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I don't know how many folks here are familiar with them, but the Plastic People of the Universe are a legendary experimental/psychedelic/prog band from the former Czechoslovakia, and they're doing a very rare tour of the United States in September, with three shows scheduled for Chicago -- the Hideout on Sept. 18, Klas Restaurant on Sept. 19, and the Hideout Block Party on Sept. 20.

Here's some background on the PPU if you're not familiar with them.

And if we have any fans on the PRF, I'm writing a piece about the group and may be interviewing one of the musicians. Anyone got any brilliant ideas for questions?

Ask them about their experiences hiding from the Socialist Republic Police and trying to put on shows.

What do they think of later bands influenced by them, like Umela Hmota and Dom.

Good LSD stories.

Ask them how they feel about John McCain single handedly reuniting Czechoslovakia.

Motherfucker. I am out of town.

Shit!

I have a tape somewhere of a show of theirs. It's a great tape.

Edit: tape is actually of Pulnoc, which is PPotU people with some other people. It's quite a bit better than their disappointing album on Arista (!). More rock than Plastic People, but just as good.

I thought this was going to be about Yazz and the Plastic Population.

In the 1970s (I think), there was apparently a popular Czech detective TV show that, like much Communist-era television, also served as a means of disseminating propaganda. One episode apparently featured a band based on Plastic People.

One of my English-language students from my days in Prague told me about this show, but I've forgotten about the details. Ask them about that!

It's great to hear that they're playing stateside. Like with the Ex / Mekuria concert in Chicago, I'm usually on the wrong continent when the good shit goes down. Except when Shellac played Prague.

So, you could ask them what they think of the present state of Czech rock. If they could name any decent Czech bands that are still together, I suppose it would be a worthwhile question. They might have to do a lot of thinking, though.

And... perhaps this would be too much of a 'Rolling Stone-type' asshole rock journalist question, but....

You could ask them what they think of the whole constellation that led to their success ...
namely, the unfortunate political circumstances of their day making 'resistance fighters' out of them, leading their (by popular standards) fairly unlistenable music to be embraced by the public at home as well as abroad, resulting in the group's emergence as legendary underground heroes.

Whatever you decide to do, I'm happy for you that you have this opportunity and hope that everyone has a good time at the show.

tmidgett wrote:Motherfucker. I am out of town.

Shit!

I have a tape somewhere of a show of theirs. It's a great tape.

Edit: tape is actually of Pulnoc, which is PPotU people with some other people. It's quite a bit better than their disappointing album on Arista (!). More rock than Plastic People, but just as good.

If you care enough to drive 2.5 hours to see them, they play Madison for free on Saturday Sept. 13th. It s a free outdoor show on the UW Madison Union Terrace and they play at 6:30 PM as part of Madsion World Music Festival.

If the weather cooperates it is a great outdoor venue on the shores of Lake Mendota. With PPotU playing so early you could always book a Bottomless Pit show in Madison later that evening to cover your gas expenses. I would set that up. PM me if you would like to take me up on that offer.

Actually, the Plastic People are covering a pretty large chunk of the Midwest on their tour, with shows in Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri as well as Illinois. The tour schedule is on the PPU's MySpace Page.