The Babymetal World Tour 2014 (stylized in all caps) was the first worldwide concert tour by Japanese band Babymetal. Supporting their eponymous debut album, the tour ran from 23 June 2014 to 20 December 2014, taking place in Japan, the United States, Canada, and several countries in Europe.
Background
On 2 March 2014, at the end of the band's second show at Nippon Budokan, two European shows, Legend "Y" and Legend "M" were announced; these shows, taking place in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany, respectively served as the 15th birthday celebrations for Yuimetal and Moametal, respectively.[1][2]
The world tour was confirmed on 7 May 2014 with a trailer and several dates announced for European and Japanese legs, marking the second episode of the Metal Resistance.[3][4] One of the dates included an appearance at Sonisphere Festival in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2014;[5][6] Alan Day, of the Kilimanjaro Live group (Sonisphere's event promoter), formally invited the band to play in the festival following a successful fan-driven campaign entitled "Babymetal For Sonisphere UK 2014",[7] which Sonisphere later acknowledged on its website.[8] Initially scheduled to play on 6 June at the tent at Bohemia Stage, the performance was moved to 5 June in order to upgrade to the Apollo Main Stage.[9] The next show in the country was set to occur at the Electric Ballroom in London,[10] but was later moved to The Forum due to tickets quickly selling out.[11] On 1 June 2014, a tour date for the United States was revealed.[12][13]
After their performance at Summer Sonic in Chiba on 16 August 2014, another leg, titled the Babymetal Back to the USA / UK Tour 2014 (stylized in all caps), was added to the tour, adding dates in November 2014, with the USA concert was to be held in Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on 4 November, and the UK performance held in O2 Academy Brixton in London on 8 November, which would mark the start of the third episode of the Metal Resistance.[17] On 13 September 2014, Babymetal announced the show Legend "2015": New Year Fox Festival to be held at Saitama Super Arena, Japan on 10 January 2015, after the end of the tour.[18][19]
In addition to official tour dates, the band also performed secret dates, with the umbrella term "Apocrypha". Knowledge of these performances is generally restricted to members of the "Babymetal Apocalypse Web" official fanclub. The text supplied marked the first time the term "The One" was used by the band; in this instance it referred to a secret society present since the performance Legend "I".[20]
On 20 May 2015, the band released the video album Live in London: Babymetal World Tour 2014, containing footage from both solo shows performed in London. Babymetal World Tour 2014 Apocalypse is a member-exclusive box set that was released simultaneously to "The One" fanclub members, containing content of the same shows, as well as other moments of the world tour, including a performance at Makuhari Messe. The latter performance has since been released in vinyl format to commemorate the band's tenth anniversary.[37]
Content
The box set includes a photo-book of various shows from the Babymetal World Tour 2014 with photography by Dana Distortion (outside Japan) and Miyaaki Shingo (in Japan),[38] a Blu-ray and CD release of Live in London, and a bonus Blu-ray titled "Babymetal World Tour 2014 Apocalypse" containing the second headlining show in Chiba, Japan at Makuhari Messe on 14 September 2014, and performance highlights throughout the rest of the tour.[26] Taking place at the final venue in Japan, a total of 17,000 people attended the two shows. During the performance, the band announced a show set to take place at Saitama Super Arena on 10 January 2015.[39]
"Mischiefs of Metal Gods" is only listed as a track on the CD format of Live in London.
The audio 4-CD set for Live in London splits each performance between tracks 7 and 8 for each show.
The vinyl release consists only of the 14 tracks from disc two for 14 September Makuhari Messe, split into two LPs.[37]
Notes
^The concert of 23 June 2014 in Tokyo, Japan at Tsutaya O-East, billed as "Apocrypha – I",[20] only allowed entrance to members of the "Babymetal Apocalypse Web" official fanclub.[30][29] As with the nature of Apocrypha, these shows are not listed as tour dates.
^The concert of 24 June 2014 in Tokyo, Japan at Tsutaya O-East is billed as "Apocrypha – II",[20] only allowed entrance to members of the "Babymetal Apocalypse Web" official fanclub.[30][29] As with the nature of Apocrypha, these shows are not listed as tour dates.
^The concert of 1 July 2014 in Paris, France at La Cigale is billed as "Legend "Y" Yuimetal Seitansai".[2]
^The concert of 3 July 2014 in Cologne, Germany at the Live Music Hall is billed as "Legend "M" Moametal Seitansai".[2]
^The concert on 5 July 2014 in Knebworth, United Kingdom at Knewworth House was a part of "Sonisphere Festival".[32]
^The first concert of 21 July 2014 in Tokyo, Japan at Tsutaya O-East, billed as "Apocrypha – Y",[20] only allowed entrance to members of the "Babymetal Apocalypse Web" official fanclub.[30][33] As with the nature of Apocrypha, these shows are not listed as tour dates.
^The second concert of 21 July 2014 in Tokyo, Japan at Tsutaya O-East, billed as "Apocrypha – M",[20] only allowed entrance to members of the "Babymetal Apocalypse Web" official fanclub.[30][33] As with the nature of Apocrypha, these shows are not listed as tour dates.
^The concert on 9 August 2014 in Montreal, Canada at Parc Jean-Drapeau was a part of "Heavy Montréal".[34]
^ abThe concerts on 16 August 2014 in Chiba, Japan at Makuhari Messe and 17 August 2014 in Osaka, Japan at Maishima Sports Island were part of "Summer Sonic Festival".[35]
^The concert of 20 December 2014 in Tokyo, Japan at Toyosu Pit, billed as "Apocrypha – S",[20] only allowed entrance to members of the "Babymetal Apocalypse Web" official fanclub.[30][36] As with the nature of Apocrypha, these shows are not listed as tour dates.
^ abcde"Babymetal". Babymetal. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018. "Babymetal". Babymetal (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
^"Heavy Montréal". Heavy Montréal. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
^"Lineup". Summer Sonic 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2018. "Lineup". Summer Sonic 2014. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
^Babymetal World Tour 2014 Apocalypse (Photo-book). Amuse, Inc. 2015.
^"Babymetal、"異国の地"巡った試練の旅に幕". Natalie Music (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
