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The Plugz
The Plugz
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California
Genre(s)	Rock, Chicano rock
Associated acts	Los Cruzados, Tito & Tarantula, The JuJu Hounds

The Plugz were a punk rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 1978. They, along with The Zeros, were the first Chicano punk bands. (There were, however, several Latino garage rock bands that predated the Plugz, notably Thee Midniters and Question Mark & the Mysterians). The Plugz melded the spirit of punk and Mexican music.

The band was initially composed of:

• Tito Larriva (Lead vocals/guitar)
• Charlie Quintana (Drums)
• Barry McBride (Bass/Backing vocals)

This lineup recorded the band's first album, Electrify Me (1979).

After McBride left (sometime in 1979-80), John Curry From the Flyboys joined but left to form Choir Invisible less than a year later. Although he did write the music for the title track to the second album Better Luck. The musicians on the band's second album, Better Luck (1981), were:

• Tito Larriva (Lead vocals/guitar)
• Charlie Quintana (Drums) (credited as "Chalo Quintana")

Guests:

• Gustavo Santaolalla (Bass/Guitars/Charango/Backing vocals)
• Anibal Kerpel (Keyboards)
• Steve Berlin (Saxophone)
• Bruce Fowler (Trombone)
• Steve Fowler (Saxophone)
• Brian Qualls (Piano)

Tony Marsico joined the band sometime in late 1980 as permanent bassist.

The band was formed in 1978 and was a contemporary of the bands featured in 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 Richie Valens' "La Bamba". They were contemporaries of other Latino punk bands The Brat and Los Illegals. The Plugz have a special place in the history of L.A. punk and are generally acknowledged as being the first D.I.Y. punk band in L.A. having started their own Fatima label to release their records.

The Plugz also feature prominently on the soundtrack to the movie Repo Man. They composed original instrumental music for the film, and performed "Hombre Secreto," a Spanish version of Johnny Rivers' "Secret Agent Man."

The Plugz accompanied Bob Dylan on his appearance on "Late Night With David Letterman" on 22 March 1984 for three songs: "Don't Start Me Talkin'" (by Sonny Boy Williamson), "Jokerman", and "Licence to Kill". After their break-up, three members of the Plugz went on to form the Cruzados.

Contents 1 Discography 2 Track listing - Electrify Me (1979) 3 Track listing - Better Luck (1981) 4 Trivia 5 See also 6 External links

• "Move // Mindless Contentment / Let Go" single on Slash Records (1978)
• Electrify Me (1979)
• "Achin' / La Bamba" single on Fatima Records (1981)
• Better Luck (1981)
• Los Angelinos - the eastside renaissance (compilation)(1983)
• Repo Man soundtrack (1984)
• Bob Dylan & The Plugz (1984)
• New Wave Hookers soundtrack - Electrify Me (1985)

1. "A Gain - A Loss" (Tito Larriva)
2. "The Cause" (Tito Larriva)
3. "Electrify Me" (Tito Larriva)
4. "Satisfied Die" (Tito Larriva/Barry McBride)
5. "La Bamba" (public domain)
6. "Adolescent" (Tito Larriva)
7. "Braintime" (Tito Larriva)
8. "Wordless" (Tito Larriva)
9. "Let Go" (Tito Larriva/Barry McBride)
10. "Infection" (Tito Larriva)
11. "Berserktown" (Tito Larriva)

1. "Better Luck" (Tito Larriva/Curry)
2. "Red Eye #9" (Tito Larriva)
3. "Achin'" (Tito Larriva)
4. "American" (Tito Larriva)
5. "In The Wait" (Tito Larriva)
6. "El Clavo Y La Cruz" (Tito Larriva)
7. "Blue Sofa" (Tito Larriva)
8. "Touch For Cash" (Tito Larriva)
9. "Gas Line" (Tito Larriva)
10. "Cesar's Song" (Tito Larriva)
11. "Shifting Heart" (Tito Larriva)
12. "No Love" (Tito Larriva)

• The Plugz' song Adolescent was used in the film Scarred (1984).
• The Plugz' songs Reel Ten, El Clavo Y La Cruz and Hombre Secreto (Secret Agent Man) were used in the film Repo Man (1984) and appear on the soundtrack LP.
• The Plugz' song Electrify Me was used in the adult film New Wave Hookers (1985).

• After Barry McBride left the group, John Curry, formally of the Flyboys joined as a permanent member. Curry wrote the music for the title track of the second album Betterluck. Curry's name was buried in the credits of the album because Tito and Charlie were pissed off when he quit to form Choir Invisible. Both Tito and Charlie hold that grudge till this day.

• Chicano music

• The Plugz at All Music Guide
• The Plugz at MySpace
• "The Plugz – Biography and pictures", The ModPopPunk Archives (website), 2006.