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Wizard Rock: A History
A description of the history of wizard rock (or “wrock”) invariably begins with brothers Joe and Paul DeGeorge and their 2002 backyard debut as Harry and the Potters, or with the Switchblade Kittens 2000 song “Ode to Harry.” In the years after these pioneers first began their journey as wizard rock legends, hundreds of Harry Potter fans have launched into a musical exploration of this beloved series.
Bands from around the globe are now celebrating Harry Potter and promoting literacy through their music. Many donate part or all of their CD profits to charities. In November and December 2007, several wizard rockers collaborated with social-activist organizations The Harry Potter Alliance and Stop Big Media to raise awareness of how the FCC’s current actions parallel Voldemort controlling the media in Deathly Hallows with a free album “Rocking Out Against Voldemedia.”
The wizard rock “genre” is being well-documented: Not only are there several comprehensive websites devoted to documenting the wizard rock movement such as wizrocklopedia.com, in July 2006 Megan and Mallory Schuyler started compiling video footage of wizard rock shows and interviews. Their upcoming Wizard Rockumentary details the amazing wrock movement and several of its key players.
Wizard rock covers every genre imaginable, from the acoustic stylings of Roonil Wazlib to the electronic sounds of Dobby and the House Elves, from the screamer-metal songs of Muggle Death Camp to the hip-hop beats of Swish and Flick, from the rock-and-roll music of Gred and Forge to the beautiful belt-it-out Broadway tunes of The Butterbeer Experience. Some bands are extremely talented musically and record in a studio, while others have never played an instrument before they started their band and record on their MacBook in their bedroom.
In fact, being able to record and produce one’s own music (whether in a basement, garage, or fancy recording studio) is part of the allure of wizard rock. There is no competition among the bands – rather, they help each other become better musicians. Any Harry Potter fan with an idea can create a wrock band and expect support from the rest of the wizard rock community.
Wizard rock is an incredible movement of brand new musicians and old hands coming together with punk-rock DIY values and a healthy sense of social action to make a difference and revel in the greatness of Harry Potter, and to rock out while doing it. It is, as The Whomping Willows’ catch-word reveals, AWESOME.
