The Fibonaccis
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | John Dentino, Ron Stringer, Magie Song, Joe Berardi, Tom Corey |
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
| Website | thefibonaccis |
The Fibonaccis were an American art rock ensemble established in 1981 in Los Angeles. The group consisted of songwriters John Dentino (keyboards) and Ron Stringer (guitar), vocalist Magie Song, drummer Joe Berardi, and later bassist Tom Corey.
Formation
Originating from the Los Angeles art punk movement alongside contemporaries such as Wall of Voodoo and Oingo Boingo, The Fibonaccis took their name from the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci and were inspired by composers like Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone. Their sound featured complex piano and guitar arrangements complemented by unusual instruments including mandolins, clarinets, and Mellotrons. The band blended styles from post-punk, progressive rock, jazz, world music, cabaret, ambient, spoken word, and funk, crafting a unique sonic identity that critics have labeled as "elevator music from hell." Their lyrics delved into dark and obscure subjects such as serial killers and UFOs with a satirical and surreal approach.
Career
The Fibonaccis launched their recording career with the EP (fi'-bo-na'-chez) in 1982, followed by the 12" single/EP Tumor/Psycho/Slow Beautiful Sex in 1983. In 1984, they independently produced a discordant video for an unreleased cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze," reimagined as a cult anthem incorporating audio from Charles Manson interviews.
By the mid-1980s, The Fibonaccis had established themselves as a prominent presence within the Los Angeles art rock community, touring with Sparks, Oingo Boingo, and Wall of Voodoo, and appearing at the 1985 New Music America festival.
The band also contributed to independent film soundtracks, working with composer Richard Band on the score of the 1986 horror-comedy TerrorVision, including its theme track. Their song "Sergio Leone" was featured at the conclusion of the 1982 film Android, while "Art Life" appeared in the 1987 movie Slam Dance. Additionally, they made a cameo as "Sexy Holiday" in the 1987 comedy Valet Girls, lip-syncing to "Slow Beautiful Sex" and "Purple Haze."
In 1987, The Fibonaccis released their only full-length album, Civilization and Its Discotheques, through Blue Yonder Sounds. Its release was delayed due to issues with their record label. Challenges during recording sessions and limited media exposure contributed to their disbandment in 1988.
A 26-track compilation titled Repressed - The Best of the Fibonaccis was issued by Restless Records in 1992, which led to a one-time reunion concert in Los Angeles on November 19, marking their final live appearance.
Post-Fibonaccis
Following the band's dissolution, John Dentino continued composing music independently, recently concentrating on scores for documentary films. Joe Berardi toured alongside Wall of Voodoo’s Stan Ridgway and collaborated with artists including Lydia Lunch, Congo Norvell, Donovan, and Rufus Wainwright. Magie Song acted in several independent films during the early 1990s such as Gregg Araki's The Living End and Stephen Sayadian's Dr. Caligari, and currently practices acupuncture in Los Angeles. Tom Corey died from a cerebral aneurysm in 2001. Ron Stringer worked as a film editor and critic for LA Weekly before teaching English at community colleges in Los Angeles; he passed away from liver cancer in 2021.
The Fibonaccis’ physical releases are now out of print, with Repressed remaining their sole CD offering. In 2021, most of their catalog was made accessible on worldwide streaming platforms alongside the launch of a Bandcamp page for digital sales. In 2022, they issued two new digital collections containing live radio performances, club rarities, and archival demos.
Band members
- Magie Song – vocals (lead), percussion
- John Dentino – keyboards, piano, synthesizer, Mellotron, vocoder
- Joe Berardi – drums, percussion, vibraphone, "mortecello"
- Ron Stringer (formation–1986) – guitar, bass guitar, vocals
- Tom Corey (1983–1988) – bass guitar, guitar, mandolin, vocals
Studio albums
- Civilization and Its Discotheques (1987, Blue Yonder Sounds)
EPs and singles
- (fi'-bo-na'-chez) (1982, Index Records)
- 1. "Sergio Leone" (Dentino, Stringer) – 2:12
- 2. "Somnambulist" (Dentino, Stringer) – 3:03
- 3. "The Ordinary Women" (Dentino, Wallace Stevens) – 2:23
- 4. "The Genius" (Dentino, Stringer) – 2:48
- 5. "Second Coming" (Dentino, Stringer) – 3:31
- 6. "Maculae" (Dentino, Song, Stringer) – 2:33
- 7. "Rice Song" (Dentino, Song, Stringer) – 2:41
- Tumor (1983, Enigma Records)
- 1. "Tumor" (The Fibonaccis) – 3:25
- 2. "Slow Beautiful Sex" (The Fibonaccis) – 2:38
- 3. "Psycho" (Bernard Herrmann) – 3:15
- TerrorVision: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1986, Restless Records)
- 1. "TerrorVision" (The Fibonaccis) – 3:40
- 2. "The Friends of Crime" (The Fibonaccis) – 2:47
- 3. "Sack of Suit Suite" (The Fibonaccis) – 2:58
- 4. "Advice to a Mutant" (The Fibonaccis, Hal Negro) – 2:43
- 5. "He Can't Stop Laughing" (The Fibonaccis) – 2:50
Compilations
Compilation appearances
- Film Noir: American Style (1984, Ding Dong Records and Tapes)
- "Looking for Eddie" (Berardi) – 4:45
- Radio Tokyo Tapes Vol. 2 (1984, Enigma Records)
- "Purple Haze" (Jimi Hendrix) – 3:58
- The Lives of Lhasa (1984, Lhasa Productions)
- "Disgusting Man (live)"
- Slam Dance: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1987, Island Records)
- "Art Life" (Fibonaccis) – 2:21
- The Best of the Radio Tokyo Tapes (1987, Chameleon Music)
- "Purple Haze" (Hendrix) – 3:58