Wall of Voodoo had its roots in Acme Soundtracks, a film score business started by Stan Ridgway, later the vocalist and synth player for Wall of Voodoo. Acme Soundtracks office was across the street from the Hollywood punk club The Masque and Ridgway was soon drawn into the emerging punk/new wave scene. Marc Moreland, guitarist for The Skulls began jamming with Ridgway at the Acme Soundtracks office and the soundtrack company morphed into a New Wave band. In 1977, with the addition of Skulls members Bruce Moreland (Marc's brother) as bassist and Chas Gray as keyboardist, along with Joe Nanini, who had been the drummer for Black Randy and the Metrosquad, the first lineup of Wall of Voodoo was born.
Wall of Voodoo released a self-titled EP in 1980 which featured a unique, synthesizer-driven cover of the Johnny Cash song, "Ring of Fire". The band's first full-length album, Dark Continent followed in 1981. Bruce Moreland left the band for the first time soon after this, and Chas Gray performed on both bass and keyboard during this time. The band recorded their biggest-selling album, Call of the West in 1982. The track "Mexican Radio" was their only Top 100 hit and the video for the song got a great deal of exposure on the newly-formed MTV. Bill Noland was added as a keyboardist soon after the release of this album.
Stan Ridgway claims that the situation around the band was increasingly chaotic at the time, with a great deal of drug use and out-of-control behavior on the part of the band members, as well as shady behavior by the band's management and record label. Wall of Voodoo appeared at the second US Festival on May 28, 1983 (the largest concert the band had performed), immediately after which Ridgway, Nanini, and Noland all left the band. Stan Ridgway soon went on to a successful solo career, appearing as guest vocalist on a track on the Rumble Fish score and releasing his first solo album in 1986. Joe Nanini soon resurfaced in the country rock band Lonesome Strangers. Joe Nanini passed away in 2000.
The remainder of the band, Marc Moreland, Chas Gray, and a returning Bruce Moreland carried on under the name Wall of Voodoo. Soon after, Andy Prieboy, formerly of the San Francisco New Wave band Eye Protection, joined as singer and Ned Lukhardt was added as drummer. The band continued to record and perform under this lineup until 1988, though their sound was very different from the style of music they played in the earlier Stan Ridgway-fronted lineup. During this period, the entire membership of Wall of Voodoo (with the exception of Andy Prieboy) were also members of Nervous Gender, a lineup that was nicknamed "Wall of Gender". In 1988, Wall of Voodoo split up.
Andy Prieboy went on to a solo career. Marc Moreland formed Pretty and Twisted with Johnette Napolitano and Danny Montgomery from Concrete Blonde and later formed Department of Crooks. Marc Moreland passed away in 2002, a posthumous solo album was issued later as the Marc Moreland Mess.
Their influence has reached an interesting and eclectic range of artists, for example Swiss Death/Thrash Metal Band Celtic Frost covered "Mexican Radio" on their album "Into the Pandemonium"
Invisible Man
Wall of Voodoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's a voice in the back, and he's never very loud
In a tribal mask, or a business suit
He'll stab your back and steal your loot
[Chorus]
Invisible invisible man
Invisible invisible man
Invisible invisible man
Well, I saw him one night and he gave me a chill
He was drivin' down the freeway in a Coupe de Ville
Pulled up like a ghost and he hit his lights
Saw his shades man, they're outta sight
[Chorus: x2]
Well, I saw him one night and he gave me a chill
The Wall of Voodoo's song Invisible Man tells the story of a mysterious, elusive figure who seems to be everywhere yet nowhere at the same time. The first verse sets the tone of his omnipresence - whether in a tribal mask or a business suit, he is always around, yet he keeps to the background, never making too much noise or standing out too much. However, this seemingly insignificant man possesses a sinister quality, as he is described as someone who will "stab your back and steal your loot". The line suggests that the Invisible Man may be involved in some kind of criminal activity, possibly a thief or a con artist.
The chorus repeats the phrase "invisible invisible man" four times, emphasizing the fact that this person is not only elusive but also invisible - someone who is able to blend into the background, becoming unnoticed and easily forgotten. The second verse adds more details to this man's character, revealing that he drives a Coupe de Ville and wears shades that are "outta sight" - another indication of his mysteriousness. The driving down the freeway is a nod to the famous novel Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison that was concerned with an African American man who considers himself invisible to society because he is treated as if he is not there. Overall, the song suggests that the Invisible Man has something to hide, and that his invisibility is a deliberate attempt to keep himself unknown and unnoticed.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I saw him one night and he gave me a chill
I once encountered the Invisible Man and was overcome with fear
He was drivin' down the freeway in a Coupe de Ville
Pulled up like a ghost and he hit his lights
Saw his shades man, they're outta sight
He emerged like a spectre, driving on the highway in a Cadillac Coupe de Ville, turned on his brights, and wore sunglasses that were exceptionally impressive
When you're out on the street, he's a face in the crowd
He's a voice in the back, and he's never very loud
In a tribal mask or a business suit
He'll stab your back and steal your loot
The Invisible Man blends in perfectly when on the street or in a crowd, speaks very little, and can look like anyone from a tribal mask to a suit-wearing businessman. He is also capable of deceit and theft, even betrayal.
[Chorus]
Invisible invisible man
Invisible invisible man
Invisible invisible man
Invisible invisible man
This is the chorus of the song, identifying the Invisible Man as being invisible and unseen.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANE ANTHONY DEVILLER, SEAN HOSEIN, STEPHEN KIPNER, STEPHEN ALAN KIPNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexandregenereux5024
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