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Background Noise, Volume 76: Plastic Jesus

Plastic Jesus

THE BACKGROUND NOISE SERIES FOCUSES ON THE MUSIC THAT ARTISTS LISTEN TO WHEN THEY WORK, WHAT MUSIC INSPIRES THEM, OR JUST MUSIC THEY LIKE. THIS WEEK, IN VOLUME 76, THE FOCUS IS ON LOS ANGELES STREET ARTIST PLASTIC JESUS.

Some have called Plastic Jesus the “Banksy of LA.” I suppose it’s easy to do that these days.  Anyone doing stencil-based street art with a message or intricate street installations meant to provoke thought could be called the “Bansky of (whatever).”

Plastic Jesus has gone a bit viral as of late, due to his commentary on celebrity culture in this day and age. Putting up “Kardashian Parking Only” signs all over Los Angeles got him a bit of attention, as well as his “Stop Making Stupid People Famous” campaign, which emblazons everything from walls to stickers and t-shirts. The phrase resonates so much with people, due to it’s simple, but to-the-point statement that says exactly what most of us non-reality tv-watching folks have been thinking the whole time.

He made a bit of a stir in Hollywood a couple of years back due to his life-size depiction of an Oscar statue shooting heroin outside the Oscars. The sculpture featured a placard at the bottom reading “Hollywood’s Best Kept Secret,” a not-so-subtle statement following the brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman’s tragic drug overdose that happened a mere few weeks prior to the award ceremony.

Not all of his work is quite as heavy, but all of it does force you to stop and think for a few moments, whether it’s about celebrity culture or consumerism, which is something more people should be doing instead of sitting idly by, doing nothing.

Street artist causes Oscar controversy Days before the glittering Oscars ceremony in Hollywood an LA street-artist has caused controversy by placing a life sized gold oscars statue snorting cocaine just yards from the red carpet that will play host of A list celebrities on Sunday for the lavish show. The life size cocaine snorting figure appeared early Thursday morning and was watched over by 2 security guards. The work is believed to be the work of British born Street artist Plastic Jesus. On his website he states “ the piece is intended to draw attention to Hollywood’s hidden problem of drug addiction that effects hundreds of people in the showbiz industry and is largely ignored until the death of a high profile – A list celebrity. Many others in Hollywood have addiction but i does not received the support because it goes unnoticed” Hollywood drug addiction specialist John Kim said “Plastic Jesus is highlighting a dark vein that’s always covered with designer clothes in Tinseltown. Drug use, prescription pills, and addiction continues to run rampant and take talented lives. It is swept under the red carpet because we have a need to see celebrities as being “perfect”. I wonder if we started to see them as real people, would actually roll up their sleeves and show us their scars? Maybe the way in is street art? I don’t know, but that door needs to be kicked open” Last year the artist created a life size oscars statue, injecting with Heroin following the high profile death of Philip Seymour Hoffman from a suspected heroin overdose. Plastic Jesus is also know for his “ Useless Plastic Box “ which was simply a empty plastic box placed in Best Buy stores around LA, and his stencil of disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong on his bike connected to an IV drip.
Je Suis Charlie – A tribute to those who died in the Paris terror attacks has appear on the streets of LA. The pile of 6 foot (1.8m) long pencils are inscribed with the now famous caption ‘Je Suis Charlie” It’s believed to be the work of LA based Street artist Plastic Jesus, who last year caused controversy at the OScars with a statue shown injecting with drugs. The Artist also hit out at disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong after his drug shame confession. The artist has also seen a number of his street pieces go viral including “STOP MAKING STUPID PEOPLE FAMOUS” and a piece in memory of comedien Robin Williams, depicted hidding behind a comedy mask. VIDEO ALSO AVAILABLE.
One of LA’s most fashionable shopping districts was hit over night by a giant cocaine themed art installation.. The 12 foot long lines of cocaine and 7 foot high $100 bill, along with a platinum American Express card – renamed ‘American Excess’ jas proved quite a tourist attraction. With passers by stopping their cars to pose for photos. Even two passing cops had to double- take after crusing past the mamoth streetart installation. The nacortic themed piece is beleived to the work of controversial street artist ‘Plastic Jesus’ who earlier in 2013 painted a piece moking discgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong. The 3 foot wide stencil painted work showed armstring connected to and IV drip.
Best Buy get product bombed ! 5 Best Buys Stores around the LA area were the target of a prank. A number of Black Plastic boxes – looking like the latest must have gadgets were planted in the stores complete with authentic looking product tags claiming the boxes were ” USELESS BOX 1.2 Another gadget you don’t really need. Will not work once you get it home. New model out in 4 weeks. Battery life too short to be of use.”
The New Messiah?

What was your first concert?
The Yellow Magic Orchestra, Hammersmith Odeon. London 1980

Last concert/show?
Above and Beyond – Acoustic at the Greek LA

First album you bought?
David Bowie – Scary Monsters

Last album you bought?
Jean Michel Jarre – Equinox released 1978 – Changed electronic music for ever.

Was there one album that made a significant impression on you?
Placebo – Without You I’m Nothing.

Who is your musical hero?
David Bowie

How important is music to your creative process?
Hugely. Music has been a huge part of everything I do. I taught myself to play keyboards age 12 or 13 and built a number of synths. I still write and record my own material. I think everyone needs a creative outlet, without we wither and die. I usually have Absolute radio (a London station) on in the studio, playing anything from Radiohead to The Clash.

Tender – Blur
Common People – Pulp
Perfect Day – Lou Reed
Love Will Tear Us Apart – 2020 Remaster – Joy Division
The Universal – 2012 Remaster – Blur
London Calling – Remastered – The Clash
Grace – Jeff Buckley
The Drugs Don’t Work – The Verve
Ashes to Ashes – 2017 Remaster – David Bowie
Heroes – Single Version; 1990 Remaster – David Bowie
Tender – Blur
Common People – Pulp
Perfect Day – Lou Reed
Love Will Tear Us Apart – 2020 Remaster – Joy Division
The Universal – 2012 Remaster – Blur
London Calling – Remastered – The Clash
Grace – Jeff Buckley
The Drugs Don’t Work – The Verve
Ashes to Ashes – 2017 Remaster – David Bowie
Heroes – Single Version; 1990 Remaster – David Bowie
Creep – Radiohead
True Faith – New Order
I Fought the Law – The Clash
Loose Fit – Happy Mondays
Non, je ne regrette rien – Édith Piaf
The Crawl – Placebo
A Long December – Counting Crows
Born Slippy (Nuxx) – Underworld
Mind Games – Remastered 2010 – John Lennon
Walk On the Wild Side – Lou Reed
Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?) – 1996 Remastered Version – Buzzcocks
Touch Me – Rui Da Silva
Wires – Athlete
Ziggy Stardust – 2012 Remaster – David Bowie
Road Rage – Catatonia

Check out Plastic Jesus’s playlist below on Spotify. Be sure to like Background Noise on Facebook for updates on future episodes. You can browse ALL the Background Noise episodes right here.

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