The Plastik

Enter

In 1984 The Plastik were on the verge of International success. They had just signed to the independent label 'Sankevision' and were tipped by many to be the next big thing. Their sound was edgy, heartfelt and inspiring.

Gary Severaux met Leith Nuham at Goldsmiths College, London in the winter of 81 and it was there that they connected musically. 'I thought I'd found my soulmate' - Gary Severaux. 'He was everything I was looking for in a man. I wanted to take on the world. Gary was my ammunition' - Leith Nuham.

They left college and both moved to Paris, armed with two keyboards, a guitar and their beloved book of Baudelaire poetry.

Living poorly for 12 months they spent every spare minute writing poetry, music and a joint novel, entitled 'Moon Machine'. The novel was never completed. It remains missing.

Playing the nightclubs of Paris they began to create a buzz in the industry. Their big moment came after a gig at 'La Chien'. They blew the roof off and in doing so, attracted the attention of Jean Tatlere, of 'Sankevision'.

He immediately signed them up. 'I had never seen or heard anything like it in my life before...it was like having sex with a butterfly. Strange but beautiful' - Jean Tatlere.

Over the next few months, an album was produced and fame beckoned.

And then tragedy. In March 1984 Gary Severaux and Leith Nuham went missing.

Rumours were rife. Had they been frightened off by the thought of fame. Had they escaped the expected spotlight? Had they been kidnapped? Murdered by a mentally unstable fan, much like John Lennon.

Rather spookily, the most common rumour of them all is suicide. It was thought that both Gary and Leith were both morbidly passionate about the afterlife and very often spent evenings trying to contact demons. Is this true? Had they both killed themselves? Whatever the truth, Jean Tatlere's actions two months after their deaths was extraordinary. Jean destroyed all of 'The Plastik' recordings in a fire at his home. He then drove to a desolate location on the edge Paris and stabbed himself in the heart. Why? Was he possessed by an evil force? A quote from Gary Severaux in September 1982 suggests so. 'I try and get on with Jean, but, I dunno, there's something going on behind that guy's eyes that makes me think he's got the devil sucking at his brain'. Chilling, I think you'll agree.

And so to 2005. In May of this year, over 40 hours of recorded material was found in the basement of a three story house that Gary and Leith had shared in the summer of 82. Amazingly, the music is alive, even if the artists aren't. Or are they?

I, Martin Grashen, was the man who found the recordings. I feel totally privelaged to be the keeper of such extraordinary work, and I also feel that it is my duty to awaken the world to Gary and Leith's inspiring work. Over the next few months I hope, little by little, to introduce you, via the internet, to the work of The Plastik. Tragedy surrounds this music. So tender, so fragile. So unique.

Please, Open your ears. Let genius in.

Yours,

Martin Grashen

MacIDOL Mac Music Community

Saturday 11th of October 2008Updated: 27 Aug 2008 10:21 AM
Copyright The Plastik All rights reserved. All material on this site is protected by international copyright laws.

iFingers Web Design, London