addressed as Masters and Princesses — a quirk that has stayed with the band while their music has grown denser and more serious with every album. After signing with Pony Canyon, embarking on their first world tour in 2016, and partnering with JPU Records for international releases, the band toured extensively across Europe, North America and Asia. In 2024 they supported Guns N' Roses on their Japan tour and closed their 10th-anniversary run with a sold-out show at Yokohama Arena. Their most recent studio album, Epic Narratives, was released in September 2024, followed by the EP SCOOOOOP in October 2025.