Occupation(s) drummer Name Demetra Plakas Associated acts L7 | Years active 1982–present Instruments Drums Role Musician | |
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Labels Epitaph RecordsSub Pop Albums Slap‑Happy, L7, Bricks Are Heavy, Smell the Magic, Hungry for Stink | ||
Demetra "Dee" Plakas (born November 9, 1960 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American musician, best known for being the drummer in the all-female rock band L7.
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Early bands
Plakas joined a punk band called Problem Dogs as their drummer. Although she had never played drums before, she purchased a set and learned to play as the band practiced in the basement of bass player Algis Kizys's house.
In the thriving Chicago punk scene, the band played sporadic gigs at places like Space Place and O'Banion's, opening for The Bangles at The Metro. They also released a single, "City Hall/ You Are The Knife", following the departure of Kizys in 1982. The band went through several personnel changes, with original bandmates Plakas, Rick Radtke and John Connors reforming in Los Angeles as Pirate Radio.
L7
In 1987, Plakas joined rock group L7, who went on to release six studio albums, with 1992's Bricks Are Heavy including the hit single Pretend We're Dead.
In 1993, Dee and her L7 band mate Jennifer Finch supported Japanese musician hide on a couple of TV performances, they also appear in the original promotional video for his song "Doubt".
The group disbanded in 2001 but was reunited again in 2014.
2000 sex contest
Plakas is perhaps most infamous for a contest in which L7 raffled a one-night stand with their drummer.
Other projects
During the L7 hiatus, Plakas went on to play in solo projects by both herself and former L7 member Donita Sparks. She later married Kirk Canning, who played cello on Nirvana's Nevermind, and settled in Santa Monica.