Callin' Stan Ridgway
Big day here in Stuck in the 80s Land. We're set to interview Stan Ridgway today, the frontman for Wall of Voodoo and one of our favorite American singer/songwriters. We're hoping to get the inside scoop on the disappearance (and reappearance) of Wall of Voodoo, the experimental punk rock outfit whose "Mexican Radio" video shook up the bland fare of early MTV.
Without Wall of Voodoo, Stan has had an impressive solo career. His latest solo CD, Snakebit, has a classic song called "Talkin' Wall of Voodoo Blues, Part 1." You can download the full song off his website, or just click here. In the song, he recounts the history of the band and the evil forces that tore it apart.
Another can't-miss offering: An anti-Bush tune from his band Drywall and their latest CD "BBQ Babylon." Titled "Hidden Bonus Track," it uses the cleverly edited actual words from the speeches of George W. Bush to create an entirely different message. Playing over the top of a drum machine, it ends with the president seemingly saying, "I have a message for the people of Iraq: Go home and die."
If you have any questions for Stan, leave us a comment below. And listen for the full interview in a future Stuck in the 80s podcast.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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Cool! I can't wait to "see" the interview!
Posted by: Saur | August 22, 2006 at 06:51 PM
How about no more of Richard Gere either? If I want to hear about religion, world peace, Tibet, the death penalty, the role of the US in the world, and other stuff that he knows nothing about, I will go to the proper sources. Not to the American Giglo.
Posted by: Dino In NYC | August 23, 2006 at 01:04 PM
Any good stories from the times you spent on tour with Oingo Boingo?
Posted by: Wally | August 23, 2006 at 01:27 PM
Excellent! Stan Ridgway was not only the best thing about Wall Of Voodoo but his solo material tops it in my humble opinion. A great American Songwriter and Storyteller and a true maverick of the arts. I have every record he's made and that's quite a few, but they are all great. Good choice and bravo.
Posted by: Bob Thomas | August 28, 2006 at 10:43 PM