Oingo Boingo
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Oingo Boingo was an American New Wave band. They are better known for their influence, soundtrack contributions and high energy Halloween concerts than their chart successes. The band was founded in 1972 as a performance art group called The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo; from 1976 it was led by songwriter/vocalist Danny Elfman, who later achieved substantial renown as a composer for film and television.

The group's format was changed twice. In 1980, it changed from a semi-theatrical music and comedy troupe into a New Wave/Ska octet, and shortened their name to "Oingo Boingo". In 1994, the band reshuffled its lineup, adopted an alternative rock sound and rechristened themselves Boingo. The band retired in 1995, having reverted to the name Oingo Boingo.

History

The Mystic Knights years (1972–1980)

The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, formed in late 1972 by Richard Elfman, was a musical theater troupe in the tradition of Spike Jones and Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, performing an eclectic repertoire ranging from Cab Calloway covers to instrumentals in the style of Balinese Gamelan and Russian ballet music. The name was inspired by a fictional secret society on the Amos 'n' Andy TV series called "The Mystic Knights of the Sea." Most of the members performed in whiteface and clown makeup; a typical show would contain music ranging from the 1890s to the 1950s, in addition to original material. This version of the band employed as many as fifteen musicians at any given time, playing over thirty instruments, including some instruments built by band members.

Few recordings from this period exist, although they did produce a novelty record about kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst, "You've Got Your Baby Back."

As Richard's interest shifted to filmmaking, he passed leadership of the band to younger brother Danny Elfman, who had recently returned from spending time in Africa playing violin and studying percussion music. They gained a following in Los Angeles, and appeared as contestants on The Gong Show in 1976, winning the episode they appeared on with 24 points out of a possible 30 (and without getting gonged.) [1].

When the group began to move away from its cabaret style towards a more pop/rock format, Richard Elfman decided to capture the essence of their live shows on film. The result was the 1980 movie Forbidden Zone. Filmed in black and white with a cast mostly made up of band members and friends, the movie's music and visuals elaborated on the spirit of the Mystic Knights' concerts. In one scene Danny, as Satan, sings a version of Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher" with modified lyrics integrated into the plot of the film. In another, Richard sings the 1920s novelty song "The Yiddishe Charleston." The movie attained cult status, captured the essence of the Mystic Knights, and provided a springboard for the film and music careers of Richard and Danny.

Oingo Boingo: the A&M years (1980–1984)

Various reasons for the band's transformation from musical theater troupe to rock band were given, including cutting costs and increasing mobility, exploring new musical directions (such as Danny's interest in Ska and New Wave)^[3], and a desire to perform music that didn't need theatrics to support it. There was some confusion about what name this new venture would operate under. In the 1978 animated short subject "Face Like A Frog", by Sally Kruikshank, the band is credited simply as The Mystic Knights. The song was "Don't Go In The Basement". The name was eventually and permanently shortened to Oingo Boingo for the Rhino Records "Los Angeles Rock And New Wave Band" compilation, L.A. In, featuring their song "I'm Afraid."

By this time, Richard was no longer a group member, and the band had coalesced into an octet: Danny Elfman on lead vocals; Steve Bartek on guitars; Richard Gibbs on keyboards; Kerry Hatch on bass; Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez on drums; and Leon Schniederman, Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, and Dale Turner on horns.

Early success for the group came in 1980 with the song "Only a Lad" from their eponymous EP. The song aired frequently in Los Angeles on KROQ and complemented the station's then-unusual New Wave format. Although the song was classified as New Wave and was compared to Devo, Oingo Boingo defied easy categorization. Their use of exotic percussion, a three piece horn section, unconventional scales and harmony, and surrealistic imagery was an unusual combination. Following regional success of "Only a Lad," the group released its first full length album, also titled Only a Lad (and featuring a new recording of the song), in 1981. Oingo Boingo also appeared in the 1981 film Longshot, performing their unreleased song "I've Got To Be Entertained".

Cult success followed, especially in Southern California. The band, recording for A&M Records, released albums in 1982 (Nothing To Fear) and 1983 (Good For Your Soul) that continued to draw comparisons to Devo and later, Wall of Voodoo.

A dispute with A&M led to Danny Elfman cutting a 'solo' record in 1984 for MCA -- in fact, it was a group effort released under Elfman's name simply to circumvent a clause in Oingo Boingo's A&M contract. Subsequently, the band was allowed to record under their own name for MCA.

Oingo Boingo: the MCA years (1985–1990)

With the move to MCA, the band made two personnel switches: Mike Bacich took over on keyboards from departing member Richard Gibbs, and John Avila replaced Kerry Hatch on bass.

The group's first MCA album (1985's Dead Man's Party) contained Oingo Boingo's first real hit singles, which included "Weird Science" and "Just Another Day". However, it was exposure in motion pictures, not on radio or MTV, that really catapulted the band into the public eye.

To this day, Oingo Boingo is probably best known for appearing on a number of soundtracks in the early- to mid-1980s, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which features "Goodbye, Goodbye". Their most well-known song, "Weird Science", was written for the John Hughes movie of the same name, and was later included on Dead Man's Party. The song was one of the band's least favorites. It was rushed out of the studio for the film before they were finished with it, and it was almost never performed live.

Later, the band made an appearance playing their hit "Dead Man's Party" on stage in the movie Back to School. Three more songs from Dead Man's Party were used in soundtracks: the song "No One Lives Forever" was featured in Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, "Stay" was used as the theme music for the popular Brazilian soap opera Top Model, and "Just Another Day" opened the 1985 film adaptation of S.E. Hinton's That Was Then, This Is Now. (for more soundtrack appearances, see below under "Soundtrack appearances")

Oingo Boingo's 1987 album BOI-NGO didn't make a huge impression on the charts. After this album, Bacich was replaced by new keyboardist Carl Graves.

The band's 1988 release Boingo Alive was actually recorded live on a soundstage, with no studio audience, and contained a selection of songs from earlier albums, plus two new compositions. The Boingo Alive track "Winning Side" became a #14 hit on US Modern Rock radio stations.

Beginning with 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Oingo Boingo vocalist and composer Danny Elfman had been scoring major motion pictures with increasing frequency. On 1990's Dark at the End of the Tunnel Elfman's growing orchestral soundtrack career was obviously playing a big part in his songwriting.

Boingo: the final years (1991–1995)

The group, now dropped from MCA, responded by officially shortening their name to Boingo, and reshuffling their lineup somewhat. Graves was dropped (after recording "Lost Like This"), and added were Warren Fitzgerald on guitar, Marc Mann on keyboards, and Doug Lacy on accordion.

Boingo's lone self-titled album was issued on Giant Records in 1994. Though the band was officially a ten-piece ensemble, only five members (Elfman, Bartek, Avila, Hernadez and Fitzgerald) were pictured in the album's liner notes, and indeed the guitar-oriented album used the keyboards and horns of the five remaining members sparingly. Instead, the basic quintet was often backed by an orchestra conducted by Bartek, and which featured prominent cello by Fred Seykora. The Boingo album also continued in the less party-friendly vibe of Dark at the End of the Tunnel, although it did contain the Modern Rock hit "Hey!"

Reverting to the Oingo Boingo name, the band amicably parted ways after their annual Halloween concert in 1995. The final concert is available on both audio and video recordings.

Aftermath

Since the band's dissolution, frontman Danny Elfman has continued to find success in his career writing film scores, particularly in collaboration with director Tim Burton; he almost exclusively employs Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as orchestrator. His film scores have included Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Good Will Hunting, Men in Black, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, Big Fish, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and dozens more. Elfman also wrote the themes for more than a dozen TV series, including The Simpsons, Batman: The Animated Series, Desperate Housewives, Tales from the Crypt, Sledge Hammer!, Dilbert (TV series), and The Flash (TV series).

Vatos formed a concert show along with Sluggo, Bartek, and Avila in California. The concert show features performances of Oingo Boingo's most popular songs. This has led to speculation about a reunion.

In early 2007, Danny Elfman said there would not be a reunion. He has irreversible hearing loss and is worried that playing live would exacerbate it. He stated that some members may also suffer from the condition.

Members

The membership in both the theatre troupe and the rock band changed over time.

The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo

Open ended years-range for members that transitioned into Oingo Boingo.

Oingo Boingo / Boingo

Open beginning years-range for members that transitioned from Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.

Other projects

John Avila and Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez were two members of the trio Food For Feet. They also formed the rhythm section of Tito & Tarantula, a Los Angeles band fronted by Tito Larriva of The Plugz and the Cruzados. Avila and Hernandez also joined Larriva and guitarist Stevie Hufstetter in a one-off project band called Psychotic Aztecs. The Aztecs released one album on the Grita label called Santa Sangre.

After the break up, bassist John Avila, guitarist Steve Bartek, drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, and saxophonist Sam Phipps (along with Doug Lacy and other musicians) formed a band called Doug & The Mystics. They recorded one album, New Hat, which included a cover of the Oingo Boingo song "Try to Believe", original songs, and covers of songs by Frank Zappa and other artists.

During the Halloween 2005 season, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez put together a tribute to the band (and to Halloween itself), joined by former Oingo Boingo members Steve Bartek, John Avila, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, which took place at the Grove of Anaheim. Standing in for Elfman was Bt4, a young man whom many fans call "the Danny byproduct"^{citation needed}. During the Halloween 2006 season, there were two Johnny Vatos Tribute to Halloween shows, one in Los Angeles and one in Orange County, with Vatos, Bartek, Avila, Phipps, and Legacy, and Bt4 once again on vocals. "Vatos" has announced his intentions of hosting yet another concert along these lines in the 2007 Halloween season, this time at the House of Blues branches in Sunset Strip and Anaheim.

In 2005, John Avila, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez and Steve Bartek joined the list of performers on the soundtrack of 2003 re-imagination of the classic sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. Richard Gibbs joined at this time as well, but is credited as both a performer and composer. Their performances can be heard in seasons 2 and 3 and will likely be heard on subsequent seasons of the series as well.

Discography

Main article: Oingo Boingo discography

Filmography

As the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo

• Mr. Sycamore (uncredited cameo)
• Forbidden Zone
• Hot Tomorrows

As Oingo Boingo

• Longshots
• Urgh! A Music War (1981)
• Good Morning, Mr. Orwell (1984)
• Weird Science starring Kelly LeBrock and Anthony Michael Hall 1984
• Back to School (1986)
• Skeletons in the Closet (1989; music video compilation)
• Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre Halloween 1995

References

1. ^ Audio Interview with Danny Elfman
2. ^ Interview with Danny Elfman
3. ^ An Interview where Danny Elfman mentions the New Wave and Ska influences in Oingo Boingo

External links

• The Official Oingo Boingo Website (Entertainment networking site; no endorsement from the band or its members)
• The Official John Avila Website (Band member: 1984 - 1995)
• The Official Steve Bartek Website (Band member: 1976 - 1995)
• The Official Richard Gibbs Website (Band member: 1980 - 1984)
• The Official Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez Website (Band member: 1979 - 1995)
• Dan's Boingo Page
• 1976 Gong Show performance by the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo - video
• From Mystic Knights to Hollywood Lights - The First and Only UK Boingo website
• Miriam Cutler
• The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo Volume 1 - At the Aquarius Theater 1978
• The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo Volume 2 - Live at the Alcazar Theater 1977
• Dead Man's Party - The Southern California Oingo Boingo Tribute Band
• Dep't of Records - independent record label releasing an Oingo Boingo Tribute album on Halloween, 2006
• Former drum tech for Oingo Boingo and Food For Feet's site (photo gallery, etc.)