History Music / TheProtomen

The first album, a self-titled release also known as ''Act I'' or ''Hope Rides Alone'', was self-published in 2005, and tells the story of how Protoman and Megaman were created to fight against Dr. Wily's regime and the very different paths their lives took. It was followed in September 2009 by ''Act II: The Father of Death'', a prequel which tells the story of how Dr. Light and Wily created artificial intelligence, and how it all went so very wrong. ''Act III'' takes place sometime after ''Act I'' and is to be released an an unspecified date, likely 2015. A [[http://www.twitch.tv/pax/b/330672275 live]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWGZgbaEEQ preview]] of an ''Act III'' track was heard at PAX 2012, and a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLdi6DnpzQI second song was previewed]] at [=MAGfest=] 2015.

* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Wily, across both acts.

* AllThereInTheScript: Megaman is never referred to by name in the lyrics of Act I. In Act II, Dr. Light is only referred to in the lyrics as "Tom" and "Thomas", and Joe is only named after he dies.

* DarkestHour: November of 2007 was a dark time for the Protomen. First they were attacked by Killer Robots, forced to barricade inside their bus to survive. Then they were attacked by [[Film/BackToTheFuture the Libyan Death Squad]]; only the fury of the warriors of Greenville saved them. Finally, after crashing their plane in a ShoutOut to ''Film/TopGun'', the band lost their beards. Also, Doug Fetterman fell around this time.

* {{Deconstruction}}: Every single aspect.

* NonActionBigBad: Dr. Wily. It's {{lampshaded}} in Act I:

The Protomen are a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters very large]] indie progressive rock band from Nashville, [=TN=], whose musical catalogue is based around a RockOpera trilogy inspired by ''[[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Mega Man]]''. ''[[InNameOnly Very loosely]]'' based off of the mythology of the classic ''Mega Man'' games, the first three in particular, it shows an Orwellian {{Dystopia}} that takes the idealistic side of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism and beats it to death with its own corpse.

It is a {{Deconstruction}} of HoldingOutForAHero, and a general examination of the psychology behind fascism.

** Despite this, Act II ends on a high note compared to Act I. The final act of the album [[spoiler: details Joe's rebellion and attack on Wily's control tower. And following his death]], Thomas Light reads [[spoiler: the dead]] Emily's letter and realizes "This city needs [him] now," he then begins building Protoman.
*** Also, Act II ends on a high note if you consider that [[spoiler: Protoman's belief that all men are cowards who would rather die to fight back was proven wrong, not so long ago. There was still at least one man that had the courage to fight back.]]

** The Act II cover art is based on the poster for Film/StreetsOfFire, and the woman who sang on the 7" vinyl single of ''Father of Death'' was credited as "Ellen Aim."

* The Replicant: Trumpet, backing vocals

An [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/788868065/the-official-protomen-documentary official documentary]] is in production, as is an official music video for Light Up the Night.

-->'''-- Protoman, ''The Stand (Man or Machine)'''''

-->'''-- Dr. Light (Dr. Wily) ''The Good Doctor'''''

Additionally, the Protomen composed the score for ''Terminator the Second'', a theatrical piece of found art that reconstructs the plot of ''Franchise/{{Terminator}} 2'' using dialogue from the works of Creator/WilliamShakespeare. They appeared in it as the SWAT Team that takes down Dyson. They have also produced music for WebVideo/VideoGameHighSchool.

!!Tropes Used All Throughout Both Albums:

In 2012 they released their first live disc, a [[{{Music/Queen}} Queen]] [[CoverAlbum tribute]], and an in-universe album of 70s and 80s covers called ''The Cover Up'' was released in early 2015. ''Act I'' has also received a remastered rerelease on vinyl, and there are plans for an ''Act II'' vinyl release. Makeup and Vanity Set's 8-bit remix of ''Act I'' is getting a release on vinyl. The Protomen also held an April 2012 music video shoot for ''Act II'' track "Light Up the Night" and will release a vinyl of songs from Act III in August 2015.

The Protomen have appeared in a ZombieApocalypse webcomic, Webcomic/DeadOfSummer. Several members have other bands, including Music/CheerUpCharlieDaniels (Turbo Lover, occasionally Panther, the Gambler, and Sir Bakker in live shows), Music/AdamAndTheCouchPotatoes (Turbo Lover, with the Gambler appearing in a music video), and The Ascent Of Everest (Sir Bakker). Music/MakeupAndVanitySet is affiliated with them, having done an 8-bit chiptunes mix of ''Act I'', with plans to make one of ''Act II''. They are also affiliated with Music/{{Brentalfloss}}, Music/TheMegas, and Music/TenaciousD.

* AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent: The band took a break from their rock opera to perform at Whiskerino, creating an [[http://www.protomen.com/BeardsGoingNowhere/ epic song about beards]].
** It actually manages to subvert the trope as well as playing it straight: It's not a part of the canon, but reading the lyrics give the impression that it's written from the view of a pre-Act II Light. Beard's Going Nowhere could also be the ''happy'' ending, where Light and Emily escaped the ruined City.

* Sir Robert Bakker: Lead guitar, violin
* Shock Magnum: Guitar

* Raul Panther: Lead vocals (Mega Man, Protoman, Dr. Light, Joe), keyboards, keytar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, press release emails

* ''This City Made Us Vinyl EP'' (2015)

* Ringo Segundo: Guitar, backing vocals, vocals (Under Pressure)

* Turbo Lover: Featured vocals (Dr. Wily), bass drum, electric guitar, bass guitar

In 2012 they released their first live disc, a [[{{Music/Queen}} Queen]] [[CoverAlbum tribute]], and an in-universe album of 70s and 80s covers called ''The Cover Up'' was released in early 2015. ''Act I'' has also received a remastered rerelease on vinyl, and there are plans for an ''Act II'' vinyl release. Makeup and Vanity Set's 8-bit remix of ''Act I'' is getting a release on vinyl. The Protomen also held an April 2012 music video shoot for ''Act II'' track "Light Up the Night".

* UtimateUniverse: Alternate Character Interpretations? Check. Expansion on a classic storyline? Check. Darker and edgier, with a bigger and more brooding tone? Check. Yeah, it's pretty much Ultimate Mega Man as a rock opera.

The first album, a self-titled release also known as ''Act I'' or ''Hope Rides Alone'', was self-published in 2005, and tells the story of how Protoman and Megaman were created to fight against Dr. Wily's regime and the very different paths their lives took. It was followed in September 2009 by ''Act II: The Father of Death'', a prequel which tells the story of how Dr. Light and Wily created artificial intelligence, and how it all went so very wrong. ''Act III'' takes place sometime after ''Act I'' and is to be released an an unspecified date, likely 2015. A [[http://www.twitch.tv/pax/b/330672275 live]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWGZgbaEEQ preview]] of an ''Act III'' track was heard at PAX 2012, and a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLdi6DnpzQI second song was previewed]] at [=MAGfest=] 2015.

The first album, a self-titled release also known as ''Act I'' or ''Hope Rides Alone'', was self-published in 2005, and tells the story of how Protoman and Megaman were created to fight against Dr. Wily's regime and the very different paths their lives took. It was followed in September 2009 by ''Act II: The Father of Death'', a prequel which tells the story of how Dr. Light and Wily created artificial intelligence, and how it all went so very wrong. ''Act III'' takes place sometime after ''Act I'' and is to be released an an unspecified date. A [[http://www.twitch.tv/pax/b/330672275 live]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWGZgbaEEQ preview]] of an ''Act III'' track was heard at PAX 2012, and a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLdi6DnpzQI second song was previewed]] at [=MAGfest=] 2015.

The group is also recording an album of '70s-'80s New Wave covers, likely to be released before ''Act III'', and in 2012 released their first live disc, a [[{{Music/Queen}} Queen]] [[CoverAlbum tribute]]. ''Act I'' has also received a remastered rerelease on vinyl, and there are plans for an ''Act II'' vinyl release. Makeup and Vanity Set's 8-bit remix of ''Act I'' is getting a release on vinyl. The Protomen also held an April 2012 music video shoot for ''Act II'' track "Light Up the Night".

* Kingsley Ivan Lamarck Rodrigo Othello Youngblood (K.I.L.R.O.Y.) : Master of Ceremonies, armorer, [[DropTheHammer sledgehammer percussion]], vocals (Protoman - Sons of Fate live), tiny guitar, extremely exhuberant maracas.

* K.I.L.R.O.Y.: Master of Ceremonies, armorer, [[DropTheHammer sledgehammer percussion]], vocals (Protoman - Sons of Fate live), tiny guitar, extremely exhuberant maracas.

The first album, a self-titled release also known as ''Act I'' or ''Hope Rides Alone'', was self-published in 2005, and tells the story of how Protoman and Megaman were created to fight against Dr. Wily's regime and the very different paths their lives took. It was followed in September 2009 by ''Act II: The Father of Death'', a prequel which tells the story of how Dr. Light and Wily created artificial intelligence, and how it all went so very wrong. ''Act III'' takes place sometime after ''Act I'' and is to be released an an unspecified date. A [[http://www.twitch.tv/pax/b/330672275 live]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWGZgbaEEQ preview]] of an ''Act III'' track was heard at PAX 2012, and a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLdi6DnpzQI second song was previewed]] at [=MAGfest=] 13.

The first album, a self-titled release also known as ''Act I'' or ''Hope Rides Alone'', was self-published in 2005, and tells the story of how Protoman and Megaman were created to fight against Dr. Wily's regime and the very different paths their lives took. It was followed in September 2009 by ''Act II: The Father of Death'', a prequel which tells the story of how Dr. Light and Wily created artificial intelligence, and how it all went so very wrong. ''Act III'' takes place sometime after ''Act I'' and is to be released an an unspecified date. A [[http://www.twitch.tv/pax/b/330672275 live]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWGZgbaEEQ preview]] of an ''Act III'' track was heard at PAX 2012.

* ConceptAlbum: ''The Cover Up'' album is the soundtrack to a movie made during the time skip in "How the World Fell Under Darkness." It fill in some of the blanks about the time between Light’s exile and "Breaking Out." The vinyl will contain extra artwork and liner notes, which will explain how things are connected.

* ConceptAlbum: ''The Cover Up'' album consists of the songs being listened to on the radio, interlaced by the story of Dr. Light in between "The Hounds" and "The State Vs. Thomas Light." He's on the run from Wily and receives help from a reporter [[spoiler:who is one of Wily's moles]].

* ConceptAlbum: ''The Cover Up'' album consists of the songs being listened to on the radio by a man (possibly Dr. Light) on the run from the law, aided by a reporter.

* ConceptAlbum: ''The Cover Up'' album consists of the songs being listened to on the radio by a man (possibly Dr. Light) on the run from the law, with assitance from an unnamed girl who may be Roll.