Something I Learned Today

Punk Rock and Other Assorted Bullshit

The Plugz

October 10th, 2005 | Posted by: Eric | Category: 70's Punk


I’m not sure if Los Angeles’s The Plugz really were the first Latino American punk band, (claims I’ve read multiple places) but when it comes down to it does it really matter? Ethnicity aside, The Plugz 1978 debut 7″ is a classic punk record plain and simple. All three tracks from the Slash released disc have been comped on the Killed By Death/Bloodstains series, for good reason - they’re twitchy punk gems. Guitarist/vocalist Tito Larivva would form his own label Fatima to release the bands follow up 7″ and LP’s, 1979’s Electrify Me and 1981’s Better Luck. [Edit - Electrify Me wasn’t released on Fatima - it was released on the Plug label]
The LP’s are pretty good, but are tame when compared to the spitfire first single. Hard to believe this material is out of print considering the reissue craze of the past 10 years, but it appears this is the case. Take a listen:

From 1978’s Move 7″
Plugz - Move.mp3
Plugz - Mindless Contentment.mp3
Plugz - Let Go.mp3

From 1979’s Electrify Me LP
Plugz - The Cause.mp3
Plugz - Adolescent.mp3
Plugz - Berzerktown.mp3

Notes:

  • A nice Plugz bio
  • MXV’s post on the Plugz
  • Photo found here

    • 18 Comments so far

    1. Scott October 11th, 2005 4:13 am

      Damn, you beat me to a Plugz post by a day! Great band in any case. La Bamba is an mp3 player regular for me.

    2. johnny October 11th, 2005 5:46 am

      this is really good stuff,especially
      mindless contentment featuring exene
      on backup vocals(uncredited?)

    3. bro October 11th, 2005 12:42 pm

      there’s a live lp floating around that I’ve been trying to dig up…it’s called “Live at the Kit Kat Club”. Anyone heard it?
      That achin’ 7″ version is pretty good too…

    4. fred October 11th, 2005 1:35 pm

      Zeros predate the Plugz, as far as first Latino punk band, or maybe Mando and the Chili Peppers on Golden Crest in ‘57. Well I guess that’s not punk, just really greasy.

    5. fab October 11th, 2005 3:57 pm

      Yes Fred ! Dont forget the 60s punk scene from Mexico, Argentina, Peru….etc….

    6. fab October 11th, 2005 4:05 pm

      http://www.munster-records.com/catalogo/en-us/dept_101.html

    7. MXV October 11th, 2005 6:14 pm

      The first LP was on Plug Records and the second 7″ and second LP were on Fatima. Restless reissued both LPs a long time ago but those are out of print and I think they actually did CDs of both for a very short time, also out of print. If anyone kows where to find any of the band members, I’m looking to get in touch with them.

    8. Dog October 12th, 2005 1:26 am

      The Plugz also made the soundtrack to the porno movie “New Wave Hookers.” Don’t ask me how I know, I just know. OK, I saw that one … not that I’m a perv or anything.

    9. DJ Vee October 12th, 2005 8:54 am

      Actually, The first so called Latino punk band wa a band from East LA called The Stains who preceded The Plugz by a couple of years. “Sick and Crazy” was released; check it out.

    10. beef October 12th, 2005 1:29 pm

      can anyone put up that 7″ version
      of ‘achin’? I’ve got the album version, but I never wanted to pay $300 for the single….

    11. fred October 12th, 2005 1:52 pm

      I love that Stains album. It was recorded in ‘81 and finally released in ‘83. Zeros were ‘77

    12. Mike October 12th, 2005 10:30 pm

      right on, i have been search for plugz vinyl or CDs for a long time. only have heard them on the Repo Man soundtrack. and i was just thinking of them when i hit your link as well.

    13. chef October 13th, 2005 8:44 pm

      both plugz albums here w/ tracks from repo man….7 days only

      http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1WIP0CE2PB9Y00YJP5GVJ0MUTG

    14. Ekko October 17th, 2005 10:52 am

      haven’t hearda these guyz in yearz. used to love them. thanks

    15. Mike Howe December 1st, 2005 4:04 pm

      Nice page! That’s a cool picture, there seem to be precisely 3 pictures of the Plugz in existence. I rate Better Luck higher than Electrify Me. I wish someone would reissue these - regardless of their place in punk history, they’re really good records.

    16. David July 5th, 2006 1:30 am

      I found SILT by searching for Plugz info and mp3’s on Hype Machine. This site is awesome! Thank you so much! I wish I had the time to do what you’ve done here, but if I did, it would pretty much be SILT (I mean, Empty Skulls vol. 1?, nice!, you really get it man!). So thanks for putting in the time and providing the great files, band info, and links. Seriously, I would trust you to burn my old punk and new wave discs for posting on this site. One bummer re: the Plugz though. I was really looking for an mp3 of “Wordless”; that’s always been one of my favorites. If you’ve got it converted, please post it! Either way, keep up the good work, and thanks again!

    17. arsi July 25th, 2006 2:13 pm

      Thanks a lot, Plugz material is damn hard to find. Tito`s voice is so fucked up, especially in the Move 7″. :P

    18. Killed By Death Records » Blog Archive » Plugz - Move E.P. 7″ September 3rd, 2006 7:52 am

      […] The same goes for Let Go that’s been posted by the mighty Something I Learned Today. It actually sounds better there(trashier and beefier but it’s originally a really thin production) clocking in on 1:33 but the original version is 1:35. […]

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