Wall of Voodoo

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Biography

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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  • Dr_Decay

    Dark Continent - один из лучших альбомов 80-х

    29 Mar 12:43pm Reply

  • anajev

    Can't believe my ears....Swing cover of ~Mexican Radio~ brought me here...Hooked. ♥

    3 Oct 2012 Reply

  • pathtoyirah

    SOMEONE SMASH MY ALARM, IT'S GOT ME ON THE EDGE, YOU KNOW IT'S SO SHARP (aaaaaaaaaaaaa)

    20 Sep 2012 Reply

  • Akatian

    Far Side of Crazy has really cool lyrics.

    12 Aug 2012 Reply

  • crownanchor

    Mexican Radio :)

    25 Jul 2012 Reply

  • adf_1277

    I've got to admit it, I only knew of these guy from the (great) Celtic Frost cover of Mexican Radio. But the band is not bad at all. Digging Call of the West right now

    1 May 2012 Reply

  • Amosccc12

    I love The Good the Bad and The Ugly sound they've got going. I really overlook this band.

    17 Apr 2012 Reply

  • nothere413

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

    7 Jan 2012 Reply

  • 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.

    4 Oct 2011 Reply

  • 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...

    11 Sep 2011 Reply

  • JoleoIzz

    Dark Continent is where it's at [2]

    31 Aug 2011 Reply

  • Lobotomy77

    Dark Continent is where it's at

    31 Aug 2011 Reply

  • JoleoIzz

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

    31 Aug 2011 Reply

  • SmashedEmBro

    Lost weekend is the SHIT!

    18 Aug 2011 Reply

  • blaircramer

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

    5 Aug 2011 Reply

  • 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.

    5 Aug 2011 Reply

  • 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.

    3 Aug 2011 Reply

  • Riff55

    Just uploaded a buncha new photos.

    16 May 2011 Reply

  • 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....)

    21 Apr 2011 Reply

  • 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...

    1 Apr 2011 Reply
    • All 91 shouts

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