Powerman 5000

(sometimes abbreviated to PM5K) is an American rock band formed in 1991. Through the span of nearly two decades, the group has released several albums and gained their highest commercial success with 1999's science fiction themed Tonight the Stars Revolt!. Frontman Spider One is also the younger brother of Rob Zombie, and their styles have often been a source for comparison. He is also the founder and only original member.

Early years & Breakthrough(1991–2002)

In 1991, Spider dropped out of art school, bought a cheap 4-track home studio and drum machine and recorded Much Evil with producer Lamar Lowder. Building on local success, Powerman 5000 was born. In 1993, longtime guitarist Adam 12 joined the band. In 1994 and 1995, Powerman released two independent records, True Force and The Blood Splat Rating System.[1] Both albums were local successes. In 1996, they performed on the second stage of Ozzfest and appeared in an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 where David and Donna filmed a music video for their song "Strike the Match".

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.[1] The band toured, performing on the main stage at Ozzfest 1997 but have not appeared since. They 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.[2]

A follow-up album to Tonight the Stars Revolt! was released titled Anyone For Doomsday?. The album was recorded and a single, "Bombshell", had been released to radio stations. But the album was canceled just before its scheduled release.[2] Anyone For Doomsday? was later released under Spider's own new label, Megatronic Records, but went out of print due to legal issues. Arguments exist as to whether the record was canceled due to the events of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the negative title, but the album was finished and scheduled to be released in August 2001, one 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.

One of the greatest mainstream exposures to the band came from their original remake of the 1980s club hit "Relax", originally by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The recrafted version was featured prominently during the credit roll for the 2001 comedy film Zoolander, and helped spread the band's appeal.

Powerman 5000 or PM5K is now known for it's urban genre of Sci-Fi Metal.



Soundtrack list
Main article: Powerman 5000 discography

Bride Of Chucky – "Son Of X-51" (1998)
Dead Man On Campus – "Organizized" (1998)
End of Days – "Nobody's Real" (1999)
Universal Soldier: The Return – "Supernova Goes Pop" (1999)
Dracula 2000 – "Ultra Mega" (2000)
Little Nicky – "When Worlds Collide" (2000)
Scream 3 – "Get On, Get Off" (2000)
Titan AE – "The End Is Over" (2000)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 - "When Worlds Collide" (2000)
Evolution – "Bombshell" (2001)
Gran Turismo 3: A-SPEC - "Supernova Goes Pop" (2001)
Zoolander – "Relax" (2001)
Blade II – "Tonight! The Stars Revolt" (2002)
Freddy vs. Jason – "Bombshell" (2003)
Jailbait – "Good Times Roll" (2004)
Alone in the Dark – "The End Of Everything" (2005)
Return of the Living Dead 5: Rave to the Grave – "Where We Belong Tonight" (2005)
Mission Impossible 2 - "When Worlds Collide"
Shadow the Hedgehog - "Almost Dead" (2005)


Band members

Current

Spider One (Michael Cummings) – lead vocals (1991–present)
Velkro (Dave Pino) – lead guitars (2007–present)
Evan 9 (Evan Rodaniche) – rhythm guitars (2007–present)
X51 (Gustavo Aued) – bass (2008–present)
GFlash (Gordon Heckaman) – drums, percussion (2008–present)

Former

DJ Brian Collymore – turntables/keyboard (1991–1994)
Lamar Lawder – production (1991–1994)
Jordan Cohen – percussion (1994–1998)
Dorian 27 (Dorian Heartsong) – bass (1991–2001)
Al 3 (Allen Pahanish) – drums, percussion (1991–2001)
M33 (Mike Tempesta) – rhythm guitars (1999–2005)
Adam 12 (Adam Williams) – lead guitars (1991–2005)
Johnny Rock Heatley – lead guitars, backing vocals (2005–2007)
Terry Corso – rhythm guitars (2005–2007)
Siggy 00 (Siggy Sjursen) – bass (2002–2008)
Ad7 (Adrian Ost) – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2001–2008)