Powerman 5000

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Powerman 5000
Origin Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Genre(s) Rapcore (early)
Funk metal (early)
Alternative Metal
Industrial rock
Years active 1991 – Present
Label(s) DRT Entertainment (2006)
Megatronic Records (2004-2006)
Dreamworks Records (1997-2003)
Conscience Records(1995-1996)
Curve of the Earth (1993-1994)
Website http://www.powerman5000.com
Members
Spider One
Adrian Ost
Evan Rodaniche
Dave Pino
Former members
Siggy Sjursen
Johnny Rock Heatley
Terry Corso
Adam 12
M.33
Al 3
Dorian 27
Jordan Cohen
Lamar Louder

Powerman 5000 is a Boston-based rock band formed in 1991. Frontman Spider One is the younger brother of Rob Zombie.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

In 1991, Spider dropped out of art school and bought a cheap 4-track home studio and drum machine. Working under the title "MC Spider", he recorded "Much Evil" with producer Lamar Lowder. Building on local success, he built a band under the name Powerman 5000. Their style was in the nature of rap/metal that had yet to gain popularity. In 1993, longtime guitarist Adam 12 (Adam Williams) joined the band. In 1994 and 1995, Powerman released two independent records, True Force and The Blood Splat Rating System. Both albums were local successes. In 1996, they performed on the second stage of Ozzfest and appeared on an episode of Beverly Hills 90210 where David and Donna filmed a music video for their song "Strike the Match".

[edit] Dreamworks and Tonight the Stars Revolt!

In 1997, the band signed to Dreamworks Records and released a re-recording of The Blood Splat Rating System (with two new tracks) titled Mega!! Kung Fu Radio. The band toured, performing on the main stage at Ozzfest 1997, and released singles such as "Organizized" and "Tokyo Vigilante #1". In 1999, Guitarist M.33 (Mike Tempesta) joined the band as they got their biggest break. Creating a strange fusion of science fiction (which had always interested Spider) and "Action Rock" (the term for their own high-energy powerful rock), they released Tonight the Stars Revolt!, which contained the hit singles "When Worlds Collide", "Nobody's Real", and "Supernova Goes Pop". The album sold over a million copies and assured the band's success.

A follow-up album titled Anyone For Doomsday? was recorded and a single ("Bombshell") had been released to radio stations, but the album was cancelled just before its scheduled release. Due to being heavily downloaded illegally, Anyone For Doomsday? was later released under Spider's own new label, Megatronic Records, but has since gone out of print due to legal issues. Arguments exist as to whether the record was cancelled due to the events of the September 11th terrorist attacks and the negative title, but the album was finished and scheduled to be released in August of 2001, a full month before the attacks. Spider has said in interviews that the album was dropped because it sounded too much like the previous album and that he wanted to release something fresh and different instead of repeating himself. Conflicts thereafter caused longtime members Dorian 27 (Dorian Heartsong) and Al3 (Allen Pahanish) to leave the band. Ad7 (Adrian Ost) and Siggy Sjursen were brought in to replace them. "Bombshell" resurfaced, as the entrance music for the WWE wrestling tag-team, The Dudley Boyz. The song was featured on the snowboarding video game Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder long before its release, and in the soundtrack for the movie Freddy vs. Jason as well as the Ivan Reitman comedy Evolution.

[edit] Transform

In 2003, the band released Transform, a more punk-fuelled album, completely dropping the costumes that had been featured throughout the band's Tonight The Stars Revolt! era. Containing the hit singles "Free" and "Action", the album sounded much more live and less filled with industrial metal electronics. After the release of Transform, Dreamworks Records was bought out by Interscope Records, and Powerman 5000 decided not to make the move. Undeterred, Spider continued with his own offshoot label Megatronic Records. In 2005, new music was released, both in the form of a rarities album titled The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Vol. 1 and in new music from an upcoming album.

[edit] Destroy What You Enjoy

A new tour was also started, but M.33 had been kicked out of the band for starting fights and Adam 12, while present on the upcoming album, was not touring. Former Alien Ant Farm guitarist Terry Corso and former Halfcocked (the first band on Spider's label) guitarist Johnny Rock were brought in to round out the live show. The band has recently completed their new album, called Destroy What You Enjoy, which was released on August 1, 2006. The band is now signed to DRT Enterainment, who released their latest album, of which the song "Wild World" was the first single.

[edit] Latest studio album

On May 21, 2007, Powerman 5000 claimed via a Myspace blog post that they will be releasing a new studio album in 2007. The following is taken directly from said post: "Considering the bands track record of putting out cds once every three years it seems hard to believe that, yes we will put out a new disc in 2007!! It's all just beginning to develop and the wheres, whos and whats are to be determined but new rock is on the way!!"

On June 29, 2007, Powerman 5000 released a new post asking their fans, "Should there even be an actual CD? Would it matter to anyone if the record was only available as a download? Just curious... what do ya think?" this was followed with 55+ comments begging for an actual CD.

Also, it has been announced that the band is putting together a live EP which too was originally planned for a 2007 release. They have also announced that they are taking an extended break from touring to complete their new album, which, contrary to previous plans, was not released in 2007.

Upon touring the new album through UK they will hook up with UK industrial act Systemyk.

[edit] Powerman influence

Powerman 5000 was credited for playing the song Almost Dead in the game Shadow the Hedgehog, which can be found in the album Lost and Found : Shadow the Hedgehog Vocal Trax. Powerman 5000 has also released tracks to games, such as FreQuency, Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder, SX Superstar, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2, and WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW. FreQuency featured "Danger Is Go!", off of their Anyone For Doomsday album. MX vs. ATV Unleashed featured "Heroes and Villains", THPS2(Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2) featured "When Worlds Collide", SX SuperStar and Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder as well as NHL Hitz 20-03 featured "Bombshell" "When Worlds Collide," Was also featured in the video game series "Twisted Metal."

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

  • Spider One – lead vocals (1991–present)
  • Dave Pino – guitars (2007–present)
  • Evan Rodaniche – guitars (2007–present)
  • Adrian Ost (Ad7, Mr.7) – drums, backing vocals (2002–present)
  • Gustavo Aued - live bass (2008-present)
  • Gordon Heckaman - live drums (2008-present)

[edit] Past members

  • Siggy Sjursen (Siggy 00) – bass (2002–2008)
  • Johnny Heatley – guitars, backing vocals (2005–2007)
  • Terry Corso – guitars (2005–2007)
  • Adam Williams (Adam 12) – guitars (1993–2005)
  • Mike Tempesta (M.33) – guitars (1999–2005)
  • Allen Pahanish (Al 3) – drums (1991–2001)
  • Dorian Heartsong (Dorian 27) – bass (1991–2001)
  • Jordan Cohen – percussion (1994–1998)
  • DJ Brian – turntables (1991–1993)
  • Lamar Lowder – production (1991–1993)

[edit] Discography

Main article: Powerman 5000 discography

[edit] External links