If you are a fan of industrial metal, nu metal, or hard rock, you might have heard of Powerman 5000 and Rob Zombie, two of the most popular bands in these genres. But did you know that they are more than just musical peers? They are actually brothers!
Who is Powerman 5000?
Powerman 5000 is an American rock band formed in 1991 by Spider One, the stage name of Michael David Cummings. The band has released ten albums, gaining its highest level of commercial success with 1999’s Tonight the Stars Revolt!, which reached number 29 on the Billboard 200 while spawning the singles “When Worlds Collide” and “Nobody’s Real”
The band’s style is influenced by sci-fi, horror, and B-movie themes, as well as electronic, punk, and rap elements. Some of their notable songs include “Tokyo Vigilante #1”, “Organizized”, “Bombshell”, “Free”, “Super Villain”, and “How to Be a Human”
Powerman 5000 has gone through several lineup changes over the years, with Spider One being the only consistent member. The current lineup consists of Spider One on vocals, Murv3 on bass, DJ Rattan on drums, and Taylor Haycraft on guitar
Who is Rob Zombie?
Rob Zombie is the stage name of Robert Bartleh Cummings, the older brother of Spider One. He is a musician, filmmaker, and author who rose to fame as the founder and lead singer of the metal band White Zombie in the late 1980s
White Zombie released four albums, with their breakthrough being 1992’s La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1, which featured the hit song “Thunder Kiss ’65”. The band’s final album was 1995’s Astro-Creep: 2000, which included the singles “More Human than Human” and “Super-Charger Heaven”
In 1998, Rob Zombie embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut album Hellbilly Deluxe, which sold over three million copies in the US and spawned the hits “Dragula”, “Living Dead Girl”, and “Superbeast”. He has since released six more solo albums, with his latest being 2020’s The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy
Rob Zombie is also known for his horror films, such as House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, Halloween, The Lords of Salem, and 3 from Hell. He has also written comic books, such as The Nail and Spookshow International
Rob Zombie and Spider One are biological brothers who share the same parents: Louise and Robert Cummings. They were born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, with Rob being four years older than Spider
Contrary to popular belief, they did not have a sibling rivalry or a dysfunctional family. Spider One said in an interview that they grew up in a normal household with supportive parents who encouraged their artistic pursuits. He also said that he and Rob were always close and never competed with each other musically
They both developed a passion for music at an early age, influenced by artists such as Alice Cooper, Kiss, Black Sabbath, Ramones, and Sex Pistols. They also shared a love for horror movies and comic books. They both moved to New York City in the late 1980s to pursue their musical careers, with Rob forming White Zombie and Spider forming Powerman 5000
They have collaborated on several occasions over the years, such as touring together in 1997 and 2022, appearing on each other’s albums (Rob Zombie on Powerman 5000’s Mega!! Kung Fu Radio and Spider One on Rob Zombie’s Hellbilly Deluxe), and directing music videos for each other (Spider One for Rob Zombie’s “American Witch” and Rob Zombie for Powerman 5000’s “Show Me What You’ve Got”).
They have also expressed mutual respect and admiration for each other’s work. Rob Zombie said in an interview that he is proud of his brother’s success and that he thinks Powerman 5000 is a great band. Spider One said in another interview that he considers Rob Zombie to be one of his biggest influences and that he is always inspired by his creativity
Conclusion
Powerman 5000 and Rob Zombie are not only two of the most influential rock bands in their genres, but they are also brothers who share a strong bond and a common vision. They are proof that family and music can go hand in hand, and that there is no limit to what they can achieve
