Live musicians · 2026 edition
The Kami Band Guide
How BABYMETAL’s live band evolved—from the early Japanese musicians to the international touring configurations heard today.
01
What is the Kami Band?
The Kami Band is the collective name for the musicians who perform BABYMETAL’s live instrumentation. They are supporting musicians—not additional official members of BABYMETAL—and the lineup can change with tours, regions and availability.
02
Recent 2026 touring configuration
This four-piece configuration was repeatedly identified during BABYMETAL’s 2026 appearances, including European festivals and the August Japan shows.
Visual reference: these individual portraits are identification aids from the musicians’ own or established industry profiles; they are not presented as an official BABYMETAL roster photograph.
This is a snapshot of the recent touring band, not a guarantee that every future concert will use the same four musicians.
03
The international Kami era
The first fully international configuration appeared on the 2019 United States tour. Since then, it has become the most frequently seen touring setup outside Japan—and, in recent years, at many Japanese performances as well.
Chris Kelly, CJ Masciantonio, Matt Deis and Eugene Ryabchenko are pictured in the recent 2026 configuration above. These portraits document other musicians seen during the rotating international era.
04
Japanese and recurring musicians
These musicians shaped the classic live sound and visual identity associated with the white-robed and later masked Kami Band eras.
In memory: Mikio Fujioka’s work and joyful stage presence remain an essential part of BABYMETAL’s live legacy.
Early and one-off musicians
The wider Kami history also includes guitarists Shiren, Hiroki Arai, Shinichi Kobayashi, Yasutaka Nomura and Yusuke Hiraga; bassists RYO, IKUO and Isamu Takita; drummers SHIN, Shuki Maeta, Kado Shuntaro and Eiji Matsumoto; and violinist Miz. Some appeared only at one event or during a short run.
05
A short live-band history
Live musicians begin appearing while the theatrical BABYBONES still feature in some performances.
The Kami Band becomes the regular live backing group as BABYMETAL expands through Budokan, international festivals, Wembley Arena and world tours.
Black robes replace the classic white costumes. Mikio Fujioka’s passing is mourned by the BABYMETAL community and fellow musicians.
Masks become part of the presentation and the international “West” configuration debuts. Japanese and international musicians share the stage at LEGEND – METAL GALAXY.
The Japanese configuration performs through the Budokan period; after BABYMETAL’s return, international touring musicians become the more frequent configuration.
Several bass and drum rotations occur. By 2026, Chris Kelly, CJ Masciantonio, Matt Deis and Eugene Ryabchenko form the repeatedly observed touring lineup.