& Wendy O. Williams unofficial website Please also check out James Lewis' site at: http://www.triskelion.net/plasmatics/index.html May 28, 1949April 6, 1998 "It's My Life" Wendy Orlean Williams
& Wendy O. Williams unofficial website
Please also check out James Lewis' site at:
http://www.triskelion.net/plasmatics/index.html
May 28, 1949April 6, 1998
"It's My Life"
Wendy Orlean Williams
The Silence of A Lamb
I'm not really quite sure what to say as I write this, but I feel it's necessary to acknowledge the anniversary of Wendy's death. It's all still very surprising to me...as a fan of many years, and since her retirement, I had always hoped there would be a new album, maybe a tour...and after speaking to her in December of '97, I thought for sure we would see a re-emergence of Wendy in some form--maybe as a guest on 'Politically Incorrect', or even an article in Vegetarian Times. Rumor has it that Fox wanted her for a role as a tough, tattooed biker chick in a movie--a movie that was also slated to become a TV series. That would have been great.
Not long after our conversation, I was walking down the street here in New York and noticed a large whole foods/health store that was to open soon. My mind immediately raced to the possibility that Wendy might be opening it. Sure, she lived in another state, but maybe...just maybe. Wrong! Damn! Ah well, hope springs eternal, and the 20th anniversary of The Plasmatics would surely mean some kind of public notice.
The public notice we got, however, was far from the joyous reunion tour so many of us had hoped for. I so clearly remember my friend Kris calling to tell me the news--it was late on April 7th that the local Hartford TV station had aired the report. I was speechless. It had already been a tough day--it was the anniversary of my mom's passing (her birthday too), and this put me over the top. I could not believe what I heard, and having once gotten myself into a more communicative state, I called the TV station who confirmed the news and even faxed me the press release sent out by Rod Swenson. The sad news still rings hard in my ears.
I could go on for quite some time about the various and sundry thoughts that have crossed my mind since Wendy's death--the "why's" of it all and such, but those are things we'll never know--private hells are not for public knowledge, and tho' her act was so very sad, one cannot deny her the right to have taken such action, no matter how difficult it is to understand. No one is in a position to second guess what may be running wild in another person's mind. That being said, I do have some thoughts as to why her legions of fans were/are so effected by her death.
I could probably best sum up this fan's affinity for Wendy by using the analogy of 'realness'. Those who have seen the movie 'Paris Is Burning' understand what I mean...if you haven't seen it, rent it. The 'realness' in the movie revolves primarily around the lives of drag queens and trans-sexuals and their journey to be perceived not as some clown, but as a woman, a secratery, or even a police officer--nothing fancy, just an ordinary, everyday person in the world. Wendy was like that; ordinary, everyday and somehow so much more tangible as a celebrity, specifically a rock 'n roller. In a society such as we have today, it is the rare breed indeed that can keep in touch with the people that support them by buying records and attending shows. Time and again, one can see Wendy as perhaps the only example of this phenomenon. Wendy's ability to relate to her fans was no 'act'--she seemed to relish the give and take of a show--performing, getting applause, and on and on. It was a nice relationship, it was 'real'. I think her fans will always remember what she gave us, and cherish it.
Obituaries Remembering Wendy Speeches from the memorial-under construction Wendy,.....We love you, we miss you.
Obituaries
Remembering Wendy
Speeches from the memorial-under construction
Wendy,.....We love you, we miss you.
I can remember the very first time I heard The Plasmatics--it was 1980, and my sister's friend Dave was over, playing the 'Butcher Baby' 12" EP. At the time I walked in the room, 'Living Dead' (live!) was on. The music was unlike anything I had ever heard before; raw, loud, visceral, energetic, and overwhelming--it moved through me like an intangible force--I didn't 'listen' to it, I felt it, and I was hooked.
In May of 1981, I saw the band live for the first time--it was great. It was one of the best shows I have ever attended--you should have seen that caddy blow!
Anyway, it's some 18 years later, and I'm still going on about The Plasmatics and Wendy O. Williams, but now, through the miracles of modern technology, I can share my enthusiam about the band with fans like myself, from around the world. I hope to make this page informative, and enjoyable, while serving as a supplemental source of information to James' fine site about the band and its members.
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DISCLAIMER:
This is an independent, non-commercial website. I do not have any affiliation (financial or otherwise) with The Plasmatics, it's members, or management. The opinions expressed herein are mine, or creditted to a source as possible. This is a free website, and is run for the sole purpose of warehousing and disseminating information about the band and it's members for fans like myself.
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