Ahh... vintage 1983. Metallica's Kill 'em All, Motorhead's Another Perfect Day, Iron Maiden's Piece of Mind, Accept's Restless and Wild and even Def Leppard's Pyromania were ALL released in 1983. And so was the great Plasmatics' record, Coup d'état. This record would go on to be THE record of the Plasmatics career and still holds up today.
What do you think of when I mention Wendy O (Orleans, if you never knew what the "O" stood for!)Williams? The platinum blond mohawk? The black electrical tape over her nipples? The chainsaw she used to cut up stuff on stage? What ever it is, Wendy O is legendary & the reissue of the classic Coup d'état CD (reissued by Caroline Records) shows her in ALL of her glory.
10 songs of pure Punk/Metal glory. Wendy O was one of a kind and Coup d'état is the Plasmatics swan song. Produced by the German genius, Dieter Dierks (Accept, UDO & Scorpions) and also engineered by wizard Michael Wagner, Coup d'état not only is the Plasmatics best sounding record, but is also features their strongest material. From the lead off rocker, "Put Your Love In Me", Wendy O takes charge. This is a powerful song and statement to start off ANY record, much less one from 1983. Now kiddies remember, this is 1983 NOT 2008! A chick saying put your love in me wasn't the norm back then. Who could have known that in 2008 that would be tame to say?! A visionary of sorts?!
Coup d'état is a very solid record, for sure. And to be totally honest I had never heard it before. Yes, I knew about the Plasmatics before but I never really paid them much attention back then as a kid, but I knew Lemmy of Motorhead loved her & I started to pay a little attention as I grew older. But as this is really my first listen to this classic, it's great! Nowhere even close to what I had expected and I think this was their overall problem. Wendy O was so over the top and crazy that her antics WAY over shadowed their actual songs, which are great on this record. From the double bass pounding of "Mistress Of Taboo" to their perfect cover of Motorhead's classic "No Class", the Plasmatics were firing on all cylinders here.
Angry and having plenty to say, Wendy O gives such a great performance throughout. Check out "The Damned" and her Alice Cooper like delivery! The Plasmatics at this time were basically a trio with longtime and fellow platinum mohawked lead guitarist, Richie Stotts and rhythm guitarist Wes Beech. Wendy O Williams and the Plasmatics were ahead of their time and the entire Metal scene owes them a bit of thanks for doing what they believed in. Anyone besides me remember them on SCTV back in the early '80's (probably right around this same time) with John Candy and the "Fishin' Musician" show? HILAROUS!! And, YES she had the chainsaw in tow!!
If you've never heard Coup d'état it is a Metal MUST OWN. It sounds great, not dated in the slightest bit, as some other '80's records. Wendy is in top form and you even get to see her in that wonderful cut out bra! This is a powerful CD that finds the Plasmatics at their controversial best. Great songs, great attitude, RIP Wendy O! Now go and watch the classic "Reform School Girls"! Wendy O Rules!!
Thank god for these reissues keeping the '80's Metal scene alive & breathing!
Track Listing
1. Put Your Love In Me
2. Stop
3. Rock N Roll
4. Lightning Breaks
5. No Class
6. Mistress Of Taboo
7. Country Fairs
8. Path Of Glory
9. Just Like On TV
10. The Damned
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