Haunted Garage
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Dukey Flyswatter, Ace McCoomba, Nyck Varoom |
| Defunct | 1993 (initial disbandment), 2021 (final retirement) |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Haunted Garage emerged as a horror punk and heavy metal ensemble originating from Los Angeles in 1985. Led by vocalist and B-movie actor Dukey Flyswatter, the group became distinguished for their theatrical horror and sci-fi-themed compositions alongside extravagant shock rock performances that incorporated grotesque props, elaborate costumes, go-go dancers, and copious amounts of stage blood.
The band’s initial incarnation persisted from 1985 until 1993, establishing a significant presence within the Los Angeles metal circuit and releasing a single studio album under Metal Blade Records in 1991. Following several sporadic reunions, a reformed lineup spearheaded by Flyswatter reappeared in 2013, engaging in touring and recording activities until their retirement in late 2021.
Origins and initial lineup (1985–1993)
Haunted Garage was founded in 1985 by vocalist Dukey Flyswatter, bassist Ace McCoomba, and guitarist Nyck Varoom. Their early repertoire consisted of psychedelic rock and rockabilly covers drawn from classic B-movie soundtracks such as The Blob and Two Thousand Maniacs!. Soon after, they transitioned to original compositions heavily influenced by horror cinema.[1][2] The inclusion of lead guitarist Gaby Godhead and drummer Stiff Slug propelled their sound toward a more aggressive blend of horror punk and heavy metal. The Los Angeles Times characterized their style as "The Dickies meets Alice Cooper", while Flyswatter himself coined the term "splatter punk" to describe their music.[2][3]
The band gained notoriety for their extravagant shock rock spectacles, which incorporated graphic theatrics, intricate horror-themed attire, copious fake blood and slime sprayed into the crowd, as well as a dedicated group of scantily clad female dancers known as "The Gore Gore Girls".[1][3] Flyswatter’s stage performances were marked by extreme acts such as piercing his skin with hatpins and attaching mousetraps to his face.[1] These vivid live shows solidified Haunted Garage’s reputation within the Los Angeles scene, allowing them to share bills with notable acts like The Cramps, Butthole Surfers, Gwar, Misfits, and White Zombie. They performed at iconic venues including the Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy Theatre, and Raji's.[4]
During this era, Flyswatter was also active in the low-budget B-movie circuit, appearing in cult films such as Surf Nazis Must Die, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama, and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, along with writing scripts for movies like Blood Diner.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Haunted Garage contributed exclusive tracks to the 1987 film Nightmare Sisters, made on-screen appearances in Cyclone (1987) and Breakfast of Aliens (1989), and were featured on a 1992 episode of The Montel Williams Show discussing gothic rock culture.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Following the independent release of their demo tape titled Songs About Satan & Other Stuff to Piss Your Parents Off in 1989, Haunted Garage issued a four-track EP called Mothers Day through Sympathy for the Record Industry. Subsequently, they secured a contract with Metal Blade Records, under which they released their only full-length album, Possession Park, in August 1991.[1] The album was met with favorable critiques; AllMusic highlighted its entertaining nature and noted that the band "deserved greater recognition,"[5] while the Chicago Tribune acknowledged its dark humor though likening them to "Gwar Junior".Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name After the album launch, Haunted Garage embarked on tours across the United States and Europe supporting The Cramps, before ultimately disbanding following their final performance at the Coconut Teaszer on November 25, 1992.[1][4]
Later reunions and retirement phase (1995–2021)
After disbanding, Flyswatter organized multiple Haunted Garage reunion events featuring different band members, starting with a show at the Whisky a Go Go in 1995. In 2001, following their contribution to the soundtrack of the Full Moon Features zombie movie The Dead Hate the Living!, Flyswatter and Godhead brought the band back together for a reunion concert and appeared on actor Clint Howard's web series The Clint Howard Variety Show to reveal intentions for touring and recording; however, these plans never came to fruition. The band's last one-time reunion took place on June 16, 2008, at Safari Sam's in Los Angeles, which also marked Godhead’s final appearance with Haunted Garage.
In 2013, Flyswatter reactivated Haunted Garage as the only remaining original member, with their comeback performance held at Los Angeles' California Institute of Abnormalarts on October 5. Shortly after, they co-headlined an event with The Dickies during the Long Beach Zombie Walk. This formation maintained a steady presence in the Los Angeles live scene and commenced recording an EP in August 2015 under producer Paul Roessler, representing their first studio effort since 1991. The EP titled Slenderman and Other Strange Tales was released digitally on January 13, 2016, followed by a physical CD in April. The title track drew inspiration from the Slender Man mythos and the infamous 2012 stabbing incident, attracting media coverage alongside the 2016 HBO documentary Beware the Slenderman. In 2020, Metal Assault Records issued an expanded vinyl edition of Slenderman, which included additional tracks. Band activities were temporarily halted as Flyswatter underwent surgery to remove an ocular tumor.
On December 10, 2018, Flyswatter underwent brain surgery to excise a tumor located near his visual cortex, preceded by a benefit concert held on December 1. Although the tumor was benign and successfully removed, band operations slowed during his recuperation period. Flyswatter resumed live performances in spring 2019, headlining shows in Los Angeles on May 18 and Tarzana on August 31.
By mid-2021, Haunted Garage announced they were producing a documentary entitled The Life and Slimes of Dukey Flyswatter and Haunted Garage, featuring interviews with prominent individuals from Flyswatter's film and music history, including original band members. On August 21, 2021, Haunted Garage performed what was billed as their final public appearance—a brief four-song set following punk group the Dwarves at Green Jellÿ's Hollywood studio.
Discography
- Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Possession Park | Metal Blade Records | |
| 2020 | Slenderman and Other Strange Tales | Metal Assault Records | Expanded LP version of 2016 EP |
- EPs and Demos
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Songs About Satan & Other Stuff to Piss Your Parents Off | Crawling Ear Music | Demo cassette |
| Mother's Day | Sympathy for the Record Industry | Four-track EP released on cassette and double-7" | |
| 2016 | Slenderman and Other Strange Tales | Self-released | Six-track EP produced by Paul Roessler |
- Singles
| Year | Song | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "976-KILL" (CD) | Metal Blade Records |
| "Welcome to Hell" (CD) |
- Compilation appearances
| Year | Song | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Dead and Gone" | Rock Climbers: Hottest of Hollywood (Sting's Ray Records) |
| "My Disciple" | Tantrum Compilation (Cocktail Records) | |
| 1993 | "Halo of Flies" | Welcome to Our Nightmare: A Tribute to Alice Cooper (Triple X Records) |
| 2019 | "Surf Nazis Must Die" | Metal Assault Mixtape - Vol. 1 (Metal Assault Records) |
- Soundtrack appearances
- Cyclone (1987)
- Nightmare Sisters (1987)
- Breakfast of Aliens (1989)
- The Dead Hate the Living! (2000)
- Night of the Demons (2009)
Members
- Original line-up (1989–1993)
- Dukey Flyswatter – lead vocalist
- Gaby Godhead – lead guitarist
- Johnny Ho – rhythm guitarist
- King Dinosaur – bassist, backing vocals
- Stiff Slug – drummer
- Last line-up (2013–2021)
- Dukey Flyswatter – lead vocalist
- Satan (Andy Chavez) – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Erik E. Wrath (Eric Erath) – lead and rhythm guitar
- The Beaver (Brian Beaver) – drummer
- Deathro Tull (Pat Rowan) – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Past members
- Danny Dorman
- Nyck Varoom
- Joe Ramirez
- Jonnie Hell
- Mark Conn
- Mikaleno Admuson
- Ace McCoomba
- Sean Fodor
External links
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- 1985 establishments in California
- 1993 disestablishments in California
- 2013 establishments in California
- 2021 disestablishments in California
- Garage rock groups from California
- Heavy metal musical groups from California
- Horror punk groups
- Musical groups from Los Angeles
- Musical groups established in 1985
- Musical groups disestablished in 1993
- Musical groups reestablished in 2013
- Musical groups disestablished in 2021
- Punk rock groups from California