The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = San Diego, California, USA
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Genre = Punk jazz
Noise rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 2001 – 2006
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower was a four-piece punk band from San Diego, California, that formed in 2001.

Background

On their earlier work, their music incorporated elements of punk rock in a jazz-oriented improvisational and constructional sequence, whilst later works incorporated a more noise and lo-fi approach. Their name is taken from the book "" by Greil Marcus.

The band was known for their confrontational live shows. While performing on their 2005 tour with The Blood Brothers and Big Business, each member wore a red armband with "PLOT" written in a white circle, intentionally mimicking the armbands worn by members of the Nazi Party. However, none of the band had National Socialist beliefs, as several members of the band were of Jewish descent.Fact|date=September 2008 The armbands were in keeping with thematic/aesthetic elements associated with the 3rd Reich that was prevalent on their album Love in the Fascist Brothel.

Live shows often included "everything from smashing the stage, molesting the microphone to random acts of homo-erotic behavior." Welchez often walked into the crowd to spit on, kiss, touch or undress members of the audience, especially men, to which some people took offense. At one stop on their final tour, Brandon even insisted on half of the audience joining the band on-stage during "SLC Hunks" and encouraged them to "brutalize" the band.

Welchez also claims they caused a "near riot" in Salt Lake City, and caused a "piss waterfall" in Baltimore, which lead to them being banned from playing in the city. [Interview with punkhardcore.com.au: http://www.punkhardcore.com.au/interviews/pp.htm]

The Plot won the San Diego Music Award's "Best Punk Act" award two years running, in both 2005 and 2006.

Breakup

On September 26th, 2006, The Plot announced via a Myspace bulletin that their then-current U.S tour would be the band's last before disbanding. Their final show was in their hometown of San Diego, and a posthumous release of a seven-song mini-LP entitled "Saviors & Suckers" on Three One G records was in the works, but Three One G has since said they will not be releasing the title.

Aftermath

Brandon, William, and Brian (with the addition of Andrew Miller) created The Prayers, a more 60's pop influenced band that released a cd/12" EP entitled "God Save the Prayers" on Art Fag Records in summer of 2007. Willie and Brian have since left The Prayers, Willie replaced by Chuck Rowell and Brian replaced by Joel Issac Black.

Charles Rowland and The Vultures have released an album entitled "Vulture Land" and are also planning to put out a 7" called "Let Them Bleed/Sex Bomb" on Collective Records. Sir Charles has also written two books: "Darkland" and "Friends, Lovers, and Suckers" (with Wes Eisold).

Dan Maier, the original bass player and recording engineer for the first few Plot releases, continues to produce and record albums in San Diego.

Brandon and Sir Charles also participate in Skull Kontrol, an odd conglomerate that usually also involves Welchez's bandmate Andrew Miller and Mario Orduno of Art Fag fame. Skull Kontrol's mission is to put on amazing parties, mainly at clubs in the San Diego area, featuring combinations of its four main members and various other musicians/artists/creative-types DJing and causing a scene.

The Prayers broke up in March 2008, having released only one recording and having completed only one US tour, with two brief trips to the UK. Brandon and Sir Charles have since reunited as a two-piece; Crocodiles. Brian Hill is currently playing drums in the Muslims.

Willy Graves passed away Sunday, September 14th [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/145745-rip-plot-to-blow-up-the-eiffel-towers-willy-graves]

Discography

* If You Cut Us, We Bleed (EP)
* Split 7" with Necktie Party
* Dissertation, Honey
* Love in the Fascist Brothel
* INRI (EP)
* Saviors & Suckers (Unreleased)

Members

* Brandon Welchez - Vocals/Saxophone
* Willy Graves - Bass (RIP)
* Charles Rowell "(A.K.A. Charles Rowland, Sir Charles or Chuck)" - Guitar
* Brian Hill - Drums "(A.K.A. B.H. Peligro- in tribute to drummer D.H. Peligro of the Dead Kennedys)"

Former Members

*Cody -Bass (2001)
* Dan Maier - Bass (2001-2003)

Notes