Groovie Ghoulies
The Groovie Ghoulies were an American pop punk band from Sacramento, California, United States, whose music took inspiration from horror movies.[1] They released numerous albums, EPs, and singles, and toured internationally. The band's name was taken from the 1970s animated television series Groovie Goolies, a spinoff of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
Groovie Ghoulies | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sacramento, California, United States |
| Genres | Punk rock, pop punk, horror punk |
| Years active | 1983–2007 |
| Labels | Lookout!, Springman, Stardumb, Green Door, Eccentric Pop |
| Past members | Kepi Roach Scampi Wendy |
| Website | groovie-ghoulies.com |
History
Though the group's lineup fluctuated significantly throughout their career, bassist/vocalist Jeff Alexander (under the punk name "Kepi Ghoulie") remained a constant fixture.[2] Guitarist Rochelle "Roach" Sparman (lead singer Kepi's wife) was also a longtime member.[2] The Groovie Ghoulies' music is best classified as pop-punk and is heavily influenced by early punk groups such as the Ramones, the Misfits,[3] and The Dickies, 1960s garage rock and bubblegum artists such as The Troggs and The Monkees, and 1950s rock and roll artists such as Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Throughout their career the Groovie Ghoulies recorded cover versions of songs by several of these artists as well as other influences including KISS, Daniel Johnston and Neil Diamond.
The Groovie Ghoulies announced their breakup on May 9, 2007, just days prior to the release of their ninth studio album 99 Lives.[4] The main reason for the breakup was the difficulty of having kept the band together after Kepi and Roach had divorced.[5]
In 2008, two tribute albums were released. Let's Go Ghoulie from US-based Knowhere Records and When The Kids Go Go Go Crazy on German label Kamikaze Records each featured artists from Europe and North America.
Lead singer Jeff (Kepi) Alexander has recorded cover versions of Groovie Ghoulies songs on various releases since the band's breakup. Fun In The Dark with The Accelerators was released in 2015; Re-Animation Festival, with The Copyrights, was released in 2019.
In September of 2022, Kepi announced that the entire Groovie Ghoulies back catalogue would be released via Pirates Press.[6]
Former band members
- Jeff (Kepi) Alexander – bass, lead vocals (original and final line up)
- Rochelle (Roach) Sparman – guitar, backing vocals (final line up)
- Nora (Scampi) Fasano – drums, backing vocals (final line up)
- John (Rudge) Rudgers – guitar (original line up)
- Geolyn Carvin – guitar, backing vocals (original line up)
- John (Vetty) Vetter – bass (original line up)
- John Phillip (Johny) Sosa – drums (original line up)
- John Harris – drums
- Dan (Panic) Sullivan – drums
- Wendy Powell – drums, backing vocals
- B-Face Rat – bass
- Matt K. Shrugg – drums
- Jaz Brown – drums
- Dan Reynoso (Danny Secretion) – drums
- Jason Patrone – bass (quit after 2 weeks)
- Skid Jones – guitar
- Amy – Drums
- Brian – Drums
- Dave – Drums
- Andrew Phillips – guitar
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Appetite for Adrenochrome | Crimson Corpse Records | LP/CD | First album. Re-released in 1996 by Lookout! Records, in 2003 by Springman Records, and in 2015 by Green Door Records and Eccentric Pop Records. |
| 1994 | Born in the Basement | Green Door Records | LP/CD | Re-released in 1996 by Lookout! Records and in 2004 by Springman Records. |
| 1996 | World Contact Day | Lookout! Records | LP/CD | Re-released in 2002 by Springman Records. |
| 1997 | Re-Animation Festival | Lookout! Records | LP/CD | Re-released in 2003 by Springman Records. |
| 1999 | Fun in the Dark | Lookout! Records | LP/CD | Re-released in 2003 by Springman Records. |
| 2000 | Travels with My Amp | Lookout! Records | LP/CD | |
| 2002 | Go! Stories | Stardumb Records | LP/CD | Re-released with bonus tracks in 2002 by Green Door Records. |
| 2003 | Monster Club | Stardumb Records | CD | Re-released in 2004 by Green Door Records. |
| 2007 | 99 Lives | Green Door Records | CD | Final album. |
| 2014 | Flying Saucer Rock N Roll | Green Door Records, Eccentric Pop Records | LP/CD | First three 7"s remastered onto a full-length LP |
EPs
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Planet Brian Jones" | Supersonic RefrigeRecords | 7" | Italy Release |
| 2001 | Freaks on Parade | Stardumb Records | CD | Re-released on vinyl by Surfin' Ki Records in 2014. |
| 2001 | Summer Fun with the Groovie Ghoulies | Green Door Records | CD | 2001 tour CD with Fanzine |
| 2002 | Summer Fun 2002 | Green Door Records | CD | 2002 tour CD with Fanzine |
| 2005 | Berry'd Alive | Green Door Records | CD/10" | Covers of songs originally performed by Chuck Berry. |
Singles
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Flying Saucer" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | Groovie Ghoulies first release |
| 1988 | "Don't Go Out Into the Rain" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | Side B: Dead Moon/Child of the Moon |
| 1988 | "Armageddon 2000" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | |
| 1990 | "Hello Hello" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | |
| 1992 | "Lost Generation" | Gift of Life | 7" | |
| 1992 | "Christmas on Mars" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | |
| 1995 | "The Beast with 5 Hands" | Green Door Records | 7" | |
| 1996 | "Island of Pogo Pogo" | Lookout! Records | 7" | Lookout No. 146 Side B:"Gates of Steel" |
| 1997 | "Magic 8 Ball" | What Else? | 7" | |
| 1997 | "Running With Bigfoot" | Lookout! Records | CD/ 7" | Lookout No. 177 |
| 1997 | "Graveyard Girlfriend" | Lookout! Records | 7" | Side B: Trick or Treat (Chuck Berry)/Devil Town (Daniel Johnston) |
| 2000 | "Vampire Girl" | Supersonic RefrigeRecords | 7" | Picture Disc Italy Release |
Splits
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Cake Sprit EP | Stingray | 7" | 4 way split Groovie Ghoulies/The Spazzys/Dazes/Mach Pelican |
| 1997 | 3 for the Price of One | Sell Out | 7" | Groovie Ghoulies/Wankin' Teenagers/Receivers split |
| 1998 | Chronic for the Troops | Delmonico | CD/7" | Split with Chixdiggit! |
| 1998 | "Funny Funny" | Gearhead Records | 7" | RPM No. 007 – b/w The Donnas "Wig-Wam Bam" |
| 1999 | Wedding Invitation | What Else? | 12" | heart shaped vinyl made for a wedding invitation. Lynrd's Innards/Groovie Ghoulies/Slingshot Episode split |
| 2004 | 'Til Death do us Party | Springman Records | 7" | Split with the Secretions |
Compilation albums
- Tantrum – 1990 LP/CD
- Gabba Gabba Hey – 1991 CD
- Groin Thunder – 1992 CD
- Heide Sez – 1996 CD
- Team Mint – 1996 CD
- Back Asswards – 1996 CD
- More Bounce to the Ounce – 1997 CD
- The Last Great Thing You Did – 1997 CD
- Psycho Sisters – 1998 CD
- Forward Til Death – 1999 CD
- Built For Speed – 1999 CD
- Short Music For Short People – 1999 CD
- Runnin' On Fumes – 2000 CD
- Lookout! Freakout – 2000 CD
- 3 Chord Rocket Science – 2001 CD
- A Tribute to NOFX – 2002 CD
- A Punk Tribute to AC/DC – 2002 CD
- Third Strike Punk Rock Strike Volume Three – 2002 CD
- A Fistful of Rock N Roll Vol. No. 10 – 2002 CD
- Pop Punk Loves You – 2002 CD
- The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show – 2003 CD
- Punk Rock High School Int. – 2004 CD
- MolokoPlus No. 26 – 2004 CD
- Volume 4: Pop Punk – 2005 CD
- Backyard City Rockers 3 – 2005 CD
References
- Jason Ankeny. "The Groovie Ghoulies | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
- Kevin Prested, Punk USA: The Rise and Fall of Lookout Records. Portland, OR: Microcosm Publishing, 2014; pg. 117.
- "Exclusive Interview: Kepi Ghoulie!". Silversprocket.net. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- "Break-ups: Groovie Ghoulies (1989–2007)". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
- "The Jekyll and Hyde Show 106FM Jerusalem". Pod.icast.co.il. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
- "Welcome Kepi Ghoulie to the Pirates Press Records Family – Pirates Press Records".