Plastics (band)
| Plastics | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | New wave, post-punk, synthpop |
| Years active |
1976–1981 1989 2010 |
| Labels |
Rough Trade Invitation Island (UK) Victor Musical Industries, Inc |
| Associated acts |
Melon Tycoon Tosh Group of Gods Love T.K.O Major Force Skylab Hajime Tachibana & the Low Powers |
| Past members |
Chica Sato Toshio Nakanishi Hajime Tachibana Masahide Sakuma Takemi Shima Gota Yashiki |
Plastics, or The Plastics, were a short-lived Japanese new wave music group prominent in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[1] Their music was a major influence on Japanese pop music and their songs have been covered by many bands, most notably Polysics, Pizzicato Five, and Stereo Total.
Perhaps their greatest exposure came from their appearance on the late night comedy show SCTV on NBC performing "Top Secret Man". In September 2007, Rolling Stone Japan rated their debut album Welcome Plastics at No. 19 on their list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".[2]
Stereo Total's cover of their song "I Love You, Oh No" (Stereo Total changed the title slightly, to "I Love You Ono") was used in television commercials for Sony Ericsson in Europe around 2006 and by Dell Computers in the USA in 2009.[3]
Biography
The bands Talking Heads, The B-52's and Devo were all big fans of Plastics and were instrumental in getting their albums released in the United States. Their mainstream exposure began when Toshio Nakanishi designed a tour program book for Talking Heads and slipped David Byrne a tape of Plastics demos. Byrne promptly sent it to the B-52's' manager who offered to represent them internationally.
Lineup
- Chica Sato - vocal
- Toshio Nakanishi - vocal, guitar & percussion
- Hajime Tachibana - guitar & vocal
- Masahide Sakuma - keyboards, guitar & bass programming
- Takemi Shima - rhythm box
Discography
Albums
- Welcome Plastics (1979) Originally came with a 7" flexi disc of their version of the Monkees hit "Last Train to Clarksville."
- Origato Plastico (1980)
- Welcome Back (1981) Re-recorded versions. Also known as Plastics.
- Forever Plastico (1988) Contains Welcome Plastics and selected tracks from Origato Plastico.
- All Across the USA 80 Live (1997) Recorded at Irving Plaza, New York, Aug 30th 1980 and Whisky A Go Go, Los Angeles, April 23, 1980.
- Origato25 (2005) 2-disc greatest hits with 4 rare/new tracks
Singles
- "Copy" / "Robot" (1979) Early recordings.
- "Top Secret Man" / "Delicious" (1980)
- "Good" / "Pate" (1980) Non-album b-side.
- "Peace" / "Desolate" (1980)
- "Diamond Head" / "Peace" (1981) Flexi-disc promo. Re-recorded versions.
- "Pate" / "Last Train to Clarksville" (1981) Flexi-disc. Re-recorded versions.
- "Last Train to Clarksville" (1981) One-sided limited edition. Re-recorded version.
EPs
- "Diamond Head (Long Version)" / "Robot" / "Top Secret Man" / "Peace (1981)" 12" promo featuring re-recorded versions.
Compilation appearances
- Downtown '81 Soundtrack (2001) Track: "Copy" (early single version).
- Techno Pop (2004) Track: "Pate," b-side of "Good" 7" single (1980).
Notes
- "Last Train to Clarksville" is a remake of the Boyce and Hart penned song recorded by The Monkees.
- The Plastics also did live versions of "Last Train to Clarksville", "Star Collector" and "She" as a Monkees medley.*Youtube
References
- ↑ Marx, W. David. "The Plastics and Copy Anxiety". Neojaponisme. Retrieved 9 April 2016. originally issue #4 Audimat (in French).
- ↑ "English translation and summary of the Rolling Stone Japan article". neojaponisme.com. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
- ↑ Discovery Dell TV Commercial Ad
External links
- Discography with notes by Nicholas D. Kent
- Band overview
- Trouser Press bio
- MySpace Profile (cached copy on the Way Back Machine)