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The Plasmatics were formed in New York City in 1978 by Rod Swenson and Wendy O. Williams, who served as lead vocalist. The group emerged from Swenson’s performance‑art background and Williams’ notoriety in the punk scene, quickly gaining attention for their theatrical and destructive stage shows. Their debut EP, Butcher Baby, was released in 1978 and established the band’s reputation for shocking theatrics. In 1980 the band signed with Stiff Records and issued their first full‑length album, New Hope for the Wretched, which peaked at Number 55 on the UK Albums Chart and spawned the single "Butcher Baby", reaching Number 55 on the UK Singles Chart. The follow‑up albums Beyond the Valley of 1984 (1981) and Coup d’état (1982) continued to blend punk energy with heavy‑metal influences; Coup d’état was later reissued as Coup de Grace in 2000. The band’s 1987 release Maggots: The Record was noted for its concept‑album format and environmental themes. After a hiatus and various lineup changes, the group disbanded in the late 1980s. Wendy O. Williams passed away in 1998, and the Plasmatics’ catalog has since been reissued, maintaining a presence in punk and metal retrospectives.
