visual kei or visual rock

In the 1980's, Japan discovered a new kind of music, harder than rock music. Moreover, bands wore gothic costumes and used make-up. It was the birth of visual kei. Visual kei means a visual movement. At that time, its particularity was a strong kind of visual identity in which music was nearly placed in the second place. If, for a long time, visual kei was specially based in Japan, it had been spred, since few years through out the world.

Due to the indies labels and notably the label of the drummer of the japanese band X Japan, who was the first band to create and use visual kei, this movement grew up quickly. Soon, this recording label had contracts with almost all the visual kei bands of that period.

However, this music was still considered as "post-punk rock music". The term "visual kei" has been used for the first time by one of the guitarist player of X Japan. It shows the obviousness of visual esthetic. In fact, each band is defined by its look: hair colored, extravagant costums, overdone make-up...

Thanks to the label of the drummer of X Japan, Visual kei has been developped through out of the world. This is due to broadcasting of those bands on internet. So, everyone is the world can listen to visual rock.

Nowaday, visual kei has changed tack: a tendency of less overload of effects and a new stronger place for music. Bands think it will be a good mean to enter the international market.