History Music / TheProtomen

* LastStand: "Hope Rides Alone" in Act I.

* LastStand: "Hope Rides Alone" in Act I.
** "The Fall" in Act II ends up being this for Joe.
* LightIsGood: The fact of Thomas's last name might tip people off that this trope comes into play. Meanwhile, DarkIsEvil, symbolizing Wily's control. Hence, the Act II song wherein Thomas and Joe plot the destruction of Wily's regime is called "Light up the Night".

[-[[caption-width-right:350:Left to Right: Sir Dr. Robert Bakker, Shock Magnum, Murphy Weller, K.I.L.R.O.Y., Commander B. Hawkins, Raul Panther III, Reanimator Lovejoy, and Gambler Kirkdouglas.]]-]

* ''Live In Nashville'' (2020, 2-disc CD of the 2011 Act 1 Anniversary show)

* ''[[CoverAlbum The Cover Up]]'' (Cover CD, Vinyl/Cassette Tape, 2015)

* ''Live In Nashville'' (2-disc CD of the 2011 Act 1 Anniversary show)

** "Don't turn your back on the City" are the arc words for Act II; to the point that when Wily's finally in unquestioned control, Emily's letter to Dr. Light causes the suicidal doctor to tell Joe that "When you see Emily, tell her to wait for me, 'cause I still have work to do."

* ArcWords: Several phrases appear in songs other than their own as a sort of foreshadowing. "Hope rides alone", "We are the dead", and "Even now there is hope for man" recur across Act I.

%%* MoodWhiplash: The Protomen's out of universe jokes and antics on tour provide some...

* StylisticSuck: According to [[WordOfGod Our Heroes]], Act I is ''supposed'' to sound destroyed because it's a ruined future. [[TropesAreNotBad This isn't to say Act I sucks, though]]. Since Act II is largely before things have gone bad, the sound is polished and cleaner.

* MoodWhiplash: The Protomen's out of universe jokes and antics on tour provide some... ''interesting'' transitions from the RockOperaPlot itself.

* RockOperaPlot: Both Acts are this.

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, and have gotten "Light up the Night" into ''VideoGame/RockBand 4''. They have also produced music for ''WebVideo/VideoGameHighSchool''.

* ConceptAlbum: ''The Cover Up'' album is the soundtrack to a movie made during the time skip in "How the World Fell Under Darkness." It fills 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.

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

[-[[caption-width-right:350:Left to Right: Sir. Dr. Robert Bakker, Shock Magnum, Murphy Weller, K.I.L.R.O.Y., Commander B. Hawkins, Raul Panther III, Reanimator Lovejoy, and Gambler Kirkdouglas.]]-]

[-[[caption-width-right:350:Left to Right: Sir. Dr. Robert Bakker, Shock Magnum, Murphy Weller, K.I.L.R.O.Y., Commander B. Hawkins, Raul Panther III, Reanimator Lovejoy, Gambler Kirkdouglas]]-]

[[quoteright:400:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/protomen_cropped.jpg]]
[-[[caption-width-right:400:Left to Right: Sir. Dr. Robert Bakker, Shock Magnum, Murphy Weller, K.I.L.R.O.Y., Commander B. Hawkins, Raul Panther III, Reanimator Lovejoy, Gambler Kirkdouglas]]-]

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

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 released 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, and have gotten "Light up the Night" into ''VideoGame/RockBand 4''. They have also produced music for ''WebVideo/VideoGameHighSchool''.

The main page of their website can be found [[http://www.protomen.com here.]]

** After the TimeSkip and Joe's introduction, the tracks in Act II start including a steady, heartbeat-style beat in the background [[spoiler: which eventually culminates in a flatline sound after his death.]]

* GenreShift: After the TimeSkip in Act II, the music changes from a more acoustic sound with the occasional electric guitar to full-on 80's synth-rock.

* {{Motifs}}: Joe really likes to sing about [[HotBlooded fire.]]

* {{Motifs}}: Fire and light are frequently referred to throughout Act 2.

Tropes relating to specific songs should be placed [[Recap/TheProtomen on the recap page]].