Secret Vampire Society

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Cosplay gone mad?

Apparently an international secret society of vampires exists comprising of bored wealthy millionaires, Yakuza, gangsters, politicians, doctors and musicians.
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real- ... 2ed3c351f8

From the article it appears to be an extreme offshoot of the goth subculture and involves members luring mainly younger females who are into vampire and goth culture and often willingly initiated by "sharing" their blood. whole thing is very creepy and sounds exploitive on the lines of a cult.

The so-called "vampire lifestyle" and "real vampire" subcultures have been around for decades, ever since at least the late 1990's and possibly earlier. Before that, at least as long ago as the early 1970's, there were a few so-called "real vampires" in vampire fandom and various other oddball subcultures.

I'm not a "vampire lifestyler" or a "real vampire" myself, but I've run into several over the years, in the context of various other oddball subcultures that I've been active in.

The ones I've met over the years (in-person or online) were NOT "bored wealthy millionaires, Yakuza, gangsters, politicians, doctors and musicians." Indeed the first "real vampire" I met, back around 1980, had a lowly job as a clerk at a clothing store.

The "vampire lifestyle" and "real vampire" subcultures are distinct, though there is some overlap between them:

A) The "vampire lifestyle" scene is an outgrowth of the goth scene and involves cosplay, music, and dance.

B) On the other hand, so-called "real vampires" are of 3 kinds:

1) Sanguinarians: people with a felt need to consume blood. (See Sanguinarian FAQ – Ask a Sanguinarian!. See also the Wikipedia article on Clinical vampirism for some historical background.)

2) "Psychic vampires": people with a felt need to consume "energy"/"chi"/"prana" or whatever you call it. (See Wikipedia article on Psychic vampire.) A leading figure in the "psychic vampire" world is Michelle Belanger, author of The Psychic Vampire Codex. (See also interview here.)

3) Hybrids of #1 and #2 above.

There are groups that combine "real vampirism" with the "vampire lifestyle," but there have also been plenty of people and groups in either camp who have no interest in the other. Some "real vampires" I encountered back in the late 1990's were quite hostile toward lifestylers.

These subcultures are not "cults," although some groups within them might be "cults."

Some articles by and about an outside scholar, Joseph Laycock, who has studied these subcultures:

- Review of Joseph Laycock's book Vampires Today, 2009.
- Real-Life Vampires: BU’s Joseph Laycock on the myth, and the real deal and Vampires Come Out for Eclipse, BU Today, 2010
- An Interview with Associate Professor Joseph P. Laycock, on the blog On New And Alternative Religions by Dr Ethan Doyle White, 16 August 2022.
- The Vampire Who Beat Wells Fargo by Joseph Laycock, Religion Dispatches, March 21, 2011.

(Joseph Laycock is now an associate professor of religious studies at Texas State University.)

^^^ thanks for the links. It's likely a number of secret societies keep their activities private due to the cultish and boderline criminal nature of their members.

If you read the young woman's testimony, much of what happened to her and other young female goths occurred without their consent. Now we have a scenario like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NXIVM

Indeed that appears to be the case with the particular group she talked about (assuming that the news story you linked to is basically correct). But the relevant subcultures as a whole should not be judged based on her experience.

The "real vampire" community as a whole has an ethic of consent. Websites by at least some "vampire community" leaders have pages advising people in the community on how to avoid unethical people and groups. I'll dig up some examples if you would like.

Also, while abusive people and groups do exist within the community, the particular news story you linked to looks a bit suspicious to me. For example:


In real life, there is no such thing as a "vampire virus." That's an idea found in some vampire fiction, but not real life.

Another detail of her story that looks to me like a tall tale:


While it's not impossible that an international "vampire court" could include people who speak openly about being "yakuza and triads," that seems to me a bit unlikely. For one thing, while I could be wrong about this, it seems unlikely to me that the trappings of "vampire lifestylers," rooted in Anglosphere pop culture, would have much appeal to East Asians, "yakuza and triad" or otherwise. It's also the kind of detail that pathological liars have been known use to make their life stories seem more colorful.

Frankly, Crystal comes across to me as a poser, irresponsibly making claims that could easily stoke a QAnon-style revival of Satanic panic.

^^^ Agreed

But secret societies have been in fashion for a long time and ones like Crystal mentioned probably do exist but as you say don't reflect the wider vampire subculture.

Groups and individuals also borrow from subcultures as well. Marilyn Manson isn't a goth but clearly positions himself in that genre and one wonders if he considers "the goth-punk look" reflects his abusive values, even though goth and punk don't claim him. But similarly vampires intersects in the same way with gothic subculture even though large numbers of goths aren't into vampires.

They're all going to get AIDS.

That's why vampires went extinct in the '80s. I remember the commercials with Sarah McLaughlin, for only the price of a medium double-double from Timmy's you can help save our endangered vampires.

Thats what I was thinking....At least now AIDS is not a death sentence like in the 80's and 90's.

... if they and their donors/partners don't get tested for HIV. Last I heard, the "real vampire" community does encourage such testing.

Ya the possibility of AIDS is significantly reduced if they have regular blood testing for all the blood-borne pathogens. However some in the "Real Vampire" Community dont allow anything to do with blood.

I would hate to get bitten off a vampire

Interestingly there's a lot of testimony about P.Diddy's victims being covered in blood after his parties. Diddy wears capes, stays up and never sleeps, avoids the sun and appears to always have two dudes dressed as vampires at all his parties.

Last I heard, the so-called "real vampire" subculture frowns on biting. Too unsanitary and too painful. Those who are into consuming blood are encouraged to extract it in other, more sanitary ways.

"Real Vampires" dont bite to extract blood.

Oh right

It has no appeal to me

That's fine.

I just think we should try to avoid making false claims about an already highly-stigmatized subculture.

(I don't want to see a full-fledged revival of Satanic panic or something similar.)