So a long time ago Devin Townsend made mention of a puppet show he wanted to do. He's made mention of many things over the years—a Punky Bruster country album (Cuntry Bruster), a Punky Bruster rap album (Funky Bruster), a power metal album, and so on—but he's just an artists who speaks too soon, speaks his ideas rather than actual projects he's likely to work on.
But recently the puppet show became something of a reality. In fact, it's become so much more than a simple puppet show, apparently. Devin seems to be extremely excited about the project; he sounds like a little kid rambling excitedly! Unfortunately, because of his kid-on-a-sugar-high explanations of the project, it's a bit confusing piecing it together. However, it sounds like it's going to be amazingly funny and fucking badass! I can't wait!
Here's the initial announcement of the project after it was underway:
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Also occupying his time in the past month has been work on his puppet show. The first puppet is coming together with Devin just sculpting the finishing touches. The main character is Ziltoid the Omniscient, an alien with ideas on destroying the Earth. It will consist of five minute episodes with Ziltoid interviewing artists and musicians, seeking from them some reason not to blow up the world. He is working with many other people on the project including Travis Smith (metal CD layout master), Marcus Rogers (Vampira video), among others. Ziltoid will be beaming episodes to the web when he sees fit, and he may be releasing Ziltoid merchandise later in the year. There is no set timetable for the show as it will be done when time is available. “Ziltoid the Omniscient is something I have wanted to do since I was 15 years old [Devin says] and people will wonder why so much energy was put into making him but I saw the movie The Dark Crystal and thought it was so creative that I wanted to do something like that. This is nothing on that scale but some of the puppet-making techniques have been incorporated. It will be in your best interests to like Ziltoid or he will have to lower himself to destroy you.” Ziltoid’s theme song is already written and will be made into a video as well.
Here's Devin's most recent forum posts on the subject.
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Watch for his arrival around June...He's starting guitars in 2 days...
A space symphony / opera / movie / puppet show / comic book.
Ziltoid will soon start broadcasting from his myspace...he will inform you of plans from there...
Stay tuned.
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Listen, I know I've been quiet about it, but this one may be the best...
I'm working every day, it's being mastered at sterling on the 22nd, released 3 months later...Watch for Ziltoid.com and Ziltoid the omniscient on myspace (not ready yet...give it a month...)
This is where SYL, DTB, and punky bruster collide...
Seriously...this rules my FUCKING world.
Dev.
PS: Ziltoids teeth are from a bear...a real goddam bear...I don't want to be in magazines, so Ziltoid will happily take me place.
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The Mighty Masturbator became a story about Ziltoids adventures subjugating the human race... this record has a story like punky, the heaviness of syl (kind of like alien) and a few songs that wouldn't be out of place in dtb.
Ziltoid looks a bit like the Skeksis, but mixed with with me and grover from sesame street.
I just started writing when the kid arrived, and this is what happened. I did everything from the drums on up, and theres 3 songs in the 10 minute range.
Super serious music, funny concept and story...
I'm really surprised by it actually...it became monsterous where at first it was an oven mitt named ziltoid and a short film to have some fun...but Fredrik sent me a bunch of drum programs and soon the concept got huge and out of control, and I decided to turn it into a really densely layered metal 'symphony' thing.
I know it's soon after Hummer and all, but don't let that fool you, it's fully realized, and awesome.
I want to not see myself in magazines at the moment but want to write my crazy music, so I figured Ziltoid would be a more interesting subject for photos...whats more metal than a pissed off lizard ostrich alien and a metal symphony?
Ziltoid also wants you to know that he thinks you're alright.
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There is no behind the scenes...Ziltoid was hatched and condemned to the phantom zone aeons ago, there, he was linked to the most destructive energy in the multiverse when he sympathized with it . This stripped him of his ability to recognize and merge with the infinite, but gave him the ability to destroy. He therefore has issues with the humans who squander their ability to do so and will be arriving to straighten shit out for his own selfish reasons...and remnants of a conscience. what will happen?
Stay tuned for episode 7, coming in t-minus 4 months.
...Oh and he loves Def Leppard...and prunes.
My kind of muppet! Haha. So, once just a puppet show is now so much more. An album of SYL, Punky Bruster and DTB? Pffft! Awesome.
And if anyone has never seen Devin being funny, look no further than
BOOGIE WOOGIE!
