Wall of Voodoo

The Profile

Wall of Voodoo were an American new wave band from Los Angeles, active from 1977 to 1988. Led first by Stan Ridgway and later by Andy Prieboy, they fused post-punk electronics with western/noir atmospheres. They are widely known for the single Mexican Radio and albums Dark Continent and Call of the West, and performed at the 1983 US Festival.

Formed in Los Angeles; active 1977–1988; early vocalist Stan Ridgway, later Andy Prieboy; released on I.R.S. Records; notable for the hit single Mexican Radio; appeared at the 1983 US Festival in San Bernardino.

DeBaser’s reviews paint Wall of Voodoo as a singular Californian new wave outfit fusing Morricone-tinted western vibes with post-punk electronics. Early Stan Ridgway material is hailed as epochal, with The Index Masters and Dark Continent celebrated for innovation. Call of the West is framed as their masterpiece, crowned by Mexican Radio. The Andy Prieboy era, highlighted by The Ugly Americans in Australia, is respected for vigor and accessibility.