The Medic Droid
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Medic Droid
| background = group_or_band
| image = The Medic Droid live.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| origin = Phoenix, Arizona, United States
| genre = Synthpop, dance-pop, alternative dance
| years_active = 2003–2008, 2012–2013, 2015–2016
| label = Modern Art Records
Epic Records
| past_members = Chris Donathon
Hector Bagnod
Johnny Chavez
Greg Rudawski
}}
The Medic Droid was an American synthpop band from Phoenix, Arizona.
History
= Beginnings and ''Whats Your Medium'' (2003–2008) =
The Medic Droid was started in 2005 with Chris Donathon, Hector Bagnod and Johnny Chavez (Droid).{{cite web|title=TMD first video update...|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv9nn8_BEHs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/kv9nn8_BEHs |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|work=Google|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 11, 2016|date=September 30, 2007}}{{cbignore}} Bagnod and Donathon first met in 2003, but Donathon moved away from the city after they met, only to return (and begin the band) a few years later. The group gained a strong initial following through the social networking site Myspace; by mid-2008 the song "Fer Sure" had logged almost 2 million plays on the site{{cite web|last=Escudero|first=Nicki|title=5/24: The Medic Droid|url=http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/2008/05/20/20080520medic.html|work=The Arizona Republic|accessdate=May 24, 2008|date=May 20, 2008}} and the group had accumulated over 100,000 friends there.{{cite web|last=Lymangrover|first=Jason|title=Artist Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1059100|tab=biography|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|accessdate=June 2, 2016}} Soon they were noticed by manager Avery Andon{{cite web|title=The Medic Droid j0hnny's new band is R0BOTS w/ S3RL (first interview @ manager Avery Andon house)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9euiGmLGefM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/9euiGmLGefM |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|work=Google|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=May 11, 2016|date=September 15, 2007}}{{cbignore}} who brought the band to New York where they played their first live show opening for Enter Shikari at The Bowery Ballroom{{cite web|title=Enter Shikari The Bowery Ballroom, NYC, 9.11.07: Sentimentalist Magazine Review|url=http://www.sentimentalistmag.com/2007/09/19/enter-shikari-the-bowery-ballroom-nyc-91107-sentimentalist-magazine-review/|work=Sentimentalist Magazine|accessdate=May 11, 2016|date=September 19, 2007|archive-date=March 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314091402/http://www.sentimentalistmag.com/2007/09/19/enter-shikari-the-bowery-ballroom-nyc-91107-sentimentalist-magazine-review/|url-status=live}} and caught the eye of A&R's from Epic Records who would later go on to sign the band. The group eventually made two new songs "Keeping Up with the Joneses" and "FSCENE8", enlisting the help of Australian DJ S3RL to remix these songs. In late 2007, Johnny Droid left the band due to issues with the other members and created his own solo band called J0hnny.{{cite web|title=I know there's...|url=https://www.facebook.com/j0hnnymusic/posts/172449332804643|publisher=J0HNNY on Facebook|accessdate=May 10, 2016|date=March 21, 2011}} In 2011, he announced he was making a band with S3RL called R0bots.{{cite web|title=d=_Ob R0BOTS is j0hnny|url=https://www.facebook.com/r0bots/posts/206636369365737|publisher=R0BOTS on Facebook|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=March 28, 2011}}
They later hired Greg Rudawski as drummer for live shows and were signed to Modern Art Records, a local Phoenix indie label distributed by Epic Records. They wrote and recorded their debut album Whats Your Medium and it was released June 10, 2008. Whats Your Medium reached no. 33 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.{{cite web|title=Medic Droid – Chart history|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/medic-droid/chart-history/heatseekers-albums|work=Billboard|accessdate=June 2, 2016|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121100925/https://www.billboard.com/artist/medic-droid/chart-history/heatseekers-albums/|url-status=live}}
The band was heavily inspired by 1980s popular culture, their name referencing a character from the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back,{{cite web|last=Leatherman|first=Benjamin|title=The Medic Droid's Electro Power-Pop and Ambisextrous Antics are Driving Kids Wild Nationwide|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/the-medic-droids-electro-power-pop-and-ambisextrous-antics-are-driving-kids-wild-nationwide-6430623|work=Phoenix New Times|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=December 11, 2008|archive-date=May 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530121855/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/the-medic-droids-electro-power-pop-and-ambisextrous-antics-are-driving-kids-wild-nationwide-6430623|url-status=live}} and recording a version of the Madonna anthem "Into the Groove".{{cite web|last=D'Andrea|first=Niki|title=Don't Avoid the Droid|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/calendar/dont-avoid-the-droid-6434660|work=Phoenix New Times|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=December 11, 2008|archive-date=August 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805032348/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/calendar/dont-avoid-the-droid-6434660|url-status=live}}
= Touring and break-up (2008) =
The Medic Droid went on a "Spring Tour" with A Cursive Memory in Spring 2008 across the U.S.. A Cursive Memory was the only band to go to every show with them. They co-headlined for every date. Breathe Carolina, The White Tie Affair, and The Morning Of joined the tour for select dates, but did not go for the whole tour.
Kill Hannah's Hope for the Hopeless U.S. Tour 2008 was presented by Hot Topic. Kill Hannah was the headliner and had the tour for their recently released album of b-sides and rarities. The Medic Droid, Innerpartysystem, and The White Tie Affair joined them as special guests for the whole tour. The tour began in July, 2008 and ended August, 2008.
The Blackout's headlining tour, "Sleep All Day, Party All Night", toured in Japan, Europe, and the UK. The Medic Droid was on the road for the UK dates in October. From First to Last and We Are the Ocean also toured with them.
The Medic Droid headlined their final tour with supporting acts Hyper Crush and Chronic Future in November and December 2008.{{cite web|title=The Medic Droid, Chronic Future, and Hyper Crush|url=http://chicago.decider.com/events/medic-droid-chronic-future-and-hyper-crush,21163/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428024345/http://chicago.decider.com/events/medic-droid-chronic-future-and-hyper-crush,21163/|publisher=Chicago Decider|accessdate=April 19, 2009|archivedate=April 28, 2009}} It wasn't planned as their final tour, but the group's members showed strain from constant touring, and on December 16, 2008, both Bagnod and Donathon posted notice on their MySpace pages that the band had dissolved.{{cite web|last=Leatherman|first=Benjamin|title=The Medic Droid Breaks Up|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/the-medic-droid-breaks-up-6615511|work=Phoenix New Times|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=December 17, 2008|archive-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331122333/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/the-medic-droid-breaks-up-6615511|url-status=live}}
= Reunion (2012–13) =
On February 8, 2012, Chris Donathon created a Facebook page for the band. Then the next day, on February 9, he posted, "Hey every one thanks for all the likes. I'm currently working on putting together my new live set as well as some new tracks. I'm super excited to get back out on the road again and playing some shows but i need all your guys and girls help to spread the word."{{cite web|title=Hey every one...|url=https://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial/posts/249742865105994|publisher=The Medic Droid on Facebook|accessdate=February 24, 2012|date=February 9, 2012}} On February 19, 2012, AbsolutePunk posted a blog stating that the band had reunited.{{cite web|last=Wagner|first=Christian|title=Small Band Round-Up (02/19/12)|url=http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?s=1b342c76627b2378218c283d48a55c96&t=2635812|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120701102030/http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?s=1b342c76627b2378218c283d48a55c96&t=2635812|publisher=AbsolutePunk|accessdate=June 2, 2016
|archivedate=July 1, 2012|date=February 19, 2012}}
On July 25, 2012 Donathon announced he would be selling limited edition T-shirts to help fund a new EP.{{cite web|title=Hey what’s up you guys|url=https://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial/posts/136814476458417|publisher=The Medic Droid on Facebook|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=July 25, 2012}} On November 10, 2012 the band announced that they would be returning to the stage at the "South by So What?!" festival on March 16, 2013.{{cite web|title=Exciting news|url=https://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial/posts/340802592685618|publisher=The Medic Droid on Facebook|accessdate=May 10, 2016|date=November 10, 2012}}
=Second reunion (2015–2016)=
On December 22, 2015, The Medic Droid added a new picture to their Facebook along with, "THE MEDIC DROID 2016." The following day they announced their first show back opening for Austin Jones on the Phoenix, Arizona date of his "We'll Fall Together Tour" on January 21, 2016 at Joe's Grotto. On May 19, 2016, The Medic Droid released their first song in 8 years titled "Closer".{{cite web|title=CLOSER|url=https://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial/posts/1027675817312691|publisher=The Medic Droid on Facebook|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=May 19, 2016}} A second song, "Disco Queen", was released on June 1, 2016.
As of January 2017, The Medic Droid are considered to be on hiatus or disbanded.
Discography
= Studio albums =
{{Infobox album
| italic_title = no
| name = Whats Your Medium
| type = studio
| artist = The Medic Droid
| cover = Whats Your Medium.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2008|06|10}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Techno, electropop, synthpop, power pop
| length = {{Duration|m=30|s=27}}
{{Duration|m=32|s=56}} {{small|(iTunes release)}}
| label = Modern Art
| producer = Back Ted N-Ted
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Irrelevant
| next_year = 2008
}}
Whats Your Medium is the debut album by The Medic Droid, it was released in the United States on June 10, 2008, by Modern Art Records.{{cite web|title=What's Your Medium|url=https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Your-Medium-MEDIC-DROID/dp/B0018OAOO4|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=June 2, 2016|archive-date=May 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502031522/http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Your-Medium-MEDIC-DROID/dp/B0018OAOO4|url-status=live}}
== Track listing ==
{{Track listing
| all_writing = The Medic Droid, except where noted
| title1 = Keeping Up with the Joneses
| length1 = 3:46
| title2 = Saddle Up
| length2 = 2:53
| title3 = Fscene8
| length3 = 2:33
| title4 = Into the Groove
| note4 = Madonna and Steve Bray; Madonna cover
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = It's About Love
| length5 = 4:48
| title6 = Tease
| length6 = 4:37
| title7 = Fer Sure
| length7 = 4:14
| title8 = The Killer Anna
| length8 = 3:28
| title9 = Sho-Fer
| note9 = iTunes bonus track
| length9 = 3:48
}}
= Extended plays =
- Irrelevant (2008)
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of music videos, showing year released and director ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Title ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Director(s) |
| scope="row"| "The Killer Anna"
| 2008 | Ben Sheppee{{cite web|title="The Killer Anna"|url=http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=36958087 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629202038/http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=36958087|work=The Medic Droid|publisher=Myspace|accessdate=June 2, 2016|archivedate=June 29, 2008|date=June 24, 2008}} |
|---|
Band members
{{col-begin}}
Former members
- Chris Donathon – lead vocals (2005–2008, 2012–2013, 2015–2016)
- Hector Bagnod (aka Hekti, Hekti 3000) – programming, synths, guitars (2005–2008, 2012–2013, 2015–2016)
- Johnny Chavez (aka Johnny Droid) – programming, synths, vocals, guitars (2005–2007)
{{col-2}}
Former Touring members
- Greg Rudawski - drums (2008)
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{URL|http://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial|Official Facebook}}
- {{URL|http://myspace.com/themedicdroid/|Official MySpace}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medic Droid, The}}
Category:2005 establishments in Arizona
Category:American synth-pop groups