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The Protomen is an American rock band best known for composing an original rock opera based on the popular video game, Mega Man. Because of the group's insistence on wearing costumes and using code-names, even when being interviewed^[1], The Protomen remain a mysterious entity within the video game music scene. Their costumes and general stage presence has been compared to that of Daft Punk. Despite often being classified as a niche, the Protomen have achieved a cult following^[2] thanks, in part, to frequent mentions in popular video game web sites as well as a dedicated fan-base.

History

Actual history

Little is known about the Protomen, other than the band was formed in 1993^[3] and is based in Nashville, TN^[4]. The band is comprised mostly of MTSU recording program graduates, and first came to be so they could meet class deadlines and the need to record for [their] grades.^[5]

As told by The Protomen

The band does not break character for interviews, so the Protomen's own descriptions of their history are delivered with the dramatic flair of their storyline concept. According to members Murphy and Panther, the band met by accident in "the middle of the state of volunteers" and "delivered the fury from (their) instruments and an army was discovered."^[6]

The band also maintains that they spend their days in a compound called the Thundercon "high atop a green hill overlooking the desolate undertakings of an unrelenting new pop-country shit-storm." Within the Thundercon, the walls are transcribed with the sacred tome which they are meant to spread to the masses.^[7]

Site Update

As of Wednesday, May 27, 2009, The Protomen official website was updated^[8]. The new front page is a simply animated flash image depicting an alley that shows several tv screens that link to their news blog, links to their forum, web store, myspace and twitter accounts, and a garage door with the words "L.I.G.H.T. Brigade" written on it which links to their street team blog. Above the garage door is a clock that is counting down to at approximately 4AM EST on September 8, 2009. Above the clock is an animated banner that says "The Protomen" and "Don't turn your back on the city." The countdown has been confirmed in a news post on their site on June 26th, 2009, to be the release date of their second album^[9], which may be called "Don't Turn Your Back On The City" (which is also one of the supposed names for the song "Breaking Out"^[10] ) Also, still images of people walking through or standing in the alley are alternated, as well as several shots of cars driving though. There is an unknown song playing in the background that resembles music from classic sci fi movies such as Blade Runner or Terminator. On August 13, the comic site Nuklear Power linked to a hidden page on Protomen.com, which shows an animated version of their new logo for Act II and plays a full version of one of the album's tracks. ^[11]

Story

The Protomen's work is based on the story elements of early NES Mega Man games, but the games are brightly-coloured, largely plotless action whereas the songs are about an Orwellian nightmare. Instead of wreaking nonspecific havoc with six Robot Masters, Dr. Wily has crushed the spirit of mankind under the heel of his machine horde. Dr. Light still creates Protoman, though now he works for twelve years when the watchful eyes of Wily's robots aren't upon him. Much is made of Megaman's symbolism as a saviour and "the son of Light."

No one would oppose Wily's rule over Man except for Dr. Light, who works in secret to create the perfect warrior to defeat Wily's robot soldiers. This robot, Protoman, stands up against the leaders of the robot army, but is destroyed. No one would help Protoman: humans stand by and watch helplessly as they chant in unison, "We are the dead."

Dr. Light is broken. He sent his only progeny to die for people who chose to stand by and let it happen. Light tries to reject his trade and destroy his workshop. Instead he finds himself creating a new robot as a companion, Megaman, whom he warns that the fight is hopeless and that the human race, no longer willing to fight for themselves, deserves to be ruled by Wily. Megaman, having a strong sense of justice, refuses to accept that he can do nothing. He takes it upon himself to fight back against the robotic army, now led by Protoman, who in secret survived his battle and has come to much the same conclusion as Light, that "there are no heroes left in Man."

The two brothers then argue for Mankind's future: Megaman claims that there is hope, and that they are just not ready to fight. Protoman believes they never will be able to fight and that they are as good as dead. He cries to the assembled masses to stand against him and show that they deserve freedom. No one comes. The masses call for Protoman's death. There is a sudden flash of light, and Protoman falls. As he dies in Megaman's arms, Protoman tells him that perhaps if this story is passed on, mankind will find that "...a hero is just a man who knows he is free."

The masses try to comfort their hero over the death of his brother, but Megaman, enraged, leaves but a few parting words: "You are the dead," then tosses his helmet aside and walks away. Wily then orders the execution of the people for daring to think of rebellion. No one is spared. As Megaman walks away, he doesn't turn back at the cries of the people until he hears them cry out in unison, "We are the dead."

Musical Style and Influences

The Protomen have been described as "unequivocally unique" by Wired.^[12] Their music is heavily inspired by the in-game music of Mega Man, which they fuse with hard rock while never directly borrowing from the original score. The story told by their debut self-titled album is often described as equal parts Mega Man and George Orwell. In their live act, The Protomen have been known to occasionally play music from the Rocky series of movies. ^[13] Some of their shows have also included footage from Fritz Lang's Metropolis.

The Protomen list their own influences as "Makeup and Vanity Set, Jell-o Pudding Pops, Kavinsky, The Secret of the Ooze, Andrew Scott, Justice, Astin Martin Bulldogs and Billy Ocean."^[14]

Discography

Full length

The Protomen - 2005 - Independent release
Act II: The Father Of Death - September 9, 2009

Singles

"Father of Death" / "No Easy Way Out" - 2008 - Limited 7" Vinyl
"Light Up the Night"

Downloads

Beard's Going Nowhere
Breaking Out (Demo)
Due Vendetta (Fade To Phil)

Live Covers

Danzig - Mother
Pat Benetar - Invincible
Prince And The Revolution - I Would Die 4 U
Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone
Iron Maiden - The Trooper
Styx - Mr. Roboto
Mike and the Mechanics - Silent Running
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak
Robert Tepper - No Easy Way Out
Europe - The Final Countdown
Devo - Gates of Steel
The Looking Glass - Brandy
Pat Benatar - Shadows of the Night

References

Self Control- Laura Branigan

Notes

External links

[1] ttp://www.gamerhelp.com/article_viewer.cfm?article_id=121540

[2] ttp://www.therockvine.com/blogs/VIDEO_GAME_REVIEW_GAMING_ROCK_VOLUME_1_THE_PROTOMEN.html

[3] ttp://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/interviews/1223-Hope-Rides-Alone-The-Protomen

[4] ttp://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper867/news/2006/02/16/Entertainment/All-About.The.Protomen-1615497.shtml

[5] ttp://mixonline.com/mag/audio_nashville_skyline_86/

[6] ttp://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/interviews/1223-Hope-Rides-Alone-The-Protomen

[7] ttp://www.gamerhelp.com/article_viewer.cfm?article_id=121540

[8] ttp://www.theprotomen.com

[9] ttp://www.protomen.com//news/?p=227

[10] ttp://www.protomen.com//news/?p=54

[11] ttp://www.protomen.com/lightupthenight

[12] ttp://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/11/geekdad-hiptrax.html

[13] ttp://blogs.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/2008/11/the_spin_the_protomen_eureka_g.php

[14] ttp://www.gamerhelp.com/article_viewer.cfm?article_id=121560

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 ==Musical Style and Influences==
-The Protomen have been described as "unequivocally unique" by [[Wired magazine|Wired]].<ref>http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/11/geekdad-hiptrax.html</ref> Their music is heavily inspired by the in-game music of Mega Man, which they fuse with hard rock while never directly borrowing from the original score. The story told by their debut self-titled album is often described as equal parts Mega Man and [[George Orwell]]. In their live act, The Protomen have been known to occasionally play music from the [[Rocky]] series of movies. <ref>http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/2008/11/the_spin_the_protomen_eureka_g.php</ref> Some of their shows have also included footage from Fritz Lang's [[Metropolis|Metropolis (film)]].
+The Protomen have been described as "unequivocally unique" by [[Wired magazine|Wired]].<ref>http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/11/geekdad-hiptrax.html</ref> Their music is heavily inspired by the in-game music of Mega Man, which they fuse with hard rock while never directly borrowing from the original score. The story told by their debut self-titled album is often described as equal parts Mega Man and [[George Orwell]]. In their live act, The Protomen have been known to occasionally play music from the [[Rocky]] series of movies. <ref>http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/2008/11/the_spin_the_protomen_eureka_g.php</ref> Some of their shows have also included footage from Fritz Lang's [[Metropolis (film)|Metropolis]].
 The Protomen list their own influences as "[[Makeup and Vanity Set]], Jell-o Pudding Pops, [[Kavinsky]], [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze|The Secret of the Ooze]], Andrew Scott, Justice, [[Aston Martin Bulldog|Astin Martin Bulldogs]] and [[Billy Ocean]]."<ref>http://www.gamerhelp.com/article_viewer.cfm?article_id=121560</ref>