Biography

Horror movie-fueled Sacramento, California pop-punks the Groovie Ghoulies originally comprised singer/bassist Kepi, his guitarist wife Roach, and drummer Wendy. After debuting in 1989 with the album Appetite for Adrenochrome, the group spent the early '90s largely out of the spotlight, issuing only the occasional single (including 1990's "Lost Generation" and 1992's "Christmas on Mars") before finally releasing its sophomore album, Born in the Basement, in 1994. By now a hugely popular attraction on the Sacramento club circuit, in 1996 the Ghoulies signed to Lookout Records to release World Contact Day; Wendy left the lineup soon after, however, and was replaced by ex-Screeching Weasel drummer Dan Panic. In the wake of 1997's Re-Animation Festival, Panic exited as well and was eventually replaced by drummer Jaz Brown. The Ghoulies' fifth LP, Fun in the Dark, followed in 1999, and a year later the group resurfaced with Travels with My Amp. The band left Lookout soon after, but showed up on Stardumb for the Freaks on Parade EP in 2002. Featuring new drummer Scampi, Go! Stories was the first full-length released on the label, appearing later in the summer and followed by a European tour. The group followed up in late 2003 with a record made up mostly of re-recorded versions of old singles and Lookout album tracks called Monster Club. After leaving Stardumb and starting their own imprint, Green Door Records, the Ghoulies released an amped-up EP of Chuck Berry covers, Berry'd Alive, in August 2005, and then delivered their ninth album, 99 Lives, in 2007. Sadly, the band split up just days before the record's release, citing difficulties carrying on as a band after the dissolution of Kepi and Roach's marriage. After the band's demise, Kepi continued recording and touring at breakneck speed. Whether playing folk songs or music for kids, or revisiting old Ghoulies albums (as on 2015's redo of Fun in the Dark, where he's backed by Dutch punks the Accelerators), Kepi has kept the fun-loving, goofy punk rock charm of the band alive. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi