The six "performers" in the band are all robots made from recycled parts, playing real electric and acoustic instruments and controlled via a MIDI sequencer.[1] The project initially debuted in 2013 with four robots (a guitarist, bassist, drummer and a small drummer's "assistant"), performing covers of famous rock songs. Two more robots (a vocalist and rhythm guitarist) were added to the group in 2017.In 2023, the entire band was seen in the movieCircus Maximus by rapper and producer Travis Scott. They would assist him while he would perform the song "Sirens" inside the stadium ofCircus Maximus in Rome.
Stickboy (drummer), and Junior, operating thehi-hatFingers (lead guitarist) andBones (bassist) performing in 2013
The first four robots (Stickboy,Junior,Fingers andBones) were built between 2007 and 2012 and their first recorded performance was held at theBülent Ceylan Show on the GermanRTL television channel in March 2012.[2][3] Their first performance in front of a live audience was at the 2013Big Day Out festival inAustralia.[4][5] The band gained initial notoriety onYouTube throughout 2013, uploading videos of classic rock covers from bands such asMotörhead,AC/DC,Pantera and theRamones.[6][7][8]
In early 2013, Barnes recruitedJohn Wright of theCanadian punk bandNoMeansNo andThe Hanson Brothers as a songwriter and "musical director" for the group.[9][10] Three songs from this collaboration were released via the band's YouTube page: the original songs "Compressorhead",[11] "Speed Walking Lady"[12] and an instrumental cover of the Hanson Brothers' song "My Girlfriend is a Robot".[13]
In November 2015, the team behind the band started a crowdsourcing campaign on the platformKickstarter[14] to raise US$290,000 to build a robotic "singer".[15][16][17]
In 2017, the band added a vocalist robot,Mega-Wattson (voiced by John Wright), andHellgå Tarr, a second guitarist, to the band. NoMeansNo members also perform as multi-instrumentalists on Compressorhead's debut album,Party Machine.[18][19]
Mega-Wattson - Lead singer; voiced byJohn Wright. It was built in 2017.[18]
Fingers - Lead guitarist; It is equipped with two hands, with a total of 78 fingers. It was built in 2009.[20]
Hellgå Tarr - Rhythm guitarist and backup singer; It was built in 2017.[19]
Bones - Bassist; It has two hands, each with four individual fingers, and is mounted on a platform equipped with caterpillar tracks that allows it to move around onstage. It was built in 2012.[20]
Stickboy - Drummer; It has four arms to which the sticks are secured, and two legs that play thekick drum. Its head has several metal protrusions that resemble aMohawk hairstyle. It was built in 2007.[20]
Junior - An "assistant" to the drummer that operates thehi-hat cymbal; It was built in 2007.[20]
