Band-Maid

Band-Maid

BAND-MAID (stylised as BAND-MAID®) is a five-piece, all-female Japanese rock group, signed to Gump Records (an imprint of the Shibuya-based Platinum Passport artist management and talent agency, itself a division of Avex Group).

Members

After their initial formation as a four-piece in July 2013, they gained a fifth member in August of that year, performing as a five-piece for the first time at the SHIBUYA-AX "P Festival" on 22 August 2013.

Their current lineup is:

* Vocals: Saiki (彩姫)
* Guitar, Vocals：Miku KOBATO (小鳩ミク)
* Guitar：Kanami TOUNO (遠乃歌波)
* Drums：Akane HIROSE (廣瀬茜)
* Bass：MISA

The group's image is modelled on Shibuya Maid Café hostesses, the concept coming from founding member Miku who had previously worked in a maid cafe.

Since their formation, BAND-MAID has regularly performed live at various venues around the Tokyo area. The group released their debut album "MAID IN JAPAN" in January 2014, written in collaboration with Platinum Passport-affiliated musicians Masahiko FUKUI and Kentaro AKUTSU (the latter formerly also of musical group ZERO).

In August 2014, BAND-MAID released the Maxi Single 愛と情熱のマタドール ("Matador of Love and Passion"); in December 2015 they released their sophomore record "New Beginning". They are undertaking a tour of Tokyo venues to promote the album until February 2016.

References

* Kawaii-Metal.com: Band-Maid. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
* MetalInjection: BAND-MAID Is A Japanese All Girl Rock Band Who Dress Like Maids, For Real!. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
* JRock247: BAND-MAID Interview. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
* JaME World: Interview with BAND-MAID. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
* diskunion: BAND-MAID New Beginning listing. Retrieved 2015-12-08.

* JWID database.
* BAND-MAID official Twitter account.
* BAND-MAID official web site.