| Groovie Ghoulies | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Sacramento, California, United States |
| Genre: | Punk rock, pop punk, horror punk |
| Years Active: | 1983–2007 |
| Label: | Lookout!, Springman, Stardumb, Green Door, Eccentric Pop |
| Associated Acts: | The Haints Kepi Ghoulie |
| Website: | groovie-ghoulies.com |
| Past Members: | Kepi Roach Scampi Wendy |
The Groovie Ghoulies were an American pop punk band from Sacramento, California, United States, whose music took inspiration from horror movies.[1] 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.
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.[2] 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.[3] The Groovie Ghoulies' music is best classified as pop-punk and is heavily influenced by early punk groups such as the Ramones, the Misfits,[4] 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.[5]
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 of 2022, Kepi announced that the entire Groovie Ghoulies back catalogue would be released via Pirates Press.[6]
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Appetite for Adrenochrome | Crimson Corpse Records | LP/CD | First album. Re-released in 1996 by Lookout! Records, in 2003 by Springman Records, and in 2015 by Green Door Records and Eccentric Pop Records. | |
| 1994 | Born in the Basement | Green Door Records | LP/CD | Re-released in 1996 by Lookout! Records and in 2004 by Springman Records. | |
| 1996 | World Contact Day | Lookout! Records | LP/CD | Re-released in 2002 by Springman Records. | |
| 1997 | Re-Animation Festival | Lookout! Records | LP/CD | Re-released in 2003 by Springman Records. | |
| 1999 | Fun in the Dark | Lookout! Records | LP/CD | Re-released in 2003 by Springman Records. | |
| 2000 | Travels with My Amp | Lookout! Records | LP/CD | ||
| 2002 | Go! Stories | Stardumb Records | LP/CD | Re-released with bonus tracks in 2002 by Green Door Records. | |
| 2003 | Monster Club | Stardumb Records | CD | Re-released in 2004 by Green Door Records. | |
| 2007 | 99 Lives | Green Door Records | CD | Final album. | |
| 2014 | Flying Saucer Rock N Roll | Green Door Records, Eccentric Pop Records | LP/CD | First three 7"s remastered onto a full-length LP |
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Planet Brian Jones" | Supersonic RefrigeRecords | 7" | Italy Release | |
| 2001 | Freaks on Parade | Stardumb Records | CD | Re-released on vinyl by Surfin' Ki Records in 2014. | |
| 2001 | Summer Fun with the Groovie Ghoulies | Green Door Records | CD | 2001 tour CD with Fanzine | |
| 2002 | Summer Fun 2002 | Green Door Records | CD | 2002 tour CD with Fanzine | |
| 2005 | Berry'd Alive | Green Door Records | CD/10" | Covers of songs originally performed by Chuck Berry. |
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Flying Saucer" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | Groovie Ghoulies first release | |
| 1988 | "Don't Go Out Into the Rain" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | Side B: Dead Moon/Child of the Moon | |
| 1988 | "Armageddon 2000" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | ||
| 1990 | "Hello Hello" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | ||
| 1992 | "Lost Generation" | Gift of Life | 7" | ||
| 1992 | "Christmas on Mars" | Crimson Corpse Records | 7" | ||
| 1995 | "The Beast with 5 Hands" | Green Door Records | 7" | ||
| 1996 | "Island of Pogo Pogo" | Lookout! Records | 7" | Lookout No. 146 Side B:"Gates of Steel" | |
| 1997 | "Magic 8 Ball" | What Else? | 7" | ||
| 1997 | "Running With Bigfoot" | Lookout! Records | CD/ 7" | Lookout No. 177 | |
| 1997 | "Graveyard Girlfriend" | Lookout! Records | 7" | Side B: Trick or Treat (Chuck Berry)/Devil Town (Daniel Johnston) | |
| 2000 | "Vampire Girl" | Supersonic RefrigeRecords | 7" | Picture Disc Italy Release |
| Year | Title | Label | Format | Other information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Cake Sprit EP | Stingray | 7" | 4 way split Groovie Ghoulies/The Spazzys/Dazes/Mach Pelican | |
| 1997 | 3 for the Price of One | Sell Out | 7" | Groovie Ghoulies/Wankin' Teenagers/Receivers split | |
| 1998 | Chronic for the Troops | Delmonico | CD/7" | Split with Chixdiggit! | |
| 1998 | "Funny Funny" | Gearhead Records | 7" | RPM No. 007 – b/w The Donnas "Wig-Wam Bam" | |
| 1999 | Wedding Invitation | What Else? | 12" | heart shaped vinyl made for a wedding invitation. Lynrd's Innards/Groovie Ghoulies/Slingshot Episode split | |
| 2004 | 'Til Death do us Party | Springman Records | 7" | Split with the Secretions |