Oingo Boingo

Their film scores have included Batman, Good Will Hunting, Proof of Life, Men in Black, and dozens more. Elfman also wrote the theme for The Simpsons. Poison's most recent record, Hollyweird, was released on May 21 2002. Frontman Danny Elfman has had a very successful film scoring career since, often using Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as orchestrator. The remainder of the album featured live performances from tours in 1999 and 2000. Oingo Boingo amicably parted ways after their annual Halloween concert in 1995, because it was "time." The final concert is available on both audio and video recordings. The record contained five new studio songs: "Power to the People", "Can't Bring Me Down", "Last Song", "Strange", and "I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine". Around 1994 it was yet again shortened, this time to "Boingo". Later in the same year Poison also released Power to the People marking the return of DeVille to the band.

Because of the expense and difficulty of maintaining an ensemble of this size, Danny Elfman decided in 1976 to reduce both the band and its name, dropping the "Mystic Knights" moniker. The album, a bright and raunchy series of party anthems, contained few traces of the seriousness of Native Tongue. Unfortunately, very little recorded material from this period exists. Crack a Smile was finally released in on March 14, 2000. Most of the members performed in whiteface and clown makeup; a typical show would contain music ranging from the 1890s to the 1950s (some of which was covers, some of which was original material either parodying or based on music of another era.) This version of the band had as many as 15 members at any one time, playing over 30 instruments between them. The band's supporting tour was equally successful, with its show at Pine Knob Amphitheater in Detroit drawing a sell-out crowd of 18,000. In this incarnation, the band was essentially a musical theatre troupe. The record was released in 1996, and went platinum, despite Poison having been out of the spotlight for a number of years.

They also made a cameo appearance as the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo in the movie Forbidden Zone, written and directed by Richard Elfman, the brother of Danny Elfman. However, Capitol Records had by this time decided to put the album on the back burner and instead decided to release a Greatest Hits record. The band made an appearance playing their hit "Dead Man's Party" on stage in the memorable party scene in the movie Back to School. After his recovery in 1995, the band continued recording. Their most famous song, "Weird Science" was, in fact, written for the John Hughes movie of the same name. Michaels suffered a broken nose, ribs, jaw, and fingers and lost four teeth. The band is probably best known for appearing on a number of soundtracks in the early-to-mid-1980s. Recording was brought to an abrupt halt in May 1994, when Michaels was involved in an accident in which he lost control of his Ferrari.

An early version of the band (who produced a novelty record about kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst, "You've Got Your Baby Back") was known as The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. Poison began recording its sixth album, Crack a Smile, in 1994. Oingo Boingo was the band of composer Danny Elfman from the mid-1970s to October 31, 1995. Kotzen's future in the band was sealed when it was discovered that he was romantically involved with Rockett's fiance. Kotzen was promptly fired, and replaced by Blues Saraceno. 20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection ~ Oingo Boingo (2002, compilation). The record received generally positive reviews, but sales were sluggish. Anthology (1999, compilation). It was a fiery, bluesy rock record, strongly influenced by Kotzen's fresh songwriting contributions and guitar performances.

Farewell (1996, live, final concert). Poison's fifth album, Native Tongue was released on August 14, 1993. Boingo (1994). Conflict between Michaels and DeVille cluminated in a fistfight at the MTV Music Awards in 1991, provoked by Deville's inept live performance. Deville was fired and replaced by Pennsylvanian guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen. Best O' Boingo (1991, compilation). Despite Poison's success, DeVille's cocaine and alcohol addictions had begun to cause strife in the band. Dark At the End Of the Tunnel (1990). Poison recorded a number of performances during its 1990/1991 "Flesh & Blood" tour which were released in November 1991 as their fourth album, Swallow This Live.

Stay (1990, compilation released in Brazil only). Flesh & Blood reached #2 on the American charts, providing the impetus for a further World Tour. Skeletons In the Closet (1989, compilation). The record went multi-platinum, spawning three gold singles: "Unskinny Bop", "Ride the Wind" and the ballad "Something To Believe In". Boingo Alive (1988, live album recorded on a sound-stage). Poison's third album, Flesh & Blood (1990), was also highly successful. BOI-NGO (1986). Ahh! would ultimately place the band alongside Metallica as one of the largest-grossing touring acts of the late 1980s.

Dead Man's Party (1985). Subsequent headlining shows in support of Open Up and Say.. So-Lo (1984, album by Danny Elfman, later considered to be an official Oingo Boingo album). By the time the band toured with David Lee Roth (in 1988 on the Skyscraper Tour,) it was apparent that they had become a major live act. Good For Your Soul (1983). The record included the band's biggest hit, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", along with other top 10 hits, "Nothin' But A Good Time" and the Loggins and Messina cover "Your Mama Don't Dance". Nothing To Fear (1982). Poison's second album, Open Up And Say...Ahh!, which was released on May 21, 1988 (see 1988 in music) would ultimately go on to sell 8 million copies worldwide.