Steve Smith: Danny Elfman endorses Oingo Boingo Dance Party, Don Henley ... - The San Gabriel Valley Tribune
On Halloween night 1996, popular L. A. alt rockers Oingo Boingo, led by the often quirky Danny Elfman, rode off into the sunset with a gig at the Universal Amphitheatre, more than two decades after initially forming as The Mystic Knights of the... A decade ago, Vatos gathered a group of former Boingo members and began playing concert dates here and there under a couple different names, the last few years as Johnny Vatos Boingo Dance Party that features singer Brendan McCreary. Other former Boingo members in the Vatos band include saxman Sam “Sluggo” Phipps, keyboardist Doug Lacy, singer and keyboardist Carl Graves, bassist John Avila and guitarist Steve Bartek. In the mean time, Boingo tribute bands such as Dead Man’s Party cropped up. Now, Elfman has given Vatos and his band his official endorsement as the only authorized Oingo Boingo tribute band. A contract between the pair of former bandmates gives Vatos sole and exclusive rights to use the name Boingo and Oingo Boingo. With that came a name change to Johnny Vatos Oingo Boingo Dance Party. Smokey Robinson named Rock and Roll Hall Music Master Smokey Robinson has been named the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 20th Music Master. Source: www.sgvtribune.com
