Joe Nanini

Who was Joe Nanini?

Oliver Joseph Nanini was a drummer, most famous for being the percussionist of New Wave group Wall of Voodoo during their heyday in the 1980s. He was known for playing pots, pans and other objects. He, along with Stan Ridgway and Bill Noland, left the band after their performance at the US Festival in 1983. Nanini went on to become one of the co-founders of the iconic neo-traditional band The Lonesome Strangers and played on their first record, Lonesome Pine. He died on December 4, 2000 of a brain hemorrhage at his Atlanta home.

He was also the drummer for numerous 1970s punk bands, including Black Randy And The Metrosquad, The Plugz, and The Bags.

Before his death, he was a session musician for Dangerhouse Records recording with many bands.

He was born in Japan in 1955 to a military based family.