{{Distinguish|Ms. Pac-Man}} {{Short description|US musical group}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = '''Mr. Pacman''' | background = group_or_band | origin = Denver, Colorado, United States | genre = Bitpop/gamewave | years_active = 2001–present | current_members = Mr. Pacman, Silver Ghost, White Tiger, Anarchy Dragon, Cockroach 3030 (former name of Anarchy Dragon) }}
'''Mr. Pacman''' is a bitpop/gamewave band (or as the band calls themselves, "8-bit hero gangsta rock") from Denver, Colorado. Described as a performance art project as well as a band, Mr. Pacman's live shows include martial arts fighting with monsters, 1980s-style retro-futuristic outfits, and their signature Commodore 64-inspired electronic music with a rock attitude. Many Mr. Pacman songs are based on songs from classic video games, such as the ''Mega Man'' series.
==History== Mr. Pacman started out in 2001 as a project by Denver film school student Avery Rains, who rapped over Commodore 64 video game music. After one such performance, some Japanese exchange students remarked, "Mr. Pacman is awesome!". The name stuck, and Rains as Mr. Pacman now says he's from "Denver, Japan." A running gag based on this is the intentional use of Engrish in the band's e-mail newsletters.
Since 2001, Mr. Pacman has expanded from a solo project to a four-member band; adding first the Silver Ghost, then White Tiger, and finally Cockroach 3030 (now known as Anarchy Dragon).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-22 |title=Is This Tripp Nasty's Last Hurrah? |url=https://www.westword.com/music/is-this-tripp-nastys-last-hurrah-7723260/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref> The band has released an EP,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-01-02 |title=The Home Team |url=https://www.westword.com/music/the-home-team-5072543/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref> a split seven-inch vinyl single,<ref>{{Citation |title=Magic Cyclops, Mr Pacman - Magic Cyclops vs. Mr Pacman |date=2003 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14194597-Magic-Cyclops-Mr-Pacman-Magic-Cyclops-vs-Mr-Pacman |access-date=2026-02-18 |language=en}}</ref> and a full-length album.<ref>{{Citation |title=Mr. Pacman - Star Hustler |date=2003 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/11418562-Mr-Pacman-Star-Hustler |access-date=2026-02-18 |language=en}}</ref> They have also contributed several tracks to compilation albums.<ref>{{Citation |title=Various - Imposters - Warlock Pinchers Tribute |date=2002-05-22 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9001470-Various-Imposters-Warlock-Pinchers-Tribute |access-date=2026-02-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Various - Radio 1190 Local Shakedown Vol. II |date=2004 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2103801-Various-Radio-1190-Local-Shakedown-Vol-II |access-date=2026-02-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Various - The Local Shakedown Vol. 3 |date=2009 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/27345705-Various-The-Local-Shakedown-Vol-3 |access-date=2026-02-18 |language=en}}</ref> Mr. Pacman was particularly active in the early 2000s, and often played at underground Denver show-spaces like Monkey Mania and Rhinoceropolis.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-09 |title=The Underground Bands of Denver Music's Dark Ages: Part One |url=https://www.westword.com/music/the-underground-bands-of-denver-musics-dark-ages-part-one-6044165/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Tom |date=2010-07-20 |title=Quintron and Miss Pussycat at Rhinoceropolis |url=https://www.westword.com/music/quintron-and-miss-pussycat-at-rhinoceropolis-5690354/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Froyd |first=Susan |date=2013-05-16 |title=Acting Up |url=https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/acting-up-5120749/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2005, the short film "Half Hour of Power" (called a "violent children's show" by the band)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Briola |first=John La |date=2003-06-19 |title=Hit Pick |url=https://www.westword.com/music/hit-pick-5074919/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref> was included with the music video "No Ghosts!"<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://vimeo.com/21675747 |title=Mr Pacman No Ghosts |language=en |access-date=2026-02-18 |via=vimeo.com}}</ref> and an interview with Mr. Pacman, among other band-related videos, on ''Dropframe'', an Emmy-winning Colorado PBS show featuring indie films.
Apart from the band, Rains has often appeared as a solo act, as "Mr. Pacman." For several years in the early 2000s, he hosted a weekly "Extreme Karaoke Challenge" at Denver bar The Hi-Dive. Starting in 2002, Rains, as "Mr. Pacman," presented an annual PacFashion show; a fashion exhibition featuring both original fashions, pieces from local Colorado designers, and (one year) Rains' own collection of Power Rangers monster costumes. The shows' fashions were inspired by science fiction, anime, and video games, and included musical performances by Mr. Pacman as well as other indie bands, and continued for several years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-01-13 |title=Lipgloss, Mr. Pacman & Sparrow |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/01/13/lipgloss-mr-pacman-sparrow/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref> Rains also played keytar as "Mr. Pacman" on the Hot IQs track "The New One"<ref>{{Citation |title=Hot IQs - An Argument Between The Brain And Feet |date=2004-10-04 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2922601-Hot-IQs-An-Argument-Between-The-Brain-And-Feet |access-date=2026-02-18 |language=en}}</ref> in 2004.
Mr. Pacman as a full live band periodically perform in and around Denver with local acts like Little Fyodor and Magic Cyclops, having played as recently as the summer of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr. Pacman Concert & Tour History {{!}} Concert Archives |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/mr-pacman |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=www.concertarchives.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What to do in Denver & Boulder on June 20th, 2025 |url=https://do303.com/events/2025/06/20 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Do303 |language=en}}</ref>
== Equipment == Rains sings and plays a keytar live on stage. Although most musicians who use the MOS Technology SID chip do so only in the studio, Rains uses a SidStation, controlled by his keytar, live on stage. The Silver Ghost uses the standard QUERTY keyboard of a Commodore SX-64 as a bass synthesizer, pecking at keyboard keys to create bass-synth tones during live shows. (Daniel Eriksson, who helped design the SidStation, was the first to use a Sidstation live on stage, at mekke 2000; Goto80 was the first to use a SID chip live onstage at the ECC in 1993.) The rest of the band play standard "rock" drums and electric guitar.
== Press and awards == In the early 2000s, ''The Denver Post'' put Mr. Pacman on its "Top 10 Underground Bands of Colorado" list in 2002 (placing 7th that year), 2003 (5th), 2004 (5th), 2005 (8th) and 2006 (14th). Denver alternative newspaper ''Westword'' named Mr. Pacman "Best Bizarro Fashion/Rock Act" in 2002 as part of its "Best of Denver" awards,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-04-04 |title=Best Bizarro Fashion/Rock Act |url=https://www.westword.com/arts-culture/best-bizarro-fashion-rock-act-5069997/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref> and Mr. Pacman was dubbed "Best Reunion of a Band That Never Broke Up" by the publication in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Reunion of a Band That Never Broke Up {{!}} Mr. Pacman {{!}} Best of Denver® {{!}} Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver {{!}} Westword |url=https://www.westword.com/best-of-denver/2011/arts-and-entertainment/best-reunion-of-a-band-that-never-broke-up-5158225 |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Denver Westword |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Discography==
===''Turbotron EP'' (2002)===
#Intro #Turbotron #Pacman Rap (Shout-out by Wesley Willis) #Neurotica #Be the Zero #O.P.A (Original Party Animal) #Welcome to the Future (Sucks) #The End #Girls That Go Boom (featuring Ozzy Osmond)
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''Trivia: The cover photo was taken on a karaoke night at Armida's Mexican Restaurant in Denver "just prior to getting kicked out". O.P.A. is a mix of 6 different performances of the song at the Scott Baio Army Fourth of July party; during the instrumental for each, Mr. Pacman chugged a 40-oz. malt liquor.''
===7" vinyl split with Magicyclops===
#Mr. Pacman: Baby's on Fire (Originally by Brian Eno) #Magic Cyclops: Abracadabra (Originally by Steve Miller Band)
===''Star Hustler'' (2003)===
#Gangsta Pac (Contains a sample from the movie ''Colors'') #(rock) Star Hustler (with Magicyclops) #Pacman Densu (feat. Monotrona) #Lifeless #Pacman Power #Be the Hero (feat. Sara Thorpe; a Fischerspooner-like reinterpretation of "Be the Zero" from ''Turbotron'') #Turbo Attack! #Mr. Pacman International #No Ghosts! #Luxury Car #Pacman Birthday (feat. Monotrona) #The Ninja #Paxcercise (feat. Bebe & Serge; based on "Deflektor" by Ben Daglish) #(porn) Star Hustler (feat. Sara Thorpe & Claudine; an alternate version of "(rock) Star Hustler") #Let's Go! (various video game samples) #Songjacked
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''This is an enhanced CD. Included on the disc are the videos for Be the Hero, No Ghosts!, Luxury Car, and Paxcercise. The album was named 2003's Best Local CD of the Year by the ''Denver Post''. The "limo tank" on the cover was a toy designed & built by Greg Hignight. It is said to shoot diamonds and run on Hennessy Private Reserve.''
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060113101701/http://www.mrpacman.com/ Official website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041104234652/http://good-lunch.com/films/pacman.html "Paxcercise" music video]
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}} Category:2001 establishments in Colorado Category:Musical groups established in 2001 Category:Musical groups from Denver Category:Rock music groups from Colorado Category:Bands with fictional stage personas Category:Electronic music Category:American performance artists