Plastics (group)
Encyclopedia
Plastics—or, alternately, The Plastics—were a short-lived Japan
ese new wave
music group prominent in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their music was a major influence on Japanese pop music and their songs have been covered by many bands, most notably Polysics
and Pizzicato Five
.
Perhaps their greatest exposure came from their appearance on the late night comedy show SCTV
on NBC
performing "Top Secret Man".http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sihmQWFKxpY
, 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.
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 new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
music group prominent in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their music was a major influence on Japanese pop music and their songs have been covered by many bands, most notably Polysics
Polysics
is a Japanese new wave and rock band from Tokyo, who dubs its unique style as "technicolor pogo punk". It was named after a brand of synthesizer, the Korg Polysix. The band started in 1997, but got their big break in 1998 at a concert in Tokyo...
and Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five
Pizzicato Five was a Japanese pop group best known to audiences in the West in their later incarnation as a duo of Maki Nomiya and Yasuharu Konishi...
.
Perhaps their greatest exposure came from their appearance on the late night comedy show SCTV
Second City Television
Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.- Premise :...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
performing "Top Secret Man".http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sihmQWFKxpY
Biography
The bands Talking HeadsTalking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
, The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
and Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
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
Toshio Nakanishi
Toshio Nakanishi aka Tycoon-to$h is a musician and an artist who is best known as the founding member of Plastics in 1976. He was a part of techno pop fever in Japan and first pioneer of Japanese Hip Hop scene with Major Force...
designed a tour program book for Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
and slipped David Byrne
David Byrne (musician)
David Byrne is a musician and artist, best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the American new wave band Talking Heads, which was active between 1975 and 1991. Since then, Byrne has released his own solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography,...
a tape of Plastics demos. Byrne promptly sent it to the B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
' manager who offered to represent them internationally.
Lineup
- Chica SatoChica SatoChica Sato sang with The Plastics and then went on to form Melon with Toshio Nakanishi.-References:...
- vocal - Toshio NakanishiToshio NakanishiToshio Nakanishi aka Tycoon-to$h is a musician and an artist who is best known as the founding member of Plastics in 1976. He was a part of techno pop fever in Japan and first pioneer of Japanese Hip Hop scene with Major Force...
- vocal, guitar & percussion - Hajime Tachibana - guitar & vocal
- Masahide Sakuma - keyboards, guitar & bass programming
- Takemi Shima - rhythm box
Albums
- Welcome Plastics (1979) Originally came with a 7" flexi disc of their version of the Monkees hit "Last Train to ClarksvilleLast Train to Clarksville"Last Train to Clarksville" was the debut single by The Monkees, released August 16, 1966, and later included on the group's 1966 self-titled album, that was released on October 10, 1966. The song was recorded at RCA Victor Studio B in Hollywood, on July 25, 1966...
." - 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).