Aici, vreau sa va lamuresc ceva: Visual kei nu e un stil de muzica. E un stil, practic, de viata.
Visual Kei
Visual kei ( vijuaru kei, lit. "visual style") refers to a movement among Japanese musicians ,
that is characterized by the use of eccentric, sometimes flamboyant
looks. This usually involves striking make-up, unusual hair styles and
elaborate costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous
aesthetics.
These looks have enjoyed popularity among independent
underground projects, as well as artists achieving mainstream success,
with influences from visuals-conscious Western phenomena such as glam
rock.The music performed encompasses a large variety of genres, i.e.
pop, heavy metal and electronica. Magazines published regularly in
Japan with visual kei coverage are Arena 37°C, Fool's Mate and Shoxx.
Noted bands who at least at some point sported a visual kei theme
include Dir en grey, and X Japan.
Popularity and awareness of such groups outside of Japan is
sparse, but has seen an increase in recent years. While the successful
X Japan launched an attempt to enter the international market as early
as 1992, it would still take another decade until live concerts and
regular domestic releases by visual kei themed bands in Europe and
North America came to pass.
This movement originaly start in the 70s when the first jrocks
bands start appearing, trying to copy the new styles that where
entering to Japan. They star taking their look from bands as Black
Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
Some of the bands start taking a female look.
Visual Scandal and Murbas/'Visual Violence.
- In the 80s the bands start transforming their look in something more based in theKabuki Theather.
Seikima II and Kabuki Rocks
- At the same time, some of the bands became really famous and we
still remeber many of them, they start adding a Gothic style, Metal and
with a lot of influences of the Classic musis and Glam style.
Buck-Tick and X Japan
- The 90s is considered the start of the Visual Kei as we know it now.
The bands start experimenting with new styles of music, not only
heavy metal and rock, sound of pop, techno, gothic and punk start
appearing.
Malice Mizer and Lareine
Portal 
