Martin Plaza

Last updated

Martin Plaza
Martin Plaza 2013.jpg
Plaza performing in 2013
Background information
Birth nameMartin Edward Murphy
Also known asMartin DeJesus Plaza
Born (1955-12-23) 23 December 1955 (age 69)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres New wave, rock
Years active1982–present
LabelsRegular
WEA
CBS Records
RCA Records
Liberation
Warner Music
Website Official website

Martin Edward Murphy (born 23 December 1955), [1] commonly known by the pseudonym Martin Plaza, is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician and visual artist who is a founding member and vocalist and guitarist of the new wave band Mental As Anything. He has also worked with other bands and is an accomplished artist. [2] Plaza also has a solo music career and had a No. 2 hit in Australia with his 1986 cover of the song "Concrete and Clay". [2] [3]

Contents

Education and early career

Plaza was born Martin Edward Murphy on the North Shore of Sydney. He attended St. Pius X College in Chatswood, excelling in sporting and artistic pursuits but showing little interest in other subjects. After attending Hornsby Technical College he switched with fellow student Steve Coburn to the East Sydney Technical College in Darlinghurst in the mid-1970s where he met Chris O'Doherty. Around this time he was working part-time at KFC. With O'Doherty (later known as Reg Mombassa), Coburn and another student, David Twohill, he formed the pop/rock band Mental As Anything in May 1976. [2] Mental As Anything went on to become one of Australia's most popular bands touring widely in Australia and overseas. [4] [5]

Mental As Anything

Art career

All early members of Mental As Anything are also artists in addition to being musicians and have exhibited their artworks since 1982. [2] Whilst not being as acclaimed as bandmates Reg Mombassa or Peter O'Doherty, Plaza has become prolific in recent years. He has held numerous solo exhibitions working with a variety of media and has entered the Archibald Prize, notably with a self-portrait and a portrait of Mombassa. In the mid-1990s his artwork appeared on his own line of Dodgy brand clothing as well as his designs appearing on Mambo clothing. Many of Plaza's artworks are Hawaiian in style.

Pseudonym

In the early days of Mental As Anything, band members would often invent pseudonyms for each other that combined an exotic last name with a common Australian first name. Martin Plaza was one of the products of that amusement whilst obviously being inspired by the famous Sydney pedestrian mall Martin Place. He has in the past jokingly stated that his full name is Martin DeJesus Plaza.

Solo and side projects

In 1986, Plaza performed with the Rock Party, a charity project initiated by the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) composed of many Australian and New Zealand artists including members of Crowded House, GANGgajang, Models, and Mental As Anything. [6] The Rock Party released a 12" single "Everything to Live For", which was produced by Joe Wissert, Phil Rigger and Phil Beazley. [6]

In 1986, Plaza had a No. 2 hit in Australia with a cover of the 1960s Unit 4+2 song "Concrete and Clay", [2] and the subsequent solo album Plaza Suite also charted. [2] Further singles were not as successful. In 1991 another planned solo album morphed into a collaboration with former Models member, James Freud. Entitled Beatfish , [7] it became one of the first Australian Dance or House albums. [8] Another surprising turn was his 1994 album Andy's Chest. [9] Composed almost entirely of Lou Reed covers, [2] it divided critics at the time. Another collaboration with Freud in 1996 produced the Hawaiian-inspired Moondog project; however, Plaza only appears on some tracks.

Discography

With Mental As Anything

With the Rock Party

TitleYearPeak chart
positions		Album
AUS
"Everything to Live For"1986-Non-album single

With Beatfish

With Moondog

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart
positions
AUS
Postcard to Hawaii
  • Released: 1996
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Camouflage
-

Solo work

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart
positions
AUS
[10]
Plaza Suite
  • Released: March 1986
  • Format: LP, Cassette
  • Label: CBS
12
Andy's Chest
  • Released: May 1994
  • Format: CD, cassette
  • Label: RCA
58

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart
positions		Album
AUS
[10]
"Concrete and Clay"19862Plaza Suite
"Best Foot Forward"51
"Use Me All Over"—
"Labour of Love"199078Non-album single
"Satellite of Love"1994—Andy's Chest
"Women"—

Soundtracks

Awards

Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honour the lifetime achievements of some of Australia's greatest songwriters. [11]

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2019Andrew "Greedy" Smith and Martin Plaza (Mental As Anything) Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame Inducted

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reg Mombassa</span> Musical artist

Christopher O'Doherty, also known by the pseudonym Reg Mombassa, is a New Zealand-born Australian artist and musician. He is a founding member of the band Mental As Anything and member of Dog Trumpet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mental As Anything</span> Australian new wave/pop-rock band

Mental As Anything are an Australian new wave and pop rock band that formed in Sydney in 1976. Its most popular line-up was Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar; Reg Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals; his brother Peter "Yoga Dog" O'Doherty on bass guitar and vocals; Wayne de Lisle on drums; and Andrew "Greedy" Smith on vocals, keyboards and harmonica. Their original hit songs were generated by Mombassa, O'Doherty, Plaza and Smith, either individually or collectively; they also hit the Australian charts with covers of songs by Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry.

Andrew McArthur "Greedy" Smith was an Australian vocalist, keyboardist, harmonicist and songwriter with Australian pop/new wave band Mental As Anything. Smith wrote many of their hit songs including "Live It Up" which peaked at No. 2 on the Australian singles chart. Smith had a solo music career, had worked with other bands and was also an artist and television personality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter O'Doherty</span> Musical artist

Peter O'Doherty is a New Zealand-born Australian musician and visual artist. He is a founder of Australian pop band, Dog Trumpet, in 1991 on guitar and vocals, alongside his older brother, Chris O'Doherty on guitar, keyboards, harmonica and vocals. They were also members of new wave group, Mental as Anything, which O'Doherty joined in August 1977 on bass guitar and vocals, until they both left in 2000. As a visual artist, O'Doherty specialised in still life and everyday suburban scenes. His wife Susan, is also a visual artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Nips Are Getting Bigger</span> 1979 single by Mental As Anything

"The Nips Are Getting Bigger" is the debut single by Australian band Mental As Anything, released in July 1979. It was released as the first single from the album Get Wet and the song reached at number 16 on the Kent Music Report. The song was written by Mental As Anything lead vocalist Martin Plaza.

<i>Creatures of Leisure</i> 1983 studio album by Mental As Anything

Creatures of Leisure is the fourth studio album released by Australian band, Mental As Anything. It was released in March 1983 and peaked at #8 on the Australian Album charts.

<i>Fundamental</i> (Mental As Anything album) 1985 studio album by Mental As Anything

Fundamental or Fundamental As Anything is the fifth studio album released by Australian rock/pop group, Mental As Anything. The album was produced by Richard Gottehrer and was released on Regular Records in March 1985. It peaked at No. 3 on the Australian Kent Music Report albums charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog Trumpet</span>

Dog Trumpet, originally known as Reg & Peter's Dog Trumpet, is an Australian rock band, founded in 1990 by brothers Reg Mombassa and Peter O'Doherty, original members of Australian new wave and pop rock band Mental As Anything. The brothers formed dogtrumpet.net as an outlet for their own material. The Dog Trumpet sound reflects affection for 1960s pop and psychedelia. They have released eight albums and three EPs.

<i>Get Wet</i> (Mental As Anything album) 1979 studio album by Mental As Anything

Get Wet is the debut studio album released by Australian band Mental As Anything. It was released in November 1979, and peaked at No. 19 on the Australian Album charts.

<i>Espresso Bongo</i> 1980 studio album by Mental As Anything

Espresso Bongo is the second studio album released by Mental As Anything. It was released in July 1980, and peaked at #37 on the Australian Album charts.

Come Around is a song by Australian band Mental As Anything, released in May 1980. as the only single from the group second album, Espresso Bongo. The song peaked at number 18 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The song was written by their lead singer and guitarist, Martin Plaza.

<i>Mouth to Mouth</i> (Mental As Anything album) 1987 studio album by Mental As Anything

Mouth to Mouth is the sixth studio album by Australian pop rock band Mental As Anything, released in July 1987, and the album was produced by Richard Gottehrer. The album peaked at number 14 on the Australian chart.

"Possible Theme for a Future TV Drama Series" is a song by Australian band Mental As Anything, released in November 1979 as the second single from the album Get Wet and the song reached at number 57 on the Kent Music Report. The song was written by Mental As Anything lead vocalist Martin Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">He's Just No Good for You</span> 1987 single by Mental As Anything

"He's Just No Good for You" is a song by Australian pop rock band Mental As Anything, released in July 1987. It was released as the second single from the band's sixth studio album, Mouth to Mouth. The song was written by Mental As Anything guitarist Greedy Smith and peaked at number 15 on the Australian charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Many Times (Mental As Anything song)</span> 1981 single by Mental As Anything

"Too Many Times" is a song by Australian rock band Mental As Anything, released in September 1981 as the second single from their third studio album, Cats & Dogs. The song peaked at number 6 on the Kent Music Report.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're So Strong</span> 1985 single by Mental As Anything

"You're So Strong" is a song by Australian pop rock band Mental As Anything, released in 1985 through Regular Records. It was released from the band's fifth studio album Fundamental The song was written by vocalist/keyboardist Greedy Smith. The song first charted on 25 March 1985, peaked at No. 11 on the Kent Music Report, and stayed in the charts for eighteen weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Date with Destiny</span> 1985 single by Mental As Anything

"Date with Destiny" is a song by Australian pop rock band Mental As Anything, released in 1985 through WEA Records. The song was written by Guitarist Greedy Smith. The song first charted on 9 September 1985, peaked at No. 25 on the Kent Music Report, and stayed in the charts for eleven weeks. It was released as the third single from the band's fifth studio album Fundamental.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go to Paradise</span> 1986 single by Mental As Anything

Let's Go to Paradise is a song by Australian pop rock band Mental As Anything, released in November 1986. It was released as the first single from the band's sixth studio album, Mouth to Mouth. The song was written by Mental As Anything guitarist Greedy Smith and peaked at number 15 on the Australian charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Close Again</span> 1982 single by Mental As Anything

Close Again is a song recorded by Australian rock band Mental As Anything, released in 1982 through Regular Records. It was released as the first single from the band's fourth studio album Creatures of Leisure. The song charted at number 55 on December 6, 1982, and it stay in the charts for 16 weeks. The song was written by Peter O'Doherty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Tell Me Now (song)</span> 1987 single by Mental As Anything

"Don't Tell Me Now" is a song recorded by Australian rock band Mental As Anything, released in 1987 through the label CBS Records. It was released as the third and final single from the bands sixth studio album Mouth to Mouth. The song peaked at number 36 on the ARIA Charts and stayed in the charts for 20 weeks. It was written by Mental As Anything guitarist Martin Plaza.

References

  1. ↑ ""Don't Tell Me Now" search result". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Mental As Anything'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  3. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  4. ↑ Sutherland, Johanna (7 March 1984). "Mentals not fazed by tour of US". Canberra Times. p. 24. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  5. ↑ "Mental As Anything – back in town". Times (Victor Harbor, SA : 1987 - 1999). 10 July 1994. p. 8. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  6. 1 2 Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan. "The Rock Party". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Live it up with Mental as Anything". Times (Victor Harbor, SA : 1987 - 1999). 18 December 1992. p. 38. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "A big night for fans of that rap and dance stuff". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 19 September 1991. p. 16. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  9. ↑ Mapstone, Naomi (30 May 1994). "Martin Plaza pulls up the covers". Canberra Times. p. 32. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  10. 1 2 Peaks in Australia:
    • All peaks pre-1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 234. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
    • Andy's Chest and "Labour of Love": Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 220.
  11. ↑ "Hall of Fame". asai. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.