Wizard rock

Wizard rock
Stylistic origins Alternative rock, Punk rock, Indie rock and Harry Potter series
Cultural origins Early 2000s, United States
Typical instruments Guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, vocals
Mainstream popularity Since the early 2000s in the US, primarily underground
Regional scenes
Global, but centered in the USA
Other topics
Timeline of alternative rock, DIY ethic

Wizard rock (sometimes shortened as Wrock) is a genre of rock music that developed between 2002 and 2004 in the United States. Wizard rock bands are characterized by their performances and humorous songs about the Harry Potter universe.[1][2] Wizard rock initially started in Massachusetts with Harry and the Potters, though it has grown internationally.[3][4] Wizard rock embraces a do it yourself ethic, with many bands self-producing their recordings and distributing them through online social networking channels.

Contents

Characteristics

Leading bands in this genre include Harry and the Potters and Draco and the Malfoys.[5] Although most listeners of the genre are fans of Harry Potter, some bands have attracted listeners outside of the books' fanbase.[6]

Wizard rock songs are often written from the point of view of a particular character in the books, usually the character who features in the band's name. In contrast to mainstream bands that have some songs incorporating literary references among a wider repertoire of music (notably Led Zeppelin to The Lord of the Rings),[7] wizard rock bands take their inspiration entirely from the Harry Potter universe.[8]

When performing live, wizard rock bands often cosplay, or dress as, characters from the novels.[8] Some bands have performed at fan conventions.[9]

History

The earliest Harry Potter-themed song is conventionally traced to 2000 when the Los Angeles based pop-punk band Switchblade Kittens released an "Ode to Harry" from the perspective of Ginny Weasley.[10]

Harry and the Potters originated the Harry Potter-themed band which became the genesis of a fandom centered genre of music called wizard rock.[10] As Harry and the Potters increased in popularity, other wizard rock bands started to emerge. Ross and Mehlenbacher originally conceived Draco and the Malfoys as a parody of Harry and the Potters, who were performing at a local house party.[11] In April 2005, Matt Maggiacomo invited Harry and the Potters to play at an all-Harry Potter show at his Rhode Island home. That night, Maggiacomo made his debut as The Whomping Willows, and his friends, Mehlenbacher and his brother, Brian Ross, played for the first time as Draco and the Malfoys.[3]

Over the years leading to the release of the last book and films, hundreds of wizard rock bands have emerged across the world, some of them short-lived and other gaining widespread popularity over time.

By the fall of 2011, several wizard rock bands had announced plans to stop touring or recording albums, while many others have simply not updated their websites or MySpace pages for months. However, some bands like Harry and the Potters and The Whomping Willows still have scheduled performances, and many new bands have been created.

See also

References

  1. ^ Brady, Shaun (2006-11-28). "Yule Ball rolls into Philly". The Philadelphia Daily News. 
  2. ^ Humphries, Rachel (2007-07-13). "Harry Potter 'Wrockers' Conjure Musical Magic". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/FunMoney/Story?id=3371717&page=1. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  3. ^ a b Loftus, Meghan (2007-07-20). "Wizard Rock". The Post-Standard. http://www.syracuse.com/articles/cny/index.ssf?/base/living-3/118492494174900.xml&coll=1. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  4. ^ Davies, Shaun (2007-07-20). "The unexpected wizards of rock and roll". MSN. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=279730. Retrieved 2007-07-31. 
  5. ^ Grossman, Lev (July 20, 2009). "The Boy Who Rocked". Time magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1909622,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-16. 
  6. ^ Rose, Lacey (2005-07-13). "Wizard Rock". Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/2005/07/13/rowling-potter-band-cx_lr_0713harryband.html. Retrieved 2007-01-26. 
  7. ^ Gleason, Janelle (2007-01-04). "Four reasons you should raid your parents' music collection". Fort Wayne News Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2007-03-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20070330064614/http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/16381778.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-26. 
  8. ^ a b Sweeney, Emily (2004-09-16). "Sibling musicians bring out the 'punk' in Harry Potter". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/09/16/sibling_musicians_bring_out_the_punk_in_harry_potter/. Retrieved 2007-01-26. 
  9. ^ Traister, Rebecca (2007-06-01). "Potterpalooza". Salon.com. http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2007/06/01/phoenix_rising. Retrieved 2007-08-09. 
  10. ^ a b Zumbrun, Joshua; Sonya Geis (2007-07-08). "Wizard Rock Has Fans in Hogwarts Heaven With an Assist From MySpace, Bands Ride Harry Potter Mania Into the Spotlight" (newspaper). The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/06/AR2007070600500.html. Retrieved 2007-08-06. 
  11. ^ Harry Potter 'Wrockers' Conjure Musical Magic
Bibliography
  • Anelli, Melissa (2008). Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon. Word Dancer Press. ISBN 1-416-55495-5. 
  • Beahm, George W. (2007). Muggles and Magic: An Unofficial Guide to J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter Phenomenon (3rd ed.). Hampton Roads Publishing Company. ISBN 1-571-74542-4. 
  • Gilsdorf, Ethan (2009). Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms. ISBN 1-599-21480-6. 
  • Gunelius, Susan (2008). Harry Potter: The Story of a Global Business Phenomenon. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-230-20323-X. 
  • Paré, Joelle (2009). "Magical Musical Manifestations: A Literacy Look at Wizard Rock". In Diana Patterson. Harry Potter's World Wide Influence. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 181–200. ISBN 1-443-81394-X. 
  • Pyne, Erin A. (2007). A Fandom of Magical Proportions: An Unauthorized History of The Harry Potter Phenomenon. Nimble Books. ISBN 0-978-81388-X. 
  • Thomas, Scott (2007). The Making of the Potterverse: A Month-By-Month Look at Harry's First 10 Years. ECW Press. ISBN 1-550-22763-7. 
  • Turner-Vorbeck, Tammy (2008). "Pottermania: Good, Clean Fun or Cultural Hegemony?". In Elizabeth E. Heilman. Critical perspectives on Harry Potter (2nd ed.). Routledge. pp. 329–342. ISBN 0-415-96484-9. 
  • Koury, Josh (director) (2008). We Are Wizards (DVD). Brooklyn Underground Films. 
  • Schuyler, Megan & Schuyler, Mallory (directors) (2008). Wizard Rockumentary: A Movie About Rocking and Rowling (DVD). GryffinClaw Productions. 
Styles
Other topics
  • Category:Rock music
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