Oingo Boingo began in 1977 as a movie soundtrack project for the film Forbidden Zone. The movie's producer, Richard Elfman, hired his younger brother Danny Elfman, Steve Bartek, and Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez to create appropriately off-beat music for the film. To keep occupied during the long movie production process, the group began playing clubs locally in the Los Angeles area under the name Mystic Knights Of The Oingo Boingo, but soon shortened the name to Oingo Boingo.
The band featured a unique blend of styles which drew a dedicated following in the L.A. area and generally among the New Wave / Punk scene, but major commercial success remained elusive. The highpoint of their popularity was 1985, when their biggest hit "Dead Man's Party" was featured in Rodney Dangerfield's comedy film Back To School, together with a cameo performance by the band.
After 17 years and 7 full-length studio albums, Oingo Boingo disbanded after giving a "farewell" concert at L.A.'s Universal Amphitheatre on Halloween in 1995.