Demetra Plakas
As the powerhouse drummer for L7, she fueled the grunge-era riot with a ferocious, no-frills beat that demanded a mosh pit.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American musician·Birthday: November 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Demetra Plakas didn't just keep time for L7; she was the band's engine room, a source of pure, unadulterated rock force. Born in 1960, she joined the Los Angeles-based quartet in the late 1980s, replacing their original drummer. Her style was direct, heavy, and perfectly suited to L7's blend of punk aggression, sludgy riffs, and feminist sneer. On stage and on albums like 'Bricks Are Heavy' and 'Hungry for Stink', Plakas's drumming provided the formidable backbone for anthems like 'Pretend We're Dead' and 'Shitlist'. In an era dominated by the Seattle sound, L7—with Plakas behind the kit—stood out for their West Coast grit and unapologetic attitude. They were central figures in the Rock for Choice movement and famously organized the first-ever Furstock festival. While the band went on hiatus, Plakas's influence endured as a model of powerful, unshowy musicianship in a scene often focused on guitar heroes.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Demetra was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Demetra Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Demetra's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Provided the driving rhythm on L7's seminal 1992 album 'Bricks Are Heavy', produced by Butch Vig.
- Performed at the 1992 Reading Festival, a landmark moment captured in the documentary 'The Year Punk Broke'.
- Played on the band's hit single 'Pretend We're Dead', which became an alternative radio staple and MTV favorite.
- Was a key part of L7's activism, performing at numerous benefit concerts for reproductive rights.
Did You Know?
Before joining L7, she was in a band called The Snowballs.
She is known for her very minimalist drum kit setup.
She appeared with L7 in the John Waters film 'Serial Mom'.
She worked as a drum tech for the band Fear before her time in L7.
“I hit the drums to make a physical statement, not just keep a beat.”
