Ride with the Wrockers!

Ok, so at first glance you're like, whaaaaaaaat? Isn't that an instrumental song the GazettE does at every major concert? Why yes it is, except well...it's Rockers, not Wrockers. So those who know about both might be a bit confused with what Visual Kei and Wizard Rock could possibly have in common, except maybe the music itself, and an unconventional way of dressing.

Well, not to much really, but I think it brings up a couple of interesting points on how certain fads, or trends, grow and evolve from, and with each other. Fashion and music are NO strangers, in any genre or culture, and probably goes back as far as time can tell. Perfomances are meant to take the audience somewhere else, whether that be visually or musically.

I discovered the concept of "Wizard Rock" not that long ago, although having been an avid reader of Harry Potter for a long time. Unbeknown to me, kids everywhere were picking up guitars for the first time and rocking out to HP, serenading Slytherin and rapping to Remus Lupin. This was awesome. It was the ultimate expression of fandom. And in the greatest sense of fashion every, if you're going to sing like a wizard, you kind of have to dress like one too.



Still have to find this movie!

Anyway, point being, fashion, music, and the fandoms it creates are cyclical in the best sense. For example, without those critical bands including X Japan and Malice Mizer, would we see Visual Kei as it is today? Maybe something similar (Lady Gaga is certainly chanelling a similar spirit), but without Mana, would we have Gothic Lolita in all its breadth and forms? Maybe, but maybe not.

And consider the fashion/music empire of h.Naoto. Apart from his multiple lines, he is also extremely involved in music projects like Hangry and Angry, for which all the clothes are his (not the mention the mascots!) His lines are intertwined with Visual Kei in more ways than I can count; just watch:



In any case, you get the idea. Wherever there's music, there's a voice to be heard, both in what you hear and what you see. It's a pretty simple concept, with countless examples in every musical time and genre, but each example is worth mentioning.