The Boy Who Rocked

A new generation of bands is taking Harry Potter places J.K. Rowling never did

Bradley Mehlenbacher

Portrait of the Indie Band Harry and the Potters with Joe and Paul Degeorge (left to right).

On June 22, 2002, Joe Degeorge had a barbecue in his backyard. He was 15 at the time and living with his parents in Norwood, Mass. Joe had arranged for a couple of bands to play, but they bailed, and he needed entertainment. There are people who at that point would have jacked an iPod into the sound system and called it a party. But this Joe did not do.

He and his brother Paul, who's eight years older, were Harry Potter fans. In fact Paul had always thought the characters from Harry Potter would make a great band: Ron on...

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