The Flamin' Oh's, originally known as Flamingo, was a Minneapolis rock, new wave, and power pop band originally established in 1977 by Robert Wilkinson, Johnny Rey, Jody Ray, Robert "Bob" Meide, and Joseph Behrend.
The Flamin's Oh's started as a simple gig band in 1977 which had regular shows at local bars and clubs in the MinneapolisâÂÂSaint Paul metropolitan area. The band was formally formed in 1977 as Flamingo and had their opening act at Jay's Longhorn Bar on June 1, 1977. According to the band's frontman Robert Wilkinson "I remember when we first started playing as Flamingo, it was Flamingo, Suicide Commandos, Curtis A and a band called Thumbs Up. And we actually started across the street from the àLonghorn at a place, a basement club and a strip club.àIt was called the Blitz Bar. àâ¦àAnd then JayâÂÂs Longhorn opened and things moved across the street there and everything just kind of exploded and it was great".
Later, due to a copyright infringement by the 1950's doo-wop band The Flamingos, the band was forced to change its name to the Flamin' Oh's. According to Discogs, the band's name variation also includes "Flamin Ohs" and "The Oh's". In its early years, the Flamin' Oh's networked heavily at Oar Folkjokeopus, a local record store, with local Minneapolis-Saint Paul bands such as Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, the Suicide Commandos, Soul Asylum, and others.
After the band released of their first Extended play titled "Flamingo" in 1978, the band did multiple tours along the East Coast. Band member and guitarist Johnny Rey eventually left the band in 1980 and formed his own band. The Flamin' Oh's got significant radio attention in Minnesota with their 1980 hit single "I Remember Romance". The bands self-titled debut LP was named "Flaminâ OhâÂÂs" in 1980, their second LP was "Oh!" in 1981. Their LP "Oh!" most notably included the bandâÂÂs hit âÂÂStop". In total, the Flamin' Oh's released 8 albums and CD's, and 5 singles and extended plays.
The Flamin's Oh's are purported to be one of the first major bands to utilize music videos during the early 1980's new wave scene. Chuck Statler (music video director of videos for Devo Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, and El Vez) directed two videos for the Flaminâ OhâÂÂs for the songs âÂÂI Remember Romanceâ and "Stop", which were both featured on MTV.
The band broke up in 1987 after releasing "Paint the Sky" (see discography). The band has a star on the First Avenue nightclub's "Star Wall" in Minneapolis, which features stars for notable local signers and music artists. Past members of the band play from time to time at notable Minneapolis events, such as at baseball games for the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
Joseph Behrend, the bands vocalist and keyboard player was murdered in 1989. A suspect was arrested, however, evidence to incriminate the perpetrator for was not deemed adequate. In 2016, the Minneapolis Police Department re-examined the cold case.
The band's drummer, Robert "Bob" Meide died on June 20, 2010. Bob had played for several bands including The Apostles and Prodigy besides the Flamin' Oh's.