The band was formed in 1977 and was a contemporary of the bands featured in the film The Decline of Western Civilization. Their songs reflected the anger and angst of growing up Chicano, and this was reflected in their sardonic hi-speed version of Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba". The Plugz are generally acknowledged as being the first D.I.Y. punk band in L.A., having started their own PLUGZ RECORDS and later Fatima records.
Line up
The band was initially composed of:
Tito Larriva
Charlie Quintana
Barry McBride
This lineup recorded the band's first album, Electrify Me. Produced and engineered by Alan Kutner After McBride left, he was replaced by John Curry from The Flyboys, who left to form Choir Invisible less than a year later. Larriva and Curry wrote the title track to the second albumBetter Luck. The musicians on the band's second album, Better Luck, were:
Tito Larriva
Charlie Quintana
Guests:
Gustavo Santaolalla
Anibal Kerpel
Steve Berlin
Bruce Fowler
Steve Fowler
Brian Qualls
Tony Marsico joined the band in late 1980, and Steven Hufsteter began playing lead guitar with the group in 1984. With the addition of Steven Hufsteter on lead guitar, The Plugz also feature prominently on the soundtrack to the movie Repo Man. The group performed "Hombre Secreto," a Spanish version of Johnny Rivers' "Secret Agent Man", "El Clavo y la Cruz" and original instrumental background music for the film. Both "Hombre Secreto" and "Reel Ten", featured Hufsteter on lead guitar. Plugz bassist Tony Marsico and drummer Charlie Quintana accompanied Bob Dylan on his appearance on Late Night with David Letterman on 22 March 1984 for three songs: "Don't Start Me Talkin'", "Jokerman", and "License to Kill". In 1984, The Plugz name was retired and the three members continued as the Cruzados with Steven Hufsteter. The Plugz reunited the three founding members for The Masque 30th Anniversary Party and Book Release show on November 11, 2007 at The Echoplex in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles, California.
Discography
"Move // Mindless Contentment / Let Go" single on Slash Records
The Plugz' song Adolescent was used in the film Scarred.
The Plugz' songs El Clavo Y La Cruz and Hombre Secreto were used in the film Repo Man and appear on the soundtrack LP. The Plugz also composed the instrumental score for the movie, part of which appears on the soundtrack as Reel Ten.
The Plugz' song Electrify Me was used in the adult film New Wave Hookers.
The Plugz performed as Bob Dylan's backing band on Dylan's 1984 Late Night with David Letterman appearance.
