Plasmatics were founded in 1977 when Wendy O. Williams responded to manager, artist, provocateur, and punk rock scenester Rod Swenson's casting call in the pages of Show Business Weekly for his theater show, Captain Kink's Sex Fantasy Theater. By 1978 they had recruited a full band and were performing regularly at CBGB's, where they quickly rose from playing once a week to performing two sold out shows a night during regular four night a week runs. Their provocative and wild live show - which often involved nudity and chain-sawed guitars - bridged the gap between punk rock and performance art. They quickly became notorious up and down the east coast and were signed to the legendary Stiff Records, who released their debut album in 1980. A perfect blend of punk, new wave, and metal sensibilities, with Wendy's tough, guttural drawl taking center stage, New Hope for the Wretched is a classic piece of first wave New York City punk rock lovingly back in print on LP.