8 Bit Weapon | |
|---|---|
 8 Bit Weapon at E3 in 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Ventura County, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Electronic, chiptune, synthpop, bitpop |
| Instruments | Computers |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Members | Seth Sternberger Michelle Sternberger (AKA ComputeHer) |
| Past members | Melbot Stacey Taylor (AKA Stacey Superstix) |
| Website | www |
8 Bit Weapon is an American chiptune music band formed in Ventura County, California, by Seth and Michelle Sternberger. It was originally created by Seth Sternberger around 1998.[1] Its instruments consists primarily of old 8-bit and 16-bit computers (with 8-bit audio output) such as the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, Amiga 500, and the Apple II, as well as game consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Atari 2600, and an Intellivision synthesizer.
The band started around 1998 by remixing Commodore 64 SID tunes like Crazy Comets, M.U.L.E., and some Nintendo NES game music such as Super Mario Bros. 2 and Metroid. Both the SID remixes can be heard on the album titled "Confidential 1.0" and the Nintendo remixes on the band's official website. Later on, they began writing original music using the Commodore 64, Nintendo Game Boy, and NES, as well as other 8 bit consoles and computers.
The band has become well known recently after favorable coverage in the Los Angeles Times, A live performance on G4's Attack of the Show,[2] and performances at E3 2004, 2005, and 2006. The project with Nokia is the soundtrack for Reset Generation (previously known under the code name "Project White Rock"), a game by RedLynx for N-Gage 2.0 and PCs.[3]
Xbox’s exclusive Halo 2 E3 2004 preview event had its own 15-minute soundtrack written and produced by 8 Bit Weapon, which was played continuously in the gaming area of the party. The band has also remixed music for Erasure,[4] Information Society,[5] and Kraftwerk.
In July 2007, they were hired to perform at Commodore's 25th anniversary party for the Commodore 64 computer.
On March 16, 2012, the Smithsonian American Art Museum's "The Art of Video Games" exhibit opened featuring a chipmusic soundtrack at the entrance by artists 8 Bit Weapon & ComputeHer. 8 Bit Weapon also created a track called "The Art of Video Games Anthem" for the exhibit as well.
In July 2017, they released "Class Apples", the world's first 100% Apple II based music album, featuring dance-oriented versions of classical music by Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart, recorded directly from the Apple II motherboard, including the drum sounds. [6]
