About Me
Wolf Roxon is no stranger to rocknroll. Since forming his first group, Wolfgang and the Noble Oval, in the early 1970’s, he has penned over 800 songs and recorded nearly 300. He also played the New York scene during the glory days of the punk/New Wave era from 1977-1982. He was also the lead singer/guitarist and co-founder of The Moldy Dogs (with Paul Major), The Tears, The Metros, and Walkie- Talkie (who, in a brilliant career move, turned down Madonna as a prospective lead singer).When considering post-1970 punk, one would have to search long and hard to find anyone who predates Wolfgang and the Noble Oval and The Moldy Dogs. Both groups were undoubtedly the first post-70’s punksters in St. Louis, probably the Midwest, and possibly the entire USA. Influenced by the Velvet Underground, early Kinks, and Bowie, the Moldies were very difficult to categorize. Songs ranged from folk rock, to psychedelic, to light pop, to avant-garde. Hence, they had little success with record labels.While there are no vinyl pressings from the early Moldies, their demo tapes managed to reach the #17 spot on the listener survey at KWUR radio. As for live performances, they were the house band at The Joint, The Grove, and were featured at the First St. Louis Punk Rock Festival, before leaving for L.A. and New York City.When the Moldy Dogs disbanded due to music direction differences, Roxon and Major formed the Tears, who were a bit more definable, being hard –edged punk metal which guaranteed gigs at CBGB’s, Max’s Kansas City, Rockbottom, Gildersleeves and other rock venues. The Tears also had the youngest band member of the scene—12 year old Ralph Grasso on drums. At the same time, Roxon and Major formed an acoustic/electric duo (The Imposters) and played all the folk clubs in the West Village.Both Roxon and bassist Peter Mathiesen were instrumental in promoting punk/New Wave rock into venues in the New York area including The 57 Club (Irving Plaza- today) and Maxwell’s in Hoboken.Eventually, The Tears went their separate ways and Roxon and Mathiesen formed The Metros, a mid-60’s British influenced pop band who played all the New York clubs regularly. When members of the band ran off to college, Roxon and David Leeds (New York Brats- bassist) formed Walkie-Talkie, a pop/rock band which incorporated most of the influences from all previous projects. They were joined by drummer Randy Zweiban and Paul Major, lead guitarist of The Moldy Dogs and The Tears. W.T. played extensively in the New York area and release a single “Standing Over You†/â€Something Called Love†which received favorable reviews.By the late 1980’s, Roxon lost interest in the music business and he, now married with children, decided to leave for the greener pastures of Vermont. While he ventured into a successful business (rare books), taught school, and entered politics (nearly gaining a seat in the Vermont Legislature), his desire to produce classic rocknroll never left him. By the mid-1990’s the Moldy Dogs’ demo tapes, from nearly 25 years before, were resurfacing with record company interests, which spurred him to pick up his guitar and start writing again.In the spring of 1998, Roxon and Major reformed the Moldy Dogs, recorded dozens of new and old songs, and were performing again in the New York scene. Roxon kept recording over the next two years and eventually released a CD entitled Legend of the Lost. He also worked for Peter, Paul, and Mary (as Asst. Tour Manager), was a staff member at the International Guitar Seminar in New York, and performed solo.Songs from both The Moldy Dogs and Wolfgang and the Noble Oval are scheduled to be included on the long-awaited History of St. Louis Punk CD, due out this year.
