Plasmatics and WOW Errata

Movies

• Candy Goes to Hollywood - In this 1979 porno, we find Wendy making one of her first film appearances, and boy is it a doozie! Though only on camera for about five minutes, Wendy is definitely the star of this flick. In a porn imitation of the Gong Show (come on, you all remember that classic), Wendy shows off her talented "pelvic muscles" in this display of adroit Ping-Pong ball-shooting talent. Way to go, Wendy!
• Reform School Girls - Wendy plays the character "Charlie", and is one of the main stars of this 1986 movie. A total take on the JD movies of the 50's this one has it all - sexual abuse, suicide, sadistic wardens, chain gangs, and lots of flesh! Produced by New World Pictures, if you haven't seen it yet, where have you been? Check out the reminiscences of writer / director / producer, Tom DeSimone, on working with Wendy O. in the Gallery!
• Slamdance - 1987 movie starring Tom Hulce. I've yet to verify this one, but apparently there's a party scene which includes our favorite guitarist, Richie Stotts!
• Young Doctors in Love - Haven't seen this one, but it seems that there's about a 20-second cameo by the Plasmatics in the end.
• 9½ Weeks - I haven't seen this one, but Richie Stotts does a brief cameo in this cheesy "erotic" movie with Kim Basinger. He's recognizable by the distinct mohawk and chainsaw tattoo in a party scene near the end of the flick.
• Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog - 1990 movie, available on Fries Home Video, 94 minutes. Hmmm . . . what to say about this one? Generally an atrocious movie, this one is chock full of bad acting, an innane story line, and forgettable characters. This one-star flick has but one saving grace--Wendy O.! Wendy plays a character named "Butch", whose sole role consists of dominating, whipping, and degrading the protagonist, Max. Wendy is the diamond in the rough in this stinker . . . keep your finger on the fast-forward button!

Concert Videos

Wendy O. Williams - Live! - This 1985 concert at Camden Palace is the only "legal" video available by WOW or the Plasmatics. It's 56 minutes long, has guest appearances by Lemmie and Wurzel of Motorhead, and it's released by Embassy Video.

Television

• Fridays - In this Saturday Night Live rip-off aired on ABC on 16 Jan 1981, the Plasmatics played Living Dead and Butcher Baby.
• Tomorrow with Tom Snyder - Tom Snyder, who was recently back on the airwaves, showcased the Plasmatics and Wendy on two shows. On the first, aired 3 Mar 1981, Wendy and the boys perform two songs, A Pig is a Pig and Butcher Baby, wherein Wendy destroys a TV and saws a guitar in half, respectively. Also, we've got an interview with Wendy about her Milwaukee cop abuse case. In the second show, aired a couple of months later, they do Headbanger and Masterplan, with Wendy destroying a Chevy in the second song. Rumor has it that the car destruction is what led to Tomorrow being taken off the air. Seems that ol' Tom must have had a hankering for our Wendy!
  Tom, quite respectably I might add, mentioned Wendy's death in his show on the 8th of April, 1998. Apparently, Tom says that they blew up a Ford Pinto (not a Chevy).
• Afternoon Exchange - In this locally-produced Cleveland, Ohio show, aired on 7 Apr 1981, we have an interview with Wendy about yet another obscenity rap - which she defeated, of course!
• SCTV - The Plasmatics played The Doom Song on this show, aired 14 Oct 1981, while participating in the hilarious Fishing Musician skit with the late John Candy.
• Solid Gold - Hard to believe, but the Plasmatics played on this classic of cheese TV. On the show, aired 11 Nov 1981, they played Black Leather Monster with Wendy cutting a guitar in half. We also see her talking to that ugly little marionnette they had on there - you can tell she thinks it's completely ridiculous. In an e-mail from Chris "Junior" Romanelli, the bassist of the Plasmatics, he affectionately notes that Andy Gibb was a prick.
• Entertainment Tonight - Wendy and the Plasmatics also made an appearance on Entertainment Tonight in December 1981. The 5-minute piece featured clips from their appearance on Solid Gold (doing BLM, of course) and had a brief but spicy interview with Wendy. Thanks to Stephen for info on this one . . . (The host is definately the guy from ET, but I didn't think ET was around in 1981--anyone?)
• USA Nightflight - Wendy did a half hour interview on this show that aired in the mid '80s.
• Sky Tracks - This 1985 UK show has an interview with Wendy corresponding to her European tour in support of the WOW album. It also contains her It's My Life video.
• Sally Jesse Raphael Show - Wendy was a guest on Sally's show when it was still a local half-hour production in St. Louis. She was there to promote her appearance in the Rocky Horror Show play production. Pretty interesting--for her grand entrance, Wendy saws her way through a wall, and follows that by Wendy giving Sally a big smack on the lips!
• The Joan Rivers Show - Wendy was a guest on Joan's show in 1986, along with Connie Seleca and Elliot Gould. Apparently she played Hoy Hey (Live to Rock) and a cleaned-up version of Fuck that Booty (Work that Muscle). (Thanks to Bill) Rumor has it that Wendy made an additional appearance on the final Joan Rivers show, along with guests Peewee Herman and Howie Mandell. Apparently after the last station break, the show comes back on with the set trashed (Wendy tearing up the place again, I guess . . .) and the guests all laughing and carrying on. (Thanks to Marc)
• MacGyver - Wendy played a character named "Big Mama" in episode #111, Harry's Will, aired on 5 Nov 1990. Wendy's a tough biker-chick who drives a monster trike, with Dick Butkus playing her stooge boy. The plot consists of the hunt for a hidden $1 million diamond pendant. This episode has some great weird actors in it, including Henry Winkler and "Mrs. C" from Happy Days, among others.
• Donahue - Wendy was on Donahue during the big "Rock Against Censorship" thing in the late '80s. Unfortunately, she's pretty much drowned out by that idiot Luther Campbell (2-Live Crew), and Jello Biafra. She should have kicked their asses. Does anyone know when this aired?
• Morton Downey, Jr. - Someone seems to believe that Wendy was on this obnoxious talk show with the "Mouth", Morton Downey, Jr. Anybody else heard of this one, or got any proof?
• Beavis & Butthead - I'm not sure if MTV qualifies as television, but the Plasmatics video The Damned was on a B&B episode originally aired 20 Sep 1993. Quite a good one, actually!
• MTV's Headbanger's Ball - Wendy hosted an edition of this metal show on MTV in 1987 or so. Pretty entertaining, plus she play's her own videos!

Books

Your Heart in Your Mouth (The First Four Years) - 1982, Raging Rhino Entertainment. This Plasmatics fan book includes a complete discography (only up to '82 of course), lyrics, a tour calender, a ton of pictures, and a blow-by-blow account of the rise of Wendy and the Plasmatics! A must-have for any die-hard fan. (My thanks goes out to Gunnar for finally hooking me up with a copy, and to Michael for the scans!)

Magazines

Men's Magazines

• Cheri Magazine - Apparently Wendy was in an issue of this men's magazine. Not only in it, but on the cover, licking the end of a shotgun! Also contains an interview with the Stranglers. (Thanks to John)
• PUB - Oct 1980?. A short two-page article was in this Men's magazine. Most of the first page was a b&w picture of Wendy O. wearing whipped cream and not much else. (Thanks to Jon)
• Club International - Oct 1981. This is a Canadian men's magazine, which apparently had a great couple pages of live photos.
• Velvet - Nov 1981. Another of Wendy's men's magazine appearances. (Thanks Bill)
• High Society - Nov 1981. Wendy's on the cover of this one!
• Swank - Not sure of issue date. There's a six-page article on the Plasmatics and Wendy in an issue of this men's mag.
• Superstars of Sex - Jul 1983. (Issue #3). Wendy was in this publication produced by Swank magazine, although the pictures are mostly outtakes from Candy.
• Playboy - Dec 1980 and Oct 1986. You don't think that Wendy would miss a chance at the classic of men's magazines, Playboy? Not satisfied with a conventional spread, in the 1986 issue we have Wendy jumping out of an airplane in the nude (except for the requisite safety equipment, of course). In the words of the editor, "Outrageous!"
  

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  Mainstream Magazines

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• D.I.Y. - Mar 1981. Plasmatics cover & 2 pages inside of this newspaper-style rock magazine.
• US - 9 Jun 1981. US Magazine did a four-page feature on Wendy in this issue.
• High Times - Jul 1981. The Plasmatics were in the Sounds section of issue #71 of everyone's favorite doper magazine.
• Creem - Sep 1981. Check out this interview with Edouard Dauphin in the Gallery!
• People - 25 Jul 1983, 2 Jul 1984, and 29 Apr 1985. The first one includes a 5 page "Bio" story on Wendy, while the 1984 issue has a blurb on the "Take One" page about her doing her own stunts on the It's My Life video. The Apr 1985 issue had a little blurb on Wendy doing the Rocky Horror Picture Show in St. Louis. Wendy and the Plasmatics were also in a couple of other small articles in this mag over the years.
• Vegetarian Times - Jul 1984. Wendy is the cover story of this issue, which includes one of her recipes for salad dressing - check the Gallery if you want to cook like Wendy! (You all knew she was a vegetarian, didn't you?)
• Kerrang! - Wendy has a cover story in the 12-25 Jul 1984 issue (#72) of this UK metal magazine. The 3-16 Apr 1986 issue also contains a Wendy spread.
• National Lampoon - Wendy did a little piece in a 1985? issue about men being "Crotch Grabbers"!
• People - 27 Apr 1998. Wendy's obit from that loyal rag... We've even got a scan of it!
• Pulse - July 1998 issue. Has a brief article on Wendy, and separate pictures of Richie, Chosei, Jean, Stu, and Wes from the reunion/tribute show. (Thanks Bob!)

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