meet Danny Elfman

In my early teens I wanted to marry Danny… my first ever crush and idol… It has been 20 years since I first heard Oingo… and I must confess life has changed a lot… I am married, with kids…but I still would love to meet Danny. I guess, just for the sake of it!

Danny used to come over to my house and beg anyone to play music long before he started his bands.Sam and Leon (horn players) were also good friends… if you can find an of his early stuff, check it out…..then they went by the name of “the mystic nights of the oingo boingo…..they used to put on great shows in small theathers in west L.A. back in the 70’s…..he is an amazing talent….....

My Little sister has found some Oingo Boingo music videos online, oh my goodly goodness they are so very delectable, when I saw the “Out of control” video, I am not ashamed to say, I cried. I’m having a grand time!

In my sophomore year in high school in 1984, I was introduced to a band called Oingo Boingo. Since then, I have respected and admired all of the members of this under-recognized and under-appreciated 80’s New Wave band, but more so the lead singer, Danny Elfman.

I’ve met Johnny Vatos and Jon Avila and had my photos taken with them. I even got one of Johnny’s drumsticks after the Food for Feet show at The Barn at UC Riverside back in 1988 (I think). But without question, Danny Elfman has been one of my best friends throughout my life, and he’s never even known it.

His music was a friend to me when I was down. It was a source of motivation for me when I needed a pick-me-up. And his anti-drug messages of the late 80’s and early 90’s reinforced to me that I didn’t need to do drugs to be cool. All I needed was the be myself and the rest would take care of itself.

In college, “Team Boingo” was a lip-sync act we did every year during “Scots Week” at UCR. Mind you, this is back when lip sync competitions were still popular! We won four years in a row, and actually invited Danny to attend through the fan club. We weren’t surprised though when we got a call from the fan club manager that he would be unable to go.

I’ve had a couple of close calls in my life. One year after returning to school from Christmas break, my buddy and I pulled up behind a blue Toyota pick up truck with a custom frame around the plate that read, “Daniel Patrick Elfman”. My friend asked if we should pull up along side him and say hello, but I just figured it was another Boingo fan and that was all, so we drove off. Six months later, I started a new job at a restaurant and a waiter was telling me about how his girlfriend actually met Danny Elfman on campus one day. You see, she pulled up along side this blue Toyota pick up truck….

Then a year or so later I was at the Boingo Halloween show at Irvine Meadows. I had made my own Beetlejuice costume out of an old canvas suit I found at Goodwill, and was lucky enough to be chosen to go on stage before the concert as part of KROQ’s costume contest. After it was over (I took second, by the way), the stage manager came up to me to tell me that the band really liked my costume. Apparently, they had been just a few feet behind me peeking out through a curtain to see the entries.

Needless to say, I still haven’t been lucky enough to meet Danny. And since I now live in Cincinnati, I know my chances are slimmer than most. But the truth is, all I want to do is get the chance to thank him, face to face, for the countless moments of joy he and his music have given me over the years. So if you’re reading this, Danny,.....thanks for everything.

I find joy in learning about that man, listening to his music/voice, and about his life. I know that he could careless if i am alive but man i want to meet him, he’d probably think i’m a complete loser if i ever see him. but meh?

Had backstage passes for final Universal Amphitheater concert back in 1995…met the whole band including Danny Elfman. I only spoke to him for a second but he seemed cool…not very tall.