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The Story
The Plutos, one of the most legendary pop-rock bands of all time, is immortalized on our website, showcasing their music, merchandise, critic reviews, biographies, and visual history. The band is most infamous for a tragic plane crash in January1970, followed by the unexpected rediscovery of their final album, "Fehr Beach", 55 years later, allowing the world some measure of closure for one of its most successful acts. It is due for release in the summer of 2025.
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After signing with Anapest Records in 1962, their self-titled debut album spent roughly two months at No. 1 - a tremendous feat for any group. However, with their sophomore album "Live From Earth", the Plutos propelled themselves to superstardom in 1963, and followed that with the subsersive "Your Cup of Tea" in 1964.
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That was where the Plutos found themselves at a crossroads. Due to Cliff Martin's "Even God couldn't do that" comment on national television, the foursome were subject to heavy public criticism, which coincided with heavier artistic scrutiny of the unorthodox "Your Cup of Tea". After resigning from touring in the autumn of 1965, the band appeared to be on their way out.
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Then, towards the end of 1966, the Plutos released "Honesty", the labor of almost a full, rigorous year in the studio. Regarded as a landmark in pop music history, it was a radical departure in both scope and sound from their prior four albums, excepting the hints of artistic maturity in "Your Cup of Tea."
"We sat down in '65," Brugin said in 1967, "and set everything square with each other. We asked ourselves, 'what is it we want out of this?' Because it was so hard to know when half the world worships the ground you walk on and the other wants to fire you into space. It was a very nice talk, really. A few tears. But we realized that the Plutos are us, the four of us, not the sales, or what Cliff said, or Anapest, or anything. We wanted to take the music where we thought it could go. Damn them all."
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In that same year, Brugin himself would become the third songwriter for the Plutos during his coming out party, the "To Live Without Repose" EP, another achievement in studio innovation. Despite personal developments affecting some of the band members' output, they had yet to release their apotheosis: the magisterial "Sunshine Winery", in 1968.
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The band released six albums and an EP from 1962-1968, and recorded "Fehr Beach" in the back half of 1969. Many speculate that if they had stayed together for a decade, they may have perhaps made up to ten records. Though that is already beyond the bounds of what even the most successful pop acts can do; even the Plutos with all their skill were still susceptible to energy and inspiration running short, which is what was drawing their career to a premature close. But the world is more than thankful for that it did receive from those four men.
Below, clockwise from top left: Cliff Martin, James Davy, Richard Frier, Roger Brugin
THE END
The lives of four of the greatest musicians of all time, tragically cut short.
The end of 1969, while succesful in recording what would become "Fehr Beach", was difficult for the band. Having made no public appearances for nearly half a year, it was apparent that the Plutos were suffering from personal or creative differences.
On January 23rd, 1970, the Plutos flew from England to New York to begin legal proceedings that would mean the band’s dissolution after nearly eight years.
The Plutos' aircraft lost radio contact nearly three hours after departing Watford Airfield at 8 PM. Pilots William Grove and Barry Brassard were also lost with the band. The plane and pilots' remains were recovered. The Plutos themselves remain at rest in the sea.
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Manager John Moon and Watford Airfield authority Arnold Pryor spearheaded a full independent inquiry to investigate the disaster. However, no evidence of safety violations or foul play were ever discovered.
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The disbanding of The Plutos was tragically literal, and the lost lives of the pilots only compounded the tragedy. In a grander sense, the world was robbed of decades more of generational music talent, the aptitude and colour of which the world has not seen since.
The crash site has never been identified, and searches for possible locations have never been successful. At the time, it was believed that the band had the master of Fehr Beach with them, since it was never found until 2025.
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The Plutos' enduring impact transcends time, inspiring music enthusiasts and shaping the landscape of rock history. Their story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the everlasting power of music.
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Right: The last known photograph of all four Plutos together, 18 July 1969.
