Plastics, or the Plastics, were a short-lived Japanese new wave band who rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s. originally issue #4 Audimat (in French). Their music was a major influence on Japanese pop music and their songs have been covered by many bands, most notably Polysics, Pizzicato Five, and Stereo Total.
In September 2007, Rolling Stone Japan ranked their debut album Welcome Plastics at No. 19 on their list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".
Biography Fellow new wave bands Talking Heads, The B-52's and Devo were fans of Plastics and were instrumental in getting their albums released in the United States. The band's mainstream exposure began when Toshio Nakanishi designed a tour program book for Talking Heads and gave their frontman David Byrne a tape of Plastics demos. Byrne promptly sent it to the B-52's' manager, who offered to represent them internationally.
The band used the Roland CR-68 and CR-78 drum machines for their early albums. In 1980, member Masahide Sakuma had some input on the Roland Corporation's development of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. When its development was complete, the Plastics owned the first TR-808 model, which they used on their 1981 album Welcome Back.Masahide Sakuma, ROLAND TR-808の記憶 , April 5, 2012
On February 19, 1982, NBC's late night comedy show SCTV aired the promotional video for Plastics' song "Top Secret Man" as part of the "Midnight Video Special" sketch, hosted by Gerry Todd (Rick Moranis).
Stereo Total's cover of their song "I Love You, Oh No!" (with the title amended to "I Love You Ono") was used in television commercials for Sony Ericsson in Europe around 2006 and by Dell computers in the US in 2009.
On January 16, 2014, Masahide Sakuma died from scirrhous gastric cancer and a brain tumor. He was 61. On May 10, 2016, Plastics got together to perform their final concert at Blue Note Tokyo. On February 25, 2017, Toshio Nakanishi died from esophageal cancer, also at the age of 61. The following year, the band released the recording of their final concert under the name A in memory of Nakanishi.
Band members – vocal, synth drums – vocal, guitar & percussion – guitar & vocal – keyboards, guitar & bass programming – rhythm box
Discography Studio albums YearTitle Notes1980Welcome Plastics Label: InvitationOrigato Plastico Label: Invitation1981Welcome Back Label: Invitation Re-recorded versions. Also known as Plastics. Originally came with a 7" picture flexi-disc of their version of the Monkees hit "Last Train to Clarksville" and Japanese B-side "Pate."
Live albums YearTitle Notes1997All Across the U.S.A. 80 Live Label: Speedstar Released: November 21, 1997 Recorded at Irving Plaza, New York, August 30, 1980, and Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles, April 23, 1980.2009Dr. Vobg Label: Bridge Inc. Released: August 15, 20092016We Love You Oh No! Plastics Live in Central Park NYC 1981 Label: T-Annex Released: April 16, 2016 Vinyl LP only.2018A Label: Victor Released: February 21, 2018 Live recording of the band's final reunion in 2016, with bonus disc containing five early demos.
Compilation albums YearTitle Notes1981Best One '82 プラスチックス Label: Invitation Cassette only.1988Forever Plastico Label: Invitation Released: November 1, 1988 Contains Welcome Plastics in its entirety and selected tracks from Origato Plastico.2005Hard Copy Label: P.S.C Ltd. Released: July 13, 2005 Live at Yaneura. Includes DVD U.S. Tour 1981.Origato25 Label: Speedstar Two-disc "greatest hits" compilation with four rare/new tracks.2013Plastic Paradise (Early Plastics Lost Tape) Label: K&B Publishers Released: July 8, 2013 Included with Toshio Nakanishi's book The Rise and Fall of Plastics, Melon and Major Force Be With You. Features five early demos and three live tracks from Q's Bar, all from 1977.
Singles YearTitle Notes1979"Top Secret Man" / "Copy" Label: Rough Trade Promo only."Copy" / "Robot" Label: Rough Trade Early recordings.1980 "Top Secret Man" / "Delicious" Label: Invitation "Good" / "Pate" Label: Invitation Non-album B-side. "Peace" / "Desolate" Label: Invitation1981 "Last Train to Clarksville" Label: Island One-sided limited edition promo. Re-recorded version. "Diamond Head" / "Peace" Label: Island Released: March 9, 1981 Gold flexi-disc promo. Re-recorded versions. "Pate" / "Last Train to Clarksville" Label: Island One-sided picture flexi-disc.
EPs YearTitle Notes1981 "Diamond Head (Long Version)" / "Robot" / "Top Secret Man" / "Peace" Label: Island 12" promo featuring re-recorded versions.
Selected compilation appearances YearTitle Track Notes2004 Techno Pop Label: BMG Released: August 25, 2004 "Pate" B-side of "Good" single.2010 Downtown 81 (12 Titres Extraits De La B.O. Du Film Culte) Label: Les Inrockuptibles Released: October 2010 "Copy" Early single version. Free CD sampler with French magazine Les Inrockuptibles issue N°46 Hors Série, dedicated to Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Notes The Plastics performed "Last Train to Clarksville" as a medley with other songs by the Monkees, namely "Star Collector" and "She".
References
External links Discography with notes by Nicholas D. Kent AllMusic Biography by Ian Martin
ExcavatingThe80's Tribute Trouser Press bio Band overview MySpace Profile (cached copy on the Way Back Machine)