Golden Bomber's Atsushi Utahiroba Debuts Solo with "Become a Horse Owner"
Golden Bomber—the legendary visual kei air band known for their theatrical live performances and genre-defying sound—just gifted fans an unexpected solo moment. Atsushi Utahiroba, the band’s charismatic frontman, is stepping into the spotlight with his official solo debut single, “Become a Horse Owner” (馬主になってよ), dropping on October 21, 2026.
The story behind this track is pure Golden Bomber chaos. Utahiroba originally wrote and performed “Become a Horse Owner” as a fan club exclusive solo segment during Golden Bomber’s 2026 “Super Unlucky Year Festival” (超厄年祭) limited live tour. What started as a quirky, one-off fan appreciation anthem resonated so strongly with bandmates and crew that a full release became inevitable. The result is a genuinely charming “oshi-katsudō song”—a cheeky celebration of fan culture that only Utahiroba could pull off.
The single’s artwork plays beautifully with Utahiroba’s signature color: purple. Against that bold backdrop sits the man himself, styled like a white-horse-riding prince, commanding attention with effortless charisma. It’s quintessentially Golden Bomber—visual spectacle meets absurdist humor.
Utahiroba’s also released a live music video captured during the fan club tour, pulling footage straight from those exclusive shows. The track’s infectious call-and-response moments—punctuated by enthusiastic “¥Hai¥” chants and the catchy “¥Horse¥¥Horse¥” refrain in the chorus—practically beg for audience participation.
For longtime visual kei fans, Golden Bomber has always occupied a unique space: theatrical without taking themselves too seriously, technically skilled yet refreshingly irreverent. Utahiroba’s solo work follows that same playful philosophy. This isn’t a dramatic departure or a deeply personal introspection—it’s pure fan-celebrating fun, which somehow feels more authentic coming from a band that’s built their entire identity around entertaining their community.
“Become a Horse Owner” launches on October 21 via dwango.jp for just ¥11 (including tax), with wider availability across major streaming platforms the same day. Check the official release links for your preferred service, and dive into this delightfully ridiculous addition to the Golden Bomber universe.