Powermad

Infobox musical artist
Name = Powermad
Background = group_or_band
Years_active = 1984 - 1990
2007 - present
Origin = USA Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Genre = Speed metal
Label = Reprise Records
Current_members = Joel DuBay Jeff Litke Todd Haug Adrian Liberty

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).

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History

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 are working on a new full-length CD to be released.

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.

Band members

Current members

*Joel DuBay - vocals & guitar (1984-)
*Todd Haug - guitar (1984-)
*Jeff Litke - bass (1984-)
*Dodd Lowder - drums (2007-)

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)

Discography

Other

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.

External links

* [http://www.powermadness.com Official homepage]
* [http://www.myspace.com/powermadband Official MySpace site]
* [http://www.powermadness.com/absolutemadness.zip Official download for Absolute Power and The Madness Begins...]