The Protomen
The Protomen | |
---|---|
Origin | Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 2003–present |
Labels | Sound Machine |
Members | Commander B. Hawkins Raul Panther III Murphy Weller Sir Dr. Robert Bakker Shock Magnum Gambler Kirkdouglas Reanimator K.I.L.R.O.Y. |
Website | protomen.com |
The Protomen are an American
History
The band is composed mostly of MTSU recording program graduates, and originated in order to meet class deadlines and the need to record for their grades.[2] Their first live performance was in April 2004.[4] Most of the band had graduated and moved to Nashville by 2005.[5]
In a 2009 interview, lead vocalist Panther stated, "We basically gathered up all of our good friends from the local rock bands of Murfreesboro, tied ourselves together, and tried to walk. And somehow it worked. At the time, we noticed a void in rock and roll. A hole that could only really be filled with grown men and women painting up like robots and playing some fierce and furious rock music based on a 1980s video game. We were fairly certain no one else was going to fill that hole. But, by God, it's filled now. You can thank us later."[6]
The band has strong ties to the Murfreesboro and Nashville independent music scene, and some members perform with several bands.[citation needed]
The Protomen
In the band's first album, Dr. Wily is represented as an Orwellian ruler over a dystopic city, full of humans who are too scared to stand up to his control. Dr. Light creates a "perfect man, an unbeatable machine", Proto Man, to fight to free the city, but Proto Man is destroyed by the overwhelming power of Wily's armies. Defeated and despairing, Dr. Light then creates a second son, Mega Man, whom he attempts to dissuade from battle. Mega Man runs away from home and confronts his brother in an apocalyptic concluding battle. The album has been described by the band as "the sound of the end of the world" and straddles the line between chiptune and hard rock, with heavier focus on distorted 8-bit synthesizers and electronic instrumentation.
Band member Commander has stated that the album "was made specifically to go against everything our recording teachers and fellow students were trying to feed us about making everything sound pristine and 'perfect.'".[5] The album was recorded over two years in various Murfreesboro studios, using analog rather than digital production techniques.[7] "Due Vendetta", the group's first recorded track, was completed in April 2003. The album was produced by then-Protomen member Heath Who Hath No Name.
Act II: The Father of Death
For the band's second album the group, working with
The Protomen Present: A Night of Queen
The Protomen are known for performing, along with their original rock opera, a variety of 1970s and 1980s cover songs in their live performances, typically related to the band's preferred motifs of heroism, struggle, and self-determination. On December 10, 2010, the Protomen performed along with Nashville band Evil Bebos for the latter band's farewell concert. Evil Bebos played a set entirely composed of Black Sabbath cover songs, while the Protomen in kind performed a set of Queen covers.[8] The live performance was recorded and mastered, and on April 19, 2012, the Protomen announced through their website and mailing list that the resulting live album, titled The Protomen Present: A Night Of Queen, would be released and was available for pre-order.[9] Though set for a June 1, 2012, release, the album shipped early to those who pre-ordered it.[10]
The Cover Up: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture
In November 2010 while performing at InDisFest in Atlanta, GA, the band announced their intention to formally record an album of cover songs. Production on the album began in February 2011 with producer Alan Shacklock, the band's second collaboration with the producer following Act II.[11][12] By June 2014, the band announced that a downloadable EP would be made available to attendees of their Warped Tour 2014 performances to promote the upcoming full-length album, titled The Cover Up. The EP was released via a download code printed on a faux movie ticket stub for The Cover Up, referencing a non-existent film, packaged in a laminate sleeve attached to a lanyard commemorating the Warped Tour.[13] The full-length album was released on January 23, 2015, to attendees of MAGFest 13, where The Protomen were performing. The following morning, on January 24, the album was made available for pre-order to the general public through the band's website.[14]
Musical style and influences
The group has cited the influence of "artists like
Concepts and themes
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/The_Protomen_at_Holy_Mountain_%28Austin%2C_Texas%29_-_2014-10-21_%2811%29.jpg/261px-The_Protomen_at_Holy_Mountain_%28Austin%2C_Texas%29_-_2014-10-21_%2811%29.jpg)
The Protomen's work is inspired by the first six NES Mega Man games.[2] This franchise has an existing storyline featured in the games, manga, and anime; however, The Protomen have concocted a dark and dystopian version of the game's underlying world. The group is generally uninterested in concerns of making their story adhere to the original. Instead, they view the games as a jumping-off point for the story they want to tell, and have borrowed surface attributes of some characters while heavily altering their histories and functions.
The band has stated that they intend to make a three-part story. Two of the parts are completed with the release of their first two albums, while the third is in outline form. The overall story as created by the band deals with loss, and they "don't really expect it to end well for humanity."[15]
Festival and convention performances
The Protomen have performed at a number of conventions, festivals and showcases throughout their career.
In 2007, The Protomen played at
Band members
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Discography
Studio albums
- The Protomen (2005)
- Act II: The Father of Death (2009)
- The Cover Up: Original Soundtrack From the Motion Picture (2015)
Live album
- The Protomen Present: A Night of Queen (2012)
- The Protomen: Live in Nashville (2020)
Soundtrack album
- William Shakespeare Presents: Terminator The Second (with 84001) (2013)
EP release
- The Cover Up EP (2014)
Singles
- "Father of Death / No Easy Way Out" - (2008)[a]
- "Beards Going Nowhere" - [18] - (2008)[b]
- "I Drove All Night / Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground) – Breaking Out (2012 Edit)" - (2012)[c]
- "This City Made Us / Hold Back the Night" - (2015)[d]
- "The Fight" - (2022)[19]
Remix album
- Makeup and Vanity Set Presents: The Protomen (2007)
As a guest
- MC Frontalot, Kid Koala - "Shudders" (2014)
- TWRP - "Phantom Racer" (2018)
References
- Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Andrew (April 20, 2005). "How the Protomen kidnapped and forced me to ride around Murfreesboro blindfolded for 20 minutes just for a one-on-one interview". Sidelines. Middle Tennessee State University. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
- ^ "Nerdy Show". Nerdyshow.com. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2015-05-21.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Murphy Weller on Twitter: "Happy belated Birthday to The Protomen (publicly). On 4/22/04 the first live performance happened as a makeup project for a friend's grade."". Twitter.com. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ a b "On Video Game Cover Bands. | Catchy Name News". 17 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-08-17. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ a b Nather, Eric (October 5, 2009). "Interview With "The Protomen", A Mega Man Rock Opera". Joystick Division. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
- ^ Clark, Rick (2006-01-04). "Nashville Skyline". Mixonline.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ Zadlo, Diana Lee (December 13, 2010). "The Protomen and Evil Bebos Tribute to Queen & Black Sabbath at Exit/In, 12/10/10". Nashville Scene. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
- ^ "Awesome News And Bad News". Protomen.com. 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ "Sound Machine Records". Soundmchinestore.bigcartel.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "The Protomen's Reanimator Records Drums In The Studio". YouTube.com. 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ "Twitch". Twitch.tv. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Victory World Tour….pt. 1… North America". Protomen.com. 2014-06-12. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ "Finally". Protomen.com. 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ "Just Who Are The Protomen? Let's Find Out!". Originalsoundversion.com. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ "'Road to Bonnaroo' Reveals Strength of Nashville Rock Scene | News". BMI.com. 2009-06-04. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Beards Going Nowhere - The Protomen". Protomen.com. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "New Single - The Fight". Protomen.com.
Notes
External links
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