Lineup includes Spider One (vocals), Evan9 and Velkro (guitar), X51 (bassist), and GFlash (drums).
In 1990, 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 1991, 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 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 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. Ironically, "Bombshell" resurfaced, as the entrance music for the (now-formerly WWE) tag-team wrestlers, The Dudley Boyz.
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.
A new tour was also started, but M.33 had left the band 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". The band has announced that they are signed to DRT Enterainment, who released their album, of which the song "Wild World" is the new single and video.
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!!" However, talk about the record soon simmered, and no new information was released.
Finally, in December 2008, the new track "Super Villain" premiered on the band's Myspace page, showcasing their return to their platinum-selling sound of the late 90s. On January 28, 2009, a preview of tracks from their upcoming 6th studio album were posted on the groups MySpace page, containing clips from the songs "Super Villain", "V is for Vampire", and "Horror Show". Powerman 5000 posted that "Super Villain" would become available for digital purchase on February 10 via iTunes and Amazon.com.
On April 7, 2009, Powerman 5000 released a blog on their MySpace page stating that Anyone For Doomsday? has officially been re-released. The legal battle ended and the album was released under the SKG Music License. The album is available on iTunes as a digital download. On April 21, the band released "V is for Vampire", the second single from their upcoming album, which is planned for a summer release.
On July 7, 2009, Powerman 5000 released a blog on their MySpace page[3] stating that the new album has been finished, and that a release date, track listing, artwork, and additional tour dates was coming soon. On July 27, 2009, Powerman 5000 appeared on Rockline, announcing the title of the new album as "Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere". A Tentative release date of October 6 was also announced. Three new songs were also premiered on the show, including "Timebomb", "Make Us Insane", and "Show Me What You Got". On Myspace Spider posted a blog talking about the three new songs filled with comments of the fans liking the music.
On September 6, 2009, Powerman 5000 released the album cover design along with the promotion of their upcoming tour starting on October 24. They also released two new promotional videos on YouTube for their new album, confirming its release date as October 6.
On October 1, the full track "Do Your Thing" was leaked onto YouTube. The song was apparently taken from the Megatronic Records Forum, in which frontman Spider One currently owns. The CD "Somewhere On The Other Side Of Nowhere" was officially released on October 6 in the U.S. and was available in Canada on October 20, two weeks after the reported release date.
The band embarked on a national tour during October and November in support of the album.
On December 7, Spider, the band's lead singer posted links on his Twitter page linking to FearNET.com which is hosting the bands music video for their first single "Super Villain". The video is also available on YouTube and stars Johnathon Schaech as the infamous Super Villain.
Super Villain
Powerman 5000 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're dressin all in black
From your front to your back
And all your evil ways
They seem to go on for days
And as a matter of fact
You got one more night before ya
Smash it up, burn it down
Tearing up the underground
You wanna live like a super villain
Back in the line up
Before your times up
You wanna live like a super villain
There's nowhere to go
There's nowhere to go
No one is savin this town
Fuck all those pricks and those clowns
I know you'd rather abuse
Condemn or slightly confuse
Kick 'em all when their down
And just for fun you're gonna
Smash it up, burn it down
Tearing up the underground
You wanna live like a super villain
Back in the line up
Before your times up
You wanna live like a super villain
There's nowhere to go
There's nowhere to go
There's nowhere to go
There's nowhere to go when your on your own, you don't care about what's wrong or what is right.
Alright, alright you've been knockin down these doors, you've been filling up this room.
You're been runnin round the place like your name was Dr. Doom.
You're a killer of culture, a vulture of style, and it won't be that long before you end up on trial.
Smash it up, burn it down
Tearing up the underground
You wanna live like a super villain
Back in the line up
Before your times up
You wanna live like a super villain
Like a super villain
Like a super villain
Yeah
Like a super villain
There's nowhere to go
Like a super villain
There's nowhere to go
Like a super villain
In Powerman 5000's song "Super Villain," the lyrics describe someone who is dressing all in black and living life as if they were a super villain. The person in the song is described as having evil ways that seem to go on for days, and they only have one more night before they need to smash things up and burn them down, tearing up the underground. They don't care about what's right or wrong, and they would rather abuse, condemn, or slightly confuse those around them. The lyrics also suggest that there's nowhere to go when you're on your own and living life as a super villain. The song's message seems to be that there are consequences to one's actions, and living like a villain will eventually catch up with you.
Line by Line Meaning
You're dressin all in black
You are dressed completely in black
From your front to your back
From head to toe, you are wearing black clothing
And all your evil ways
All of your wicked actions
They seem to go on for days
Your immoral deeds just keep happening
And as a matter of fact
In reality
You got one more night before ya
You have only one more night left
Smash it up, burn it down
Destroy everything in sight, set things on fire
Tearing up the underground
Causing major damage to the subculture community
You wanna live like a super villain
You desire to live like a super villain, one who is notorious for bad deeds
Back in the line up
Get back in line
Before your times up
Do it before it's too late
There's nowhere to go
There is no escape
No one is savin this town
Nobody is coming to rescue the city
Fuck all those pricks and those clowns
Disdain for certain groups of people
I know you'd rather abuse
You prefer to harm others
Condemn or slightly confuse
You cause others to doubt themselves or become disorientated
Kick 'em all when their down
When others are vulnerable or weak, you attack them
And just for fun you're gonna
You will do it just for the sake of entertainment
There's nowhere to go when your on your own, you don't care about what's wrong or what is right.
When you are alone, you don't care about morality or correctness because there is no one there to hold you accountable
Alright, alright you've been knockin down these doors, you've been filling up this room.
You have been breaking into places and causing chaos
You're been runnin round the place like your name was Dr. Doom.
You have been moving quickly and erratically like a notorious villain
You're a killer of culture, a vulture of style, and it won't be that long before you end up on trial.
You destroy cultural norms and are a parasite of fashion, and you will eventually be brought to justice
Like a super villain
Just like a notorious villain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TERON THOMAS, THEODORE THOMAS, TIMOTHY THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SidNightWalker
These guys are easily one of the most underrated bands ever. They still make great songs.
clodzilla319
Fuckin-A right!!!
SidNightWalker
Andrea Smith what?
Vilesentry
It holds up, it's to sci fi and comic books what Rob Zombie is to horror.
Actually, aren't they brothers or something?
SidNightWalker
@Vilesentry oh yeah, I think they might be cousins or in-laws, I read somewhere a long time ago. Unfortunately I totally forget.
Trans Rights Werewolf
I love how this was released nearly a full decade after the Nineties and yet somehow managed to be more Nineties than the actual Nineties.
Krugg Kruscherp
Andreus Woo, 90s.
Synathidy
Krugg Kruscherp
That vaguely sarcastic, unenthusiastic "woo" is also very 90s (think grunge). Did you do that on purpose?
Krugg Kruscherp
***** Yes. The 90s were a horrible time for me and the only thing that got me through were some of the music of that time.
Carlos Pandiella
Andreus I know...its like MTV 2 was still a thing that it was....