The Medic Droid

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{short description|American synthpop band}} {{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 | years_active = 2003–2008, 2012–2013, 2015–2016, 2023–present | label = Modern Art Records<br>Epic Records | past_members = *Chris Donathon *Hector Bagnod *Johnny Chavez *Greg Rudawski }}

'''The Medic Droid''' is an American synthpop band from Phoenix, Arizona, who combined emo and techno to create dance music for club-goers. The trio of Chris Donathon, Hector Bagnod and Johnny Chavez first gained a massive following on MySpace during 2006–2007, then signed to the independent label Modern Art in 2008 to release their first album, ''What's Your Medium''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/medic-droid-mn0000996790#biography |title=Medic Droid Biography |last=Lymangrover |first=Jason |website=AllMusic |access-date=October 7, 2025}}</ref> The band toured sporadically until they ceased activity in 2016.

==History==

=== Beginnings and ''Whats Your Medium'' (2003–2008) === The Medic Droid was started in 2005 with Chris Donathon, Hector Bagnod and Johnny Chavez (Droid).<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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<ref>{{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}}</ref> and the group had accumulated over 100,000 friends there.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Soon they were noticed by manager Avery Andon<ref>{{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}}</ref> who brought the band to New York where they played their first live show opening for Enter Shikari at The Bowery Ballroom<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.

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 on June 10, 2008. ''Whats Your Medium'' reached no. 33 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Medic Droid – Chart history|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Medic Droid|chart=Heatseekers Albums}}|work=Billboard|accessdate=June 2, 2016}}</ref>

The band was inspired by 1980s popular culture, their name referencing a character from the ''Star Wars'' sequel ''The Empire Strikes Back'',<ref name="PNT">{{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}}</ref> and recording a version of the Madonna anthem "Into the Groove".<ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== Touring and break-up (2008) === The Medic Droid went on a tour with A Cursive Memory in Spring 2008 across the U.S. 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 compilation 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 and ended in 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The group's members showed strain from constant touring,<ref name="PNT" /> and on December 16, 2008, both Bagnod and Donathon posted notice on their MySpace pages that the band had dissolved.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

=== Reunion (2012–13) === On February 8, 2012, Chris Donathon created a Facebook page for the band, inviting the band's fans to spread the word about a reunion.<ref>{{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}}</ref> On February 19, 2012, ''AbsolutePunk'' posted a blog stating that the band had reunited.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

On July 25, 2012 Donathon announced he would be selling limited edition T-shirts to help fund a new EP.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===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 March 2, 2016, The Medic Droid announced an Australian tour which began in Perth on May 15 and wrapped up on June 4, 2016 in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hey guys we're super excited to announce we will...|url=https://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial/photos/a.296348187112128.72134.246665022080445/973946779352262/?type=3&theater|publisher=The Medic Droid on Facebook|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=March 2, 2016}}</ref> Additional dates were announced on March 31, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hey guys just added some more australia dates as...|url=https://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial/photos/a.296348187112128.72134.246665022080445/996214290458844/?type=3|publisher=The Medic Droid on Facebook|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=March 31, 2016}}</ref> On May 19, 2016, the Medic Droid released their first song in 8 years titled "Closer".<ref>{{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}}</ref> A second song, "Disco Queen", was released on June 1, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alright ok alright we were gonna hold off on...|url=https://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial/posts/1035676999845906|publisher=The Medic Droid on Facebook|accessdate=June 2, 2016|date=June 1, 2016}}</ref>

== Discography == === Studio albums === * ''Whats Your Medium'' (2008)

=== 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<ref>{{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}}</ref> |}

== Band members == {{col-begin}} '''Current 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)

'''Former members''' * Johnny Chavez (aka Johnny Droid) – programming, synths, vocals, guitars {{small|(2005–2007)}} {{col-2}}

'''Former Touring members''' * Greg Rudawski - drums {{small|(2008)}} {{col-end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{URL|http://www.facebook.com/themedicdroidofficial|Official Facebook}} * {{URL|http://myspace.com/themedicdroid/|Official MySpace}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medic Droid, The}} Category:2005 establishments in Arizona Category:American synth-pop groups Category:Musical groups established in 2005 Category:Musical groups from Phoenix, Arizona