Visual Kei is fine.

I was originally going to talk about how people are freaking out about how VK is "dying", but I believe what's been said has been said and I'd be beating a dead horse right about now. I'm still going to talk about it a little, but not to the extent that I was going to.

Visual Kei has obviously been around for more than 20 years, I have a document somewhere on my computer actually which talks about the founding fathers. We already know X-Japan, but I'm not here to talk about the history either. Well, kinda-but not really. I don't really want to go on a tangent about Yoshiki and how he sort of creeps me out.

So this is sort of a personal post, because it pertains to my own personal experiences within the fandom and how it sort of molded me into the person I am today. Granted, I don't really listen to any of the newer material. I basically listen to anything that predates 2012, and even then I only listen to the GazettE, Kagrra, LM.C, Girugamesh, Nightmare, and a few others. A lot of those I listed, are either on hiatus or disbanded.

Apart of the reason why I believe that some people believe that the scene is dying, is that the bands are constantly doing this. Auncia made a habit out of it, oh wait it's NIA now. Or is it Ansia?

Nevermind.

Sometimes band members don't mesh well together, sometimes the music that they're playing just doesn't bode well with one member and they move on. Sometimes they want to try new things on their own. When Kagrra, disbanded it was initially because Isshi wanted to try a solo project, so I believe.

And even when this band goes on hiatus, or their band disbands-they are most likely going to try a new band or at least stay active in the scene. Naoki [the bassist of Kagrra,] is constantly giving his talent to those in the scene, he even played for Gotcharocka at one point. Jui started Gotcharocka a little after Vidoll disbanded, and they're still around to this day.

[Those are poor examples, but they're what I know.]

Even Jun, after Phantasmagoria disbanded he started a new band with Iori. [Unfortunately Iori had to quit because of health reasons.] Whatever the reason though for leaving, most musicians stay in the scene-they're just doing different things. [I mean Kisaki said he was going to retire how many times now?]

I know it's a normal reaction to be upset when your band goes on hiatus or they disband, but always keep an eye out for new projects. Support them too! Support them as much as you can, because that's what they need too. [Where am I even going with this? Orz]

Your favorite band disbanding|going on hiatus does not equate to Visual Kei dying, it's not even a big scene in Japan to begin with.

Right now there aren't many bands who have their own sound either, they're going to take what they know from a veteran band and impliment that in their music. You have to fish through the pool to find a band you like sometimes, but they are there-they're forming almost all the time.

Visual Kei has changed so much since I got into it, and that's only been since 2006. It's not popular to begin with, I have yet to meet a Japanese person [outside of the GazettE fandom and who has lived in Japan before] who even knows what it is. My mom would talk to our neighbors exchange student who would just look at her like "Who the hell is this GazettE you're talking about?"

Ten years from now, people will still be saying it's a dying scene and that it needs to be saved. It's always been a topic, even back in the day. I believe it stems from "A band I love is disbanding/going on hiatus-it must be dying!" BUT your favorites are probably planning on doing MORE things on their own time.

I feel hypocritical talking about this, because I do only really listen to what I listened to back when I was in High School.

The scene has changed, as far as the fandom goes-but it's still there and it's still thriving even if it doesn't seem that big.

It doesn't need to be saved, if you think so then maybe start supporting your artist by buying their merch and buying their albums.

If you can, go to their concerts.

Find a new band.

Annnnnnd last thing....

I don't know, just stop saying it needs to be saved I guess. I guess I did beat the dead horse, sorry guys.

lmao I don't know how to end this so bye.