10 Years of Revolutionary Rock 'n' Roll [Video]

Overview

As the turbulent 1980s gave way to the hedonistic 1980s, few bands would achieve such notoriety as The Plasmatics. Fronted by fearless singer Wendy O. Williams, whose formidable mohawk would leave a lasting impression on the punk rock kids of the Reagan-era, The Plasmatics truly took their music to extremes - as evidenced by the fact that they were banned in London and arrested in Milwaukee on "public indecency" charges. Though Wendy O' Williams may be gone, the legacy of the Plasmatics lives on in this feature-length documentary that speaks with critics, fans, and living band members to offer the definitive portrait of the punk icons who penned such classics as "Black Leather Monster", "Butcher Baby", and "Tight Black Pants".

Product Details

Release Date:	11/21/2006
UPC:	0022891452294
Original Release:	2006
Source:	MUSIC VIDEO DIST.***
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	3:11:00
Sales rank:	35,893

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Wendy O'Williams	Performer,Musician
Wendy O. Williams	Primary Artist
Plasmatics	Primary Artist
The Plasmatics	Performer

Technical Credits

Editorial Reviews

Wendy O. Williams was arguably the most controversial figure to emerge from the New York punk rock scene in the '70s and '80s; as lead singer with the Plasmatics, Williams was a fearless statuesque blonde with a towering mohawk who brayed with an uncommon ferocity, dressed in a defiantly provocative manner that was a bold challenge to sexual mores, and routinely destroyed guitars, televisions, automobiles, and other consumer goods as part of her stage act. Paired with the Plasmatics' wall of frantic guitar noise, Williams was one of the most over the top personalities in a scene that prided itself on being an affront to public decency. 10 Years of Revolutionary Rock 'n' Roll is a documentary that follows the wild ride of Wendy and the Plasmatics as they rose from a curiosity on the Bowery club scene in New York to headlining major shows around the world. Along with archival footage of the Plasmatics on-stage and interviews with surviving members and folks who worked with the band, 10 Years of Revolutionary Rock 'n' Roll also includes interviews with journalists and archivists who discuss the group's musical and cultural impact. In many respects, the film feels a bit more like a fan club reel than an objective documentary, given the fulsome praise that's heaped upon the band and the repeated insistence that they were more extreme and groundbreaking than any other band (especially when it's opined that the Plasmatics had a greater impact than the Sex Pistols or the Clash). The editing of the interviews is a bit curious as well, with enough obvious cuts to make one wonder just how the comments were pieced together, and Williams' post-Plasmatics career and sad death don't even rate a mention. But while the jury is still out on the Plasmatics' ultimate musical worth, they inarguably opened many eyes and ears to punk rock in the heartland and brought punk and metal together long before it was fashionable, and 10 Years of Revolutionary Rock 'n' Roll gives Wendy and company their due, telling their story with a genuine appreciation of their accomplishments and a clear understanding of the time line. ~ Mark Deming