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  • Of A Mesh

    Location: New York
    Active: 1983-1988

    Gothic rock band from New York that played often through the mid 1980s throughout the area along with bands like Chop Shop, Scarecrow, Brain Eaters, The Children’s Zoo, The Ochrana, Fahrenheit 451, and The Naked and the Dead. Formed around the nucleus of Alan Dollgener on vocals and Samara Lubelski’s violin, the rhythm and guitars changed semi-frequently over their duration. Of A Mesh is a reference to the 1943 silent film ‘Meshes of the Afternoon’ by Maya Deren. They released only two 12” EPs, several cassette demos, and an appearance on the Sorority Sampler compilation, but after 5 years the band called it quits in 1988. The various members moved on to other musical projects in indie rock, alternative and experimental music, and Lubelski performs to this day as of 2025. Alan Dollgener passed away in 1995, a victim of the AIDS pandemic. In 2012, Of A Mesh along with several of the above mentioned New York bands,  were featured on the Dark New York vinyl compilation.

    Related: Chop Shop, Scarecrow, Brain Eaters, The Children’s Zoo, The Ochrana, Fahrenheit 451, The Naked and the Dead, Sorority Sampler, Dark New York, New York, 1983

    Links:

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/479725-Of-A-Mesh

    Live performance video at CBGBs Black Ball, September 25, 1986 filmed by Greg Fasolino

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  • Basketcase

    April 2, 1982

    Directed by Frank Hennenlotter (Frankenhooker, Brain Damage) and depicts the long gone seedy Times Square of New York City where he grew up and debuted his first films. Centering around the revenge murders carried out by Duane and his deformed  brother Belial, Basketcase is truly an original application to the slasher genre that was becoming a popular formula ain the early 80s with films like Halloween and Friday the 13th. Made on a minuscule budget, the results have become one of horror’s cult classics and a must in any New York centric film collection next to Taxi Driver (in my opinion, anyway!). in 2017 the original 16mm print was restored for preservation by the Museum of Modern Art, receiving a remastered DVD release.

    Writer & Director: Frank Henenlotter
    Stars: Kevin VanHentenryck, Terri Susan Smith, Beverly Bonner

    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083624

  • The Plasmatics

    One of the very early bands to hit the metal music genres was New York’s Plasmatics, fronted by the legendary Wendy O. Williams. Taking the bombastic stage antics of Kiss and Alice Cooper and the no limits attitude, over-the-top speed and aggression of punk, The Plasmatics were a phenomenon all their own.

    Related: Metal, New York, Plasmatics, Wendy O. Williams, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Punk

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Wendy O. Williams

    At the forefront of the New York punk heavy metal band The Plasmatics was lead singer and female rock icon, the legendary Wendy O. Williams. Born May 28, 1949 – † April 6, 1998 she left home at an early age, eventually landing in New York City in 1976 where she joined The Plasmatics, a concept group of Rod Swenson. They were among the groups in the scene rising around CBGBs along with The Dead Boys, The Cramps and others. After several year’s career and problematic record deals, the Plasmatics split up in the 1980s. 

    Wendy O. released solo material under WOW, recording with artists like KISS and Lemmy from Motörhead, and starred in films like Reform School Girls and some television shows. Throughout her life she continually confronted issues like sexism in the music industry, promoted healthy eating and anti-drugs/smoking, eventually abstinence from alcohol as well. Towards the end of her life she lived in Connecticut with her long time companion and manager Rod Swenson, dedicating her life to healthy living and animal rescue and rehabilitation. In 1998 she took her own life.

    Related: Reform School Girls, New York, CBGBs, The Dead Boys, Motörhead

    Links:

    Official: https://plasmatics-com.3dcartstores.com/
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_O._Williams
    Discogs.com: https://www.discogs.com/artist/511193-Wendy-O-Williams

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • The Undead

    Location: New York
    Active: 1980-present

    After guitarist Bobby Steele was dismissed from The Misfits, he formed The Undead, which remained a fixture in the New York punk scene through the 80s and 90s. 

    Related: The Misfits, New York

    Links:

    Official: https://theundead.com
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undead
    Discogs.com: https://www.discogs.com/artist/294111-The-Undead-2

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Another State Of Mind

    March 1984

    Another State of Mind is a documentary film made in the summer of 1982 chronicling the adventure of two punk bands, Social Distortion and Youth Brigade, as they embark on their first international tour. Along the way they meet up with another band, Minor Threat.

    The film follows the bands through New York, Montreal, Detroit, Washington DC and other cities, and some of the people they meet along the way, showing the diverse backgrounds, expressions and lifestyles of punks in the 1980s.

    Writers & Directors: Adam Small, Peter Stuart

    Stars: Mike Ness, M. Otis Beard, Dennis Danell, Brent Liles

    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0198307