The Groovie Ghoulies were an American pop punk band from Sacramento, California, United States, whose music took inspiration from horror movies. 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.
History Though the group's lineup fluctuated significantly throughout their career, bassist/vocalist Jeff Alexander better known under the punk name Kepi Ghoulie remained a constant fixture.Kevin Prested, Punk USA: The Rise and Fall of Lookout Records. Portland, OR: Microcosm Publishing, 2014; pg. 117. Guitarist Rochelle "Roach" Sparman was also a longtime member. Alexander and Sparman were married but eventually divorced, which lead to difficulties in keeping the band together and its eventual breakup. The Groovie Ghoulies' music is best classified as pop-punk and is heavily influenced by early punk groups such as the Ramones, the Misfits, 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.
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 Kepi 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 2022, Kepi announced that the entire Groovie Ghoulies back catalogue would be released via Pirates Press.
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 YearTitleLabelFormatOther information1989Appetite for AdrenochromeCrimson Corpse RecordsLP/CDFirst album. Re-released in 1996 by Lookout! Records, in 2003 by Springman Records, and in 2015 by Green Door Records and Eccentric Pop Records.1994Born in the BasementGreen Door RecordsLP/CDRe-released in 1996 by Lookout! Records and in 2004 by Springman Records.1996World Contact DayLookout! RecordsLP/CDRe-released in 2002 by Springman Records.1997Re-Animation FestivalLookout! RecordsLP/CDRe-released in 2003 by Springman Records.1999Fun in the DarkLookout! RecordsLP/CDRe-released in 2003 by Springman Records.2000Travels with My AmpLookout! RecordsLP/CD2002Go! StoriesStardumb RecordsLP/CDRe-released with bonus tracks in 2002 by Green Door Records.2003Monster ClubStardumb RecordsCDRe-released in 2004 by Green Door Records.200799 LivesGreen Door RecordsCDFinal album.2014Flying Saucer Rock N RollGreen Door Records, Eccentric Pop RecordsLP/CDFirst three 7"s remastered onto a full-length LP
EPs YearTitleLabelFormatOther information1997"Planet Brian Jones"Supersonic RefrigeRecords7"Italy Release2001Freaks on ParadeStardumb RecordsCDRe-released on vinyl by Surfin' Ki Records in 2014.2001Summer Fun with the Groovie GhouliesGreen Door RecordsCD2001 tour CD with Fanzine2002Summer Fun 2002Green Door RecordsCD2002 tour CD with Fanzine2005Berry'd AliveGreen Door RecordsCD/10"Covers of songs originally performed by Chuck Berry.
Singles YearTitleLabelFormatOther information1986"Flying Saucer"Crimson Corpse Records7"Groovie Ghoulies first release1988"Don't Go Out Into the Rain"Crimson Corpse Records7"Side B: Dead Moon/Child of the Moon1988"Armageddon 2000"Crimson Corpse Records7"1990"Hello Hello"Crimson Corpse Records7"1992"Lost Generation"Gift of Life7"1992"Christmas on Mars"Crimson Corpse Records7"1995"The Beast with 5 Hands"Green Door Records7"1996"Island of Pogo Pogo"Lookout! Records7"Lookout No. 146 Side B:"Gates of Steel"1997"Magic 8 Ball"What Else?7"1997"Running With Bigfoot"Lookout! RecordsCD/ 7"Lookout No. 1771997"Graveyard Girlfriend"Lookout! Records7"Side B: Trick or Treat (Chuck Berry)/Devil Town (Daniel Johnston)2000"Vampire Girl"Supersonic RefrigeRecords7"Picture Disc Italy Release
Splits YearTitleLabelFormatOther information2004Cake Sprit EPStingray7"4-way split Groovie Ghoulies/The Spazzys/Dazes/Mach Pelican19973 for the Price of OneSell Out7"Groovie Ghoulies/Wankin' Teenagers/Receivers split1998Chronic for the TroopsDelmonicoCD/7"Split with Chixdiggit!1998"Funny Funny"Gearhead Records7"RPM No. 007 – b/w The Donnas "Wig-Wam Bam"1999Wedding InvitationWhat Else?12"heart shaped vinyl made for a wedding invitation. Lynrd's Innards/Groovie Ghoulies/Slingshot Episode split2004'Til Death do us PartySpringman Records7"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