Demetra Plakas
Encyclopedia
Demetra "Dee" Plakas is an American
musician, best known for being the drummer
in the all-female rock
band L7
. She was preceded by Roy Koutsky.
before, she purchased a set and learned to play as the band practiced in the basement of bass
player Algis Kizys
's house.
In the thriving Chicago
punk
scene, the band played sporadic gigs at places like Space Place and O'Banion's, opening for The Bangles
at The Metro. They also released a single, "City Hall/ You Are The Knife", following the departure of Kizys in 1982. The band went through several personnel changes, with original bandmates Plakas, Rick Radtke and John Connors reforming in Los Angeles
as Pirate Radio.
group L7
, who went on to release six studio albums, with 1992
's Bricks Are Heavy
including the hit single Pretend We're Dead
.
In 1993, Dee and her L7 band mate Jennifer Finch
supported Japan
ese musician Hide
on a couple of TV performances, they also appear in the original promotional video for his song "Doubt".
The group disbanded in 2001.
. She later married Kirk Canning, who played cello
on Nirvana
's Nevermind
, and settled in Santa Monica
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician, best known for being the drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
in the all-female rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
. She was preceded by Roy Koutsky.
Early bands
Plakas joined a punk band called Problem Dogs as their drummer. Although she had never played drumsDrum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
before, she purchased a set and learned to play as the band practiced in the basement of bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player Algis Kizys
Algis Kizys
Algis Kizys is a New York City bass guitarist most well-known for his long-time membership in No Wave indie band Swans. First joining Swans on 1986s Greed LP, he stayed with the group through The Great Annihilator...
's house.
In the thriving Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene, the band played sporadic gigs at places like Space Place and O'Banion's, opening for The Bangles
The Bangles
The Bangles are an American all-female band that originated in the early 1980s, scoring several hit singles during the decade.-Formation and early years :...
at The Metro. They also released a single, "City Hall/ You Are The Knife", following the departure of Kizys in 1982. The band went through several personnel changes, with original bandmates Plakas, Rick Radtke and John Connors reforming in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
as Pirate Radio.
L7
In 1987, Plakas joined rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
, who went on to release six studio albums, with 1992
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
's Bricks Are Heavy
Bricks Are Heavy
Bricks Are Heavy is the third album by the Los Angeles band L7, released in April 1992 through Slash Records. Backed by the single "Pretend We're Dead", the album became a breakthrough hit and the band became the "poster girls" of grunge music....
including the hit single Pretend We're Dead
Pretend We're Dead
"Pretend We're Dead" is a 1992 song by all-female grunge band L7, from the album Bricks Are Heavy. The song was written and sung by Donita Sparks. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. The song is also featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Rock Band 2...
.
In 1993, Dee and her L7 band mate Jennifer Finch
Jennifer Finch
Jennifer Finch , born August 5, 1966, is an American photographer and musician, notable for her involvement in the all-female punk rock group L7.-Music:...
supported Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese musician Hide
Hide (musician)
, better known by his stage name hide , was a popular Japanese musician. He was primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan from 1987 to 1997...
on a couple of TV performances, they also appear in the original promotional video for his song "Doubt".
The group disbanded in 2001.
2000 sex contest
Plakas is perhaps most infamous for a contest in which L7 raffled a one-night stand with their drummer.Post-L7
Plakas went on to play in solo projects by both herself and former L7 member Donita SparksDonita Sparks
Donita Sparks is a vocalist, guitarist and song-writer in Los Angeles, California. In addition to performing with her most recent band Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments, she is also the co-founder, along with Suzi Gardner, of grunge band L7...
. She later married Kirk Canning, who played cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
on Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
's Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
, and settled in Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
.