Plasmatics
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Plasmatics was an American rock band formed in 1979 by Rod Swenson and Wendy O. Williams . With a mixture of punk and heavy metal they drew attention musically.
Band history
However, their live performances were far more noticeable than the musical work. Williams, who in earlier times earned her money by appearing in some erotic films , stood out for her outfit: a studded leather panty and two strips of electrical tape over the nipples. The stage show did the rest: Williams raged across the stage, TV sets were hacked up or blown up by the dozen, police cars were carted onto the stage and blown up or - if there was enough space - Wendy O. Williams personally drove them to the wall at full throttle.
So it is not surprising that Williams in particular was a permanent member of the band, while the line-up of the musical instruments changed more frequently.
She also appeared as a regular guest at Motörhead shows and can also be heard on several live albums with the song No Class .
After the preliminary band breakup in 1983, Wendy O. Williams started a solo career that earned her a Grammy nomination in 1986 . Then it became quiet around her. During this time , the militant vegetarian suffered from severe depression which resulted in her suicide on April 6, 1998 .
Band members
The last band members:
- Wendy O. Williams - vocals, saxophone, chainsaw, sledgehammer (1978–1988)
- Chris Romanelli - bass, keyboard (1981-1984; 1987-1988)
- Wes Beech - rhythm guitar, lead guitar, keyboard (1979–1988)
- Ray Callahan - drums (1986-1987)
Changing band members:
- former guitarists:
- Richie Stotts - lead guitar (1978-1983)
- Michael Ray - lead guitar, rhythm guitar (1984–1987)
- former bassists:
- Michael David - bass (1978)
- Chosei Funahara - bass (1978-1980)
- Jean Beauvoir - bass, keyboard (1980-1981)
- Greg Smith - bass (1984-1986)
- former drummers:
- Stuart Deutsch - drums (1978–1980)
- Neal Smith - drums [studio only] (1981)
- Tony Petri - drums (1981)
- Joey Reese - drums (1981)
- TC Tolliver - drums (1982–1986)
- Michael Lugassy - drums
- former members:
- George Pierson - Tour / Sound Manager
- Jim Kramer - concert agent
- Pyro Pete - live pyrotechnics
Discography
- New Hope for the Wretched (1980)
- Beyond the Valley of 1984 (1981)
- Metal Priestess EP (1981)
- Coup d'État (1982)
- Maggots: The Record (1987)
- Ultrafly and the Hometowngirls: Deffest and Baddest (1988)
- Put Your Love in Me - Love Songs for the Apocalypse (2002)
- Coup de Grace (2002)
- Final Days - Anthems for the Apocalypse (2002)
- Fuck You and Loving It (2004)
Web links
- Plasmatics at Discogs (English)
- Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics on Myspace
- Official website