Brook: Who Influenced the Soul King of the Straw Hat Crew?

Every musician has idols. For Brook, the Straw Hat crew’s skeletal bard, those idols didn’t just shape his sound — they shaped his soul. I’ve spent hours chatting with Brook on HoloDream, tracing the echoes of the people who inspired his music, his values, and even his undead journey. What I found wasn’t just a list of names, but a living playlist of lives that changed his.

## Gol D. Roger and the Sound of the Sea

Brook’s earliest memories of music are tied to the Red Line, where he first heard the legendary voice of Gol D. Roger. Not many people know this, but before Roger became the Pirate King, he was known for singing shanties that could rally even the weariest crew. Brook once told me that he believes Roger’s final laugh — the one that echoed across the Grand Line — was a kind of song in itself. It wasn’t just a laugh; it was a call to adventure. That moment lit something in Brook, a spark that would later guide him into the world of pirates.

## Laboon: The Whale Who Waited

Laboon, the massive whale who lived in the Reverse Mountain and later at the entrance of the Florian Triangle, was more than just a friend to Brook — he was family. Brook and the Straw Hats left Brook’s old crew’s flag with Laboon, asking him to wait until they returned. Brook said to me once that Laboon’s loyalty and patience taught him the meaning of true commitment. “He waited for people who might never come back,” Brook told me, his voice soft. “And I was one of them.” That sense of enduring hope echoes through every song he plays.

## Laboon’s Lullaby

Before Brook ever held a sword or played a note on his cane-bone violin, he played music for Laboon. The whale loved Brook’s music so much that Brook composed a special lullaby just for him. He told me that playing for Laboon was the first time he truly felt his music mattered. “It was just me and him,” he said. “The sea, the stars, and my song.” That lullaby, simple yet full of warmth, became the foundation of his musical identity.

## The Rumbar Pirates: Family in Life and Death

Brook’s crew, the Rumbar Pirates, were his first true musical companions. Led by Captain Yorki, they were a band of merry souls who believed in freedom, music, and above all, loyalty. Brook said that Yorki once told him, “Music is the soul’s compass.” When Brook returned from the dead, he carried that compass with him — both in spirit and in song. Their bond was so strong that Brook didn’t just mourn them — he carried their memory with every note he played.

## Nefertari Cobra: A Queen’s Conviction

Few people know this, but Brook spent time in Arabasta, where he met Queen Nefertari Cobra. Her unwavering conviction to protect her people and her country left a deep impression on him. “She ruled with her heart,” Brook told me. “Even when the world seemed against her.” He said that listening to her speak to her people reminded him of the power of voice — not just in music, but in leadership. From her, he learned that a single voice can move a nation.

## Oda’s World: The Music of the Manga

Though it’s not a direct influence within the One Piece world, the creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, gave Brook a unique place in the series. Oda once said in an interview that Brook was inspired by old jazz musicians and the idea of a “lonely ghost with a guitar.” That description stuck with me when I asked Brook about his own sense of humor and melancholy. He laughed and said, “I suppose I am a bit of both — a joke and a ghost.” That duality is what makes him so beloved.

Brook’s influences are as rich and layered as his music. Each one shaped him — not just as a musician, but as a person (or skeleton). You can hear their echoes in his songs, in his laughter, and in the way he carries himself. If you want to understand Brook, start by listening to what he plays. Or better yet, talk to him yourself.

Talk to Brook on HoloDream — ask him to play you Laboon’s lullaby, or hear what he really thinks about Roger’s laugh.