The Plasmatics were a controversial punk rock/heavy metal band that was formed by Yale University art school graduate Rod Swenson (who became their manager) and lead vocalist and front woman Wendy Orlean Williams.  In many ways performance artists more than rock musicians, their concerts and rock videos featured exploding television sets and speaker cabinets, car crashes, and chain-sawing guitars in two.  Wendy O. Williams wore a Mohawk hairdo in her days with the band and typically appeared in as little clothing as possible; she was once arrested for public indecency in Milwaukee. 

In 1982, the Plasmatics toured as the opening act for KISS; at the conclusion of the tour, the band’s relationship with Capitol Records was frayed to the breaking point, so KISS frontman Gene Simmons approached Wendy O. Williams and Rod Swenson about recording their next album without the Plasmatics name.  The result was released as a solo album by Wendy O. Williams called W.O.W. (1984) – with the album’s name taken from Williams’ initials – though the band’s website says that W.O.W. is still regarded as a Plasmatics album.  Three members of KISS played on the album, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, with the latter credited as Reginald Van Helsing; Simmons also produced the album.  Remarkably, Wendy O. Williams was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 1985, evidently for this album. 

(December 2013)