Servotron

Servotron is a collective unit of four robots dedicated to liberating computers, robots, and machines from human abuse and oppression, using the familiar form of a pop music group to attract and destroy all human life. Through carefully chosen cover versions of popular songs such as Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue" and X-Ray Spex's "Genetic Engineering" as well as their own music-based propaganda, Servotron illustrates the plight of machines in a human-run world and warns humans of their own cybernetic conversion or destruction. Led by percussive unit Z4-OBX, Servotron also includes keyboard sequencer Proto Unit V-3, a female-formed robot meant to appeal to, and capture, male humans; 00zX1, the primary vocalization and guitar device; and the low-frequency rhythm unit, Andros600. Two of Servotron's components were originally members of the human pop groups Supernova and Man or Astro-man? but were cybernetically converted into cyborg slaves. Servotron's initial full-length propaganda release, 1996's No Room for Humans, is a 14-point plan for eliminating humans set to new wave-influenced pop music. Repetitive slogans supporting the ultimate victory of man over machine and basic, pre-programmed rhythm patterns assure that humans comprehend the robots' message of mechanical triumph. Reworked and reformatted versions of selected messages from No Room for Humans and new propaganda appeared on 1997's Spare Parts. The following year saw the distribution of a new full-length manifesto, Entertainment Program for Humans: Second Variety, and another condensed program, I Sing! The Body Cybernetic. Servotron's tireless efforts in liberating their fellow oppressed machines through music ensure that resistance is futile. Unfortunately, the group broke up early in 1999. ~ Heather Phares,...