# Haunted Garage

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**Haunted Garage** was a [horror punk](/source/Horror_punk) and [heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) band formed in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) in 1985. Fronted by singer and [B-movie](/source/B-movie) actor [Dukey Flyswatter](/source/Dukey_Flyswatter), the band were recognized for their [campy](/source/Camp_(style)) horror and science fiction-inspired songs and outrageous [shock rock](/source/Shock_rock) live shows featuring macabre props and costumes, go-go dancers and copious amounts of stage blood.

The original incarnation of Haunted Garage lasted from 1985 to 1993, becoming a popular draw in the Los Angeles metal scene and recording one studio album for [Metal Blade Records](/source/Metal_Blade_Records) in 1991.[1] Following several one-off reunions with varying line-ups, a new version of Haunted Garage featuring Flyswatter as its only original member formed in 2013, returning to touring and recording before officially retiring in late 2021.

## Biography

### Formation and original line-up (1985–1993)

Haunted Garage was formed in 1985 by singer [Dukey Flyswatter](/source/Dukey_Flyswatter), bassist Ace McCoomba and guitarist Nyck Varoom. Originally, the band began playing music in a [psychedelic rock](/source/Psychedelic_rock) and [rockabilly](/source/Rockabilly) style, playing covers of songs from vintage B-movies such the title theme from *[The Blob](/source/The_Blob)* and "The South is Gonna Rise Again" from *[Two Thousand Maniacs!](/source/Two_Thousand_Maniacs!)* before eventually writing original material in a similarly tongue-in-cheek horror film-inspired vein.[2][3] Following the addition of [transvestite](/source/Transvestite) lead guitarist Gaby Godhead and drummer Stiff Slug, Haunted Garage's sound evolved into a more aggressive fusion of [horror punk](/source/Horror_punk) and [heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music), a mix which the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)* described as "[The Dickies](/source/The_Dickies) doing [Alice Cooper](/source/Alice_Cooper)" but which Flyswatter often referred to as "splatter punk".[3][4]

Haunted Garage was most recognized, however, for their over-the-top [shock rock](/source/Shock_rock) stage shows, featuring violent and surrealist theatrics which *[LA Weekly](/source/LA_Weekly)* wrote made them "local horror-punk legends".[2] Similar to bands such as [Gwar](/source/Gwar), their shows regularly showcased an array of elaborate horror-themed costumes and props, with copious amounts of fake blood and slime sprayed into the audience while a collection of scantily-clad female dancers - dubbed "[The Gore Gore Girls](/source/The_Gore_Gore_Girls)" - maintained a permanent stage presence beside the band.[4] Dukey Flyswatter would often use [hatpins](/source/Hatpin) to pierce various parts of his body onstage before settling on his trademark schtick, sticking [mousetraps](/source/Mousetrap) on his face.[2][5] These flamboyant antics helped the band maintain a visible presence in the Los Angeles scene, performing with such high-profile bands such as [The Cramps](/source/The_Cramps), the [Butthole Surfers](/source/Butthole_Surfers), Gwar, [Misfits](/source/Misfits_(band)), [White Zombie](/source/White_Zombie_(band)) and [Screamin' Jay Hawkins](/source/Screamin'_Jay_Hawkins) and regularly playing and headlining such famous nightclubs as the [Whisky a Go Go](/source/Whisky_a_Go_Go), [The Roxy Theatre](/source/Roxy_Theatre_(West_Hollywood)) and [Raji's](/source/Raji's).[6][7][8] In a 2013 interview, [Tool](/source/Tool_(band)) drummer [Danny Carey](/source/Danny_Carey) reminisced about a late '80s concert with Haunted Garage, [Green Jellÿ](/source/Green_Jell%C3%BF) and [Pygmy Love Circus](/source/Pygmy_Love_Circus) - "the three kind of big psycho bands of L.A." - as one of his most memorable shows.[9]

In addition to the band's horror movie-inspired aesthetic, frontman Dukey Flyswatter worked on many low-budget B movies during his tenure with Haunted Garage, acting in numerous films including the [cult classics](/source/Cult_film) *[Surf Nazis Must Die](/source/Surf_Nazis_Must_Die)*, *[Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama](/source/Sorority_Babes_in_the_Slimeball_Bowl-O-Rama)* and *[Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers](/source/Hollywood_Chainsaw_Hookers)*, as well as writing the screenplays for *[Blood Diner](/source/Blood_Diner)* and [Fred Olen Ray](/source/Fred_Olen_Ray)'s *Prison Ship* and *Commando Squad*, among others.[10] In 1987, Haunted Garage contributed several exclusive songs for the soundtrack to the film *[Nightmare Sisters](/source/Nightmare_Sisters)*, which also featured Flyswatter in an acting role, and appeared onscreen as a band in 1987's *[Cyclone](/source/Cyclone_(1987_film))* and 1989's *Breakfast of Aliens*.[11] In 1992, the band appeared on an episode of *[The Montel Williams Show](/source/The_Montel_Williams_Show)* alongside Sean Brennan of [London After Midnight](/source/London_After_Midnight_(band)) and Vlad of Dark Theater in a special about [gothic rock](/source/Gothic_rock) and the [vampire subculture](/source/Vampire_lifestyle).[12]

In 1989, after independently releasing the [demo tape](/source/Demo_(music)) *Songs About Satan & Other Stuff to Piss Your Parents Off*, Haunted Garage released the four-song 7-inch EP *Mothers Day* on [Sympathy for the Record Industry](/source/Sympathy_for_the_Record_Industry) before signing to [Metal Blade Records](/source/Metal_Blade_Records), releasing their first and only full-length album *Possession Park* in August 1991.[2] *Possession Park* received generally positive reviews from critics, with [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) calling the album "extremely fun and outrageously entertaining", writing that the band "should have been a lot more well-known",[13] while the *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*, though deriding the band as "Gwar Junior", admitted of the album's macabre sense of humor, "[a]s cheesy as it is, it's good for a laugh".[14] Following the album's release, Haunted Garage carried out a tour of the United States and Europe supporting [The Cramps](/source/The_Cramps) before ultimately breaking up, playing their "final" show at the [Coconut Teaszer](/source/Coconut_Teaszer) on November 25, 1992.[2][8]

### Subsequent reunions and retirement (1995–2021)

In the years following their disbandment, Flyswatter attempted several times to revive Haunted Garage with varying line-ups of old and new members, the first reunion taking place at the [Whisky a Go Go](/source/Whisky_a_Go_Go) in 1995. In 2001, after contributing music to the [Full Moon Features](/source/Full_Moon_Features) zombie film *[The Dead Hate the Living!](/source/The_Dead_Hate_the_Living!)*, Flyswatter and Godhead reformed the band again for a reunion show, appearing on an episode of actor [Clint Howard](/source/Clint_Howard)'s short-lived web series *The Clint Howard Variety Show* to announce their intentions of returning to touring and recording, though these plans ultimately never came to fruition. Haunted Garage's last one-off reunion show was held at Safari Sam's in Los Angeles on June 16, 2008, marking the final time Godhead performed with the band.[8][15][16]

In 2013, Flyswatter formed a new version of Haunted Garage with himself as the sole original member, performing the first of a series of shows at Los Angeles' [California Institute of Abnormalarts](/source/California_Institute_of_Abnormalarts) on October 5, 2013, followed by a co-headlining appearance alongside The Dickies at the [Long Beach](/source/Long_Beach,_California) [Zombie Walk](/source/Zombie_Walk).[2][8] This incarnation of the band continued performing regularly throughout the Los Angeles area, and in August 2015, began recording an EP under the production of [Paul Roessler](/source/Paul_Roessler), Haunted Garage's first recorded material in twelve years and first studio release since 1991. The EP, entitled *Slenderman and Other Strange Tales*, was released digitally on major streaming and download sites on January 13, 2016, with a physical CD release the following April.[17] The album's title song, based on the [creepypasta](/source/Creepypasta) legend [Slender Man](/source/Slender_Man) and its associated [2012 stabbing case](/source/Slender_Man_stabbing), received some minor media attention in the wake of the 2016 HBO documentary *[Beware the Slenderman](/source/Beware_the_Slenderman)*.[18] In 2020, an expanded version of *Slenderman* featuring newly recorded songs was issued on vinyl by Metal Assault Records. The band was on pause while the singer removed an eye tumor through surgery.[19]

On December 10, 2018, Dukey Flyswatter underwent [brain surgery](/source/Neurosurgery) to remove a tumor near his [visual cortex](/source/Visual_cortex), for which Haunted Garage—including Flyswatter—performed a [benefit show](/source/Benefit_concert) only several days prior on December 1.[20] As detailed on the band's official Facebook page, though Flyswatter's tumor was successfully removed and declared benign by doctors, band activity would slow significantly as he remained in recovery. Flyswatter eventually returned to performing live with Haunted Garage the following spring, headlining two shows in Los Angeles on May 18, 2019, and Tarzana on August 31, 2019.[21]

In the summer of 2021, Haunted Garage's social media revealed that a documentary film about Flyswatter and the band tentatively titled *The Life and Slimes of Dukey Flyswatter and Haunted Garage* was in production, which would feature interviews with many people involved in Flyswatter's film and music career, including Haunted Garage's original members. On August 21, 2021, Haunted Garage performed what was advertised as their final public show, playing a mini-set of four songs following punk rock band the [Dwarves](/source/Dwarves_(band)) at Green Jellÿ's Hollywood studio.

## Discography

**Studio albums**

Year Title Label Notes 1991 Possession Park[13] Metal Blade Records 2020 Slenderman and Other Strange Tales[22] Metal Assault Records Expanded LP edition of 2016 EP

**EPs and Demos**

Year Title Label Notes 1989 Songs About Satan & Other Stuff to Piss Your Parents Off Crawling Ear Music Demo tape Mother's Day[23] Sympathy for the Record Industry Four-song EP released on cassette and double-7" 2016 Slenderman and Other Strange Tales[24] Self-released Six-song EP produced by Paul Roessler

**Singles**

Year Song Source 1991 "976-KILL" (CD)[25] Metal Blade Records "Welcome to Hell" (CD)[26]

**Compilation appearances**

Year Song Source 1990 "Dead and Gone" Rock Climbers: Hottest of Hollywood (Sting's Ray Records) "My Disciple" Tantrum Compilation (Cocktail Records) 1993 "Halo of Flies" Welcome to Our Nightmare: A Tribute to Alice Cooper (Triple X Records) 2019 "Surf Nazis Must Die" Metal Assault Mixtape - Vol. 1 (Metal Assault Records)

**Soundtrack appearances**

- *[Cyclone](/source/Cyclone_(1987_film))* (1987)
- *[Nightmare Sisters](/source/Nightmare_Sisters)* (1987)
- *Breakfast of Aliens* (1989)
- *[The Dead Hate the Living!](/source/The_Dead_Hate_the_Living!)* (2000)
- *[Night of the Demons](/source/Night_of_the_Demons_(2009_film))* (2009)

## Members

**Classic line-up (1989-1993)**

- [Dukey Flyswatter](/source/Dukey_Flyswatter) - lead vocals
- Gaby Godhead - lead guitar
- Johnny Ho - rhythm guitar
- King Dinosaur - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Stiff Slug - drums

**Final line-up (2013–2021)**

- Dukey Flyswatter - lead vocals
- Satan (Andy Chavez) - lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Erik E. Wrath (Eric Erath) - lead and rhythm guitar
- The Beaver (Brian Beaver) - drums
- Deathro Tull (Pat Rowan) - bass guitar, backing vocals

**Former members**

- Danny Dorman
- Nyck Varoom
- Joe Ramirez
- Jonnie Hell
- Mark Conn
- Mikaleno Admuson
- Ace McCoomba
- Sean Fodor

## References

1. ["Haunted Garage biography"](http://www.metallian.com/hauntedgarage.php). metallian.com. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

1. Hermann, Andy (October 25, 2013). ["These '80s Horror Punks Are Back From the Dead"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131105042329/http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2013/10/haunted_garage_dukey_flyswatte.php). *[LA Weekly](/source/LA_Weekly)*. Archived from [the original](http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2013/10/haunted_garage_dukey_flyswatte.php) on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2013.

1. ["Haunted Garage"](http://weirdestbandintheworld.com/2011/09/14/haunted-garage/). weirdestbandintheworld.com. September 14, 2011.

1. Hochman, Steve (September 16, 1991). ["Haunted Garage: Gross, Witty"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-16-ca-1764-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*

1. Pendergast, Thomas K. ["The Horribly Fun Saga of Haunted Garage"](http://aviewfromthebrink.typepad.com/view_from_the_brink_the_b/the-horribly-fun-saga-of-haunted-garage.html)

1. Schneider, Stephen. ["Me and Haunted Garage"](http://www.stephenschneider.com/HauntedGarage/me_and_haunted_garage.htm)

1. ["Haunted Garage - Memorabilia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131105043003/http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/haunted-garage/memorabilia/). [Wolfgang's Vault](/source/Wolfgang's_Vault). Archived from [the original](http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/haunted-garage/memorabilia/) on 2013-11-05.

1. ["Weird Interview: Haunted Garage"](http://weirdestbandintheworld.com/2013/11/03/weird-interview-haunted-garage/). weirdestbandintheworld.com. November 3, 2013.

1. ["Members of Metallica, Tool and Alice in Chains Share Halloween Stories"](http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/entertainment/members_of_metallica_tool_and_alice_in_chains_share_halloween_stories.html). [Ultimate Guitar Archive](/source/Ultimate_Guitar_Archive). November 1, 2013.

1. ["Michael Sonye"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0814516/?ref_=ttfc_fc_wr3). *[Internet Movie Database](/source/Internet_Movie_Database)*

1. ["Haunted Garage"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369431/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr8). *[Internet Movie Database](/source/Internet_Movie_Database)*

1. ["London After Midnight F.A.Q."](http://www.londonaftermidnight.com/construct.html). [London After Midnight](/source/London_After_Midnight_(band))

1. Henderson, Alex. ["Possession Park > Review"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/possession-park-mw0000269867). *[Allmusic](/source/Allmusic)*

1. Herrmann, Brenda (November 21, 1991). ["Haunted Garage Possession Park (Metal Blade..."](https://web.archive.org/web/20131105041633/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-11-21/features/9104150591_1_star-haunted-dead-milkmen). *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*. Archived from [the original](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-11-21/features/9104150591_1_star-haunted-dead-milkmen) on November 5, 2013.

1. ["Rock Picks"](http://www.laweekly.com/2008-06-12/music/rock-picks-ting-tings/2/). *[LA Weekly](/source/LA_Weekly)*. June 11, 2008.

1. ["The Clint Howard Variety Show: Episode 1"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEd5xNUnexg?t=2m27s). [YouTube](/source/YouTube)

1. ["Haunted Garage: Slenderman and Other Strange Tales"](https://arena.com/haunted-garage/slenderman-and-other-strange-tales). Arena.

1. Daly, Rhian (November 11, 2016). ["There Are Creepy AF Songs About Slenderman Too"](https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/songs-about-slenderman-1846488). *[NME](/source/NME)*

1. ["Haunted Garage history"](http://www.metallian.com/hauntedgarage.php). metallian.com. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

1. Thompson, Elise (November 27, 2018). ["Benefit for Dukey Flyswatter at Cafe NELA Saturday"](https://thelosangelesbeat.com/2018/11/benefit-for-dukey-flyswatter-at-cafe-nela-saturday/). The Los Angeles Beat.

1. ["Metal Assault Mixtape Vol. 1"](https://metalassault.com/product/metal-assault-mixtape-vol-1/). Metal Assault. 2019.

1. ["Haunted Garage - Slenderman and Other Strange Tales"](https://www.discogs.com/Haunted-Garage-Slenderman-And-Other-Strange-Tales/master/1971649). [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

1. ["Haunted Garage - Mothers Day (Vinyl)"](http://www.discogs.com/Haunted-Garage-Mothers-Day/release/1406222). [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

1. ["Haunted Garage - Slenderman and Other Strange Tales (EP)"](https://www.discogs.com/Haunted-Garage-Slender-Man-and-Other-Strange-Tales/release/12641240). [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

1. ["Haunted Garage - 976-KILL (CD)"](http://www.discogs.com/Haunted-Garage-976-Kill/release/4732359). [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

1. ["Haunted Garage - Welcome to Hell (CD)"](http://www.discogs.com/Haunted-Garage-Welcome-To-Hell/release/5958296). [Discogs](/source/Discogs)

## External links

- [Haunted Garage](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Haunted-Garage/118248623938) at [Facebook](/source/Facebook)
- [Haunted Garage](https://myspace.com/hauntedgarage) on [Myspace](/source/Myspace)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Haunted Garage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_Garage) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_Garage?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.