thumb|Dave Pahoa
thumb|Drummer Lou Ramirez
The Plimsouls were an American rock band known for their hit 1982 single "A Million Miles Away", which was featured in the 1983 movie Valley Girl.
History
The band was formed in Paramount, California, in 1978. They recorded two full-length albums and an EP and then split up in 1984. Different configurations of the original members have reunited intermittently since.
Formed by singer, songwriter and guitarist Peter Case (who had previously fronted the power pop band the Nerves), the Plimsouls began as a trio in 1978, initially named the Tone Dogs, which included Case, bassist Dave Pahoa, and drummer Lou Ramírez. From inception, the band quickly became a crowd favorite in the Los Angeles club scene. Long Beach promoter Stephen Zepeda signed the group to his Beat Records label for a five-song EP called Zero Hour which was released in 1980. Several years later, in 1990, a then up-and-coming band named the Goo Goo Dolls covered "A Million Miles Away" on their Hold Me Up album. A re-recorded version of the song is also included on the soundtrack album to the 1994 film Speed.
Reunion
Case has continued with a solo career since the band's mid-1980s breakup. In 1996, the Plimsouls, without Ramirez, reunited for a few shows and some recording sessions, resulting in a little-heard reunion album called Kool Trash. The Plimsouls brought legal action, which was decided in their favor; the name is owned by the Plimsouls, and "further use by Muñoz of the name would only cause confusion".
Original Plimsouls bassist David Pahoa died in September 2023.
Discography
Studio albums
- The Plimsouls (1981), Planet Records – U.S. No. 153
- Everywhere at Once (1983), Geffen Records – U.S. No. 186