Dylan changed during sophmore year?

I heard reports that Dylan started to change in 10th grade from many people. His taste in music, clothing, and he started to wear a trenchcoat.

I see Eric following him by junior year
Eric changed 11th grade, and he started listening to Dylan's music, along with wearing a trench coat. Was Eric following Dylan?

Dylan seemed the one to be most different

Which came first the chicken or the egg?   Since they were close friends, it's pretty likely the combination of the two influenced one another.   What is your point, anyway?  Don't really think it's as simple as only one leading the other.  I do know that, according to Dylan's journal, his personal preferences were for The Smashing Pumpkins and The Chemical Brother.  I don't really see Eric writing about those two groups.  However, Dylan got into Rammstein and KMFDM because Eric loved both bands.  Dylan also showed his joint support with Eric by putting a similar massive Rammstein sticker on the back of his car as well as KMFDM.  Dylan also wore KMFDM t-shirts.  So, if Dylan started the Trenchcoat wearing (following in the fashion of the TCM), and got his parents to buy an expensive leather duster, maybe Eric followed suit waiting to save up the money to buy his duster a while later.  *shrugs* Simply, friends influencing friends with teenage edgy looks - mutually inspiring and rubbing off one another. No more; no less.

It's pretty simple, friends show each-other things and get into them TOGETHER all the time. Its part of what being friends is about. They both liked the same music because they probably shared and lent CD's between each-other all the time.

Most reports about Eric also suggest that he changed (grew more outspoken) in his sophomore year. Some sources seem to suggest that Eric emulated Chris Morris to an extent. I think Dylan was the more outspoken in ways of dress than Eric was. I seem to recall an account of him not wanting to take that duster off during a dinner (was it his Mum who said this?) and the material we have of him (e.g. the earring) seems to suggest a more 'outlandish' look altogether. I think they both influenced the other, though. You know what it's like, right, hanging out with people and hearing new music from them and watching the same kind of movies together and such? In my social circle, it was always "hey hold on listen to this" and "did you see that movie?" and "I bought something really neat today check it out".. I can imagine it was the same for them back in the day. So Eric may have come up with Rammstein, Dylan with the duster, etc.. I don't think there was a leader-follower scenario at work here whatsoever. It's just kids being kids and trying to discover their identities/find their voices.