The Plastic People Of The Universe
The Plastic People Of The Universe were a Czech underground rock band, who were active from 1968 to 1989 under the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
In 1968 politician Alexander Dubček introduced important political and social reforms in Czechoslovakia, which went into history as the "Prague Spring". After a few months the USSR oppressed these reforms, whereupon "The Plastic People Of The Universe" saw the light. This rock band was heavily influenced by The Velvet Underground, The Fugs, The Doors, Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa, whose songs they often covered. The group became known for their politically active lyrics which angered the Czech government. The bandmembers were arrested and put into jail several times during their career. In 1976 their arrest led playwright Václav Havel and others to write the "Charter 77" human rights manifesto against the Communist regime.
Frank Zappa
The group name of The Plastic People Of The Universe was inspired by Frank Zappa's song "Plastic People", which was seen as a revolutionary anthem.
When Zappa visited Czechoslovakia in January 1990, at the instigation of Michael Kocáb, he also met with members of The Plastic People Of The Universe. [1]
On Disc 11 of their box set "1969-2001" (2002) the group covered "Trouble Every Day".
