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{{short description|American rock band}}
{{Short description|American new wave band}}
{{other uses|Oingo Boingo (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Oingo Boingo (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name =
| name =
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| image =
| image = Oingo Boingo 1987 (2).jpg
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| caption = Oingo Boingo in 1987. From left to right: [[Dale Turner (trumpeter)|Dale Turner]], [[Sam Phipps|Sam "Sluggo" Phipps]], [[John Avila]], [[Steve Bartek]], [[Danny Elfman]], Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, Mike Bacich, Leon Schneiderman.
| caption =
| alias = {{flatlist|
| alias = The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo<br />Clowns of Death<br />Mosley & The B-Men<br />Boingo
* Clowns of Death
| origin = [[Los Angeles]], California, United States
* Mosley & The B-Men
| genre = [[New wave music|New wave]],<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/oingo-boingo-mn0000390532|title=Oingo Boingo – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links – AllMusic|author=|date=|website=AllMusic|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113114526/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/oingo-boingo-mn0000390532|archivedate=2016-11-13}}</ref> [[ska]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Scott |year=2010 |title=[[Music: What Happened?]] |publisher=125 Records |isbn=0-615-38196-0}}</ref>
* Boingo
| years_active = 1972–1995
}}
| label = [[I.R.S. Records|I.R.S.]], [[A&M Records|A&M]], [[MCA Records|MCA]], [[Giant Records (Warner)|Giant]]
| origin = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| associated_acts = Doug & The Mystics, Food for Feet, [[Tito Larriva#Psychotic Aztecs|Psychotic Aztecs]], [[Tito & Tarantula]]
| website =
| genre = {{Flat list|
* [[New wave music|New wave]]<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/oingo-boingo-mn0000390532|title=Oingo Boingo – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links |publisher=[[AllMusic]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113114526/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/oingo-boingo-mn0000390532|archive-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Holden1981>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/31/arts/rock-bands-oingo-boingo-and-go-go-s.html |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=August 31, 1981 |title=Rock Bands: Oingo Boingo and Go-Go's |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=C15 |access-date=July 2, 2022}}</ref>
| past_members = Leon Schneiderman<br />[[Dale Turner (trumpeter)|Dale Turner]]<br />[[Sam Phipps|Sam "Sluggo" Phipps]]<br />[[Danny Elfman]]<br />[[Steve Bartek]]<br />John "Vatos" Hernandez<br />Josh Gordon<br />Kerry Hatch<br />[[Richard Gibbs]]<br />[[John Avila]]<br />Michael Bacich<br />Carl Graves<br />[[Warren Fitzgerald]]<br />Doug Lacy<br />[[Marc Mann]]<br />Austin "Danger" Hodge<br />Richard Elfman
* [[ska]]<ref name="Miller 2010">{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Scott |year=2010 |title=[[Music: What Happened?]] |publisher=125 Records |isbn=978-0-615-38196-1}}</ref><ref name="kerrang.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/danny-elfman-the-10-songs-that-changed-my-life/?next|title=Danny Elfman: The 10 songs that changed my life|website=Kerrang.com|date=June 21, 2021 |access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref>
* [[art rock]]<ref name=Holden1981/>
}}
| years_active = 1979–1995
| label = {{Hlist|[[I.R.S. Records|I.R.S.]]|[[A&M Records|A&M]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[Giant Records (Warner)|Giant]]}}
| associated_acts = [[The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo]], [[Tito & Tarantula]]
| website =
| past_members = {{Plain list|
* Leon Schneiderman
* [[Dale Turner (trumpeter)|Dale Turner]]
* [[Sam Phipps|Sam "Sluggo" Phipps]]
* [[Danny Elfman]]
* [[Steve Bartek]]
* John "Vatos" Hernandez
* Josh Gordon
* Kerry Hatch
* [[Richard Gibbs]]
* [[John Avila]]
* Michael Bacich
* [[Carl Graves]]
* [[Warren Fitzgerald]]
* Doug Lacy
* [[Marc Mann]]
}}
}}
}}


'''Oingo Boingo''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɔɪ|ŋ|ɡ|oʊ|_|ˈ|b|ɔɪ|ŋ|ɡ|oʊ}} was an American [[new wave music|new wave]] band, formed by songwriter [[Danny Elfman]] in 1979. Oingo Boingo emerged from a [[Surrealism|surrealist]] [[performance art]] theatrical troupe, '''The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo''', founded in 1972 and led by Danny Elfman's brother [[Richard Elfman]].
'''Oingo Boingo''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɔɪ|ŋ|ɡ|oʊ|_|ˈ|b|ɔɪ|ŋ|ɡ|oʊ}}) was an American [[new wave music|new wave]] band formed by songwriter [[Danny Elfman]] in 1979. The band emerged from a [[Surrealism|surrealist]] [[musical theatre]] troupe, [[The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo]], that Elfman had led and written material for in the years previous.<ref name=Benson>{{Cite web |last=Benson |first=Alex |date=May 15, 2018 |title=The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo: Danny Elfman's Circus Theater Origins |url=https://medium.com/loopandreplay/mystic-knights-oingo-boingo-49f5170166a9 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> Their highest-charting song, "[[Weird Science (song)|Weird Science]]", reached No. 45 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].


Oingo Boingo was known for their high-energy live concerts and experimental music, which can be described as combining elements of music such as [[Art music|art]], [[Punk rock|punk]], [[ska]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Pop music|pop]], [[jazz]], and [[World music|world]], amongst other genres.{{refn|<ref name=AllMusic /><ref name=Holden1981>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/31/arts/rock-bands-oingo-boingo-and-go-go-s.html |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=August 31, 1981 |title=Rock Bands: Oingo Boingo and Go-Go's |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=C15 |access-date=July 2, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Miller 2010">{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Scott |year=2010 |title=[[Music: What Happened?]] |publisher=125 Records |isbn=978-0-615-38196-1}}</ref><ref name="kerrang.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/danny-elfman-the-10-songs-that-changed-my-life/?next|title=Danny Elfman: The 10 songs that changed my life|website=Kerrang.com|date=June 21, 2021 |access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Benson/><ref name="Denman-Underhill">{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/overcoming-stage-fright-danny-elfman-brings-nightmare-to-the-bowl-6188586|title=Overcoming Stage Fright, Danny Elfman Brings Nightmare to the Bowl|first=Lori|last=Denman-Underhill|date=October 22, 2015 |work=[[LA Weekly]] |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022201537/http://www.laweekly.com/music/overcoming-stage-fright-danny-elfman-brings-nightmare-to-the-bowl-6188586|archive-date=October 22, 2015}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite AV media |people=Danny Elfman (interviewee) [[Jools Holland]] (interviewer) Derek Burbidge (director) |date=May 1982 |title=[[Urgh! A Music War]] |language=en |publisher=Warner Bros. |quote=Later on in the 70s when the punk thing started happening, I found it difficult to totally relate to the music, because it was real simple ... but the energy and speed I loved. I loved fast music. And that got me inspired once again to start writing.}}</ref>}} The band's body of work spanned 17 years, with various genre and line-up changes. Their best-known songs include "[[Only a Lad]]", "[[Little Girls (Oingo Boingo song)|Little Girls]]", "[[Dead Man's Party (song)|Dead Man's Party]]" and "Weird Science".
Oingo Boingo were known for their high energy live concerts and experimental music, which can be described as mixing [[rock music|rock]], [[ska]], [[pop music|pop]] and [[world music]].<ref name=AllMusic /> This eclectic mix of styles would eventually influence bands as varied as [[Fishbone]], [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Mr. Bungle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/only-a-lad-mw0000650587|title=Only a Lad – Oingo Boingo – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards – AllMusic|work=AllMusic|accessdate=29 September 2014}}</ref> The band's body of work spanned 17 years, with various genre and line-up changes. Their best-known hits include "[[Dead Man's Party (song)|Dead Man's Party]]" and "[[Weird Science (song)|Weird Science]]".


The band experienced multiple line-up changes, with Leon Schneiderman, [[Dale Turner (trumpeter)|Dale Turner]], [[Sam Phipps]], [[Danny Elfman]], [[Steve Bartek]], and John "Vatos" Hernandez being the constant members for most of their history. As a rock band, Oingo Boingo started as a [[ska]] and [[Punk rock|punk]]-influenced<ref name="Denman-Underhill"/><ref name="auto"/> [[New wave music|new wave]] octet, achieving significant popularity in [[Southern California]]. During the mid-1980s, the band adopted a more pop-oriented style, until a significant genre change to a more guitar-driven rock style in 1994. At that point, the name was shortened to simply '''Boingo''' and the keyboard and horn section were dropped. The band retired after a farewell concert on Halloween 1995, for which they reverted to the name Oingo Boingo and readopted the horn section.
As a rock band, Oingo Boingo started as a [[ska]] and [[Punk rock|punk]]-influenced<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/overcoming-stage-fright-danny-elfman-brings-nightmare-to-the-bowl-6188586|title=Overcoming Stage Fright, Danny Elfman Brings Nightmare to the Bowl|first=Lori|last=Denman-Underhill|date=22 October 2015|website=laweekly.com|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022201537/http://www.laweekly.com/music/overcoming-stage-fright-danny-elfman-brings-nightmare-to-the-bowl-6188586|archivedate=22 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |people=Danny Elfman (interviewee) [[Jooles Holland]] (interviewer) Derek Burbidge (director) |date=May 1982 |title=[[Urgh! A Music War]] |trans-title= |medium= |language=English |url= |access-date= |format= |time= |location= |publisher=Warner Bros. |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote="Later on in the 70s when the punk thing started happening, I found it difficult to totally relate to the music, because it was real simple ... but the energy and speed I loved. I loved fast music. And that got me inspired once again to start writing." |ref= }}</ref> [[New wave music|new wave]] octet, achieving significant popularity in [[Southern California]].


==History==
During the mid-1980s, the band changed line-ups and adopted a more pop style, until a significant genre change to [[alternative rock]] in 1994. At that point, the name was shortened to simply '''Boingo''' and the keyboardist and horn section were dropped. The band retired after a farewell concert on Halloween 1995, for which it reverted to the name Oingo Boingo and readopted the horn section.
===The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo (1972–1979)===
{{Main|The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo}}
The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo began as a [[street theater]] troupe in Los Angeles, founded by [[Richard Elfman]].<ref name="LATimes-1975">{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Dan |title=Return to Calculated Pandemonium |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385670120/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=26 March 1975}}</ref> The name was inspired by a fictional [[secret society]] on the ''[[Amos 'n' Andy]]'' TV series called ''The Mystic Knights of the Sea''. The earliest version of the band employed as many as 15 performers at any given time, playing over 30 instruments, including some instruments built by band members.


Richard's brother Danny Elfman joined the band in 1974 and later became its leader. The group gradually moved away from its street theater origins and transformed into a dedicated musical theater act. The group performed an eclectic repertoire, ranging from [[Cab Calloway]] covers to instrumentals in the style of [[Bali]]nese [[gamelan]] and Russian [[ballet music]] and, later, original songs by Danny Elfman. Guitarist Steve Bartek joined in 1976 as musical co-director. That year, the troupe appeared on the TV talent contest program ''[[The Gong Show]]'', which they won.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/72031/he-was-famous-film-composer-danny-elfman-was-contestant-gong-show |title=Before He Was a Famous Film Composer, Danny Elfman Was a Contestant on the Gong Show |website=[[Mental Floss]] |last=Green |first=Anna |publisher=Minute Media |date=December 7, 2015 |access-date=July 2, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dangerousminds.net/comments/alice_cooper_loses_his_head_danny_elfman_with_oingo_boingo_loses_his_mind_o |title=Alice Cooper Loses His Head & Danny Elfman (with Oingo Boingo) Loses His Mind on 'The Gong Show' |website=Dangerous Minds |date=March 24, 2017 |access-date=July 2, 2022}}</ref>
==Career==


===Early years (1972–1978)===
===I.R.S. and A&M years (1979–1984)===
[[File:Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo) Hagström Kent II guitar, HRC Montréal.jpg|thumb|Guitar used by Danny Elfman in Oingo Boingo, [[Hard Rock Cafe]] Montreal]]
[[File:boingo.png|thumb|upright|Oingo Boingo logo, adopted around the late 1980s]]
In 1979, Danny Elfman reformed the group as a dedicated rock band, under the new name ''Oingo Boingo'', at which point most existing members left. Steve Bartek and a brass trio of Dale Turner, Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, and Leon Schneiderman continued with the new band. Various reasons were given for the restart as a rock band, notably Danny's emerging musical interests, and reducing the need for transportation and set-up of multiple stage sets and props. Elfman stated the shift was inspired by [[ska revival]] bands such as [[the Specials]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], and [[the Selecter]], new wave bands like [[XTC]], [[Devo]], and [[Fun Boy Three]], as well as the "energy and speed" of [[Punk rock|punk]].<ref name="Halfyard2004">{{cite book|last1=Halfyard|first1=Janet|title=Danny Elfman's Batman: A Film Score Guide|year=2004|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OGOYqpxsyRgC&pg=PA6|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-5126-9|page=6}}</ref><ref name=MixOnline>{{cite web |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_danny_elfman/ |title=An interview where Danny Elfman mentions the new wave and Ska influences in Oingo Boingo |publisher=Mixonline.com |date=May 1, 2001 |access-date=November 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229042619/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_danny_elfman/ |archive-date=February 29, 2012}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite tweet|user=dannyelfman|author=Danny Elfman|author-link=Danny Elfman|number=1146254698976075781|date=2 July 2019|title=Andy Partridge was a huge influence. It was that first year of getting back to the radio after a decade long moratorium, and the music of XTC, The Specials, Selector, Madness, Fun Boy Three, and Devo that turned me around.}}</ref>
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]], 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 ''[[List of fictional institutions#Chivalric, brotherly, and secret orders|The Mystic Knights of the Sea]]''. Most of the members performed in [[whiteface (performance)|whiteface]] and clown makeup, and a typical show contained music ranging from the 1890s to the 1950s, in addition to original material. This version of the band employed as many as 15 musicians at any given time, playing over 30 instruments, including some instruments built by band members. While this Richard Elfman-led incarnation of the group performed live, it did not issue any recordings.


The name '''Oingo Boingo''' was settled on in 1979, at which point their early song "I'm Afraid" appeared on the [[Rhino Records]] Los Angeles rock and new wave "up and coming" compilation, ''L.A. In''.
As Richard Elfman'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 instrument]]s. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTRd1a5MVMw |title=Oingo Boingo on the Gong Show |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2011-11-02 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105193427/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTRd1a5MVMw |archivedate=2011-11-05}}</ref> The ''Gong Show'' presentation included an accordion, a purple dragon and a gaseous rocket-man. Later in 1976, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo released a doo-wop styled novelty single about kidnapped heiress [[Patty Hearst]] entitled "You Got Your Baby Back". Both this track and the B-side "Ballad of the Caveman" were written and sung by Danny Elfman. The band featured in the 1976 [[Martin Brest]] film ''Hot Tomorrows'' performing the songs [[St. James Infirmary Blues|St. James Infirmary]] and [[42nd Street (song)|42nd Street]]. They appeared as extras in hallucinatory sequences in the 1977 movie ''[[I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (film)|I Never Promised You a Rose Garden]]''.


That same year, the band self-funded a promo EP record, known as the "Demo EP", for distribution to radio stations and recording industry A&R representatives to help land a contract. The effort paid off, as the record caught the attention of I.R.S. Records, who released a revised version of the EP in 1980: the ''[[Oingo Boingo (EP)]]''.
When the group began to move away from its cabaret style towards a more pop/rock format, Richard Elfman made a film based on the band's stage performance, ''[[Forbidden Zone]]'', which was released in 1980 and filmed in black and white with a cast mostly made up of band members and friends. 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.<ref name=Puchalski>Puchalski, Steven. ''Slimetime: a guide to sleazy, mindless movies''. Headpress 2002, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ncsUqOUZ4roC&pg=PA113&dq=%22Richard+Elfman%22+film&hl=en&ei=3LgzTI70I9W6jAe6upGXBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=%22Richard%20Elfman%22%20film&f=false p. 113], {{ISBN|978-1-900486-21-7}}</ref> In another, Richard sings the 1920s novelty song "The Yiddishe Charleston". The movie attained cult status<ref name=Beck>Beck, Jerry. ''The animated movie guide'', Chicago Review Press, [https://books.google.com/books?id=fTI1yeZd-tkC&pg=PA273&dq=%22Richard+Elfman%22+film&hl=en&ei=tb0zTOL7C4vNjAfppsmWBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFIQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22Richard%20Elfman%22%20film&f=false p. 273], {{ISBN|978-1-55652-591-9}}</ref> and provided a springboard for the film and music careers of Richard and Danny.


The band had now coalesced as an octet: Danny Elfman on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; [[Steve Bartek]] on lead guitar; [[Richard Gibbs]] on keyboards; Kerry Hatch on bass; Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez on drums; and Leon Schneiderman, [[Sam Phipps|Sam "Sluggo" Phipps]], and [[Dale Turner (trumpeter)|Dale Turner]] on horns. Early success for the group came in 1980 with the song "Only a Lad" from the [[Oingo Boingo (EP)|eponymous EP]]. The song aired frequently in Los Angeles on [[KROQ-FM]], and complemented the station's then-unusual new wave format.
===I.R.S. years (1979–1984)===
Various reasons were given for the band's transformation from musical theater troupe to rock band. They included cutting costs, increasing mobility, exploring new musical directions such as Danny's interest in [[ska]] and a desire to focus on the music rather than theatrics. The shift was inspired by Danny reconnecting with pop music after becoming a fan of the [[2 Tone (music genre)|2 Tone]] ska revival bands, [[the Specials]], [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[the Selecter]], and also [[XTC]].<ref name="Halfyard2004">{{cite book|last1=Halfyard|first1=Janet|title=Danny Elfman's Batman: A Film Score Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OGOYqpxsyRgC&pg=PA6&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-5126-9|page=6}}</ref><ref name=MixOnline>{{cite web |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_danny_elfman/ |title=An interview where Danny Elfman mentions the new wave and Ska influences in Oingo Boingo |publisher=Mixonline.com |date=2001-05-01 |accessdate=2011-11-02 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229042619/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_danny_elfman/ |archivedate=2012-02-29}}</ref>


Following regional success of "Only a Lad", the group released its first full-length album in 1981, also titled ''[[Only a Lad]]'' (and featuring a new recording of the song). The band released further albums ''[[Nothing to Fear (Oingo Boingo album)|Nothing to Fear]]'' in 1982, and ''[[Good for Your Soul]]'' in 1983. Although the band's sound was termed as new wave, Oingo Boingo's use of exotic percussion, a three-piece horn section, unconventional scales and harmony, and surreal imagery was a genre-skewing combination.
For some early gigs, the band used the shortened name '''The Mystic Knights''' (and in the animated short "Face Like a Frog" by [[Sally Cruikshank]], the song "Don't Go in the Basement" is credited by that name). The name '''Oingo Boingo''' was settled in 1979, at which point their early song "I'm Afraid" appeared on the [[Rhino Records]] Los Angeles rock and new wave 'up and coming' compilation, ''L.A. In''.


In 1984, bassist Kerry Hatch and keyboardist Richard Gibbs departed to form the short-lived band ''Zuma II'' and Oingo Boingo went on temporary hiatus, although this was not known publicly at the time. Elfman later claimed the two departing members had "lost the spirit", but stated, "I could never blame anybody for losing the spirit. It's very hard being an 8-piece ensemble doing what, at the time, was non-commercial music".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Darling |first=Cary |date=May 5, 1987 |title=Oingo Boingo's Difficult Teenage Years |magazine=BAM Magazine }}</ref>
That same year, the band issued a limited print promo-only EP record, the ''[[Demo EP (Oingo Boingo)|Demo EP]]'', intended for distribution to radio stations and recording industry A&R representatives, to help land a contract. The effort paid off as the record caught the attention of I.R.S. Records, who released a revised version of the EP in 1980; the ''[[Oingo Boingo (EP)|Oingo Boingo]]'' EP.


===MCA years (1984–1992)===
[[File:Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo) Hagström Kent II guitar, HRC Montréal.jpg|thumb|Guitar used by Danny Elfman in Oingo Boingo, [[Hard Rock Cafe]] Montreal]]
[[File:boingo.png|thumb|upright|Oingo Boingo logo, adopted around the late 1980s]]
The band had now coalesced as an octet: Danny Elfman on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; [[Steve Bartek]] on lead guitar; [[Richard Gibbs]] on keyboards; Kerry Hatch on bass; Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez on drums; and Leon Schneiderman, [[Sam Phipps|Sam "Sluggo" Phipps]] and [[Dale Turner (trumpeter)|Dale Turner]] on horns. Early success for the group came in 1980 with the song "Only a Lad" from the [[Oingo Boingo (EP)|eponymous EP]]. The song aired frequently in Los Angeles on [[KROQ-FM]] and complemented the station's then-unusual new wave format.
Elfman used the 1984 hiatus as an opportunity to release a solo album, co-produced with Steve Bartek, with the remaining members of Oingo Boingo returning as session musicians. This was released as ''[[So-Lo]]'' in late 1984. At this point, new manager [[Mike Gormley]], who had just left the position of VP of Publicity and Asst. to the Chairman of A&M, negotiated a release from the label and signed the band to [[MCA Records]].


Shortly after releasing ''So-Lo'', Oingo Boingo returned to performing with new bassist John Avila and keyboardist Mike Bacich. The first release with the new line-up was ''[[Dead Man's Party (album)|Dead Man's Party]]'' in 1985. The album marked a notable change towards more pop oriented songwriting and production style, and became the band's most commercially successful record. It featured their highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, "[[Weird Science (song)|Weird Science]]", which was written for the [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]] [[Weird Science (film)|film of the same name]].
Following regional success of "Only a Lad", the group released its first full-length album in 1981, also titled ''[[Only a Lad]]'' (and featuring a new recording of the song). Oingo Boingo also appeared in the 1981 film ''Longshot'', performing their unreleased song "I've Got to Be Entertained". The band, recording for A&M Records, released albums in 1982 (''[[Nothing to Fear]]'') and 1983 (''[[Good for Your Soul]]''). Although their sound was termed as new wave and compared to bands such as [[Devo]] and later [[Wall of Voodoo]] (who opened for them in concert in 1983), Oingo Boingo defied easy categorization. Their use of exotic percussion, a three-piece horn section, unconventional scales and harmony, and surreal imagery became a genre-skewing combination.


The band appeared on a number of movie soundtracks in the early to mid-1980s, including an appearance in the movie ''[[Back to School]]'' in 1986, performing their hit single "Dead Man's Party". The soundtrack to the movie ''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]'' included a theme song written by Elfman, and a song unreleased on any Oingo Boingo album: "Something Isn't Right".
At this point, new manager Mike Gormley, who had just left the position of VP of Publicity and Asst. to the Chairman of A&M, negotiated a release from the label and signed the band to MCA Records. The first release with MCA was listed as a Danny Elfman solo record in 1984, titled ''[[So-Lo]]'', featuring the band's most prominent use of synthesisers to date. The record was actually group effort released under Elfman's name to avoid contractual conflict with their previous label. Subsequently, the band would record under their own name for MCA. Original members Kerry Hatch and Richard Gibbs left the band after the release of ''So-Lo''.


During this era, Danny Elfman also began scoring major films, beginning with 1985's ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]''. Elfman would go on to write the scores to almost all of [[Tim Burton]]'s films. Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek has [[Orchestrator#Dedicated orchestrators|orchestrated]] most of Elfman's film and television scores.
===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. Oingo Boingo appeared in a number of soundtracks in the early to mid-1980s, including ''[[Fast Times at Ridgemont High]]'', which features "Goodbye, Goodbye". Their song charting highest on Billboard Hot 100, "[[Weird Science (song)|Weird Science]]", was written for the [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]] [[Weird Science (film)|film of the same name]], and was later included on their 1985 album ''[[Dead Man's Party (album)|Dead Man's Party]]''.


The album ''[[BOI-NGO]]'' was released in 1987. Following its recording, Bacich was replaced by new keyboardist [[Carl Graves]]. The band's 1988 release, ''[[Boingo Alive]]'', comprised "live" re-recordings of previous album songs on a studio soundstage, plus a new song, "Winning Side". This new track was also released as a single, and became a No. 14 hit on US Modern Rock radio stations.
Later, the band made an appearance playing their hit "Dead Man's Party" on stage in the film ''[[Back to School]]''. In addition, they appeared in and performed several songs in the quirky 1984 Tom Hanks movie ''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]'', including "Who Do You Want to Be?", "Bachelor Party" and "Something Isn't Right".
[[File:Oingo Boingo 1987.jpg|thumb|Oingo Boingo in a promotional picture c.1987]]
In 1990, the band released their seventh studio album, ''[[Dark at the End of the Tunnel]]'', featuring more mellow songs than any previous release, and including the singles "Out of Control" and "Flesh 'N Blood".


===Final years (1993–1995)===
During this era, Danny Elfman began scoring major films, beginning with 1985's ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]''. Elfman would go on to write the scores to almost all of [[Tim Burton]]'s films. Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek [[Orchestrator#Dedicated orchestrators|orchestrated]] most of Elfman's film and television scores.
Oingo Boingo continued to regularly perform live, most notably with annual Halloween concerts at Irvine Meadows and the Universal Amphitheatre. Following a short hiatus in 1992, during which time Elfman was busy scoring films, the band returned in 1993 with an increasingly different, hard-rock musical direction, and debuted new material such as "Insanity", "Helpless" and the unreleased song "Did It There". Shows during these years often included the so-called "Sad Clown Orchestra" providing additional accordion and circus percussion.


That same year, Oingo Boingo began recording an eighth studio album for new label [[Giant Records (Warner)|Giant Records]]. The sessions stalled when Elfman became heavily involved writing the music for animated musical ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' with Tim Burton.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/zombdog/6409356299/|title=The Elfman Cometh|last=Poggi|first=Alison|date=July 1994|work=SLAMM, San Diego's Lifestyle and Music Magazine via Flickr|access-date=July 5, 2017|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluntinstrument.org.uk/elfman/archive/SFChronicle94.htm |title=San Francisco Chronicle article |access-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403045244/http://www.bluntinstrument.org.uk/elfman/archive/SFChronicle94.htm |archive-date=April 3, 2016 }}</ref> Of this period, Elfman would later reflect that, after over 15 years, he had begun losing his passion for the band.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/danny-elfman-on-oingo-boingo-film-scores-and-the-beat-1798274010 |title=Danny Elfman on Oingo Boingo, film scores, and the Beatles almost ruining Batman |publisher=AV Music |date=October 27, 2014 |access-date=May 13, 2019 }}</ref>
Oingo Boingo's 1987 album ''[[BOI-NGO]]'' was released as a follow-up to the popular ''Dead Man's Party'', but its chart performance was disappointing. 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; it consisted of a selection of songs from earlier albums, plus two new compositions. The ''Boingo Alive'' track "Winning Side" became a No. 14 hit on US Modern Rock radio stations.


In 1994, the band consolidated their new musical style, and shortened its name to Boingo. Guitarist [[Warren Fitzgerald]] joined while keyboardist Carl Graves and the horn trio were removed. This marked the only year that the band toured without the horn section.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-15-ca-57894-story.html |title=Los Angeles Times interview with Danny Elfman |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=October 22, 1985 |access-date=November 2, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110805113343/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-05-15/entertainment/ca-57894_1_rock-band/4 |archive-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boingo.org/articles/SFChronicle1994.html |title=San Francisco Chronicle Q and A with Danny Elfman | website=Boingo.org |date=June 12, 1994 |access-date= November 2, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111004154524/http://www.boingo.org/articles/SFChronicle1994.html |archive-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref>
In 1990 the band released their seventh studio album, titled ''[[Dark at the End of the Tunnel]]''.


The previously shelved album was completed with the new 5-piece line-up, including orchestral instrumentation, and several songs improvised in the studio for the first time in the band's history.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/zombdog/6409356299/|title=The Elfman Cometh| last= Poggi| first= Alison|date=July 1994|work=SLAMM, San Diego's Lifestyle and Music Magazine via Flickr|access-date= July 5, 2017|language=en-us}}</ref> This was released as ''[[Boingo (album)|Boingo]]'' in 1994, and would be the band's final studio album.
===Final years (1991–1995)===
After being dropped from MCA, the band explored a new musical direction and reshuffled their lineup. Graves was dropped (after recording "Lost Like This") and added were [[Warren Fitzgerald]] on guitar, [[Marc Mann]] on keyboards and [[Doug Lacy]] on accordion. The horn section was dropped from concert that year, although still playing session parts with the band in the studio. The band was relaunched by Giant Records with a new alternative rock look and PR campaign, including numerous TV appearances, as a quintet with Elfman, Bartek, Avila, Hernandez and Fitzgerald. During these years, the band was often backed by an orchestra in concert, conducted by Bartek, which featured prominent cello by Fred Seykora.


In 1995, it was announced that Boingo would be disbanding after 17 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-29-ca-40178-story.html |title=POP/ROCK The Last Boingo: Oingo Boingo is calling... |last=Linan |first=Steven |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 29, 1995 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref> The band embarked on a farewell tour in 1995, restoring the original horn trio, and reverting its name to Oingo Boingo, ending with a final Halloween performance at the [[Universal Amphitheatre]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-23-ca-60298-story.html |title=And Poof! They're Gone |last=Hochman |first=Steve |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 23, 1995 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref> The concert was filmed and released on both VHS and CD in 1996 as ''[[Farewell (Oingo Boingo album)|Farewell]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/farewell-live-from-the-universal-amphitheatre-mw0000186176 |title=Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre |last=Schulte |first=Tom |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref>
The change of genre was reflected by the band shortening its name to "Boingo", although Danny Elfman insisted that the name change was "kind of an afterthought".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1994-05-15/entertainment/ca-57894_1_rock-band/4 |title=Los Angeles Times interview with Danny Elfman |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1985-10-22 |accessdate=2011-11-02 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110805113343/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-05-15/entertainment/ca-57894_1_rock-band/4 |archivedate=2011-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boingo.org/articles/SFChronicle1994.html |title=San Francisco Chronicle Q and A with Danny Elfman |publisher=Boingo.org |date=1994-06-12 |accessdate=2011-11-02 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004154524/http://www.boingo.org/articles/SFChronicle1994.html |archivedate=2011-10-04}}</ref> Their previous album ''Dark At The End of The Tunnel'' had already shortened the name to "Boingo" on its cover, although the change only became advertised once the band moved to Giant Records.


===Post-breakup===
In 1994, this incarnation of the band released their only studio album, self-titled ''[[Boingo (album)|Boingo]]'', on Giant Records. ''Boingo'' featured more ballads and brooding instrumentation than previous records, although containing the modern rock hit "Hey!". The change of style used keyboards and horns sparingly, also featuring orchestral accompaniments on some tracks.
Following the band's dissolution, Danny Elfman continued composing for film and has been nominated for four [[Academy Award]]s for his work. He has scored the majority of Tim Burton's films since ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' in 1985, including ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'' (1989), ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' (1990), ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]'' (1993) and ''[[Big Fish]]'' (2003). Other scores include ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'' (1997), ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'' (1997) and ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' (2002). Elfman has also written themes for more than a dozen TV series, including ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'', ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'', and ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''. Elfman almost exclusively employs former Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as his orchestrator.


For a period, John Avila and Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez continued to perform as Food for Feet and in the band [[Tito & Tarantula]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/food-for-feet-mw0000654309|title=Food for Feet - Food for Feet &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref> Doug Lacy (Boingo live keyboardist and percussionist) recruited bassist John Avila, guitarist Steve Bartek, drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, and saxophonist Sam Phipps (among other musicians) for a band called Doug & The Mystics. They recorded one album, ''New Hat'', which included a cover of the Oingo Boingo song "Try to Believe". Former keyboardist Richard Gibbs also began a career as a composer for film.
This final incarnation was short-lived, when it was announced Boingo would be disbanding at the end of 1995, after 17 years. The name was reverted to Oingo Boingo, with the return of the horn section. The band embarked on a "Farewell" tour in 1995, ending with a final Halloween performance at the [[Universal Amphitheatre]]. The concert was filmed and made available as a live album and DVD.


Danny Elfman has regularly stated that there will not be an Oingo Boingo reunion, initially citing his worry that playing live would exacerbate his hearing loss. In 2021 Elfman added that he disliked former bands reuniting now that they are older, likening them to "zombies".<ref>{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |title=Danny Elfman Talks About Making a 'Big Mess,' and Returning to Rock a Quarter-Century After Oingo Boingo Split |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/danny-elfman-new-album-big-mess-interview-1234994122/ |website=Variety |date=June 11, 2021 |access-date=13 July 2022}}</ref>
===Legacy===
Following the band's dissolution, [[Danny Elfman]] turned full-time to writing film scores. He has been nominated for four [[Academy Award]]s. His first major motion picture score had been ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' in 1985, and he continues to be much sought-after in the movie business, particularly in collaboration with director [[Tim Burton]]. Elfman almost exclusively employs former Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as [[Orchestrator#Dedicated orchestrators|orchestrator]]. ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]'' aside, his scores have included those for ''[[Batman (1989 film)|Batman]]'', ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'', ''[[Good Will Hunting]]'', ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'', ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'', ''[[Big Fish]]'', and ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]''. Elfman also wrote themes for more than a dozen TV series, including ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'', ''[[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'' and ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''.


On Halloween 2015, a live concert performance of ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' culminated in Elfman and former Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek performing "Dead Man's Party" for the first time in twenty years, accompanied by the orchestra.<ref name="OC Register">{{cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2015/11/02/danny-elfman-provides-tricks-and-treats-with-nightmare-performance/ |last=Fadroski |first=Kelli Skye |title=Danny Elfman provides tricks and treats with 'Nightmare' performance |website=[[The Orange County Register]] |date=November 2, 2015 |access-date=April 25, 2023}}</ref> The song was again performed on several subsequent ''Nightmare Before Christmas'' concert dates.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}
In early 2007, Danny Elfman said there would not be an Oingo Boingo reunion, due to fears that playing live would exacerbate his, and possibly other band members', hearing loss. Notwithstanding this announcement, on Halloween 2015, Danny Elfman along with the other original voices of the movie ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' (including Catherine O'Hara), performed at the Hollywood Bowl singing all of the songs of the movie while it played in its entirety with a complete orchestra. The encore for the event culminated in Danny Elfman and Steve Bartek performing "Dead Man's Party" for the first time in twenty years - indeed, it was exactly twenty years since they had last performed the song.


In April 2016, Oingo Boingo were honored with a resolution at [[Los Angeles City Hall]]. Popular L.A. radio and television personality [[Richard Blade]] gave a speech about the band's legacy. Several members attended the meeting from across the band's changing line-ups, including Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, founding keyboardist Richard Gibbs, John Avila, Carl Graves, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/04/20/la-city-council-to-honor-80s-band-oingo-boingo/ |title=80s Band Oingo Boingo Performs Acoustic Set At LA City Council Meeting |publisher=CBS Los Angeles |date=April 20, 2016 |access-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031143500/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/04/20/la-city-council-to-honor-80s-band-oingo-boingo/ |archive-date=October 31, 2016}}</ref>
{{quote box
| quote=I was so proud to have the 4 track EP from Oingo Boingo, put that music on and just discover these great songs like "Only A Lad" and "Little Girls", and realise that this band was really a representation of what Los Angeles is. It's the cutting edge, it's something new, it's excitement and it's a good time. ... If you were fortunate back in the day to catch Boingo live, you left A – exhausted, B – soaking wet from your own sweat and C – you couldn't wait to go to Tower Records or Music Plus to go buy their latest album.
| source =&nbsp;– Los Angeles radio & TV host [[Richard Blade]] speaking in 2016 on the band's impact.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOn5pUo5U-8|title=Richard Blade Speaking at "Oingo Boingo Day" Ceremony – Los Angeles City Council Chambers|first=|last=Chris Danger|date=20 April 2016|publisher=|via=YouTube|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510232407/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOn5pUo5U-8|archivedate=10 May 2018}}</ref>
| width = 22%
| align = right
| style = padding:10px;
}}


On June 11, 2021, Elfman released his first solo studio album in 37 years, ''[[Big Mess (Danny Elfman album)|Big Mess]].'' It includes the participation of former members of Oingo Boingo, such as Bartek, Fitzgerald, and Mann and a new arrangement and recording of Oingo Boingo's "Insects" from the 1982 album ''Nothing to Fear''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/danny-elfmans-trippy-3d-insects-video-1174229 |title=Watch Danny Elfman's Trippy 3D 'Insects' Video |last=Greene |first=Andy |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 25, 2021 |access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref>
Over 20 years since their Farewell concert, Oingo Boingo were honored with a resolution at the LA City Hall in April 2016. Popular LA radio & television personality [[Richard Blade]] gave a speech describing Oingo Boingo as "really a representation of what Los Angeles is, it's the cutting edge, it's something new, it's excitement and it's a good time." Several members attended the meeting from across the band's changing line-ups, including Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, founding keyboardist Richard Gibbs, John Avila, Carl Graves and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/04/20/la-city-council-to-honor-80s-band-oingo-boingo/ |title=80s Band Oingo Boingo Performs Acoustic Set At LA City Council Meeting |publisher=CBS Los Angeles |date=2016-04-20 |accessdate=2017-08-09 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031143500/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/04/20/la-city-council-to-honor-80s-band-oingo-boingo/ |archivedate=2016-10-31}}</ref>


====Tribute band====
In 2003, former keyboardist Richard Gibbs scored the [[Battlestar Galactica (TV miniseries)|''Battlestar Galactica'' miniseries]] with composer [[Bear McCreary]]. In 2005, John Avila, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez and Steve Bartek began contributing to the subsequent McCreary-scored ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' television series. During the 2006 Halloween season, there were two Johnny Vatos Tribute to Halloween shows, one in Los Angeles and one in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]], with Vatos, Bartek, Avila, Phipps, and Legacy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bearmccreary.com/#blog/blog/concerts/johnny-vatos-tribute-to-halloween-2006/|title=Bear McCreary – Official site|author=|date=|website=www.bearmccreary.com|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406081712/http://www.bearmccreary.com/#blog/blog/concerts/johnny-vatos-tribute-to-halloween-2006/|archivedate=2009-04-06}}</ref>
Since Halloween 2005, former drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez has regularly put together an Oingo Boingo tribute band, performing mainly throughout Southern California and Arizona, including [[the Grove of Anaheim]]. Initially billed as the "Johnny 'Vatos' Tribute to Halloween, Featuring Former Members of Oingo Boingo",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bearmccreary.com/|title=Bear McCreary |website=Bearmccreary.com|access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldstar.com/events/anaheim-ca/johnny-vatos-tribute-to-halloween-featuring-former-members-of-oingo-boingo|title=Johnny Vatos' 'Tribute To Halloween', Featuring Former Members of Oingo Boingo|website=Goldstar.com|access-date=January 22, 2020}}</ref> Hernandez later titled the band "Johnny Vatos Oingo Boingo Dance Party" and then "Oingo Boingo Former Members". Since 2015, Elfman has endorsed the group as the authorized Oingo Boingo tribute band, and given Hernandez exclusive rights to use the names 'Boingo' and 'Oingo Boingo'.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Steve |title=Danny Elfman endorses Oingo Boingo Dance Party, Don Henley announces solo tour |url=https://www.sgvtribune.com/2015/08/07/steve-smith-danny-elfman-endorses-oingo-boingo-dance-party-don-henley-announces-solo-tour |website= San Gabriel Valley Tribune |access-date=August 29, 2021 |date=August 7, 2015}}</ref>


Since the 2005 Halloween season, former drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez has regularly put together Oingo Boingo tribute concerts, occasionally joined by former Oingo Boingo members Steve Bartek, John Avila, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, at [[The Grove of Anaheim]]. Usually standing in on vocals is singer Brendan McCreary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnnyvatos.com/ |title=Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez: Official Site |publisher=Johnnyvatos.com |date= |accessdate=2013-02-19 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508184958/http://www.johnnyvatos.com/ |archivedate=2013-05-08}}</ref>
The tribute band is joined intermittently by former Oingo Boingo members such as Steve Bartek, [[Carl Graves]], John Avila, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, while vocals are usually provided by singer Brendan McCreary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnnyvatos.com/ |title=Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez: Official Site |website= Johnnyvatos.com |access-date= February 19, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130508184958/http://www.johnnyvatos.com/ |archive-date=May 8, 2013}}</ref> During the 2006 Halloween season, there were two "Johnny 'Vatos' Tribute to Halloween" shows: one in Los Angeles, and one in [[Orange County, California]], with Vatos, Bartek, Avila, Phipps, and Legacy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bearmccreary.com/johnny-vatos-tribute-to-halloween-2006/ | title=Bear McCreary – Official site |last=McCreary |first=Bear |author-link=Bear McCreary |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=BearMcCreary.com | date=October 17, 2006 }}</ref>

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 [[Tito Larriva#Psychotic Aztecs|Psychotic Aztecs]]. The Aztecs released one album on the Grita label called ''Santa Sangre''. Doug Lacy (Boingo live keyboardist and percussionist) recruited bassist John Avila, guitarist Steve Bartek, drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, and saxophonist Sam Phipps (among other musicians) for 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. Doug had released one solo album previously.


==Members==
==Members==
{{Main|List of Oingo Boingo members}}
{{Main|List of Oingo Boingo members}}


==Discography==
===Final line-up===
Note:{{Efn|Based on their final performance in the 1995 ''Farewell'' live album.}}
{{mainlist|Oingo Boingo discography}}


* Leon Schneiderman – baritone and alto saxophones (1972–1995)
* [[Dale Turner (trumpeter)|Dale Turner]] – trumpet, trombones, background vocals (1972–1995)
* [[Sam Phipps|Sam "Sluggo" Phipps]] – tenor and soprano saxophones (1973–1995)
* [[Danny Elfman]] – lead vocals, rhythm guitars (1974–1995)
* [[Steve Bartek]] – lead guitars, background vocals (1975–1995)
* Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez – drums, percussion (1978–1995)
* [[John Avila]] – bass guitar, background vocals (1984–1995)
* [[Warren Fitzgerald]] – guitars, background vocals (1993–1995)

==Discography==
{{main list|Oingo Boingo discography}}
* ''[[Only a Lad]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Only a Lad]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Nothing to Fear]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Nothing to Fear (Oingo Boingo album)|Nothing to Fear]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Good for Your Soul]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Good for Your Soul]]'' (1983)
* ''[[So-Lo]]'' (1984)
* ''[[So-Lo]]'' (1984) <small>(as Danny Elfman)</small>
* ''[[Dead Man's Party (album)|Dead Man's Party]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Dead Man's Party (album)|Dead Man's Party]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Boi-ngo]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Boi-ngo]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Dark at the End of the Tunnel]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Dark at the End of the Tunnel]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Boingo (album)|Boingo]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Boingo (album)|Boingo]]'' (1994) <small>(as Boingo)</small>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
'''As The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo'''
'''Appearing on screen as Oingo Boingo'''
*''Mr. Sycamore'' (1975) (uncredited cameo)
*''The Gong Show'' (1976) (available on YouTube)
*''I Never Promised You a Rose Garden'' (1977)
*''Hot Tomorrows'' (1977)
*''[[Forbidden Zone]]'' (1980)

'''As Oingo Boingo'''
*''Longshot'' (1981)
*''Longshot'' (1981)
*''[[Forbidden Zone]]'' (1982)
*''[[Urgh! A Music War]]'' (1981)
*''[[Urgh! A Music War]]'' (1981)
*''[[Fast Times at Ridgemont High]]'' (1982)
*''[[The Last American Virgin]]'' (1982)
*''[[Sixteen Candles]]'' (1984)
*''[[Good Morning, Mr. Orwell]]'' (1984)
*''[[Good Morning, Mr. Orwell]]'' (1984)
*''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]'' (1984)
*''[[Back to School]]'' (1986)
*''[[Fool's Paradise (1985 stop-motion animated film)|Fool's Paradise]]'' (1985)
*''[[Weird Science (film)|Weird Science]]'' (1985)
*''[[Wisdom (film)|Wisdom]]'' (1986)
*''[[Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2]]'' (1986)
*''[[Back to School]]'' (1986), where they appeared as a performing group
*''[[Teen Wolf Too]]'' (1987)
*''[[Summer School]]'' (1987)
*''[[Midnight Run]]'' (1988), as Mosley & The B-Men
*''[[Ghostbusters II]]'' (1989)
*''[[Skeletons in the Closet (Oingo Boingo album)|The Best of Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet]]'' (1989; music video compilation)
*''[[Skeletons in the Closet (Oingo Boingo album)|The Best of Oingo Boingo: Skeletons in the Closet]]'' (1989; music video compilation)
*''[[The Adventures of Ford Fairlane]]'' (1990)
*''[[Shrunken Heads (film)|Shrunken Heads]]'' (1994)
*''[[Farewell (Oingo Boingo album)|Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre, Halloween 1995]]''
*''[[Farewell (Oingo Boingo album)|Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre, Halloween 1995]]''

*''[[Donnie Darko]]'' (2001)
== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 142: Line 157:
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131030044116/http://www.buzzine.com/2008/05/oingo-boingo/ The Complete History of the Oingo Boingo – by Richard Elfman]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131030044116/http://www.buzzine.com/2008/05/oingo-boingo/ The Complete History of the Oingo Boingo – by Richard Elfman]
*[http://www.boingo.org/ Danny Elfman's Boingo page]
*[http://www.boingo.org/ Danny Elfman's Boingo page]
*[https://www.facebook.com/oingoboingodanceparty/ Oingo Boingo Dance Party Facebook]
*[http://collom.epizy.com/oingoed/ Oingo Ed site from former drum tech]


{{Boingo}}
{{Boingo}}
{{Danny Elfman}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:American new wave musical groups]]
[[Category:American new wave musical groups]]
[[Category:American art rock groups]]
[[Category:American ska musical groups]]
[[Category:American ska musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
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Latest revision as of 03:08, 10 December 2024

For other uses, see Oingo Boingo (disambiguation).

Oingo Boingo
Oingo Boingo in 1987. From left to right: Dale Turner, Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, John Avila, Steve Bartek, Danny Elfman, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, Mike Bacich, Leon Schneiderman.
Oingo Boingo in 1987. From left to right: Dale Turner, Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, John Avila, Steve Bartek, Danny Elfman, Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, Mike Bacich, Leon Schneiderman.
Background information
Also known as
  • Clowns of Death
  • Mosley & The B-Men
  • Boingo
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1979–1995
Labels
Past members

Oingo Boingo (/ˈɔɪŋɡoʊ ˈbɔɪŋɡoʊ/) was an American new wave band formed by songwriter Danny Elfman in 1979. The band emerged from a surrealist musical theatre troupe, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, that Elfman had led and written material for in the years previous.[5] Their highest-charting song, "Weird Science", reached No. 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Oingo Boingo was known for their high-energy live concerts and experimental music, which can be described as combining elements of music such as art, punk, ska, rock, pop, jazz, and world, amongst other genres.[8] The band's body of work spanned 17 years, with various genre and line-up changes. Their best-known songs include "Only a Lad", "Little Girls", "Dead Man's Party" and "Weird Science".

The band experienced multiple line-up changes, with Leon Schneiderman, Dale Turner, Sam Phipps, Danny Elfman, Steve Bartek, and John "Vatos" Hernandez being the constant members for most of their history. As a rock band, Oingo Boingo started as a ska and punk-influenced[6][7] new wave octet, achieving significant popularity in Southern California. During the mid-1980s, the band adopted a more pop-oriented style, until a significant genre change to a more guitar-driven rock style in 1994. At that point, the name was shortened to simply Boingo and the keyboard and horn section were dropped. The band retired after a farewell concert on Halloween 1995, for which they reverted to the name Oingo Boingo and readopted the horn section.

History

[edit]

The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo (1972–1979)

[edit]
Main article: The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo

The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo began as a street theater troupe in Los Angeles, founded by Richard Elfman.[9] The name was inspired by a fictional secret society on the Amos 'n' Andy TV series called The Mystic Knights of the Sea. The earliest version of the band employed as many as 15 performers at any given time, playing over 30 instruments, including some instruments built by band members.

Richard's brother Danny Elfman joined the band in 1974 and later became its leader. The group gradually moved away from its street theater origins and transformed into a dedicated musical theater act. The group performed an eclectic repertoire, ranging from Cab Calloway covers to instrumentals in the style of Balinese gamelan and Russian ballet music and, later, original songs by Danny Elfman. Guitarist Steve Bartek joined in 1976 as musical co-director. That year, the troupe appeared on the TV talent contest program The Gong Show, which they won.[10][11]

I.R.S. and A&M years (1979–1984)

[edit]
Guitar used by Danny Elfman in Oingo Boingo, Hard Rock Cafe Montreal

In 1979, Danny Elfman reformed the group as a dedicated rock band, under the new name Oingo Boingo, at which point most existing members left. Steve Bartek and a brass trio of Dale Turner, Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, and Leon Schneiderman continued with the new band. Various reasons were given for the restart as a rock band, notably Danny's emerging musical interests, and reducing the need for transportation and set-up of multiple stage sets and props. Elfman stated the shift was inspired by ska revival bands such as the Specials, Madness, and the Selecter, new wave bands like XTC, Devo, and Fun Boy Three, as well as the "energy and speed" of punk.[12][13][7][14]

The name Oingo Boingo was settled on in 1979, at which point their early song "I'm Afraid" appeared on the Rhino Records Los Angeles rock and new wave "up and coming" compilation, L.A. In.

That same year, the band self-funded a promo EP record, known as the "Demo EP", for distribution to radio stations and recording industry A&R representatives to help land a contract. The effort paid off, as the record caught the attention of I.R.S. Records, who released a revised version of the EP in 1980: the Oingo Boingo (EP).

The band had now coalesced as an octet: Danny Elfman on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Steve Bartek on lead guitar; Richard Gibbs on keyboards; Kerry Hatch on bass; Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez on drums; and Leon Schneiderman, Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, and Dale Turner on horns. Early success for the group came in 1980 with the song "Only a Lad" from the eponymous EP. The song aired frequently in Los Angeles on KROQ-FM, and complemented the station's then-unusual new wave format.

Following regional success of "Only a Lad", the group released its first full-length album in 1981, also titled Only a Lad (and featuring a new recording of the song). The band released further albums Nothing to Fear in 1982, and Good for Your Soul in 1983. Although the band's sound was termed as new wave, Oingo Boingo's use of exotic percussion, a three-piece horn section, unconventional scales and harmony, and surreal imagery was a genre-skewing combination.

In 1984, bassist Kerry Hatch and keyboardist Richard Gibbs departed to form the short-lived band Zuma II and Oingo Boingo went on temporary hiatus, although this was not known publicly at the time. Elfman later claimed the two departing members had "lost the spirit", but stated, "I could never blame anybody for losing the spirit. It's very hard being an 8-piece ensemble doing what, at the time, was non-commercial music".[15]

MCA years (1984–1992)

[edit]
Oingo Boingo logo, adopted around the late 1980s

Elfman used the 1984 hiatus as an opportunity to release a solo album, co-produced with Steve Bartek, with the remaining members of Oingo Boingo returning as session musicians. This was released as So-Lo in late 1984. At this point, new manager Mike Gormley, who had just left the position of VP of Publicity and Asst. to the Chairman of A&M, negotiated a release from the label and signed the band to MCA Records.

Shortly after releasing So-Lo, Oingo Boingo returned to performing with new bassist John Avila and keyboardist Mike Bacich. The first release with the new line-up was Dead Man's Party in 1985. The album marked a notable change towards more pop oriented songwriting and production style, and became the band's most commercially successful record. It featured their highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, "Weird Science", which was written for the John Hughes film of the same name.

The band appeared on a number of movie soundtracks in the early to mid-1980s, including an appearance in the movie Back to School in 1986, performing their hit single "Dead Man's Party". The soundtrack to the movie Bachelor Party included a theme song written by Elfman, and a song unreleased on any Oingo Boingo album: "Something Isn't Right".

During this era, Danny Elfman also began scoring major films, beginning with 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Elfman would go on to write the scores to almost all of Tim Burton's films. Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek has orchestrated most of Elfman's film and television scores.

The album BOI-NGO was released in 1987. Following its recording, Bacich was replaced by new keyboardist Carl Graves. The band's 1988 release, Boingo Alive, comprised "live" re-recordings of previous album songs on a studio soundstage, plus a new song, "Winning Side". This new track was also released as a single, and became a No. 14 hit on US Modern Rock radio stations.

Oingo Boingo in a promotional picture c.1987

In 1990, the band released their seventh studio album, Dark at the End of the Tunnel, featuring more mellow songs than any previous release, and including the singles "Out of Control" and "Flesh 'N Blood".

Final years (1993–1995)

[edit]

Oingo Boingo continued to regularly perform live, most notably with annual Halloween concerts at Irvine Meadows and the Universal Amphitheatre. Following a short hiatus in 1992, during which time Elfman was busy scoring films, the band returned in 1993 with an increasingly different, hard-rock musical direction, and debuted new material such as "Insanity", "Helpless" and the unreleased song "Did It There". Shows during these years often included the so-called "Sad Clown Orchestra" providing additional accordion and circus percussion.

That same year, Oingo Boingo began recording an eighth studio album for new label Giant Records. The sessions stalled when Elfman became heavily involved writing the music for animated musical The Nightmare Before Christmas with Tim Burton.[16][17] Of this period, Elfman would later reflect that, after over 15 years, he had begun losing his passion for the band.[18]

In 1994, the band consolidated their new musical style, and shortened its name to Boingo. Guitarist Warren Fitzgerald joined while keyboardist Carl Graves and the horn trio were removed. This marked the only year that the band toured without the horn section.[19][20]

The previously shelved album was completed with the new 5-piece line-up, including orchestral instrumentation, and several songs improvised in the studio for the first time in the band's history.[21] This was released as Boingo in 1994, and would be the band's final studio album.

In 1995, it was announced that Boingo would be disbanding after 17 years.[22] The band embarked on a farewell tour in 1995, restoring the original horn trio, and reverting its name to Oingo Boingo, ending with a final Halloween performance at the Universal Amphitheatre.[23] The concert was filmed and released on both VHS and CD in 1996 as Farewell.[24]

Post-breakup

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Following the band's dissolution, Danny Elfman continued composing for film and has been nominated for four Academy Awards for his work. He has scored the majority of Tim Burton's films since Pee-wee's Big Adventure in 1985, including Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and Big Fish (2003). Other scores include Good Will Hunting (1997), Men in Black (1997) and Spider-Man (2002). Elfman has also written themes for more than a dozen TV series, including The Simpsons, Batman: The Animated Series, Tales from the Crypt, and Desperate Housewives. Elfman almost exclusively employs former Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as his orchestrator.

For a period, John Avila and Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez continued to perform as Food for Feet and in the band Tito & Tarantula in Los Angeles.[25] Doug Lacy (Boingo live keyboardist and percussionist) recruited bassist John Avila, guitarist Steve Bartek, drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, and saxophonist Sam Phipps (among other musicians) for a band called Doug & The Mystics. They recorded one album, New Hat, which included a cover of the Oingo Boingo song "Try to Believe". Former keyboardist Richard Gibbs also began a career as a composer for film.

Danny Elfman has regularly stated that there will not be an Oingo Boingo reunion, initially citing his worry that playing live would exacerbate his hearing loss. In 2021 Elfman added that he disliked former bands reuniting now that they are older, likening them to "zombies".[26]

On Halloween 2015, a live concert performance of The Nightmare Before Christmas culminated in Elfman and former Oingo Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek performing "Dead Man's Party" for the first time in twenty years, accompanied by the orchestra.[27] The song was again performed on several subsequent Nightmare Before Christmas concert dates.[citation needed]

In April 2016, Oingo Boingo were honored with a resolution at Los Angeles City Hall. Popular L.A. radio and television personality Richard Blade gave a speech about the band's legacy. Several members attended the meeting from across the band's changing line-ups, including Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, founding keyboardist Richard Gibbs, John Avila, Carl Graves, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps.[28]

On June 11, 2021, Elfman released his first solo studio album in 37 years, Big Mess. It includes the participation of former members of Oingo Boingo, such as Bartek, Fitzgerald, and Mann and a new arrangement and recording of Oingo Boingo's "Insects" from the 1982 album Nothing to Fear.[29]

Tribute band

[edit]

Since Halloween 2005, former drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez has regularly put together an Oingo Boingo tribute band, performing mainly throughout Southern California and Arizona, including the Grove of Anaheim. Initially billed as the "Johnny 'Vatos' Tribute to Halloween, Featuring Former Members of Oingo Boingo",[30][31] Hernandez later titled the band "Johnny Vatos Oingo Boingo Dance Party" and then "Oingo Boingo Former Members". Since 2015, Elfman has endorsed the group as the authorized Oingo Boingo tribute band, and given Hernandez exclusive rights to use the names 'Boingo' and 'Oingo Boingo'.[32]

The tribute band is joined intermittently by former Oingo Boingo members such as Steve Bartek, Carl Graves, John Avila, and Sam "Sluggo" Phipps, while vocals are usually provided by singer Brendan McCreary.[33] During the 2006 Halloween season, there were two "Johnny 'Vatos' Tribute to Halloween" shows: one in Los Angeles, and one in Orange County, California, with Vatos, Bartek, Avila, Phipps, and Legacy.[34]

Members

[edit]
Main article: List of Oingo Boingo members

Final line-up

[edit]

Note:[a]

  • Leon Schneiderman – baritone and alto saxophones (1972–1995)
  • Dale Turner – trumpet, trombones, background vocals (1972–1995)
  • Sam "Sluggo" Phipps – tenor and soprano saxophones (1973–1995)
  • Danny Elfman – lead vocals, rhythm guitars (1974–1995)
  • Steve Bartek – lead guitars, background vocals (1975–1995)
  • Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez – drums, percussion (1978–1995)
  • John Avila – bass guitar, background vocals (1984–1995)
  • Warren Fitzgerald – guitars, background vocals (1993–1995)

Discography

[edit]
For a more comprehensive list, see Oingo Boingo discography.

Filmography

[edit]

Appearing on screen as Oingo Boingo

Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ Based on their final performance in the 1995 Farewell live album.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Oingo Boingo – Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Holden, Stephen (August 31, 1981). "Rock Bands: Oingo Boingo and Go-Go's". The New York Times. p. C15. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Miller, Scott (2010). Music: What Happened?. 125 Records. ISBN 978-0-615-38196-1.
  4. ^ a b "Danny Elfman: The 10 songs that changed my life". Kerrang.com. June 21, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Benson, Alex (May 15, 2018). "The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo: Danny Elfman's Circus Theater Origins". Medium. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Denman-Underhill, Lori (October 22, 2015). "Overcoming Stage Fright, Danny Elfman Brings Nightmare to the Bowl". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Danny Elfman (interviewee) Jools Holland (interviewer) Derek Burbidge (director) (May 1982). Urgh! A Music War. Warner Bros. Later on in the 70s when the punk thing started happening, I found it difficult to totally relate to the music, because it was real simple ... but the energy and speed I loved. I loved fast music. And that got me inspired once again to start writing.
  8. ^ [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
  9. ^ Sullivan, Dan (March 26, 1975). "Return to Calculated Pandemonium". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Green, Anna (December 7, 2015). "Before He Was a Famous Film Composer, Danny Elfman Was a Contestant on the Gong Show". Mental Floss. Minute Media. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Alice Cooper Loses His Head & Danny Elfman (with Oingo Boingo) Loses His Mind on 'The Gong Show'". Dangerous Minds. March 24, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Halfyard, Janet (2004). Danny Elfman's Batman: A Film Score Guide. Scarecrow Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-8108-5126-9.
  13. ^ "An interview where Danny Elfman mentions the new wave and Ska influences in Oingo Boingo". Mixonline.com. May 1, 2001. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  14. ^ Danny Elfman [@dannyelfman] (July 2, 2019). "Andy Partridge was a huge influence. It was that first year of getting back to the radio after a decade long moratorium, and the music of XTC, The Specials, Selector, Madness, Fun Boy Three, and Devo that turned me around" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Darling, Cary (May 5, 1987). "Oingo Boingo's Difficult Teenage Years". BAM Magazine.
  16. ^ Poggi, Alison (July 1994). "The Elfman Cometh". SLAMM, San Diego's Lifestyle and Music Magazine via Flickr. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  17. ^ "San Francisco Chronicle article". Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  18. ^ "Danny Elfman on Oingo Boingo, film scores, and the Beatles almost ruining Batman". AV Music. October 27, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  19. ^ "Los Angeles Times interview with Danny Elfman". Articles.latimes.com. October 22, 1985. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  20. ^ "San Francisco Chronicle Q and A with Danny Elfman". Boingo.org. June 12, 1994. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  21. ^ Poggi, Alison (July 1994). "The Elfman Cometh". SLAMM, San Diego's Lifestyle and Music Magazine via Flickr. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  22. ^ Linan, Steven (August 29, 1995). "POP/ROCK The Last Boingo: Oingo Boingo is calling..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  23. ^ Hochman, Steve (October 23, 1995). "And Poof! They're Gone". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  24. ^ Schulte, Tom. "Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre". AllMusic. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "Food for Feet - Food for Feet | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  26. ^ Willman, Chris (June 11, 2021). "Danny Elfman Talks About Making a 'Big Mess,' and Returning to Rock a Quarter-Century After Oingo Boingo Split". Variety. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  27. ^ Fadroski, Kelli Skye (November 2, 2015). "Danny Elfman provides tricks and treats with 'Nightmare' performance". The Orange County Register. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  28. ^ "80s Band Oingo Boingo Performs Acoustic Set At LA City Council Meeting". CBS Los Angeles. April 20, 2016. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  29. ^ Greene, Andy (May 25, 2021). "Watch Danny Elfman's Trippy 3D 'Insects' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  30. ^ "Bear McCreary". Bearmccreary.com. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  31. ^ "Johnny Vatos' 'Tribute To Halloween', Featuring Former Members of Oingo Boingo". Goldstar.com. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  32. ^ Smith, Steve (August 7, 2015). "Danny Elfman endorses Oingo Boingo Dance Party, Don Henley announces solo tour". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  33. ^ "Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez: Official Site". Johnnyvatos.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  34. ^ McCreary, Bear (October 17, 2006). "Bear McCreary – Official site". BearMcCreary.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
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