Wendy Orlean Williams

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WENDY ORLEAN WILLIAMS (WENDY O. WILLIAMS)

Wendy Orlean Williams (May 28, 1949 – April 6, 1998), better known as Wendy O. Williams, was an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Webster, New York, she first came to prominence as the lead singer of the punk rock band Plasmatics. Her infamous stage theatrics included blowing up equipment, near nudity and chain-sawing guitars. After releasing three albums with Plasmatics, Williams embarked on a solo career and in 1984 released her debut album, WOW. Williams made her screen debut in Tom DeSimone's film Reform School Girls (1986), for which she recorded the title song. (More from Wikipedia)

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. 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.

Wendy O. Williams released a solo album 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. Remarkably, Wendy O. Williams was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 1985, evidently for this album.

(December 2013)