Article by Kasey, August 19 2004

This is actually something I've been wanting to write about for a while now. As of late I've been getting a lot of grief through the L'Arc~en~Ciel fandom because I've only been into them maybe two years, and I only own two albums. I know next to nothing about the band, and they aren't my obsession. In fact, I rather prefer Gackt to L'Arc~en~Ciel.

To me, a fan is someone who enjoys the artists for what they do. I know people who are Gackt fans, who haven't heard a bit of his music. Now, I will take this time to admit that it is a bit shallow, but that's all right. They wanted to hear his music, and my friend and I offered them an opportunity--we showed them one of our concert DVDs. They loved it. They were bouncing in their chairs and going on and on about how he wasn't only gorgeous, but also had a wonderful voice. I admit that sometimes I have felt rather full of myself when it came to Gackt fandom, because most every Gackt fan I know was introduced to him through myself, but I realized then that I was being rather stupid about it all.

The thing that changed my opinion, really, was the fact that we all love him just the same. Whether I know more about him, or have liked his music longer, it doesn't matter. I love each and every song Gackt puts out there (well, I'm still a little iffy on 'To Feel The Fire' but maybe it will grow on me). My friends love Gackt's music as well, whether or not they know anything about him as a person doesn't matter. If he were to play a concert here, we'd all be desperate to get tickets. We love him and the music he puts out. That should be enough, for that's the career path he's chosen. He wants us to love his music. Whether someone has only heard one Gackt song or owns all of his albums and singles, so long as they like the music they have every right to call themselves his fan.

Thinking on it, someone could also be a fan of Gackt as a person, but I suppose that's a strange way of thinking. However, I've always found Gackt a very motivational person. I believe there is more than one side to this, really. It's possible to be a fan of Gackt the musician, a fan of Gackt the person, or a fan of both. If someone likes Gackt's music, they don't neseccarily have to like him as a person. If they like Gackt as a person, they don't have to like his music. As for being called a fan of Gackt the person... I suppose all that's required is to know him. Downloaded every performance of his and read his book front to back? Read a little bit about him online? So long as something he's said or done has managed to mean something to one of his fans, then they have every right to call themselves such.

Most idols love their fans, regardless of how long they've been listening to their music or how much they know about said idol. Actually, I'd think that the more a person knows about them, the creepier it gets! True, fans who speak pure netspeak do bother me from time to time, but the point is they're just that--fans. Slightly annoying fans, but still fans.