Powermad
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| Powermad | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| Genre(s) | Speed metal |
| Years active | 1984 - 1990 2007 - present |
| Label(s) | Reprise Records |
| Members | |
| Joel DuBay Jeff Litke Todd Haug Adrian Liberty |
|
Powermad is a Speed metal band from Minneapolis.
Contents |
[edit] History
Powermad has been called "An innovative and often forgotten speed metal band...who infused progressive metal styles and European styles into abstract American speed metal." The band's intricate riff formulations were heavily influenced by thrash metal acts like Metallica and Testament, but vocalist Joel Dubay's mixture of singing and high screams was more reminiscent of Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) or Eric A. Knudtsen (Flotsam and Jetsam).
The band formed in 1984 in Minneapolis and released an EP on Combat Records. They subsequently signed to Reprise Records and released The Madness Begins EP in 1988 and Absolute Power in 1989. Despite some critical acclaim and a US tour opening for Overkill after the release of Absolute Power, Powermad never achieved notable success. However, their albums are considered collector's items by collectors of thrash and speed metal music. Powermad has resumed touring as of 2007 and they plan to have a new CD out in the Summer of 2007.
On February 9. 2008 Powermad updated their blog on MySpace with a link to download The Madness Begins... and Absolute Power as unprotected mp3's.
[edit] Band members
[edit] Current members
- Joel DuBay - vocals & guitar (1984-)
- Todd Haug - guitar (1984-)
- Jeff Litke - bass (1984-)
- Dodd Lowder - drums (2007-)
[edit] Former members
- Bill Hill - guitar (1984-1987)
- Adrian Liberty - drums (1984-1990)
- John Macaluso - drums (John Macaluso played drums on the album Absolute Power, with the exception of Failsafe)
[edit] Discography
| Year | Title | Label | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Powermad | Combat Records | EP, Released as part of the Combat Boot Camp series that put bands' demos on vinyl |
| 1988 | The Madness Begins... | Reprise Records | EP, Recorded and mixed at Paisley Park Studios |
| 1989 | Absolute Power | Reprise Records | |
| 1999 | Combat Boot Camp | Century Media Records | Compilation CD split with demos from Have Mercy and Napalm |
[edit] Trivia
- Powermad appeared in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart, performing an instrumental part of Slaughterhouse in the rock concert scene where Sailor (Nicholas Cage), his girlfriend Lula (Laura Dern) and some other guests move in hilarious ways to the music. The same part of the song is played on radio during their road trip and this time they just make kick and hit moves. It was also used for the trailer.
- The opening sequence of the track Slaughterhouse was used as the jingle to "MTV At The Movies" in the late 1980s.
- Playing drums on most of the Absolute Power album was John Macaluso, who later played with Riot, TNT, Yngwie Malmsteen and Ark.
- One of the riffs from "Slaughterhouse" is the base sample of an Atari Teenage Riot song called "Speed."
- Guitarist Todd Haug is the head brewer at Surly Brewing Company.
