Finale - Mystic Knights Of The Oingo Boingo

Rare video of MKOTOB performing Finale
I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THIS. A friend sent me this video a while ago and since it was taken off youtube I wanted to put it back up.
to be a clown s'not easy

[@HowRJ]

Back in the mid 70's I lived in LA.....San Fernando Valley...….every Sunday afternoon I would drive down to Culver City to dine at Tito's Tacos...….then I would head up to The Venice Fox Theater to catch whatever movies were playing and most of the time The Mystic Knights Of The Oingo Boingo would open for the movies......one of the most perfect Sunday afternoons was Tito's, TMKOTOB, and Pink Flamingos...….life does not get any more surreal than that...….I was fortunate to see them live many times.....

[@tabuoey]

Tell us more! what kind of things did they do in their performances?

[@Islandgirl4ever2]

My Dad lived in Topanga Canyon, right across the road from the Mermaid Tavern.. I was just around 8 or 9 years old, and we used to sit in the big living room of this tavern, and watch them perform.. It was sooo bizarre, and there were many different skits, I used to be really scared of the gorillas.. But, I can still remember their performances..

[@HowRJ]

@@tabuoey It's tough for me to remember specifics because it was 45 years ago, but also, there was so much going on at one time (and there were drugs involved on my part).....every show was different with different members, costumes, & shenanigans......there were monkey costumes, belly dancers, fire breathing, zoot suited horn players, crazy costumes & props that made no sense......it was always a non stop spectacle in every direction.....it also seemed that everything was off the cuff, and loosely acted out......perhaps it was well thought out and choreographed so much so, that it appeared everything was happening on a whim.....whatever the case, I always considered it brilliant........I seem to recall that at every show, a guy wearing a rocketship with suspenders would come out and blast smoke that was synchronized to the beat of the song......certainly there were elements and dynamics that inspired the Elfman brothers, from Spike Jones and His City Slickers, various carnival acts from The Ed Sullivan Show, and Ernie Kovac's The Nairobi Trio......plus songs and schtick from The Yiddish Theater.......I was lucky (and grateful) to be there at that point in time......

[@isorokudono]

Well I'll tell you one thing very specific I saw every oinko boingo Halloween Halloween show from 1994 to 1997 and I think 98 was the last year. I mean...all the Christian bands I knew from orange county were there? Too.

[@kevinkershaw1209]

You lived a great life, my friend! If only for this one part! Thank you for sharing!

[@VAMPSTRA]

Danny in makeup really makes me feel things..

[@xdashlydia]

He has a lovely singing voice and incredible stage presence...and irresistible animal magnetism.

[@aaronabisailopezortega8581]

Apparently Danny elfman was tried of being in a theater group because of all the props, staging, and face makeup and began to make more original music because he thought the music didn’t hold out when they were a theater group. At the time the theater’s audience was much older and weren’t very happy about the music Danny was writing since they were playing rock and roll which they didn’t like. So this lead him to make very tough decision either continue to stay as a theater group or try to start something new and start over as a music band. In the end he choose to form a band with some of the members of the old group joining him. Fun fact: Sluggo during the early years of the band had really bad stage fright which is surprising considering his the biggest and tallest of the group.

[@natalieyoder686]

I'd be tired too if an arsonist tried to burn down one theater my group was in and it damaged a lot of our stuff.

[@WerewolfEmerson]

Whoa, is there a story here?@@natalieyoder686

[@rykiafredrick1320]

For a while, I thought he was the shortest.

[@topsykretts7642]

This clip is what began my Oingo Boingo rabbit hole.

[@movie_man]

Fun Fact: The lyrics were changed somewhat for use in the finale of The Forbidden Zone.

[@mattlufcy1254]

Years later, OIngo Boingo would still sometimes play this live, long after the "Mystic Knights" days were over.

[@joyboy1110]

Really? Do you know which concerts and what years they played this at?

[@cmgsober72]

My first Boingo experience I had was at the age of 13 visiting my brother who was in the Navy stationed in San Diego listening to 91X radio station playing Grey Matter then seen them live during the Dead Man's Party tour

[@bellahoughton84]

Parliament Funkadelic+Devo+Monty Python+Punk rock

[@jdkirkland63]

You just described my childhood.😄

[@finnclougherty453]

Dear God I would kill to have seen this live

[@tabuoey]

Finn Clougherty me too

[@therabidscorpion]

I would love to go back in time and tell someone watching this "See these guys? They're going to be rock and roll icons i in less than a decade!" And see their reaction.

[@laurenleloup3022]

bro me to

[@soulman902]

I can kind of hear a little bit of Nightmare before Christmas in this

[@comfycorelife3654]

I was thinking that too

[@BattOuttaHel]

Finding out my favorite new wave band has a weird, obscure and interesting history has been really cool to find out

[@WootTootZoot]

Back in the mid 70's, I lived in Huntington Beach, California. There used to be a small venue music theatre on PCH in Downtown HB called The Golden Bear. From time to time, they would feature The Mystical Knights of The Oingo Boing. Danny Elfman was the firebreather in the act and would stand in the median of the divided road and do his flame breathing as cars passed by. Many a night I would, well, get stoned, then go to a place called "Death Rockets" for some amazing chili-cheese hot dogs then go watch the fire breathing act before going to see the full show at The Golden Bear. Friday nights at the Surf Theatre was Rockey Horror Picture Show, so my weekends were pretty much between those two places. God damn, I miss those days, sometimes.

[@sstrange96]

There must be such a bizarre story behind this band, how they came up with this stuff and then dived blazing into the new wave rock scene (and really defied any category in the early years). Too bad we’ll probably never explore the full story, as tapes deteriorate, things get lost and people’s memories fade! Just wish people could see beyond Nightmare Before Christmas and Dead Man’s Party!

[@jamestichgelaar3861]

The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo started as a project when Richard Elfman was trying to get Forbidden Zone filmed. After the movies was done, his brother Danny Elfman used the core of the group to form his New Wave band.

[@readifer]

James Tichgelaar this is not the full story, they were a music troupe for 8 years before the movie was released. The movie was Roberts farewell transition and handing down the torch to Danny. I grew up with Danny elfmans Oingo Boingo and honestly wish there was more of the mystic knights of Oingo Boingo out there because a lot of it is a mystery aside from knowing they were stage performers much like Frank Zappa

[@drinkyourtea]

I actually didn't even know he did nightmare before christmas as I'm not from america and I discovered them because of their weird name Oingo Boingo and fell in love with them.

[@nesdonbooth9726]

Pretty good documentary with a heavily Russian-accented narrator: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oniTgqZvmrmgfNU

[@pechondelgado]

Pretty sure the Elfman brothers are freemasons too which might add to the mystery.

[@scottinsd1]

This is how Oingo Boingo was discovered - and they were my favorite new wave band EVER! I probably saw them at least 20 times, including several of their awesome Halloween shows in Irvine, CA. Man, they put on GREAT freaking shows.

[@robertmcowens6136]

Caught two of the Halloween jam's back in tha day... Dang Tito's tacos I wonder if they are still there ... LoL thnx 4 the flashback.

[@kb50-i1o]

They sure did! Really some of the best shows I've seen of any band ever. Like you, I was lucky enough to be in Los Angeles during those days. They played at my high school in Palos Verdes, right about when Only A Lad was getting KROQ play, and I was an instant fan.

[@markr8755]

This is what happens when the band students drop too much acid at band camp...

[@anonymous-yk9sz]

Whoa Danny playing the saxophone and what looks like a trombone lol, and his voice sounds so young. They are all super young really.

[@sarahk50695]

A preview of the richest sound man in Hollywood.

[@edithbrown3716]

I was so bummed when this was taken down! Thank you so so so much for bringing it back!!

[@tabuoey]

You're welcome!!

[@CircusShowplace]

Fantastic to finally see some footage of them playing together!Danny was in fine musical form even way back then!

[@servantofg-d5393]

This is not Danny Elfman fronting the band - this is his brother Richard Elfman, who is featured here. I don't see Danny Elfman in this video.

[@jpgordon]

@@servantofg-d5393 Of course he's in this video, and he is indeed, at this point, leading the band. He's in the orange pants playing sax and singing lead throughout. (I'm in the white outfit at the far right playing trumpet.)

[@therabidscorpion]

@@jpgordon Is that Sluggo in the white suit playing sax?

[@jpgordon]

@@therabidscorpion Yup.

[@thetwinkslayer]

@@jpgordon whos everyone in this? ive been genuinely curious for a while and im not particularly good at identifying members in this era

[@xmillion1704]

Ah, this contextualizes the memorable times I saw Oingo Boingo live in clubs around L.A. Good times!

[@Artemis224]

Jeez Danny is so young!

[@privatehand]

This sounds a LOT like a song that didn't make the final cut of "Nightmare Before Christmas".

[@Ugh-Fudge_Bwana]

If only I could have seen this live back in the day.

[@cron205]

Its weird to think that this is the same band that has there music in 80s and 90s skateboard videos and sounded like Skate Rock in the 80s even Skateboarders in the 80s wore Oingo Boingo Shirts this stuff sounds way different from there hardcore punk World music Sound in the 80s

[@ryanlargent9320]

It only got weirder this weekend

[@sebastianeklund2267]

This is awesome beyond the force of words.

[@dmperfection]

Damn! Not sure if this was a topic.....ever.....but Elfman's look, demeanor, and the way he carries himself could have been Brandon Lee's inspiration in The Crow....tell me I'm wrong.

[@vigiler]

If you listen very closely, you can hear the faint beginnings of the theme from The Simpsons in this performance... It's all in there, but just scattered about...

[@stephenstrange4245]

The epitome of "go crazy, go stupid"

[@tstevens416]

Omg yes! I've been trying to find gong show vids of them! I needed to see Danny playing the 'bone.

[@3unskippableads51]

YOOOO TURN THAT SHIT UP!

[@MsShellectable]

Very early Danny Elfman (redhead, center), renown composer of film soundtracks for Tim Burton and others.

[@brentwalker3300]

Yeah, it's so fun to see him in his formative years. So fiercely creative.

[@DestroyerOfWords]

Missed that by just a few years. Was a huge 'Boingo fan in the SFV late 70's - 80's. Howard R: You're awesome! My first foray into the insane was Rocky Horror, which came out before I was legally old enough to see it, but the folks at the theatre didn't seem to care much about anything, (you say Venice Fox, maybe, I've forgotten). Pink Flamingoes was another, and could be a commentary for today. Tito's... Ah... But ever catching Boingo live? Sadly not. Loved growing up there during that time!

[@marSLaZZ66]

i just don't Believe It! ...it's maybe "Zappatesque" on the side, but it's pure Danny Elfman's music!!

[@marlenakitten]

this izz what It’s like inside my overthinking brain 24/7

[@goodwitch11]

Danny is fantastic!

[@leavingitblank9363]

MKOTOB were formed in 1972 in Los Angeles. A year later and an entire world away, another band similarly eclectic and likewise outrageously talented was formed in New Zealand: the Split Enz. What are the chances?

[@teptime]

The early incarnation of THE TUBES was similarly artsy, irreverent, and theatrical, but they were ultimately defrauded as a veiled, nondescript mainstream pop act.

[@mousiebrown1747]

Love this! Reminds me of Spike Jones & his Band. ❤. And New Orleans/Mardi Gras.

[@dukecraig2402]

Spike Jones was a big influence on them.

[@Foxxorz]

One can hear the roots of no one lives forever in this.

[@jamesm.4683]

Reminds me of the residents... For some reason...

[@dcb1138]

3:40 - Early Cry of the Vatos

[@timothynelissen948]

Nice catch, didn't occur to me until you said it but now I can't unhear it.

[@mikicoal]

I love Lori Erenberg(?)'s voice in this. Very quiet and understated with a beautiful trans-atlantic bend.

[@novagardenstudios]

What a troupe!!

[@bestcoastsxmcp]

This. Is. Awesome.

[@michaelholloway8]

Kurt Weill would be impressed.

[@starrymarimusic]

I've always thought that Kurt Weill was a big influence on Danny Elfman, especially in the score from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

[@MoteofLobross]

Call me a heathen, but I like Oingo Boingo's performance art days better than their rock band days.

[@miguel_edits1410]

Danny Elfman

[@devarodgers4676]

wow danny elfman voice is amazing

[@AngieEnz84]

LMFAO....woooooooow. This is amazing.

[@LTPottenger]

Wow,t hat's some strange stuff, but very much in with the times and area.

[@Gengrel]

There was another appearance by them but it seems to be gone as well. It started out with 3 people playing instruments and looked to be pretty lame before the rest of the band came pouring out, spreading all over the stage in just an incredible performance.

[@thetwinkslayer]

sounds kind of like the appearance on the gong show?

[@brentwalker3300]

Gong Show appearance. 1976. It's back up to see.

[@Neildo430ci]

WAY KILLER!, 6x better than the gong show performance. A xylophone would bring it the A 7

[@mtngirl1969]

Awesome!!! Thank you for sharing!

[@athanstreitz9178]

The Gong Show

[@thomasmcalear8673]

YUPPERS. THIS INCARNATION REALLY HAS ALL THE FLAVORS OF A FUCKIN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND, ALL JUST ---ALMOST--- "ON KEY" WITH EACHOTHER, & NEVERYTHING......

[@douggeyer416]

Getting a Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band vibe.

[@referreira8811]

OMG! Thank you for post that. I've been looking for this

[@elyestufado9874]

Re Suzy

[@tabuoey]

No worries!

[@mscott1833]

this is great

[@flippy101mph9]

this has gotta be torcher for them

[@neilshenton1834]

Early Bonzo Dog vibes here... 😀👍

[@mattlufcy1254]

That's Richard up on the drums, innit?

[@tabuoey]

Richard Elfman? yes

[@tabuoey]

why does danny look like ronald mcdonald

[@digitig]

Is Danny there? The troupe was formed by his brother, Richard, and Danny only joined later on.

[@slevemcdichael4481]

@@digitig the topless one with the big orange pants is danny!

[@thecatfromgarfield2595]

I’m lovin it

[@rc9612]

captain obvious says: he is a ginger and his face have clown makeup.

[@ongbonga9025]

@@digitig The violently ginger lead singer is Danny.

[@keithmccormack6248]

I’m as clever as can be And I’m very quick, But don’t forget We only have so many tricks No one lives forever!

[@keithmccormack6248]

@Brandon Horror Collector I’m so happy Dancing ‘round the grim reaper, He cuts, cuts, cuts, But he can’t catch me!

[@keithmccormack6248]

@Brandon Horror Collector All dressed up and nowhere to go! 😁

[@keithmccormack6248]

@Brandon Horror Collector No worries! I was having fun too! You’re right some take KZbin too seriously-it’s as if they worry to much, make themselves sad. . . 😜

[@keithmccormack6248]

@Brandon Horror Collector Well, enjoy it while you can! 😁 Such a great song and band, great party music! Do they make music like this anymore?

[@gracemuchmore]

really reminiscent of the bonzo dog doo dah band!

[@tomowen7343]

It's like the perfect bridge between Bonzo Dog and Mr Bungle!

[@mikicoal]

Anybody know what the dance Elfman does at the end is called, if it even has a name?

[@rudy6884]

This was in Forbidden Zone.

[@HisAssholiness]

the black and white film ?

[@BobEmrich]

His Assholiness the song was yes

[@andchi2000]

Love you.

[@Cander509]

The 1970’s. back when we were cool and free and uninhibited..

[@cansofswine126]

🤯

[@isorokudono]

Yeah goggle bordello owes a lot to this band

[@therabidscorpion]

You could tell me this was a song to a Tim Burton movie and I would believe you.

[@jangofett5806]

Wow put them in the same category as Split Enz pre 1980’s.

[@johndavis48076]

So they went from being knights in service to the Oingo Boingo and instead became the living personification?

[@jerrybobteasdale]

Compare this to videos of Spike Jones.

[@na9260]

I cant help but think that even Frank Zappa was inspired by the mystic knights of oingo boingo.

[@finddeniro]

San Francisco city counsel ?

[@roisin7102]

🥺

[@mightisright]

This song is repurposed in Danny's brother's film "Forbidden Zone."

[@suzcruise]

What is this from? It looks like public access TV

[@kerrygalvin7777]

I'm here because I was listening to Modest Mouse and read in the comments about a girls tweet about her tinder date and a comment about Modest Mouse. I found the tweet and read the comments on the tweet and got here. Anyone else? 😂😂

[@kerrygalvin7777]

Oingo Boingo was mentioned in the comments on the girls tweet about Modest Mouse.

[@MrJans3n]

0:53 is this a variation on something? It sounds similar to "Goodnight, but not Goodbye" from the Star Wars Holiday Special of all things

[@Annapants18]

The first few notes makes me think of Sarasate’s Zigeunerwiesen, the slow part roughly midway through the piece.

[@noragonzales1908]

Thanks for posting this...what year was this?

[@tabuoey]

I have no idea.. some time in the 70s

[@andchi2000]

1976. :)

[@jpgordon]

@@andchi2000 1975. I'm in it and I left the band at the end of '75.

[@HoardEG]

@@jpgordon Which one is you, Gordon?

[@jpgordon]

@@HoardEG Trumpet player on the right.

[@niher1]

Proto Bungle

[@ffletch5277]

What style was this band going for…. Like the munchkin band in wizard of oz .. that’s what it looks like….

[@gioccondabevilaqua2478]

Percebi que todos tem problemas mentais... Me apaixonei por todos ❤️😍❤️❤️😍 encontrei pessoas iguais a mim 🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤

[@claudineilustosa2700]

Where's Danny in this video??

[@tabuoey]

hes the one in the middle with the red hair!

[@juanarrecis8001]

The singer. Orange pants, no shirt center stage.

[@digitig]

Is that Danny? He wasn't always in the troupe, and others say that's Richard.

[@jpgordon]

@@digitig They're wrong. Richard is in the back, in the big hat, playing drums.

[@scorch33]

Which one of these guys is Danny Elfman?

[@tabuoey]

red hair and shirtless in the front

[@SurlyInsomniac]

@@tabuoey No, that's his brother.

[@magical_mooni]

@@SurlyInsomniacwrong

[@Renata.06]

Isso me lembra o palhaço Gozo🤡💦 do Hermes e Renato!

[@jassab8012]

Amazing this crap turned out one of the greatest musicians.

[@michal13121996ify]

I hear "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in this one.

[@rykiafredrick1320]

Danny provided the main character’s singing voice.

[@spoopyghost8326]

The music I play when I'm KILLING

[@satyakt5828]

Danny Elfman's gotta Danny Elfman. 🤷‍♀️🤡🤡🤡

[@akirayamamoto2646]

Jojo reference?!

[@juanarrecis8001]

Other way around. Jojo's characters are a tribute to the band Oingo Boingo.

[@Cupheaf]

Fuck off

[@3unskippableads51]

Drinking game: Take a shot every time you see a JoJo comment in Dead man's party, Imposter, Who do you want to be, and Just another day videos.

[@tstevens416]

@@3unskippableads51 literally omg 😂

[@oregonhighroller5178]

So fucking awesome 👌

[@scriptmonkey7812]

Clearly these guys are ripping off Tim Burton's masterpiece, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 😏