Band-Maid REACTION 🤯- From Now On🎸

Band-Maid REACTION 🤯- From Now On🎸
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[@greylocke100]

Some maid History; Band Maid was started in 2013 by Miku Kobato. At the time she had just left the Idol Group, Lil Cumin and she didn't like the type of music she had been performing. She approached her management agency with the idea of making an actual band playing rock music but dressed as maids. She had worked in a Maid Cafe and thought the image of maids playing rockin music would create what she called "The Gap" between what you see and what you hear. The Management company was like Ok, go ahead. Miku then looked around and found Kanami a singer/songwriter who was posting her own videos on the internet. Miku had her agency contact her and Kanami thought the idea was cool and agreed to join. Miku then asked if Kanami knew a drummer who might be interested. Kanami had worked with Akane in the past and there is 2 versions of this, the first is, Kanami literally walked over to Akane's apartment and asked her, the second is Kanami called Akane and asked her. (Akane has said in 2 different interviews that 1: Kanami called her and asked if she could come over and 2: in a second interview Kanami just came over) Akane was actually hesitant as she had worked in an "All Girl Group" before and didn't enjoy it as it wasn't the type of music she wanted to play. After hearing a Demo, Akane was like ok, but was still slightly hesitant because of the "Maid Outfits", but she agreed to give it a try. Akane was asked if she knew a bass player and she had gone to Tokyo School of Music with MISA and had worked a couple of jobs with her. So Misa was contacted and after she heard a demo she was like I like the music, but she also was hesitant about the "Maid Outfits", but she relented and joined in as she really wanted to play the kind of music she heard in the demo. The 3 of them then "Auditioned" for the record company and passed the audition. Now we have the "Core" members. The 4 members worked out some songs provided for them by the record company, and a setlist and they had performed 3 times with just Miku on main vocals. Miku after those performances felt that her voice wasn't powerful enough to really perform the songs she wanted. So she approached her management company again and asked if they had any singers who weren't in other projects. They then auditioned several singers. Miku heard Saiki rehearsing in a room across the hall and asked if she could be auditioned, the record company then had Saiki audition. Saiki was signed to the same management company and had done some work as a backup singer and dancer and was asked if she would be interested in auditioning for this new group which currently had 4 members and she would be the fifth. She had been a member of a group with 8 other people as a backup singer and dancer, and HATED it. So she listened to the demo and thought "Cool" because she liked the music. Now we come to the tricky part. Miku KNEW that if Saiki was told about the "Maid Outfits" she would say NO WAY!, so they didn't tell her. They told her they would have "Cool/cute Clothes"(I've read it translated either way), and she never met Miku until a few days before they had a contracted performance. She wasn't told about the "Maid Outfits" until the day before the performance, and she had considered backing out, but she had signed the contract. (Saiki also had NEVER met Miku until then as well) So the Ladies, went and did the performance and Saiki really, REALLY liked the crowds reaction and the music they were performing. She DIDN'T like the apron she wore so it got ditched after the first performance. And you now have the beginnings of the BEST LIVE HARD ROCK BAND in the WORLD! ALL HAIL BAND MAID!!!!! Now that we have the Full band, it was felt that there needed to be a second guitar. Saiki was like, "Not Me, No Way." So Miku said, "I'll do it.", at first that was literally all she did, was hold the guitar and mime playing it, until Akane said, if you are going to hold it, you NEED to learn to play it. And Miku said, "Ok.", and Kanami started to teach Miku how to play. The Ladies released their first album in 2014 "Maid in Japan" which failed to chart, but later after "Thrill" it was reissued and charted to #26 in Japan. Then in 2015 they released "New Beginning" On New Beginning was the song that changed Band Maid's entire existence. "Thrill"... The band was getting ready to release their first music video and the choice was between "Love, Passion, Matador" and "Thrill" and the ladies chose Thrill. (Little known fact, Miku helped with the lyrics on Thrill but did not get credited) This became the seminal moment of Band Maid. Because their second album charted at #64, the record company was seriously considering disbanding the Ladies and switching them to other projects. (In fact they had Kanami and Akane work with Mochi to Cheese thinking that when Band Maid cratered they could use them in another band. MISA had also just started working with Mochi to Cheese as well). However about 6 months after the video's release, a Facebook page "JRock Radio" posted the video to their timeline. And the video went viral. Having over a million views in just a few short weeks. The Ladies Twitter page got so many hits they thought their page had been hacked. Their KZbin channel also started getting more and more subscribers and views to Thrill. Now the ladies knew where their fans wanted them to go. Harder Rock, less pop. And history was Maid. I have other info files about the Ladies available if anyone is interested.

[@maidiac4607]

👍

[@GaryHolloway-810]

Thx Mr Greylocke. I just pinned your comment. 📍👍

[@tonygriffin_]

A perfect history. (tiny) hats off to you! po!

[@olivercamacho1776]

Love the historical background.

[@christopherscottdempwolf5759]

Thanks @greylocke100 for that history! I'd love to hear the demo that got them all to sign on. The stories also make me question their management. Do you know if they get treated well by management now? It seems like a different system than the US.

[@jagjag3236]

Nice reaction, Kanami (lead guitar) has said in several interviews that Santana is her biggest role model. Many have tried to figure out who she resembles in her guitar playing, until they realize that she only resembles Kanami, the one and only.

[@dennissabe3277]

Kanamincho is one of a kind.....and I'm sure all us Maidiacs fully appreciate that.....I know I definitely do!

[@professorandknowitall]

Totally! She has a very well blended style. Distinctive, yet familiar and approachable.

[@kicorse]

"She's a songwriter first". So true! Kanami's a fantastic guitarist, of course, but she is far and away my favourite songwriter, and it's her songwriting skill that makes her guitar work unique.

[@topographic1973ify]

Everything Ron said. I'm 71 and Band Maid pulled me back into rock about five years ago. You have only touched the surface of what they can do. Best rock band on the planet IMHO.

[@kennogawa6638]

MISA the bass player always has a beer on stage when performing and drinks it during breaks. She performs an opening ceremony as part of a skit when giving the lead singer a rest.

[@kyles5513]

When's she's not holding a bass, she's holding a beer. It's halarious and awesome at the same time.

[@ericifune5543]

Did tequila in Los Angeles on her birthday.

[@randymcmillen647]

In the pre-covid days MISA always had a bottle of Jim Beam on top of her orange amp. If you watch those live shows, you can see it.

[@kyles5513]

@@randymcmillen647 still does, just not a big bottle like before.

[@thomasjmclain]

FYI, Band-Maid is scheduled to perform in the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach next May. I believe tickets for that festival are on sale now.

[@jkkansasband7056]

Hey guys, IMHO Kanami is standing tall (even at 5'1"") right next to my guitar gods of all-time. I stopped comparing a long time ago. BAND-MAID is their own genre and style. Their recent US tour was fantastic and that cannot be overstated. They put out a lot of their songs stripped of vocals and many times I enjoy them more than the songs. Their Awesomeness is Awesome. Peace. 469

[@brunobryant4846]

Awesome comment brother JK 👍

[@Bekka_Noyb]

agreed! I put her 2nd to only Hendrix! ♥

[@wash12]

Agreed mate she is right up there

[@zer0tzer0]

Kanami is 5'2". Miku is 5'1".

[@motley22crue]

Kanami the main songwriter/lead guitarist puts SO much into each song that they actually released a version of the Unseen World album without any vocals. You hear things in each song that you don't/can't hear with vocals.

[@jamie4993]

The intricacies hidden beneath the vocal lines are just gobsmacking.

[@armynurseboy]

Most Band-Maid songs are instrumentals with vocals added.....😉

[@snakewhisperer1]

Enjoyed the reaction. Story has it, Kanami got herself a new toy, a harmonizer, and has been experimenting with it a lot. She certainly makes it work. According to the official history, Miku (Rhythm guitar, Harmony vocal, who at the time was working as a waitress at a "Maid Cafe") met Kanami online and they started the band. Kanami brought in a drummer she had done other projects with, Akane. Akane, in turn, brought in bassist, Misa, with whom she had attended music school. Miku intended to sing lead vocal, but decided during rehearsals her voice wasn't powerful enough for hard rock. So she brought in Saiki. That's something. That's one of the many things I admire about Miku. It's her band. But she cares more about what's good for the behind than her own personal ego, talking the backseat behind Saiki on vocal and Kanami on guitar.

[@mr.daisock1728]

Yes much love to Miku

[@michaelbailey1403]

Kanami is also an incredible arranger.

[@stevekane4922]

They put out an exclusive instrumental version of their last full length album with a score and it's completely gripping.

[@TehPhysics]

Kanami's power stance is more powerful than a 1000 cups of coffee

[@bandmaidfanATL]

I'm sure that P in D or BM4Life will send their encyclopedia, but short history. They started the old RnR way. Miku, the Rhythm guitarist now, had the ideas to start an impossibly hard rockin band juxtaposed against the Japanese maid cafe esthetic. She worked at one. She found Kanami (lead guitarist) online, as Kamani was posting singer/songwriter stuff on the net, and they met and liked each other and the idea. Kanami called Akane, a drummer she knew from music school, then Akane called MISA, a bassist she knew from music school. Miku was originally do lead singing, but her voice wasn't a natural fit for the music they wanted to do. Their management company had auditions, and that's how they found Saiki.

[@edwardallen4051]

Kanami knew Akane from high school and were best friends, Kanami did not go to music school as her parents wanted her to have a 'proper education' so she went to University and I think majored in Business & Economics and also studied Philosophy. Akane was Kanami's support drummer when sha gigged and they also worked together backing Idol singers I think.

[@evilducks3710]

On their album Unseen World, they released an instrumental version of it. I think every song works both ways. This band started because Miku (rhythm guitar) worked in a maid cafe and thought the esthetic would be interesting for a rock band. She already has a deal with a label and they liked the idea so she searched around. She found Kanami (lead guitar) on KZbin playing and reached out, she loved the idea and signed up right away. Kanami had worked with Akane (drums) in some of her videos and songs and asked her. She hesitated a bit but joined. Akane knew Misa (Bass) from music college and asked her. She hesitated a lot but joined. At this point they had a band, but Miku decided her voice wasn’t powerful enough for this style of music, so they asked the label to audition a singer. They looked through stuff and found Saiki (lead) and auditioned her, but did not tell her about the maid thing. Saiki liked the music and agreed, they sprung the maid thing on her later, she wasn’t thrilled, but she stuck it out anyway.

[@TomClark-Futoura]

From then until Now On... it's always been Band-Maid! Thx, Raz & Daz!

[@Parker--]

Hey, I'm 1,000th like on the video! Sweet! What do I win? Cuz I'll be honest; all I really want is more Band-Maid reactions! 😁 A little over a year ago was the first time i heard this band and 30 seconds into the second song I had heard from them, I declared them to be the best band of the decade. I'm not sure either of those songs break into my top 25 Band-Maid songs now lol. Now you can't convince me they're not the best band this short century. They turned me from a decade long musical cynic into a believer that has fallen back in love with music. All thanks to them.

[@edwardallen4051]

Band Maid have released a fair amount of their stuff with the vocals taken out usually as bonus tracks or as with Unseen World as a complete CD with the scorebook, so 'instrumental' versions and they still work really well. Giovanni I think is the best example that is brilliant as an instrumental and I agree that Kanami's outstanding talent is her songwriting, never mind her guitar and piano skills.

[@javiervicedo4201]

Great reaction. In my opinion, BAND MAID is like a team of bobsleigh running fast, very fast, slow or very slow but dinamical, with all the members synchronized and without losing the control of the time and the race. The amazing thing is that they never crash or lose the control of the track keeping them inside the tube even if one of them is performing a solo or breaking the pace.The World Champions of Rock and we are in their era. By the way, nothing yet...and go and check them live to lose your minds. Thanks ( and pick any song, any song, any sogn...any song...any song )

[@ViiOlet810]

You can't go wrong with any of their instrumentals 😎 I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope to see you checking out more songs from them 😊 There are some very dedicated fans here that will share with you all the details of how the band came to be, and in my opinion, it's a pretty neat story 🤩 Great reaction, I'll be looking forward to the next one 🤩 Rock on, Po! 🕊️🤘🖤😎

[@thisismadness6962]

So, Miku had been in a idol group that failed. She still wanted to be a professional singer/performer and had been working in a maid cafe. She pitched the idea of a band with a maid image to her management company and together they found Kanami - who was struggling to be a singer-songwriter - online. Kanami agreed to join immediately and then asked her close friend and sometimes support drummer, Akane, to join as well. Akane knew a bass player from music school. So, instead of alone, Kanami showed up with an amazing drummer and a killer bass player. Saiki had been working with the same management company as a solo singer and they brought her in to punch up the vocals. So it was Miku's idea, Kanami who put together the core of the band, and the management company that helped it all come together and work. Not a garage band, but not totally fabricate by management. Kanami eventually became the songwriter and music director and Miku became the lyricist - the management company provided the songs for the first few years. Kanami organizes maximum creative input from the others and Miku and Saiki have a lot of freedom with the vocal arrangements. So what you have now is truly a group of artists creating their own music.

[@falconsooner]

That was a fantastic and very accurate summary devoid of urban legends. Well done!!

[@stevehall5128]

Excellent summary. Miku definitely gets credit for _founding_ the band and finding Kanami and Saiki, but Kanami and Akane both had their own crucial roles in actually assembling it.

[@teuchterloon9130]

You forgot to mention that Miku was originally the vocalist, but thought her vocals weren't powerful enough for the music style, so that's when they brought in Saiki.

[@JuanSan66]

That´s a fantastic summary

[@thisismadness6962]

@@falconsooner Thanks

[@philcalvino884]

"Playing within the song, songwriter first" - that is Kanami's style and glad you guys picked up on it. Strangely enough, not everyone does. Unlike supergroups or idol groups, Band-Maid assembled fairly organically. Back in 2015 they were on the verge of having the rug pulled out from under them, but then Thrill went viral, and the rest is history.

[@phaeron]

Kanami Tōno certainly has some role models that can be picked out here and there, but at the end of the day she creates her very own sound and style by combining these with a lot of her own creativity. Together with her outstanding songwriting skills, this makes her one of the greats, imho. And this is not only true for Kanami, but for every single member of this band, which is why I never get tired of using the following signature. 🤘🏻🔥😏 _____________________ 「 _'Our rock never dies ever. Forever!'_ 」 --- *BAND-MAID* 'Manners' 🕊

[@toshimatyu6654]

From Japan　Thank you for BAND-MAID's reaction. They have nearly 130 original songs, 4 of which are instrumental. The 5 members have great talent, but they think they are still lacking, so they are always striving to improve their playing skills. That's why fans are always surprised by new songs.　Enjoy their changing and evolving music.

[@frankgonzalez4853]

i thought they had 5 instrumentals: "onset", "without holding back", "don't be long", "from now on" and "Go nuts!"

[@toshimatyu6654]

@@frankgonzalez4853 Thank you for your advice. I changed it to 5 tracks. I don't know Go nuts! It seems that it was played once in Sinkoba LIVE, but I have never heard it.

[@JazzFatcho]

The BAND-MAID Documentary series created by OHRENJE on KZbin is good. it is still incomplete(3/5 Saiki, Kanami, Akane), but it's been thoroughly researched and it's fun.

[@bandmaid_blue]

MISA's performance in this MV is so wonderful. Of course, so are the other members. It is a song that I wanted SAIKI to participate in vocals.

[@shirato39]

Kanami's intro resounded without hesitation at the Saitama Super Arena (20,000 capacity stage) as GNR's opening act. All I could do was look at the phone's camera footage, but the metallic sound fascinated me, and I listened to it repeatedly for about three days.😁

[@interstellardave]

Love to hear Kanami getting so much love. I've been around for 56 years, so I've heard lots of great guitar players. I feel too many people focus solely on technical skills and, the more crazy stuff someone can do on a guitar = that guitarist is better than others. I don't look at it that way. To each their own of course but, for me, I think what a guitarist plays is more important than how they play it. No-one, myself included, would say Kanami is the best technical player in the world. There's so many tremendously skilled players that she's far from that mark. However, IMO, what she plays is better than what a whole lot of "better" guitarists play. Some of my favorite guitarists over the decades include: Steve Howe, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Alex Lifeson, Randy Rhoads, and Frank Marino. Now Kanami Tono joins that list. All these guitarists I've listed are/were very skilled technically but they also are/were innovators. Each of them has/had a distinctive sound. Each of them have/had immense amounts of creative energy. And each of them can/did play with great feeling, when appropriate, or melt faces when necessary.

[@ericruck13]

3 Bands that have emerged from the Pandemic and are on FIRE right now is Band MAID, The Warning, And Unleash The Archers!!! They are All CRUSHING it!

[@_DriveTime]

They released an instrumental version of their Unseen World album, and every song makes for a good stand-alone instrumental track. I listen to them almost as much as the regular tracks. It's impressive.

[@Greish-esquire]

😁THE MAIDS STRIKE AGAIN!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@MLBrines]

Hey guys, I just jumped on your channel and watched/listened to your review of Band-Maid.....very much enjoyed the review, your humor and, of course, the beer tasting too ! Soooo very good to meet you guys Saturday night at Southern Strain and thank you from Taplow......I wish I would have remembered to give you my CD, as it was just released a coupla months back. Any ways, keep rockin & reviewin ! Mo Brines - Taplow Music Duo

[@professorandknowitall]

Mo! Thank you so much! We will see you again! You guys are fantastic and can’t wait. Keep us posted on your next dates and don’t be a stranger🍻

[@stevekane4922]

Miku (with the zemaitis) worked in a maid café, but had tried to be an idol singer in a small way. She was working double shift in an all night restaurant after the cafe closed each night (speaks to ambition and character). She decided to create a rock band in maid outfits (like you do). She watches youtube videos of guitarists and finds kanami who is a classical piano student who an economics degree who took up guitar inspired by santana but whats to be a singer songwriter. Miku calls her up and goes around. Kanami says she opens the door and sees this incredibly cute girl and they really get on and she likes the idea of being in a group rather than on her own. She's kinda autistic. Kanami knows akane the drummer who is a Tokyo uni classical music student who also plays drums - they get in touch with her and she's in - akane is friends with a fellow student MISA who is a bassist. She's in although she is not keen on the maid thing but what the heck. Miku decides they need a stronger singer than herself and they audition saiki who is a model and actress who turns down her first decent part to join them. Miku is pretty charismatic and kanami says she really has this middle aged man inside her. They form the band and appoint akane to be manager - she books gigs and rehearsals etc. They tour Japan in a hired hiace van just like a real rock band should and get a deal with a small label that belongs to a bigger outfit. The label help them with material and production etc and insist on miku and saiki signing to be jpop singers if it doesn't fly as insurance. Their first stuff is not great but they do a much harder rock track as an experiment and do a very simple MV. Miku mimes playing the guitar as she can't. It goes viral on KZbin mainly because of the maid outfits and also because they are surprisingly good. The record company decides not to call it a day after all. They decide they need a real second guitarist and miku thinks it will upset the chemistry if they get another member (five is a special number in Japan - miku bets on horses and is a poker wizz) So akane says it has to be miku - kanami takes on the task of teaching her and has driven her hard for seven years and now she's really good. Miku is the negotiator - the band say that in industry affairs she not only gets everything she wants from the ponytail suits she also leaves with their wallets and carkeys. She has bumped them up to a much better record company and they are with united artists agency in Beverly Hills and live nation do their tours. When tourbusses were like gold dust last autumn they toured America in top of the range imported German coach that kanami called the black cat. They write and produce everything themselves and saiki designs the artwork and merch. About the as far away from babymetal as the beatles were from the monkees.

[@professorandknowitall]

Thank you so much.

[@jkkansasband7056]

The Warning and BAND-MAID will be co-headlining a concert together on June 12, 2024 in Japan. Catch up on this trilogy that BAND-MAID just uploaded: DON'T YOU TELL ME-Live, HATE-Live and ENDLESS STORY-LIVE.

[@paulpetersen879]

These girls are the real deal. Awesome players.

[@zer0tzer0]

The thing I like about BAND-MAID instrumentals like this is they show they can do anything anyone else can do, only better. But they hold it down, and serve the song. Miku, the founder, and former Maid Cafe' girl found lead guitarist, Kanami, online through her guitar videos. Kanami suggested drummer Akane because she had worked with her before. Bassist, MISA, attended the Tokyo School of Music with Akane. Miku was going to be the lead singer, but wanted dual vocals and felt her voice wasn't strong enough for the Hard Rock band she wanted to contrast against the Maid Look. So she dropped back to backing vocals and had Kanami teach her rhythm guitar. The found final member and lead vocalist, Saiki, working for the same agency as they did and the rest, as they say, is history.

[@professorandknowitall]

I was researching the Maid Cafe thing. The concept is completely lost on me, but I believe Miku has developed a concept that has really drawn people in. Then the music speaks for itself!!

[@Kevin6059]

This is exactly it - once you hear them, they could be wearing burlap sacks. @@professorandknowitall

[@tonygriffin_]

2:16 - That guitar tone is because Kanami-sama is using an fx pedal to drop what she's playing by an octave. You can see where her left hand is on the fretboard but the sound is an octave lower, as if she was lower on the fretboard. They opened with this song for most of their USA gigs recently and, as it is a very, very technical piece, the effort took a lot out of Kanami, who reported this week that she'd been feeling anaemic for one or two of the last gigs on their rather gruelling tour, which also cost them financially, even though they'd basically lived on a bus and moved continuously from city to city. They played places like the Nickoldeon Mall but they really should be filling stadiums.

[@Leon-yg5gm]

some of their guitar tones remind me a lot of coheed too. There was another song where i was thinking the same thing, but can't remember it. I think she's got a filter on the guitar that's changing the octave it's coming out at.

[@keithmeyer9558]

You should check out Play live. It was originally written as an instrumental, Saiki asked Miku to add lyrics to it because the song was fun . They play Play in all their shows now.

[@tommyjohnson9175]

Miku (backing vocals/rhythm guitar/lyricist) was working in a Traditional Japanese Maid Cafe for a while between groups and decided to form her own band to play the kind of music she wanted to perform. So, when forming Band Maid she used the Maid Cafe style uniform to create an image to contrast with the hard rock music they would play. She found Kanami (lead guitar/music composer) doing her own music projects online, gave her a call and the pitch for Band Maid. Kanami came onboard and contacted Akane (Drummer) who she knew from working with her on some of these same music projects. Akane knew MISA (base player) aka "the barefoot assassin" all the way back from Music school so she also gave it a go. Miku was originally going to be the lead singer with Kanami or Akane providing backing vocals if needed. But as rehearsals progressed they realized the Miku's voice was not quite strong enough to handle the style of music they were playing... so they auditioned and with some help from their label found Saiki (lead singer). Kanami, Akane and MISA all went to school and play at least one other instrument. Sometimes you can hear some piano/keyboard work in the background, that's Kanami on a backing track.

[@ernestrimbeck7630]

It's amazing that this band was able to form, with the talent each member has, how they weren't already focal points in other bands at that time is shocking They almost disbanded in the beginning because they weren't getting any attention and then they post the video for Thrill and we are now blessed with so much wonderful music that just keeps getting better

[@waterwalker9600]

I LOVE THIS TRACK !!!

[@Bekka_Noyb]

'shredding/playing within a song' - well said! 'They're all friggin' awesome' - agreed! I suggest the following Band Maid songs: Thrill, Dice, Manners, Bubble, Real Existence (live) & No God (live)

[@k-popplayinklown5473]

At this point there’s no more comparison to other guitarists Kanami stands on her own as her own as an artist

[@wayneking5081]

Kanami also played the piano on the backing track as she's a classically trained pianist

[@liveforbass]

These Ladies are insane, love BAND MAID

[@wakioari]

Thank you for reacting to Band-Maid.

[@claymore2of9]

a documentary on the formation of the band by wave potter "Rock Is NOT Dead! Introduction to BAND-MAID Documentary | Formation Pt. 1 (2013) [日本語字幕]"

[@paulpetersen879]

How many normal rock bands do you know that will also put out instrumental videos? This is just how confident they are.

[@mechanicat23]

To answer your question at least a little bit: Miku is the creator of Band Maid. She worked in a maid cafe while getting started in the music world. Kanami responded to Miku’s search for a guitarist. Kanami had many KZbin videos. Then came Akane. Akane and Misa went to music school together. So Akane brought Misa in. Then they found The vocalist Saiki. Saiki was told about the maid outfit one hour before their first live performance together. Saiki rejected the full outfit. To this day they each have a say in they outfit they wear.

[@bandmaidfanATL]

Also Kanami is the main music composer, but MISA and Akane write their parts, and Miku chimes in too,, although their technical music writing is created to BandMaid, and Miku writes most of the lyrics, with Saiki sometimes helping. Since the last song on their 3rd album, they have written all their own songs.

[@rickwagner-]

The 4th album, 'Just Bring It' has three songs with music they didn't write, as well as arrangements by other people. They brought Kentaro Akutsu back to write the music for 'Smile' in 2019. The lyrics for 'The Dragon Cries' (2019) are by Tom Kenney, with an arrangement by Tony Visconti. Other than that, it's been BAND-MAID members since 2017 with the music, lyrics and arrangements.

[@ericifune5543]

Also a cover of MUCC's "Honey."

[@mm1977s]

She doesn't just "wank" she plays with rhythm & melody to feed the song. I believe some went to music school together, and came together via recruiting via KZbin videos.

[@professorandknowitall]

So true! Her tone, her style and her heart are phenomenal and Misa’s bass tone oh my gawd!!🤯

[@johnmagill7714]

Two or three of the girls in band maid knew each other before they got together, couple even went to school together.

[@surfingasongwave]

Sorry for the novella. TL;DR: Yeah, for the most part they knew about each other at least a little. Akane had worked with Kanami, MISA had worked with Akane. Miku asked Kanami to join her band and got the other two. Saiki was tricked. Guitarist and composer Kanami Tōno started piano at a very young age (like maybe three years old). She still plays and is very good. In middle school she decided to join an after-school music club and learned guitar, and a lot of Metallica and other metal music. She went to college and got her degree in Economics as a deal with her parents - but she still wanted to make a living at music and started doing the singer-songwriter thing, and making videos. Drummer Akane Hirose played trombone in her school band until she tried drums and loved it. She didn't have a set or a place to practice, so after graduation she enrolled in Tokyo School of Music which gave her lessons, a place to practice, and drums to practice on. She went on lots of auditions, eventually won a few, and started playing in the house band for a restaurant where she worked. She met Kanami when she asked her to play drums on some of her demos. Bass MISA also started piano early, maybe about five. Her mother listened to a lot of '60s and '70s rock music - she's mentioned growing up on The Who and Jimi Hendrix. She started on guitar at an after-school music club; her mentor asked her to play bass in the band he was starting so she started bass. She also went to TSM where she met Akane. They played together a few times, notably for the singer "Becky." They liked each other, and still do. Miku Kobato sang enka as a child and decided to move to Tokyo (from Kumamoto) and make it in the idol scene. She worked multiple jobs, including as a server in a maid cafe, to earn enough money. In Tokyo, her trio "Lil Cumin" didn't pan out very well. Her agency wanted to keep her and asked what she wanted to do. She was working in a Tokyo maid cafe, and she said a "maid band". She was a fan of Tokyo Jihen and liked the contrast of maids playing rock music. Someone at her agency was aware of Kanami's videos, so Miku called and asked if she was interested. She was and came in for an interview. She called Akane and asked if she wanted to join - the restaurant where Akane was working was closing so yes, she did. Akane called MISA to ask if she wanted to join - the band she'd played in since high school was about to call it quits so yes, she was interested in joining. They all met at the agency and rehearsed a few songs and decided it sounded pretty good. The last Miku had heard was Kanami was coming in to interview, the next thing she knows there's a full band rehearsing and they're pretty good. They worked up some songs the agency provided and played a gig, and decided they wanted a more "rock" vocalist. The agency already had Saiki signed (she had done some modeling, dancing, and backup singing) so she quit a play she was about to open to joined the band. She'd never sung with a band before, and didn't know about the "maid" costumes. They performed together as a band for the first time in August 2013 and have been together since. Miku does lead vocals on a few songs, and they have a few instrumentals. Saiki had throat surgery in 2017 and is careful now, so they usually give her a break in the middle of shows. Miku and Saiki do a lot of twin vocals and Miku does a lot of backing and harmonizing. The other three sometimes do gang vocals, as well, and they are all excellent singers. "from now on" was a suggestion by Saiki - an instrumental to open a set. They opened with it when they opened for Guns 'N Roses a few weeks ago. It seems like Miku has a lot of determination and drive to be successful - she is the one who does radio and television interviews, she promotes the band relentlessly and she is responsible for the "maid" aesthetic. She made it happen. Kanami has just as much drive to be a songwriter - she aspires to bigger and better things, and Band-Maid is the vehicle to get her there. She seems to demand excellence from everyone else, and she demands it from herself. Akane, MISA, and Saiki are all focused on excellence and they are all unified in doing what it takes to achieve it. So they aren't a "super group" but they are a unified group of young women with a shared goal.

[@professorandknowitall]

Thank you!

[@ronniebrucehalford8396]

Yup, Kanami doesn’t shred for the sake of shredding like some of those ‘80s bands you mentioned (and I grew up loving). More than that, the bassist and drummer in Band-Maid do much more than support the guitarist (as was often the case with those ‘80s bands). Another reason their music doesn’t get boring is that the music typically changes somewhat in the second verse versus the first one. That’s in part why the instrumental version of their songs with lyrics are so strong. I’ll third the requests for Giovanni. Look for the English lyrics video and the instrumental version. Yo find the latter, look for the “Intro to Classic Rock” upload. You can simply fast forward past the reactor to see a clean version of the video.

[@glenmartinez5158]

Some great origin info in the comments. In case u are not familiar with their AKA's, Miku "small pigeon" Kobato-rhythm guitar/vocals/lyrics. Saiki "the ice queen" Atsumi-vocals. Kanami "mincho" Tono-lead guitar/keyboards/composer. Akane "gorilla" Hirose-drums. MISA "the barefoot assassin"-bass. Kanami, Akane, & Misa didn't start with their current instruments until about junior year in high school. They had played other instruments before. Kanami-classical piano. Akane-piano & trombone. Misa-piano, alto horns, trumpet & guitar. Miku only started playing guitar about 7 years ago.

[@randymcmillen647]

If you want to learn more about Band Maid, watch Band Maid Music Gold Rush. Informational and hilarious at the same time. KURRUPO!

[@lesliestager6055]

Band - Maid 101....Miku (vocals, rhythm guitar) had the idea to form the band in 2013, she went in search of a guitarist and found Kanami. Kanami was to meet for an interview but in the mean time realized that they would also need a drummer. It just so happened she knew and had worked with Arkane on another project so invited her as well. Arkane in turn knew MISA (Bassist) from music school and invited her also. So instead of just a guitarist she got a whole band. At this stage Miku was to sing and didn't play guitar, however she realized her voice wasn't really strong enough for the heavier sound they wanted. So, they went in search of a strong vocalist and found Saiki. It was then decided they needed another guitarist and Kanami volunteered to teach Miku and that is how I believe it all began.

[@professorandknowitall]

They are so well matched. We are definitely going down a rabbit hole with this group! Loving every minute of it.

[@reesereese2524]

Had the joy of seeing this played live ... As much as I love Saiki ,Kanami's guitar is the vocalist for this piece in my opinion . However you two get it and for that I have to say great reaction /review . Band-Maid formed organically 👍👍👍👍👍 subscribed

[@davidmejia7908]

You can find out a lot more from more hardcore fans but from what I know it all started with Miku (lyrics/rhythm guitar/vocals). After having been in an "idol" group that didn't work out and then working in a maid café, she had the idea of a hard rock band in maid outfits. That lead her to Kanami (lead guitar/composer) who she found online thru her singer/songwriter vids. That led to Akane (drums) who Kanami knew from gigs with other groups, Akane suggested MISA for bass who she had gone to music school with and also played in some gigs with. This next part is the most interesting, Miku felt her voice wasn't suited to the type of music she wanted, so she recruited Saiki (main vocals/lyrics). The rest is history and we have a ten year run of Band Maid putting out some of the best rock music around. This is one band where the sum is greater than the individual parts, and each part is great.

[@DavidMISAMISAMISACook]

MISA MISA MISA!!!!!

[@Kissthetoad321]

Fate wanted them to come together simply by the will of a young singer who dreamed of being an idol and disappointed by this environment had the project to create a female rock group. The talent of each, their creativity, their intelligence, their kindness has made it possible to weld a unity and an unwavering friendship allowing them to overcome the difficulties and to erase the threat of an early and unjust dissolution. They have won the hearts of Westerners with their unique way of creating their rock music and are only now beginning to be recognized by their Japanese compatriots. The year 2023 will celebrate 10 years of Band Maid and will mark the crowning of their world domination. As predicted by Nostradamus. You can check that.😎

[@jeffreyrigby2387]

540 views in one hour......... that should tell you something about Band-Maid. You haven't seen anything yet!

[@DartJedi]

Kanami is about to speak, RED LIGHT!!!

[@UltraHD.7]

Hello guys, very nice that you seem to enjoy Band-Maid so much. And, at some point, I'm sure you'll even give up trying to compare them to other bands you know, because you'll recognize, that they're just something of their own 🙂 And if you're more into instrumentals, please try the group ASTERISM. Absolute greatness!

[@professorandknowitall]

Thanks. We will add them to our list! Band Maid has kinda created a backlog for us which we are absolutely loving.

[@TexasVeteranPatriot]

That's Kanami's Eventide H9 harmonizer running in parallel to her main tone...

[@falconsooner]

That was a fantastic reaction! You all are very perceptive. Yes Kanami is all about the composition. However I respectfully disagree about wanting vocals. Kanami's guitar does the singing

[@grumpyguy7656]

"Wave Potter films" channel does a great documentary on Band Maid. origins and how they all met. Great You Tube

[@lewissmith4123]

You can't compare Band Maid or any of their members to anyone else, the genre is 'Band Maid' However Kanami has said many times her favourite guitarist is Santana.

[@marcoskazu_]

🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀

[@peterz4427]

Better than Eric Johnson? High praise indeed!

[@professorandknowitall]

Not better, reminiscent of, but still phenomenal. Just loved every minute.

[@nekonoke]

This band was made by miku. The woman who looks best in maid clothes is miku. They weren't people who just got out of prison.

[@professorandknowitall]

Prison?:) Miku is the one that started the maid concept after working at Maid Cafe, correct?

[@nekonoke]

@@professorandknowitall miku worked as a maid in her hometown and also in akihabara. She states that she learned important things about human relations there. Band maids seem to have no trouble among the members. This may also be a factor in miku's continued appeal to the audience from the stage. In the beginning, miku gathered members to create gimmicks. She hangs her maid's uniform in the waiting room in case a member comes over, and when she hands it to saki, she is knocked to the floor. In this way, we brought the band to its current stance. miku did not create the current state of the band through strong leadership or strong musical convictions. However. He brought together a collection of great individual talents and brought them to the attention of the public. At the center of it all was miku.

[@MidnighterClub]

Great reaction, thumbs up. Some thoughts: "The guitar sounds like it has *just a little* filter on it." You should see Kanami's pedal board, like a spacehip: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2qtiZWKoqygfrs

[@professorandknowitall]

Thanks, Love Gojira by the way!

[@fifis677]

No lyrics for this one, the instrumentals are Saiki's pee breaks.

[@EbefrenRevo]

Kanami (the main guitar) is a huge fan of Santana.

[@bishopsteiner7134]

very Joe Satriani on this composition, IMO

[@professorandknowitall]

I can hear that.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

His Holiness, TinyHat-san welcomes you to the Unseen World.

[@ShikataGaNai100]

Miku Kobato (Mika Noguchi) - Guitar, Founder, Vocals, Lyricist, 810-year Old Pigeon Kanami Tono - Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Composer MISA - Bass Akane Hirose - Drums, Vocals Saiki Atsumi - Lead Vocals