The Dream Syndicate is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1981 to 1989, and reunited since 2012. The band is associated with neo-psychedelia and the Paisley Underground music movement; of the bands in that movement, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Dream Syndicate "rocked with the highest degree of unbridled passion and conviction." Though never commercially successful, the band met with considerable acclaim, especially for its songwriting and guitar playing. Bandleader Steve Wynn reformed the band in 2012, and four studio albums have been released since 2017.
Neill Kirby McMillan Jr., known professionally as Mojo Nixon, was an American musician and actor best known for his novelty song "Elvis Is Everywhere", which was an alternative staple on MTV. His style could generally be defined as psychobilly, a musical genre which blends rockabilly with punk rock. Nixon hosted The Loon in the Afternoon radio show on Sirius XM.
The Dead Milkmen is an American punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia. Their original lineup consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman, guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro, bassist Dave Schulthise and drummer Dean Sabatino.
The F.U.'s are a hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. They formed in 1981 as a three-piece band, released three records and appeared on the compilation This Is Boston, Not L.A. before changing their name to Straw Dogs in 1986 to market themselves as a heavy metal act. In 2010 The F.U.'s reformed under their original moniker.
Enigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s.
Restless Records is a record label that was started in El Segundo, California in 1986 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal, and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records. Restless also had a fully owned subsidiary, Pink Dust Records.
Get Smart! is a three-piece post-punk band formed in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1980 consisting of Marcus Koch, Lisa Wertman Crowe and Frank Loose. The band released 2 studio albums along with some singles and EPs over a 10-year career. The band re-united in 2020.
Skid Roper is an American musician, most active in the 1980s and early 1990s. He has recorded with several groups including the surf band The Evasions but is best known for his work with Mojo Nixon between 1985 and 1989.
Big Lizard in My Backyard is the debut album by the Dead Milkmen, released by Restless Records in 1985.
Metaphysical Graffiti is the fifth studio album by the Dead Milkmen, released by Enigma Records in 1990. The album title and cover art, the latter designed by the band's drummer Dean Clean, parody the 1975 album Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin. Two tracks appear on Death Rides a Pale Cow.
Otis is the debut solo album of Mojo Nixon. Released in 1990, it featured guest appearances by John Doe of X, Country Dick Montana, Bill Davis and Eric Roscoe Ambel.
Frenzy is the second album by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1986.
Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper is the debut album of Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1985.
Get Out of My Way! is the first extended play by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper. It was released in 1986 as a vinyl mini-album and cassette on Restless Records. The songs were added to the CD release of the album Frenzy in 1987. "Stuffin' Martha's Muffin" is the same recording as on Frenzy, but a different mix, which most notably filters Nixon's voice during part of the opening monologue to sound like he is on a telephone line; this version replaces the original on the Frenzy CD. "Transylvanian Xmas" is "Joy to the World" performed by Roper on harmonica in a scale reminiscent of horror movie scores, backed by Nixon on bongos. "Jesus at McDonalds" is a re-recording of the song from their first album, Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper.
Bo-Day-Shus!!! is the third album by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1987. It contains the song "Elvis is Everywhere," which became an MTV hit.
Unlimited Everything is a "best of" compilation album released by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper in 1990.
The Enigma Variations is a compilation album of newer artists that were on Enigma Records or one of its subsidiaries. It was originally released as a double LP and cassette, but was then subsequently also released as a CD with a reduced number of tracks. The album was compiled by Steve Pross and William Hein. The Greek pressing of the album was issued as a single LP.
Ghost Stories is the fourth studio album by the Los Angeles-based alternative rock band The Dream Syndicate. It was released in 1988, just a year before the band broke up. The album was re-released in 2004, with eight additional tracks recorded live for radio.
Root Hog or Die is an album by the American musicians Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1989. It was the duo's final studio album. Nixon originally wanted to call it Bush Idiot Slime; he took "root hog or die" from Davy Crockett's autobiography. The duo supported the album with a North American tour. Root Hog or Die sold more than 50,000 copies in its first six months of release.
Joe Wood is an American punk and blues singer/songwriter, best known as the singer for T.S.O.L. from 1983 to 1993.
