Wall Of Voodoo

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Los Angeles, California, United States (1977 – 1988)

Wall of Voodoo was a New Wave/Alternative rock group from Los Angeles, California, United States best known for the 1983 hit “Mexican Radio”. The band’s best known lineup consists of Stan Ridgway (vocals, keyboards), Marc Moreland (guitar), Chas Gray (bass, vocals) and Joe Nanini (drums). The band had a sound that was a fusion of synthesizer-based New Wave music with the spaghetti western soundtrack style of Ennio Morricone.

Wall of Voodoo had its roots in Acme Soundtracks, a film score business started by Stan Ridgway, later the vocalist and synth player for Wall of Voodoo. Acme Soundtracks office was across the street from the Hollywood punk club The Masque and Ridgway was soon drawn into the emerging punk/new wave scene. Marc Moreland, guitarist for The Skulls began jamming with Ridgway at the Acme Soundtracks office and the soundtrack company morphed into a New Wave band. In 1977, with the addition of Skulls members Bruce Moreland (Marc’s brother) as bassist and Chas Gray as keyboardist, along with Joe Nanini, who had been the drummer for Black Randy and the Metrosquad, the first lineup of Wall of Voodoo was born.

Wall of Voodoo released a self-titled EP in 1980 which featured a unique, synthesizer-driven cover of the Johnny Cash song, “Ring Of Fire”. The band’s first full-length album, Dark Continent followed in 1981.
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  • nothere413

    I dunno. The Prieboy era feels... lacking. Just sorta blah compared to Ridgway.

    last month
  • activewaste

    I like both era's of WoV equally, it's a shame that the Prieboy era is so neglected. Seven Days & Happy Planet have some great material.

    October 2011
  • bittercold

    saw the vid on eMpTy Vee back in the 80s. thought it was cool as a young 'un. moved to Bullhead City, Arizona... couple years later found out they recorded at least a chunk of the follow-up there. went back this spring for the first time in 20 years... "Call Of The West" truly hits home even moreso now, realizing I somehow miss a spec of a town in the middle of nowhere. loved the roadtrip through desert areas...

    September 2011
  • JoleoIzz

    Dark Continent is where it's at [2]

    August 2011
  • Lobotomy77

    Dark Continent is where it's at

    August 2011
  • JoleoIzz

    I'm a nice guy, but I don't love you. I just want to sleep with you...

    August 2011
  • SmashedEmBro

    Lost weekend is the SHIT!

    August 2011
  • blaircramer

    The way they describe their sound is like country synthesized pop. That's freakin' different!

    August 2011
  • blaircramer

    I actually randomly heard "Mexican Radio" on some radio station and I was hooked. Call of the West is actually a good album too. [2] Me too.

    August 2011
  • n0_m0re_st0ries

    I actually randomly heard "Mexican Radio" on some radio station and I was hooked. Call of the West is actually a good album too.

    August 2011
  • Riff55

    Just uploaded a buncha new photos.

    May 2011
  • seagoat

    Big love for Wall of Voodoo...and they lead me to Stans solo work as well. Unfortunately, most of my stuff is on old school records which, while retro cool, is not so playable from the source. (And, yes, I have made audio file backups, but still....)

    April 2011
  • johnny8ball

    Seven Days In Sammystown is well worth checking out. Andy Prieboy isn't the same as Ridgway but he lends his own unique twist to things...

    April 2011
  • Hiigg

    nice.

    March 2011
  • Phlunked

    They sound like a typical New Wave band with their own flair. Yeah, I like them, but it isn't unique or anything.

    January 2011
  • CountElvis

    One of my favorite New Wave groups along with DEVO and Blondie

    November 2010
  • RosesOfTomorrow

    quote from my last shout: definitely NOT

    October 2010
  • Lyrradsemaj

    these guys seriously sound like nothing i've ever heard. so strange

    October 2010
  • RosesOfTomorrow

    This is a classic, that you will definitely hear in Mexican Radio, Mexican Radio, Wall of Voodoo, Mexican Radio.

    October 2010
  • RIPcamp

    Masterpieces!

    September 2010
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