Coup d'Etat (album)
Encyclopedia
Coup d'Etat is the third studio album released by punk/metal band The Plasmatics
in 1982.
In 1982, a deal was inked with Capitol Records
and Dan Hartman
offered to produce a demo of the album for Capitol with Rod at Electric Lady Studios
, Jimi Hendrix's
old studio, in NY. A demo was arranged, recorded and mixed within a week (and 20 years later would be rereleased as Coup de Grace
).
The album was recorded at Dierks Studios, near Cologne
, Germany
and was produced by Dieter Dierks
, who had just come off a number one album with the Scorpions
.
Coup d'Etat was a breakthrough album that began to blend the punk and metal genres, something that would later be done time and time again by bands such as S.O.D., Anthrax
, and the Cro-Mags
by the end of the 1980s. Wendy also broke ground for her unique singing style; she pushed her vocals so hard she had to travel into Cologne
each day for treatment to avoid permanent damage to her vocal cords.
Despite the band's rise in fame, the band was dropped by Capitol Record shortly after the album's release.
In 2005, Rock Candy Records re-released the album with expanded liner notes, bonus tracks, and a re-master of the entire original album.
The song "The Damned" was covered by German Thrash band Destruction
on the Mad Butcher
EP in 1987. During the 1990s, Beavis & Butt-Head showed the video often.
album," adding that, "Williams makes Ann Wilson
and Pat Benatar
sound like (the folk singer) Judy Collins
". The newspaper's question about whether a 'male-dominated' heavy metal audience would "accept a female screecher" (sp) underscored how ground breaking what Wendy was doing was. This was previously entirely male territory. As far as the sheer power of the vocals, the Aberdeen Press from Janis Joplin
's home state said that Wendy was "doing vocally what nobody since Janis Joplin" has done, while a review in Cream Magazine called it a "breakthrough" record, Wendy "an aggressive female," the review went on saying it was "kicking down traditional barriers". Wendy's "physicality...is (now) coming out of her voice." The Cream review, by Cyril Blight, attacked the sexism of those who "can't handle" or 'even resent the very idea of a woman like Wendy Williams singing rock and roll with ferocity-which is to say the same qualities they would applaud if they were coming from a man, providing there was a man around today with the balls to do that."
on their Creatures Of The Night
tour. It was during this time that Gene Simmons
approached manager Rod Swenson about producing the next Plasmatics album (ultimately becoming the initial Wendy O. Williams solo offering, W.O.W.
).
Plasmatics
The Plasmatics were an American heavy metal and punk band formed by Yale University art school graduate Rod Swenson with Wendy O. Williams. The band was a controversial group known for wild live shows that broke countless taboos...
in 1982.
In 1982, a deal was inked with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and Dan Hartman
Dan Hartman
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for such songs as: "Free Ride", "I Can Dream About You", "Instant Replay", "Love Sensation", and "Relight My Fire", all of which had world-wide success.-Career:Born in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg,...
offered to produce a demo of the album for Capitol with Rod at Electric Lady Studios
Electric Lady Studios
Electric Lady Studios, at 52 West 8th Street, in New York City's Greenwich Village, is a recording studio originally built by Jimi Hendrix and designed by John Storyk in 1970...
, Jimi Hendrix's
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
old studio, in NY. A demo was arranged, recorded and mixed within a week (and 20 years later would be rereleased as Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace (The Plasmatics album)
Coup De Grace is a postmortem released by punk / metal band The Plasmatics in 2000. The album is the original demo of the album Coup d'Etat....
).
The album was recorded at Dierks Studios, near Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and was produced by Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks is a German record producer mostly known for his collaboration with the rock band Scorpions.- Youth :...
, who had just come off a number one album with the Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
.
Coup d'Etat was a breakthrough album that began to blend the punk and metal genres, something that would later be done time and time again by bands such as S.O.D., Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, and the Cro-Mags
Cro-Mags
Cro-Mags are a hardcore punk turned crossover thrash band from New York City. The band, which had a strong cult following, released many records, their first two considered the most influential...
by the end of the 1980s. Wendy also broke ground for her unique singing style; she pushed her vocals so hard she had to travel into Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
each day for treatment to avoid permanent damage to her vocal cords.
Despite the band's rise in fame, the band was dropped by Capitol Record shortly after the album's release.
In 2005, Rock Candy Records re-released the album with expanded liner notes, bonus tracks, and a re-master of the entire original album.
The song "The Damned" was covered by German Thrash band Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
on the Mad Butcher
Mad Butcher
Mad Butcher, the second Destruction EP, is the fourth official release of the German thrash band Destruction. It was released in 1987 with a new grouping of the band...
EP in 1987. During the 1990s, Beavis & Butt-Head showed the video often.
Track listing
- "Put Your Love in Me" (Richie StottsRichie StottsRichard Eugene Stotts was the first guitarist and one of the founding members of the punk/metal group Plasmatics.In 1978, Richie was among the earliest musicians to sport a Mohawk,...
, Rod Swenson) - 3:55 - "Stop" (Wes Beech, Swenson) - 4:40
- "Rock 'n' Roll" (Stotts, Swenson) - 4:23
- "Lightning Breaks" (Beech, Swenson) - 3:58
- "No ClassNo Class"No Class" is a song by the heavy metal band Motörhead. It was released in 1979, in 7" vinyl pressings. The song first appeared on the 1979 album Overkill, and became one of the "cornerstones" of the classic 1981 live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith...
" (Eddie ClarkeEddie ClarkeEdward Allan Clarke better known as "Fast" Eddie Clarke, is a guitarist who was a member of British heavy metal bands Fastway and Motörhead.-Early days:...
, Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Taylor) - 2:36 - "Mistress of Taboo" (Stotts, Swenson) - 3:16
- "Country Fairs" (Beech, Swenson) - 3:37
- "Path of Glory" (Stotts, Swenson) - 4:45
- "Just Like on TV" (Beech, Swenson) - 3:17
- "The Damned" (Junior RomanelliChris RomanelliChris Romanelli was the bassist of the punk rock band Plasmatics from 1981 until 1983 and again in 1986 to 1987. He played on the Metal Priestess, Coup d'Etat and Maggots: The Record albums. After that, he had some brief stints with several other bands but largely faded from the music industry in...
, Swenson) - 4:21 - "Uniformed Guards (work-in-progress)" (Stotts, Swenson) - 4:07 *
- "Put Your Love in Me (demo)" (Stotts, Swenson) - *
- "Stop (demo)" (Beech, Swenson) *
- "Coup D'Etat Radio Ad" (previously unheard) *
- Bonus Tracks from 2005 Re-Issue
Personnel
- Wes Beech - rhythm guitar (lead guitar on "Just Like On TV", "No Class" and "Stop")
- Junior RomanelliChris RomanelliChris Romanelli was the bassist of the punk rock band Plasmatics from 1981 until 1983 and again in 1986 to 1987. He played on the Metal Priestess, Coup d'Etat and Maggots: The Record albums. After that, he had some brief stints with several other bands but largely faded from the music industry in...
- bass, keyboards - Richie StottsRichie StottsRichard Eugene Stotts was the first guitarist and one of the founding members of the punk/metal group Plasmatics.In 1978, Richie was among the earliest musicians to sport a Mohawk,...
- lead guitar - T. C. Tolliver - drums, percussion
- Wendy Orlean WilliamsWendy O. WilliamsWendy Orlean Williams , better known as Wendy O. Williams, was the lead singer for the American punk band the Plasmatics, as well as a solo artist...
- vocals
Reception
The LA Times called Coup d'Etat the "best slice of...heavy metal since the last AC/DCAC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
album," adding that, "Williams makes Ann Wilson
Ann Wilson
Ann Dustin Wilson is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, flute player, songwriter, and occasional guitar player of the rock band Heart.-Personal life:...
and Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States...
sound like (the folk singer) Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
". The newspaper's question about whether a 'male-dominated' heavy metal audience would "accept a female screecher" (sp) underscored how ground breaking what Wendy was doing was. This was previously entirely male territory. As far as the sheer power of the vocals, the Aberdeen Press from Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
's home state said that Wendy was "doing vocally what nobody since Janis Joplin" has done, while a review in Cream Magazine called it a "breakthrough" record, Wendy "an aggressive female," the review went on saying it was "kicking down traditional barriers". Wendy's "physicality...is (now) coming out of her voice." The Cream review, by Cyril Blight, attacked the sexism of those who "can't handle" or 'even resent the very idea of a woman like Wendy Williams singing rock and roll with ferocity-which is to say the same qualities they would applaud if they were coming from a man, providing there was a man around today with the balls to do that."
Tour
In early 1983, as a part of the support for the album and an attempt to continue their transition toward a metal audience, the band opened for KissKISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
on their Creatures Of The Night
Creatures of the Night
Creatures of the Night is the tenth studio album by Kiss. It is the band's last album for Casablanca Records, the only label the group had ever recorded for up to that point...
tour. It was during this time that Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
approached manager Rod Swenson about producing the next Plasmatics album (ultimately becoming the initial Wendy O. Williams solo offering, W.O.W.
W.O.W.
W.O.W. is the first solo studio album released by Wendy O. Williams in 1984 after her group, the Plasmatics, broke up .In 1982, KISS asked for Wendy and the Plasmatics to appear as a Special Guest on their tour...
).