Wall Of Voodoo

Wall of Voodoo was an American new wave band that got its start in Los Angeles in the late 1970s. They first gained attention with their quirky blend of post-punk, electronic, and spaghetti Western influences, which gave their music a cinematic, offbeat edge. The band’s best-known lineup included vocalist Stan Ridgway, guitarist Marc Moreland, keyboardist Chas T. Gray, bassist Bruce Moreland, and drummer Joe Nanini.

Their most iconic song, “Mexican Radio,” became a cult hit in the early ’80s and was featured on their 1982 album Call of the West. Wall of Voodoo stood out from their peers with a sound that combined dark humor, narrative lyrics, and synth-heavy arrangements. Ridgway left the band after Call of the West, and Wall of Voodoo continued with a new lineup, releasing albums like Seven Days in Sammystown and Happy Planet before disbanding in the late 1980s. Despite their relatively brief run, the band left a lasting influence on alternative and new wave music.