Tonight the Stars Revolt!
Encyclopedia
Tonight the Stars Revolt! is the second major label studio album
by Boston heavy metal
band Powerman 5000
. It was released on July 20, 1999. Having sold over one million copies, this would become the group's most successful release and featured such hits as "Tonight the Stars Revolt!" "Supernova Goes Pop," "Nobody's Real" and "When Worlds Collide
."
. Although it doesn't tell a specific story, the songs have a cohesive theme, primarily oriented around campy
science fiction
reminiscent of the 1950s, coupled with nihilistic, apocalyptic messages, and paranoid, cyberpunk
imagery.
Music critics and fans alike compare PM5K frontman Spider
's fixation on bygone science fiction with older brother Rob Zombie
's obsession with B-movie horror themes. Both seem to share an affection for campy entertainment that influence their musical output, though Spider has since abandoned science fiction as the inspiration for Powerman 5000's sound and image. The CD booklet of Tonight the Stars Revolt! is also composed with science fiction imagery and text, similar to Zombie's horror-themed Hellbilly Deluxe
, released the year prior.
Musically, the album bears similarity to Rob Zombie's industrial metal
sound with catchy riffs and electronic elements. However, it also includes a cover
of The Cars
' "Good Times Roll
" and "Watch the Sky for Me," a moody track with its entire melody taken from the track "One More Kiss, Dear" by Vangelis
for the Blade Runner
soundtrack.
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Boston heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Powerman 5000
Powerman 5000
Powerman 5000 is an American Metal band formed in 1991. Through the span of over two decades, the group has released several albums and gained their highest commercial success with 1999's science fiction themed Tonight the Stars Revolt!...
. It was released on July 20, 1999. Having sold over one million copies, this would become the group's most successful release and featured such hits as "Tonight the Stars Revolt!" "Supernova Goes Pop," "Nobody's Real" and "When Worlds Collide
When Worlds Collide (song)
Cassete single- Charts :...
."
Album information
Tonight the Stars Revolt! can be loosely considered a concept albumConcept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
. Although it doesn't tell a specific story, the songs have a cohesive theme, primarily oriented around campy
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
reminiscent of the 1950s, coupled with nihilistic, apocalyptic messages, and paranoid, cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
imagery.
Music critics and fans alike compare PM5K frontman Spider
Spider One
Spider One is a musician; the lead singer, founding and only consistent member of the Boston-based metal band Powerman 5000, host of FEARnet.com's "on the fly", and owner of Megatronic Records...
's fixation on bygone science fiction with older brother Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
's obsession with B-movie horror themes. Both seem to share an affection for campy entertainment that influence their musical output, though Spider has since abandoned science fiction as the inspiration for Powerman 5000's sound and image. The CD booklet of Tonight the Stars Revolt! is also composed with science fiction imagery and text, similar to Zombie's horror-themed Hellbilly Deluxe
Hellbilly Deluxe
* Danny Lohner - Additional Guitar on Meet the Creeper.* Tommy Lee - Drums on Meet the Creeper.-Chart positions:AlbumSingles...
, released the year prior.
Musically, the album bears similarity to Rob Zombie's industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
sound with catchy riffs and electronic elements. However, it also includes a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of The Cars
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
' "Good Times Roll
Good Times Roll
"Good Times Roll" is a song by American rock band The Cars. It is the first track from their 1978 debut album The Cars, produced by Roy Thomas Baker...
" and "Watch the Sky for Me," a moody track with its entire melody taken from the track "One More Kiss, Dear" by Vangelis
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
for the Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
soundtrack.
Reception
- CMJ (7/19/99, p. 3) - "...tighter than a barbed wire noose wrapped around your neck...[TONIGHT] relies on sci-fi imagery and memorable hooks that are sharp enough to catch more than a few big, heavy fish."
Media appearances
- "When Worlds Collide" featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, often abbreviated as THPS2, is the second game in the Tony Hawk's series. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision in 2000...
and Twisted MetalTwisted MetalTwisted Metal is a series of vehicular combat video games published by Sony Computer Entertainment, and developed by various companies during its tenure. The series began on the PlayStation in 1995 and currently features seven games, with an eighth installment currently in production...
. It also served as the theme song to WWE SmackDown! vs. RAWWWE SmackDown! vs. RAWWWE SmackDown! vs. Raw , is a professional wrestling video game released on the PlayStation 2 console by THQ and developed by Yuke's. It is part of the WWE SmackDown vs...
and featured on the Little NickyLittle NickyLittle Nicky is a 2000 American comedy film directed by Steven Brill. It stars Adam Sandler as Nicky, one of Satan's three sons.-Plot:The story revolves around a struggle to determine which of Satan's three sons will succeed their father as ruler of Hell...
soundtrack, Free Air, Vol. 2, and MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
The Return of the Rock. - "Nobody's Real" featured on the End of DaysEnd of DaysEnd of Days is a 1999 American action horror thriller film directed by Peter Hyams starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robin Tunney, Rod Steiger, Kevin Pollak, CCH Pounder, Udo Kier and Gabriel Byrne as Satan...
soundtrack, Gravity Games 2000: Summer Sounds, Vol. 1, and Naked 4-Play as a live rendition. - "The Son of X-51" (Remix) featured exclusively on the Bride of ChuckyBride of ChuckyBride of Chucky is a 1998 American comedy horror film directed by Chinese director Ronny Yu. It is the fourth entry in the Child's Play series. The film stars Jennifer Tilly and Brad Dourif...
soundtrack - "Supernova Goes Pop" featured on the Universal Soldier: The ReturnUniversal Soldier: The ReturnUniversal Soldier: The Return is a 1999 American science fiction action film directed by Mic Rodgers and starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, Michael Jai White, professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, Heidi Schanz, Kiana Tom and Xander Berkeley as Doctor Dylan Cotner...
soundtrack and Gran Turismo 3 . - "Tonight the Stars Revolt!" featured on the Blade IIBlade IIBlade II is a 2002 superhero vampire film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Blade. It is the sequel of the Blade film series. It was written by David S. Goyer, who also wrote the previous film...
soundtrack.
Singles
- "When Worlds Collide"
- "Nobody's Real"
- "Supernova Goes Pop"
- "Tonight The Stars Revolt"
Track listing
- "An Eye Is Upon You" (feat. Malachi ThroneMalachi ThroneMalachi Throne is an American actor, most noted for his roles on Star Trek and It Takes a Thief.Throne was born in New York City...
) – 0:51 - "Supernova Goes Pop" – 3:14
- "When Worlds CollideWhen Worlds Collide (song)Cassete single- Charts :...
" – 2:58 - "Nobody's Real" – 2:54
- "System 11:11" – 0:48
- "Tonight the Stars Revolt!" – 2:42
- "Automatic" – 3:22
- "The Son of X-51Machine ManMachine Man is a fictional character, an android superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe. The character was created by Jack Kirby for 2001: A Space Odyssey #8 , a comic written and drawn by Kirby featuring concepts based on the eponymous Stanley Kubrick film and Arthur C. Clarke novel...
" – 2:58 - "Operate, Annihilate" – 3:48
- "Blast Off to Nowhere" (feat. Rob ZombieRob ZombieRob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
) – 3:45 - "They Know Who You Are" – 2:33
- "Good Times Roll" (feat. DJ LethalDJ LethalLeor Dimant , better known as DJ Lethal, is a turntablist and producer and member of the bands Limp Bizkit, House of Pain and La Coka Nostra.-Early life:Leor Dimant was born in Riga, Latvia, when this country was still part of the Soviet Union...
) – 3:59 (The CarsThe CarsThe Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
Cover) - "Watch the Sky for Me" (feat. Ginger FishGinger FishKenneth Robert Wilson , better known by his stage name Ginger Fish, is an American drummer primarily known for playing drums for Marilyn Manson 1995-2011...
& Malachi ThroneMalachi ThroneMalachi Throne is an American actor, most noted for his roles on Star Trek and It Takes a Thief.Throne was born in New York City...
) – 5:19- "The World of The Dead" found at 4:20
Credits
- Adam 12 - Guitar
- Al 3 - Drums
- Chapman BaehlerChapman BaehlerChapman Baehler is a photographer and director primarily working with musicians.His photographs have been featured on more than 160 albums since the mid-1990s, covering artists including Brooks & Dunn , Iggy Pop , Nine Inch Nails, Kelly Clarkson, Stone Temple Pilots, John Mayer, Fishbone,...
- Photography - Tom Baker - Mastering
- Joe Barresi - Engineer
- Dorian 27 - Bass
- Ginger FishGinger FishKenneth Robert Wilson , better known by his stage name Ginger Fish, is an American drummer primarily known for playing drums for Marilyn Manson 1995-2011...
- Piano - Frank Gryner - Mixing
- Scott HumphreyScott HumphreyScott Humphrey is a Canadian record producer and mix engineer. He began his music career as a keyboard player and programmer. He is best known for his work with multiplatinum recording artist Rob Zombie and has co-written, co-produced and mixed all of his records up until 2007's Zombie Live...
- Programming, Mixing - Sylvia Massy - Producer, Engineer
- Marc LaCorte - Programming
- DJ LethalDJ LethalLeor Dimant , better known as DJ Lethal, is a turntablist and producer and member of the bands Limp Bizkit, House of Pain and La Coka Nostra.-Early life:Leor Dimant was born in Riga, Latvia, when this country was still part of the Soviet Union...
- Turntables - Nika - Art Direction, Design
- Spider OneSpider OneSpider One is a musician; the lead singer, founding and only consistent member of the Boston-based metal band Powerman 5000, host of FEARnet.com's "on the fly", and owner of Megatronic Records...
- Vocals, Art Direction, Design - M.33Mike TempestaMike Tempesta is a rock guitarist. He also goes by the moniker "M.33". He was a member of Human Waste Project, and later a member of Powerman 5000 until his departure in 2005. He performed on the debut album of Scum of the Earth, once again with his brother John Tempesta, and has since left the...
- Guitar - Malachi ThroneMalachi ThroneMalachi Throne is an American actor, most noted for his roles on Star Trek and It Takes a Thief.Throne was born in New York City...
- Narrator - Ulrich WildUlrich WildUlrich Wild is an American record producer, engineer and mixer specializing in the rock and metal genres. Born and raised in Switzerland, Ulrich is now a naturalized citizen living in Los Angeles...
- Producer, Mixing - Rob ZombieRob ZombieRob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
- Vocals (track 10) - Ron HandlerRon HandlerRonald Craig Handler is a music publisher, A & R executive and artist manager, who lives in Los Angeles. He has worked for influential companies such as Arista Music Publishing, BMG, EMI, Dreamworks and Interscope/Geffen. During his career, he has signed numerous artists such as Rhett Lawrence ,...
- A&R
Chart positions
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Billboard 200 | 29 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "When Worlds Collide" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 16 |
| Modern Rock Tracks | 18 | ||
| 2000 | "Nobody's Real" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 18 |
| Modern Rock Tracks | 23 |