Detroit Metal City (2008)

Detroit Metal City is the name of a death metal band that became famous in Japan, at least in the movie of the same name. It tells of the story of a shy and awkward but very talented musician named Soichi Negishi whose cheesy love songs are shunned by people when he performs in the streets. His big break came when he lands as the frontman of DMC as Krauser II. Onstage, he is a very different person, one who sings about raping one's mother and killing one''s father among many other profanities.

Negishi has wanted to quit many times but the band's manager has taken a strong hold on him. She knows what he is capable of and even comments that he is only oblivious to his genius. Meanwhile, Negishi sees an old friend again whom he likes. Yuri Aikawa looks up to Negishi for his "No Music No Dream" motto and even likes him for simply being a nice and gentle person. So just imagine her shock when she learns who Krauser II really is.

Krauser cheering up and encouraging his junior Saji who made it big in the pop industry

Krauser in one of his soliloquies 

Brokenhearted and feeling pretentious for being liked for what he is not, Negishi goes back to his family in the countryside and learns that even his younger brother has become a fan. The brother now sports long hair, talks rudely to their mother, and hasn't been helping around lately. So Negishi shows up as Krauser and lectures his younger brother and the latter sees the wisdom of studying hard and working in the farm. Negishi also has a heart-to-heart talk with his mother and discovers that his mother does not think Krauser is a bad person. On the contrary, she thinks he is great for keeping the dreams of many people alive. As to whether she knows the truth or not is not explicitly shown but then her giving Negishi a long life charm to give to Krauser in case they meet in Tokyo says a lot already.

Poor Krauser walking in the rain... (reminds me a lot of X-Japan's "Endles Rain")

Krauser plays guest in his family's home

 Negishi finally accepts his life mission and hurries back to Tokyo in a showdown with another death metal celebrity named Jack. The manager has always been a fan of him and sees the event as something that will boost the popularity and legitimacy of DMC. Amidst electrical short circuits and explosions in the middle of the showdown, the two fell down. Both still are able to stand up as the audience cheer them up. Aikawa is seen to also partake in shouting "Go to DMC!" Eventually, Jack gives his electric guitar to Krauser. Krauser takes the opportunity to sing his extra cheesy "Raspberry Kiss" much to the dismay of everyone, even his fans who think that it is the "love song from Hell". 

Krauser back to heavy rocking after being scorched by the manager's flying extra accurate cigarette.

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Key takeaways? Sometimes alter egos exist because what we're good at is different from the stereotype of our nature. Negishi acting as front singer of a death metal is very unthinkable because of his kind nature and his ambition to give hope for people's dreams through his lovey music. Then again, what the people accepted is his dark persona who utters profanities and who seems to encourage rape and murder and other dark stuff. He realized the importance of responsibly handling that influence when he encounters his brother who changed for the worse after becoming a fan and sought to make things right. I think having influence over others is a gift and also a big responsibility. You don't use it to further your interests, but to create a better world.