First and foremost, to explore the history of wizard rock one must ask the question, “What is wizard rock, exactly?”

JK Rowling should be considered the inspiration behind wizard rock after mentioning an all-wizard band in her series. Called “The Weird Sisters,” they presumably play music about being wizards. Because of this it is considered a rule of thumb for wizard rock bands to play music of a similar theme, whether from a certain character’s perspective or just about being a wizard or witch in general.

The majority of wizard rock fans were most likely introduced to wizard rock by the group Harry and the Potters. Members (and brothers) Paul and Joe DeGeorge created the band in the summer of 2002 when they gave their first live performance at a cookout in their backyard. After receiving an incredibly positive response, they continued writing Potter themed music and released their first, self-titled album the following April. They began playing shows and touring, released their second CD in the summer of 2004, and successfully brought wizard rock into the spotlight.

It was at the end of 2004 that more wizard rock bands began to emerge. It wasn’t until after Harry and the Potters’ 2005 summer tour, however, that the “movement,” as it were, truly began.

In late 2004, Matt Maggiacomo (of The Whomping Willows) had been hosting a house party series in his apartment. He invited Harry and the Potters to be a part of it. A few months later in the spring of 2005, they thought it would be cool to have an entire night of wizard rock themed music. Members of Draco and the Malfoys made their debut at the concert as well. They performed an incredible set and were later invited to open for Harry and the Potters later that year. In October, Draco and the Malfoys and The Whomping Willows created accounts on the ever popular MySpace.com and contributed to the Harry and the Potters and friends A Magical Christmas of Magic holiday compilation CD. The Remus Lupins also appeared on MySpace in October. While a handful of bands existed prior to this point, over 20 were created before the end of the year after these bands hit the scene. Over 30 bands have released music since January 2006.

What most don’t realize, however, is the fact that wizard rock existed prior to Harry and the Potters. In the spring of 2000, the Switchblade Kittens wrote their song “Ode to Harry” from the perspective of Ginny Weasley, which gives it the status of being a wizard rock song. They performed the song live as The Weird Sisters a number of times, including at the very first Harry Potter symposium, Nimbus, in 2003. This past summer they released their first wizard rock album.

It is Harry and the Potters, though, that are credited with being responsible for the phenomenal outpouring of interest in the genre or classification.

The music of wizard rock varies in a number of ways, from recording quality to genre to subject matter. It represents different things to different people. To some, it matters very little if the recording quality or vocal and musical stylings of the performers are not accutely refined. What is most important to them is the celebration of the Potter series as well as the promotion of literacy. Other individuals would rather only acknowledge wizard rock bands with exceptional musical talent.

Like many other aspects of the Harry Potter fandom, wizard rock is at a turning point or crossroads of sorts. Many fans have found themselves becoming introspective and exploring the music and reasons behind it. One such party doing this exact thing are Megan and Mallory Schuyler, creators of the Wizard Rockumentary. In July 2006, they began collecting footage for their documentary on wizard rock and the HP Fandom.

Harry and the Potters have been interviewed by newspapers (online, video, and print) and music websites a number of times, as have a handful of other bands. Several have appeared on Harry Potter themed podcasts, and as the “movement,” as it is so frequently called amongst its fans, continues, it is likely that they will continue to do so.

What’s the Point?

At its most basic level, wizard rock celebrates and promotes literacy. Harry and the Potters, for instance, encouraged concert goers in the summer of 2006 to read some of their favorite books in exchange for toothbrushes (bearing their band name) with the receipt of a book report. Many bands recommend books in their blogs or on their websites, and the motto of The Remus Lupins is, “Fight Evil, Read Books.”

But wizard rock fans and creators are involved in other socially conscious endeavors as well. At their Yule Ball in December 2005, Harry and the Potters introduced attendees to their friends from the Harry Potter Alliance. Created by Andrew Slack of the Late Night Players, the HP Alliance seeks to motivate Harry Potter fans to take a stand against tyranny, genocide, global warming, and more, using parallels to the book series. Inept political leaders become the Minister and Ministry of Magic, while the oppressive and tyrannical are depicted as Voldemort and the Deatheaters.

Political activism and Harry Potter are not two things that most people would think of as being hand in hand. But then, to most people, Harry Potter is a children’s book series. To the fans, however, the forces of evil represented in the books are not quite so different than those we currently face in the real world. There may not be dark wizards with unchallengable magical powers, but there are horrible people doing horrible things that use the same tactics as Voldemort and his Deatheaters. Prejudice and genocide, for instance, are commonplace in some parts of the world. A perfect example of this is the situation in Darfur, Sudan. It is something that many Harry Potter fans are involved in, thanks to Laura Thompson (of MuggleCast), who helped to create the website Operation Sudan.

The HP Alliance has encouraged fans to stop global warming, become active in protesting the genocide in Sudan, and save the Internet via petitioning the government in favor of net neutrality.

Wizard rock and the HP Alliance bring light to the fact that the challenges and horrors Harry faces are similar (if not reflective) of those that we face in the real world. The music and the fandom celebrate standing up for what is right, making a difference in the lives of others, and putting a stop to the evils in the world. This behavior is not only proof of how well loved the characters and story are, but it is also a testement to the significance and timelessness of the series as a whole.

Become a member of Dumbledore’s Army by supporting wizard rock and adding the HP Alliance to your friends list on Myspace.