The Protomen Explain Why "Mega Man" Inspired Their Band's Existence

FUSE TV - The Protomen Explain Why "Mega Man" Inspired Their Band's Existence

Fuse's Dan Brown caught up Nintendo-inspired hard rockers the Protomen when they performed at PAX East, Boston's annual showcase of all things related to gaming culture.

Speaking with four out of the bands nine members, Dan learned why a bunch of guys from Murfreesboro, TN, were compelled to start recording rock operas based on their love for a 1987 Nintendo game.

"The first batch of Mega Man cartridge games that came out on NES had some of the toughest music backing up the action that we'd ever heard. It inspired us to make our own jams," singer Raul Panther tells Fuse. "We thought this is a very excellent good-and-evil story line that we wanted to expand upon and make it a little tougher, a little darker."

Although it sounds a touch similar to the thriving Chiptune music movement—songs made using revamped NES consoles—that Dan investigated a while ago, the Protomen say they identify more with classic rock bands.  

"It's more like if Styx had played too many Nintendo games when they were writing their records," explains synth-player Commander B. Hawkins. "And had a shitload less money."

For the full interview with the Protomen—including info about their upcoming album Act III—check out the video above.

Why This Show Exists?

8m

Why This Show Exists?

Find Your Inspiration

20m

Find Your Inspiration

The Blue Devils Study Their Mistakes

1m

The Blue Devils Study Their Mistakes

Lil Jon the Business Man

2m

Lil Jon the Business Man

The Man Behind Day DJ

1m

The Man Behind Day DJ

The Cadets and Their Spankin New Toys

43s

The Cadets and Their Spankin New Toys

The 'Transcendent' Ladies Reveal Their Dating Nightmares

1m

The 'Transcendent' Ladies Reveal Their Dating Nightmares

Bob Marley: Roots of the Man

42m

Bob Marley: Roots of the Man

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Fern Shares How Starting On Tumblr Turned Into Inspiring People

9m

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Fern Shares How Starting On Tumblr Turned Into Inspiring People

Ayo and Teo Talk Their Evolution While Cooking With Their Father

10m

Ayo and Teo Talk Their Evolution While Cooking With Their Father

Why Is He Blowing Me Kisses?

21m

Why Is He Blowing Me Kisses?

Osmin vs. Man Boobs

46m

Osmin vs. Man Boobs

Desus & Mero On Recognizing their Social Responsibility

10m

Desus & Mero On Recognizing their Social Responsibility

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

2m

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

What Does The Transcendent Star Look For In A Man: Dear Bambiana

1m

What Does The Transcendent Star Look For In A Man: Dear Bambiana

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 1: Hollow Man

1m

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 1: Hollow Man

Man, I’m Getting Married

23m

Man, I’m Getting Married

In Memory Of Mascot Man

18m

In Memory Of Mascot Man

Ed Sheeran: Man Plus Guitar

41m

Ed Sheeran: Man Plus Guitar

Kash Doll & Her Mom Recreate Their Great-Grandmothers Recipe

2m

Kash Doll & Her Mom Recreate Their Great-Grandmothers Recipe

Big Freedia & Adie Share Their Resilience Following Hurricane Katrina

3m

Big Freedia & Adie Share Their Resilience Following Hurricane Katrina

Jesus Trejo Gets People to Revel their Deepest Confessions

2m

Jesus Trejo Gets People to Revel their Deepest Confessions

3rdWrld Shares How Vulnerability Creates Their Unique Sound

9m

3rdWrld Shares How Vulnerability Creates Their Unique Sound

Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces

40m

Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces

Amara La Negra & KYLE Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

5m

Amara La Negra & KYLE Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

Javon Walton & Jason Genao Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

5m

Javon Walton & Jason Genao Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

Eva Longoria & Noah Cyrus Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

5m

Eva Longoria & Noah Cyrus Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

Tyler "Ninja" Blevins & Syd Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

6m

Tyler "Ninja" Blevins & Syd Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

2m

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

The River and the Wall

1h 45m

The River and the Wall

The Beatles: In the Life

1h 2m

The Beatles: In the Life

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

1m

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

The Best of The Best Clash

2m

The Best of The Best Clash

The Reunion

45m

The Reunion

The Decision

44m

The Decision

The Pilot

21m

The Pilot

The Hustle

20m

The Hustle

The Exchange

1h 27m

The Exchange

The Canvas

The Canvas

The FP

1h 20m

The FP

The Motorcycle

23m

The Motorcycle

The Citizen

1h 34m

The Citizen

The 212

The 212

The Feels

1h 21m

The Feels

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

1m

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

2m

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

Out With The Old, In With The New

20m

Out With The Old, In With The New

The 212 - Trailer

59s

The 212 - Trailer

The Winner Is…

44m

The Winner Is…

Rock the Bells

21m

Rock the Bells

The Right Girls

1h 22m

The Right Girls

The All-Americans

1h 36m

The All-Americans

The Third Strike

1h 3m

The Third Strike

Behind The Snow

22m

Behind The Snow

The Great Director

23m

The Great Director

Meet The Jets

48m

Meet The Jets

Into The Woods

21m

Into The Woods

Enter the Metaverse

21m

Enter the Metaverse

The Vest Guest

20m

The Vest Guest

Making The Retrograde

20m

Making The Retrograde

Pink: The Truth

57m

Pink: The Truth

Facing The Truth

20m

Facing The Truth

The Daphne Project

1h 7m

The Daphne Project

The Revolution Generation

1h 17m

The Revolution Generation

Between the Shades

1h 22m

Between the Shades

Crossed the Line

1h 30m

Crossed the Line

Rich The Kid

20m

Rich The Kid

The North Shore

22m

The North Shore

Surfing the Skies

22m

Surfing the Skies

Free The Robots

9m

Free The Robots

Create The Future

20m

Create The Future

Cassandro, The Exotico!

1h 15m

Cassandro, The Exotico!

The Sex Clinic

The Sex Clinic

Mind the Mints

21m

Mind the Mints

The Glow Up

20m

The Glow Up

The Read - Trailer

57s

The Read - Trailer

Who's the Boss?

24m

Who's the Boss?

Making the Cut

46m

Making the Cut

The Feels - Trailer

1m

The Feels - Trailer

Missy: The Icon

20m

Missy: The Icon

The Prison Within

1h 23m

The Prison Within

Meet The Family

21m

Meet The Family

The Grind Never Stops When for the Queen Diva

2m

The Grind Never Stops When for the Queen Diva

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock

1h 27m

End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock

Behind the Scenes: The Making of "Made From Scratch"

2m

Behind the Scenes: The Making of "Made From Scratch"

The Clash of the Corps Cast Plays Would You Rather?

3m

The Clash of the Corps Cast Plays Would You Rather?

Melissa: Meet the Cast

2m

Melissa: Meet the Cast

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor

The Third Strike - Trailer

1m

The Third Strike - Trailer

The Revolution Generation - Trailer

2m

The Revolution Generation - Trailer

The All-Americans - Trailer

2m

The All-Americans - Trailer

Art of The Azz

20m

Art of The Azz

All in the Family

20m

All in the Family

Beauty and the Bleach

56m

Beauty and the Bleach

Welcome to The 212

20m

Welcome to The 212

Out in the Ring

1h 43m

Out in the Ring

Eyes On The Prize

22m

Eyes On The Prize

Revenge Of The Nerfs

19m

Revenge Of The Nerfs