Signed by Stiff Records

The Plasmatics were soon selling out shows in Philadelphia, Boston, venues in New Jersey , and elsewhere in the Northeast. Chris Knowles of Classic Rock magazine wrote: the Plasmatics “were the biggest live attraction in New York… and the media was on them like white on rice… It’s one thing to play at subversiveness, but The Plasmatics, unlike other Punk bands… put their Punk philosophy into action.” Many U.S. record labels were reluctant to sign the band; The band was signed by Stiff Records , a British label, in March 1980, and appeared on the cover of Sounds in June of that year. Artists and Repertoire ( A&R ) from Stiff Records flew to New York City to see a show in person to determine if what they had been reading and hearing could possibly be real. The day after seeing the performance, Stiff put in an offer and a deal was inked within a month. A few months later, The Plasmatics began to record songs in New York City for what would become the album New Hope for the Wretched . As creative decisions go, Stiff’s choice to ask long-time Rolling Stones producer Jimmy Miller to be behind the console for these recordings was not the best.