Powerman 5000

About Powerman 5000

Powerman 5000 started in Boston in 1991, which means they've been at this longer than you might think. Spider One (real name Michael Cummings, and yes, brother of Rob Zombie) formed the band during the early 90s industrial rock wave, though it took them most of the decade to figure out exactly what they wanted to sound like.

Their early work was heavier on the industrial side, all samples and drum machines mixed with metal guitars. The first couple albums went largely unnoticed outside of regional club circuits. Then they signed to DreamWorks Records and everything changed with "Tonight the Stars Revolt!" in 1999. The album went platinum mostly on the strength of "When Worlds Collide," a song that somehow managed to be everywhere that year without overstaying its welcome. MTV played the video constantly, and the track ended up on everything from video game soundtracks to sports broadcasts. It was sci-fi themed industrial metal that hit right when nu-metal was dominating, but Powerman 5000 always seemed like they were doing their own thing adjacent to that scene rather than fully in it.

The follow-up should have been "Anyone for Doomsday" in 2001, but the album got shelved right before release. The band and label couldn't agree on direction, and the whole thing collapsed. Some tracks leaked over the years, and fans still debate what could have been. What actually came out was "Transform" in 2003, a notably different album that leaned into more of a punk-rock sound and away from the electronics. Critics were mixed, fans were confused, and the momentum from their breakthrough was basically gone.

Spider One rebuilt the lineup several times after that. Members came and went, but the band kept releasing albums every few years with varying degrees of electronic influence. "Destroy What You Enjoy" in 2006 went back toward the industrial sound. "Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere" in 2009 kept that going. They became the kind of band that tours consistently, plays the nostalgia festival circuit, and maintains a dedicated following without much mainstream attention.

Recent years have seen them settle into a comfortable pattern. "New Wave" in 2017 and "The Noble Rot" in 2020 both acknowledged their late-90s sound while trying different approaches. They're self-aware about their place in music history at this point. Spider One has been open about the weird position of being known for one song from two decades ago while continuing to make new music that most people will never hear.

They still tour regularly, often with other bands from that late-90s alternative metal era. The live show apparently delivers what fans want, which is mostly "When Worlds Collide" and whatever else Spider One feels like playing that night.

Their shows are straightforward rock shows where people actually want to sing along. The crowd tends to be there for the hooks and the heavy parts in equal measure. Spider One's got charisma on stage without needing to do much—just plays the songs well and doesn't overthink it.

Known for Superman, Businessmen, Action, When Worlds Collide, Grab My Amp

See Powerman 5000 Live