Plaster Caster
by Kiss

Album: Love Gun (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a Chicago groupie known as Cynthia Plaster Caster. When they were assigned an art project at the University of Illinois to plaster cast "something solid that could retain its shape," Cynthia and her friends Dianne and Marilyn came up with a clever way to get backstage and have a unique interaction with band members (or band's members): they would made molds of their penises in plaster of paris.

    Carrying around an official looking "kit," their plan worked and they succeeded in making casts for many musicians and their associates, most notably Jimi Hendrix, who had an exceptionally large cast. The Plaster Casters are discussed in detail in a chapter on groupies in Jerry Hopkins' book The Rock Story. Cynthia died on April 21, 2022, at age 74. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ekristheh - Halath
  • How did Cynthia Plaster Caster feel about this song? Here's what she told Songfacts in 2014:

    "When someone first alerted me to the song 'Plaster Caster,' I wasn't too thrilled. It seemed like Gene Simmons wrote the song to make people think that he'd been casted, which he most certainly never was. But years later when Evan Dando's band the Lemonheads covered it, I started to notice how catchy the melody was. Nowadays, I'm all right with the song. Don't LOVE it, but I like it. If it's changed my life, I'm not aware of it."
  • The members of Kiss were never molded by Cynthia, but the band is notorious for their backstage activities with groupies. Gene Simmons is rumored to have a collection of Polaroids that would make Larry Flynt blush.
  • Cynthia Plaster Caster is one of the greatest groupies of the golden era of groupies, which was the mid-'60s to the late '70s. Competition was fierce for the attention of rock stars, and Cynthia had a gimmick that made her so renown, musicians would seek her out. Beyond the gimmick, however, Cynthia was very astute: she worked in a team, doing most of her damage with her apprentice Dianne. She had a penchant for British acts, so she learned their dirty language, which got their attention: she knew that "rig," "chopper" and "Hampton wick" were all cockney slang for penis, so she would often open an encounter by asking, "how's your rig," then introduce her services. A master of marketing, she had business cards and T-shirts, branding her and Dianne "The Plaster Casters of Chicago." She was so successful that impostors came on the scene and started stealing her act, but boys in the band always wanted the real thing.
  • Frank Zappa considered Cynthia a brilliant conceptual artist, and brought her to California. Zappa, who was introduced to the Casters by Eric Clapton, never got casted, but was always coming up with ideas for how they could present their art. The casts have been exhibited from time to time, but Zappa didn't live long enough to pull off his idea for a "Cock Rock" exhibit featuring the casts.

Comments: 9

  • Mr. Free Willy from California This is a very catchy song with unique lyrics.
  • Debby from UsaNot a favorite Kiss song for me. I don't like it. Not catchy enough. Corny lyrics.
  • Carolyn from Knoxville, TnHey Cynthia,
    This is your "doing you for Halloween" person!!! Loved the shirt and pictures will follow the party! Just tell me where you want them sent. "Leon Russell" aka Ed is just eating this up!! Love ya!!
  • Axeman from Melbourne, AustraliaApparantly when she took a cast of Jimi, she ran OUT of plaster! LOL!

    And Jim from Lodi, yes we are NOT surprised you love songs about cock, bitch~!

    Now BEND over, like a GOOD girl! ;o)
  • Jim from Lodi, Nji love songs about cock
  • Wes from Springfield, VaWhat an idiotic premise for a song.
  • Larry from Texas City, VaCynthia the "Plaster Caster is by far the most popular type in Plaster Caster on a internet search engine and see her website
  • Tom from Fishkill, NyI stopped listening to Kiss around the release of Love Gun, mainly because of crap songs like Plaster Caster and Hooligan.
  • Don from Rapid City, Sdthere were a whole collection of Plaster Casters, not just Cynthia
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.