Alright, gather 'round, millennials and Gen Z, because it's time to drop a truth bomb about Scene Kids that'll blow your straightened, brightly dyed hair back. You probably think of them as the ultimate MySpace denizens, all peace signs, excessive eyeliner, and perfectly teased bangs. And sure, that's true to an extent. But what if I told you the roots of their iconic look were less about perfecting the selfie and more about sticking it to the Man... or, well, the hyper-masculine hardcore music scene?
Believe it or not, the distinct fashion of Scene Kids, especially that signature hair, has a surprising origin in the early 2000s "fashioncore" and "sass" music genres. Bands like Eighteen Visions weren't just playing loud music; their bassist, Javier Van Huss, was busy inventing the very haircut that would define a generation, all while rocking eyeliner and tight pants to deliberately challenge the macho norms of hardcore.
Then you had "sass" bands like The Blood Brothers, whose lead vocalist Johnny Whitney basically pioneered the flamboyant, almost homoerotic aesthetic that would seep into the scene. They were all about subverting expectations and pushing boundaries, not just making your Hot Topic wish list.
So, while MySpace definitely launched a million mirror selfies, the true pioneers of the scene look were actually pretty rebellious and subversive. Next time you see a picture of a Scene Kid, remember they weren't just trying to look "cute." They were unknowingly carrying on a legacy of pushing back against the musical establishment, one perfectly coiffed fringe at a time. Who knew being scene was so… deep?
Eighteen Visions
The Blood Brothers were influential on the development of scene fashion.