Doctor Steel
Encyclopedia
Doctor Steel is a self-published American
musician located in Southern California, prominent in the Steampunk
, Goth
, and Rivethead scenes. He has performed on rare occasions with a "backup band", claiming that a fictitious robot band had malfunctioned. Shows have incorporated puppetry, multimedia and performances by female members ("Nurses" and "Scouts") of his street team
, The Army of Toy Soldiers. Steel has begun breaking into the mainstream media, having made a brief appearance on the Tonight Show, been interviewed by Suicide Girls as well as numerous genre magazines and podcasts and been the subject of an article in Wired Magazine regarding allegations that Dr. Horrible had copied his style. Steel has frequently been cited as an archetypal example of Steampunk music.
on the streets of Los Angeles. A few years later, he began performing at venues like The Key Club and the CIA. His live shows combine music with puppetry and video projection that reflect the stories and meanings of the songs.
In 2001 and 2002, the albums Dr. Steel (2001), Dr. Steel II: Eclectic Boogaloo (2001), and People of Earth (2002) were released digitally to iTunes, Amazon and other stores. The Dr. Steel Collection (2004) was the first CD release, featuring many tracks which were released on other albums, slightly altered. The Dr. Steel Collection also features the track "Land of the Lost
," about the 1970s version of the show by the same name. Some attempts were made to get the song into the soundtrack of 2009 movie version
of Land of the Lost, but they were unsuccessful.
Steel's second CD release was The Dr. Steel Read-A-Long album (2006). It was a limited distribution and quickly sold out. The album art included a recreation of the sleeve of read-along records, and the disc design resembled that of a vinyl record. In 2007, Steel re-released the first three albums, once again in digital format.
Steel's music can often be heard on a number of steampunk radio broadcasts that stream worldwide, such as The Clockwork Cabaret
. His song "Boogieman Boogie" was also included in a compilation of steampunk music released by Gilded Age Records.
In 2010, Dr. Steel announced plans to begin work on a new album, tentatively entitled "Toymonger." Unfortunately, in July 2011 Doctor Steel announced his retirement from the music industry. The Army of Toy Soldiers, however, have decided to continue on as Dr. Steel wished, switching their focus to the messages the musician promoted, such as creativity and building one's own Utopian Playland.
with aspects of European folk
, classical
, and even jazz
, as well as hip-hop and opera
. Many songs feature samples from vintage public service announcements and educational films, such as Duck and Cover
. Rue Morgue Magazine described the sound as "Industrial Hip-Hop Opera". Steel cites, as some of his musical influences, Igor Stravinsky
, Tom Waits
, Pink Floyd
, Queen
, Mike Patton
, Nine Inch Nails
, Danny Elfman
, Beck
, and John Zorn
.
bent on conquering the world and becoming the future World Emperor. The fictitious Dr. Steel was a former toymaker who, in a fit of rage over being fired for creating drastic designs such as babies with buzzsaws
for hands, burned down the factory he worked at and was committed to a psychiatric institution. The back-story
relates that Steel escaped the sanitarium and retreated to a deserted island laboratory, where he became bent on world conquest in order to create a "Utopian Playland" where his toy designs could be enjoyed. As a mad scientist, Steel is obsessed with conspiracy theories, giant robots, baking cupcakes and "mind control
cookies", and experimenting with hamsters.
In appearance, Steel draws on the mad scientist
archetype, dressing in a white PVC lab coat (with comically large black buttons), black PVC gloves, black boots, shaved head, sinister goatee, and antique welder's goggles. When not in his "mad scientist" costume, Steel typically dresses in a very aristocratic neo-Victorian steampunk style, while still retaining his goggles. He has never been seen without the goggles.
.
Steel also releases what he calls "public service announcement
s" covering philosophical subjects such as transhumanism
, freedom of thought
, and subjective reality. (As a transhumanist, Dr. Steel has also been interviewed on his views by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
, and has even published a paper on the subject.) Finally, the Toy Soldiers Unite website features a series of videos called Ask Dr. Steel, in which Steel himself answers questions asked by Toy Soldiers. In May 2010, Doctor Steel's videos were featured in one of Veronique Chevalier
's Red Velvet Variety Shows.
In May 2010, Dr. Steel released a music video to his song, "Childhood Don't a-Go-Go", directed by Tony Leonardi III.
In 2008, Joss Whedon
released a short musical film online entitled Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
. Fans of Steel, and Steel himself, noted the similarities between Dr. Steel and Dr. Horrible:
This attracted the attention of national media and was reported in Wired magazine, in which Dr. Horrible co-writer Maurissa Tancharoen
responded, "All we have to say on the subject is we've never heard of Dr. Steel before." "There’s room for everyone in this party," she added.
and street team
. The army plays into the Dr. Steel fiction, in that it is allegedly a tool in his plan for global domination. Toy Soldiers have "uniforms" with patches and color schemes, but are encouraged to design their own uniform so long as the required patches and colors are used.
The Toy Soldier Army has three main regiments: Toy Soldiers, Nurses, and Toy Scouts. The Nurse and Scout regiments are reserved for those who are female or identify as female within the Army, whereas people of any gender can be in the Toy Soldier regiment. The Army is further divided into divisions based upon geographical location and on creative interests ("Special Ops"). There are no ranks—all Toy Soldiers are considered equal. However, Toy Soldiers who go "above and beyond" may be awarded the honorary title of "Yellow Jacket" personally by Doctor Steel.
Toy Soldiers promote Dr. Steel individually through "missions", while larger group events are known as "operations" or "invasions". Some Soldiers use their connections and access to the media for promotion, while others may choose to "propagandize" their school or workplace. Toy Soldiers have frequently done charity and volunteer work in uniform or in the name of Dr. Steel, such as starting local clothing or toy drives and even donating to drives such as Toys for Tots
and Adopt a Highway
. The Toy Soldiers have their own holiday, "Toy Soldier Day," which is observed every year on March 4 (a play on "march forth"), and simultaneous invasions of Disney theme parks worldwide take place on the nearest Saturday to this day. In 2010, the Toy Soldiers participated in the 33rd Occasional Doo Dah Parade
in Pasadena, CA.
". The decision to use a term with such charged connotations was a deliberate satirical allusion to famous groups in the past who had plans for world domination, in order to spotlight or "hang a lampshade" on the tricks of mass manipulation. Some of the material is designed and created by Steel himself (such as the "propaganda posters", designed to resemble WWII propaganda posters), but Steel encourages his fans to design their own propaganda as well.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician located in Southern California, prominent in the Steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
, Goth
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
, and Rivethead scenes. He has performed on rare occasions with a "backup band", claiming that a fictitious robot band had malfunctioned. Shows have incorporated puppetry, multimedia and performances by female members ("Nurses" and "Scouts") of his street team
Street team
A street team is a term used in marketing to describe a group of people who 'hit the streets' promoting an event or a product. 'Street Teams' are a powerful promotional tool that has been adopted industry wide as a standard line item in marketing budgets by entertainment companies, record labels,...
, The Army of Toy Soldiers. Steel has begun breaking into the mainstream media, having made a brief appearance on the Tonight Show, been interviewed by Suicide Girls as well as numerous genre magazines and podcasts and been the subject of an article in Wired Magazine regarding allegations that Dr. Horrible had copied his style. Steel has frequently been cited as an archetypal example of Steampunk music.
Musical career
Steel began publicly performing in 1999, essentially buskingBusking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
on the streets of Los Angeles. A few years later, he began performing at venues like The Key Club and the CIA. His live shows combine music with puppetry and video projection that reflect the stories and meanings of the songs.
In 2001 and 2002, the albums Dr. Steel (2001), Dr. Steel II: Eclectic Boogaloo (2001), and People of Earth (2002) were released digitally to iTunes, Amazon and other stores. The Dr. Steel Collection (2004) was the first CD release, featuring many tracks which were released on other albums, slightly altered. The Dr. Steel Collection also features the track "Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost (1974 TV series)
Land of the Lost is a children's television series co-created and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. During its original run, it was broadcast on the NBC television network....
," about the 1970s version of the show by the same name. Some attempts were made to get the song into the soundtrack of 2009 movie version
Land of the Lost (film)
Land of the Lost is a 2009 American science-fiction comedy film directed by Brad Silberling and starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Anna Friel, based on the 1974 Sid and Marty Krofft TV series of the same name.-Plot:...
of Land of the Lost, but they were unsuccessful.
Steel's second CD release was The Dr. Steel Read-A-Long album (2006). It was a limited distribution and quickly sold out. The album art included a recreation of the sleeve of read-along records, and the disc design resembled that of a vinyl record. In 2007, Steel re-released the first three albums, once again in digital format.
Steel's music can often be heard on a number of steampunk radio broadcasts that stream worldwide, such as The Clockwork Cabaret
The Clockwork Cabaret
The Clockwork Cabaret is a live radio variety show focusing on steampunk music, created and hosted by the Davenport sisters. The show runs two hours on Mondays from 11pm to 1am Eastern Time, and usually originates from the studio of WCOM Community Radio in Carrboro, North Carolina, although it is...
. His song "Boogieman Boogie" was also included in a compilation of steampunk music released by Gilded Age Records.
In 2010, Dr. Steel announced plans to begin work on a new album, tentatively entitled "Toymonger." Unfortunately, in July 2011 Doctor Steel announced his retirement from the music industry. The Army of Toy Soldiers, however, have decided to continue on as Dr. Steel wished, switching their focus to the messages the musician promoted, such as creativity and building one's own Utopian Playland.
Musical style
Steel's music is eclectic in genre, often combining the noise and distortion of industrialIndustrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
with aspects of European folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, and even jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, as well as hip-hop and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
. Many songs feature samples from vintage public service announcements and educational films, such as Duck and Cover
Duck and Cover
Duck and Cover are a hard rock band from Pretoria. Duck and Cover have established their presence in the local South African music scene during 4 years of gigs, festivals, concerts and publicity. The band relies on 70s rock and metal, as well as more contemporary rock music influences to guarantee...
. Rue Morgue Magazine described the sound as "Industrial Hip-Hop Opera". Steel cites, as some of his musical influences, Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
, Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
, Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman
Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, and John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
.
Stage persona
On stage, and in all public performances and interviews, Steel maintains the fictitious persona of a mad scientistMad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
bent on conquering the world and becoming the future World Emperor. The fictitious Dr. Steel was a former toymaker who, in a fit of rage over being fired for creating drastic designs such as babies with buzzsaws
Circular saw
The circular saw is a machine using a toothed metal cutting disc or blade. The term is also loosely used for the blade itself. The blade is a tool for cutting wood or other materials and may be hand-held or table-mounted. It can also be used to make narrow slots...
for hands, burned down the factory he worked at and was committed to a psychiatric institution. The back-story
Back-story
A back-story, background story, or backstory is the literary device of a narrative chronologically earlier than, and related to, a narrative of primary interest. Generally, it is the history of characters or other elements that underlie the situation existing at the main narrative's start...
relates that Steel escaped the sanitarium and retreated to a deserted island laboratory, where he became bent on world conquest in order to create a "Utopian Playland" where his toy designs could be enjoyed. As a mad scientist, Steel is obsessed with conspiracy theories, giant robots, baking cupcakes and "mind control
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
cookies", and experimenting with hamsters.
In appearance, Steel draws on the mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
archetype, dressing in a white PVC lab coat (with comically large black buttons), black PVC gloves, black boots, shaved head, sinister goatee, and antique welder's goggles. When not in his "mad scientist" costume, Steel typically dresses in a very aristocratic neo-Victorian steampunk style, while still retaining his goggles. He has never been seen without the goggles.
Promotional videos and web videos
Doctor Steel appears in numerous short videos released on his website and on his YouTube channel. One such is a six minute "propaganda" film called Building a Utopian Playland, which ostensibly outlines his plans for world domination. Another is a series called The Dr. Steel Show, set in his fictitious lab on his fictitious private island. Episode 3, which is the official music video for his song, "Back and Forth", and featured video clips sent in by Toy Soldiers, was showcased on MTV's website as a part of their online video series, Steampunk Infiltrates The Mainstream. Steel also appeared in a video with fellow internet personality Agamemnon Tiberius VacuumJohn Soares
John Allen Soares is an award-winning independent filmmaker, martial arts choreographer, actor and viral video star from Hughson, CA known for his short videos and webisodes on YouTube. Soares's videos are known for mixing martial arts action with quirky comedy.Soares was born in Turlock, CA on...
.
Steel also releases what he calls "public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
s" covering philosophical subjects such as transhumanism
Transhumanism
Transhumanism, often abbreviated as H+ or h+, is an international intellectual and cultural movement that affirms the possibility and desirability of fundamentally transforming the human condition by developing and making widely available technologies to eliminate aging and to greatly enhance human...
, freedom of thought
Freedom of thought
Freedom of thought is the freedom of an individual to hold or consider a fact, viewpoint, or thought, independent of others' viewpoints....
, and subjective reality. (As a transhumanist, Dr. Steel has also been interviewed on his views by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies was founded in 2004 by philosopher Nick Bostrom and bioethicist James Hughes. Incorporated in the United States as a non-profit 501 organization, the IEET is a self-described "technoprogressive think tank" that seeks to contribute to understanding...
, and has even published a paper on the subject.) Finally, the Toy Soldiers Unite website features a series of videos called Ask Dr. Steel, in which Steel himself answers questions asked by Toy Soldiers. In May 2010, Doctor Steel's videos were featured in one of Veronique Chevalier
Veronique Chevalier
Veronique Chevalier is an award-winning American mistress of ceremonies, singer-songwriter, music producer, comedienne and parodist popular in the steampunk community...
's Red Velvet Variety Shows.
In May 2010, Dr. Steel released a music video to his song, "Childhood Don't a-Go-Go", directed by Tony Leonardi III.
Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long-Blog
In 2008, Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
released a short musical film online entitled Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is a 2008 musical tragicomedy miniseries in three acts, produced exclusively for Internet distribution. Filmed and set in Los Angeles, the show tells the story of Dr...
. Fans of Steel, and Steel himself, noted the similarities between Dr. Steel and Dr. Horrible:
- both featured singing mad scientists who produced web videos;
- both had an "Ask Dr. ___" segment;
- the name of the production was eerily similar to the title of one of Steel's albums, Dr. Steel Read-A-Long.
This attracted the attention of national media and was reported in Wired magazine, in which Dr. Horrible co-writer Maurissa Tancharoen
Maurissa Tancharoen
Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon is an American actress, singer, dancer, television writer and lyricist.She co-wrote Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and appeared onscreen as Groupie #1, as well as on the DVD audio track "Commentary! The Musical," in which she sings about the scarcity of non-stereotyped...
responded, "All we have to say on the subject is we've never heard of Dr. Steel before." "There’s room for everyone in this party," she added.
Army of Toy Soldiers
The "Army of Toy Soldiers" is Steel's fan clubFan club
A fan club is a group that is dedicated to a well-known person, group, idea or sometimes even an inanimate object . Most fan clubs are run by fans who devote considerable time and resources to supporting them. There are also "official" fan clubs that are run by someone associated with the person...
and street team
Street team
A street team is a term used in marketing to describe a group of people who 'hit the streets' promoting an event or a product. 'Street Teams' are a powerful promotional tool that has been adopted industry wide as a standard line item in marketing budgets by entertainment companies, record labels,...
. The army plays into the Dr. Steel fiction, in that it is allegedly a tool in his plan for global domination. Toy Soldiers have "uniforms" with patches and color schemes, but are encouraged to design their own uniform so long as the required patches and colors are used.
The Toy Soldier Army has three main regiments: Toy Soldiers, Nurses, and Toy Scouts. The Nurse and Scout regiments are reserved for those who are female or identify as female within the Army, whereas people of any gender can be in the Toy Soldier regiment. The Army is further divided into divisions based upon geographical location and on creative interests ("Special Ops"). There are no ranks—all Toy Soldiers are considered equal. However, Toy Soldiers who go "above and beyond" may be awarded the honorary title of "Yellow Jacket" personally by Doctor Steel.
Toy Soldiers promote Dr. Steel individually through "missions", while larger group events are known as "operations" or "invasions". Some Soldiers use their connections and access to the media for promotion, while others may choose to "propagandize" their school or workplace. Toy Soldiers have frequently done charity and volunteer work in uniform or in the name of Dr. Steel, such as starting local clothing or toy drives and even donating to drives such as Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
and Adopt a Highway
Adopt a Highway
The Adopt-a-Highway program, also known as Sponsor-a-Highway , is a promotional campaign undertaken by U.S. states, Provinces and Territories of Canada, and national governments outside North America to encourage volunteers to keep a section of a highway free from litter...
. The Toy Soldiers have their own holiday, "Toy Soldier Day," which is observed every year on March 4 (a play on "march forth"), and simultaneous invasions of Disney theme parks worldwide take place on the nearest Saturday to this day. In 2010, the Toy Soldiers participated in the 33rd Occasional Doo Dah Parade
Doo Dah Parade
The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade is a popular farcical and flamboyant parade held in Pasadena, California about once a year, usually in the fall or winter...
in Pasadena, CA.
Promotional material ("Propaganda")
Promotional material for Dr. Steel and the Toy Soldiers is referred to as "propagandaPropaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
". The decision to use a term with such charged connotations was a deliberate satirical allusion to famous groups in the past who had plans for world domination, in order to spotlight or "hang a lampshade" on the tricks of mass manipulation. Some of the material is designed and created by Steel himself (such as the "propaganda posters", designed to resemble WWII propaganda posters), but Steel encourages his fans to design their own propaganda as well.
Digital releases
- Dr. SteelDr. Steel (album)Dr. Steel is the first album by American Steampunk/Hip-hop musician Doctor Steel. The album was released on Steel's own record label in 2001 as a series of MP3 downloads. The album was re-released digitally in 2007.-Track listing:#”Dr...
(2001) (Self-Published) Re-release: 2007 (reapandsow, inc.) - Dr. Steel II: Eclectic BoogalooDr. Steel II: Eclectic BoogalooDr. Steel II: Eclectic Boogaloo is the second studio album of American Steampunk/Hip-hop musician Doctor Steel. The album was released on Steel's own record label in 2001 as a series of MP3 downloads...
(2001) (Self-Published) Re-release: 2007 (reapandsow, inc.) - People of EarthPeople of Earth (album)People of Earth is the third and final studio album by Doctor Steel. The album was released on Steel's own record label in 2002 as a series of MP3 downloads. The album was re-released in 2007.The album cover art is a reference to H. G...
(2002) (Self-Published) Re-release: 2007 (reapandsow, inc.)
CD releases
- The Dr. Steel CollectionThe Dr. Steel CollectionThe Dr. Steel Collection is a compilation album by Doctor Steel. This was the first physical CD released by Doctor Steel. This album contained several remixes of earlier songs, and a hidden track. The CD itself was made to look like a vinyl 33⅓ rpm record. The CD included artwork by Dr....
(2004) (World Domination Records) - Dr. Steel Read-A-LongDr. Steel Read-A-LongDr. Steel Read-A-Long is a compilation album by Doctor Steel. This was the second physical CD released by Doctor Steel. The CD itself was made to look like a vinyl 33⅓ rpm record, and inside cover art was meant to parody read-along children's albums of the 1960s.-Track listing:#"Read Along" -...
(2006) (World Domination Records)