Jeff Walls

Jeffrey Kermit Walls (August 29, 1956-May 29, 2019) was an American musician, songwriter, and producer best known for his dynamic guitar style. He was a founding member and guitarist of the Marietta, Georgia, 1980s alternative rock band Guadalcanal Diary.[1][2]

Guadalcanal Diary

Guadalcanal Diary was from Marietta, Georgia, a northern Atlanta suburb. Following their initial collaboration in Strictly American, a high school punk band, Walls and Murray Attaway (vocals and guitar) formed Guadalcanal Diary in 1981. Guadalcanal Diary released Watusi Rodeo, an early EP, and the full-length LP Walking in The Shadow of The Big Man on DB Records, before signing with major label Elektra Records in 1985. Elektra subsequently re-released the LP,[3] followed by three others: Jamboree (1986), 2X4 (1987), and Flip-Flop (1989).

Guadalcanal Diary had several reunions in the late 1990s, one of which produced the 1999 self-released live album, At Your Birthday Party. The album was re-released in 2018 on the Omnivore Recordings label. The band reunited briefly in 2011 to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Several Guadalcanal Diary songs were featured on the television show Billions.

Hillbilly Frankenstein

Following Guadalcanal Diary’s breakup in 1989, Walls formed rockabilly/lounge band Hillbilly Frankenstein. Hillbilly Frankenstein was featured in the documentary Sleazefest: The Movie from No Place Like Home Productions. The documentary chronicled the 1994 two-day music festival in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that celebrated rockabilly and garage rock music. Hillbilly Frankenstein released one LP on Zontar Records, ‘Hypnotica,’ and had begun recording new material before disbanding in 1995.

Family

In 1988, Jeff Walls and Rhett Crowe, bassist for Guadalcanal Diary, married. Their daughter, Lillian, was born the following year. Their son, Carson, was born in 1990. Walls and Crowe later divorced. In 1997, Jeff married Hillbilly Frankenstein bassist, Phyllis (Bridges) Walls and welcomed stepdaughter, Maggie. Grandchildren include Kaitlyn (2003), Eva (2015) and Ezra (2020).

The Woggles

In 1990, Walls began a close association with 60’s influenced garage band, The Woggles, producing and playing on a number of their recordings. [4] The group maintained a heavy U.S and international touring schedule, and when guitarist George Holton died in 2003, Walls stepped in, once again assuming the tongue-in-cheek moniker, ‘The Flesh Hammer,’ from his theme song in Hillbilly Frankenstein. He soon became a full-time member of The Woggles, and continued to produce and play guitar with the group until his death. [5]

Bomber City

In addition to his ongoing work as guitarist for The Woggles, Walls formed the group Bomber City with his wife, bassist Phyllis Walls, and former Guadalcanal Diary bandmate, Murray Attaway.

Bomber City's music included many collaborative songs written by Attaway and Walls, music from Attaway's solo album In Thrall, as well as some fan-favorite Guadalcanal Diary songs. Joining Attaway, Jeff, and Phyllis in Bomber City was Pat Patterson (Hillbilly Frankenstein, Black Label Orchestra) on drums, vocalist/percussionist Diana Crowe (Hillbilly Frankenstein) and Doug Stanley on keyboards & guitar (Love Tractor, Black Label Orchestra, the Helium Kids, the Glands, the Nairobi Trio).

Other Musical Endeavors

Walls’ other musical endeavors included the bands Blasting Cap (with Robert Schmid of The Swimming Pool Q's on drums) and the Nairobi Trio, an R&B and soul project.[6]

Jeff collaborated with several other notable performers. including English singer-songwriter Holly Golightly and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Hilton Valentine (original guitarist, The Animals).

Death

Walls died May 29, 2019 of pancreatic cancer while being evaluated for treatment for a much rarer condition. Fund-raisers and tribute concerts honoring the charismatic performer were held all over the country during the months that followed.[7] Following Walls’ death, numerous fund-raising concerts have been announced in Athens and Atlanta, Georgia to help raise money for Walls’ widow and surviving family.[8]

Legacy

Upon Walls' death, Steven Van Zandt stated: “What a shocking great loss. One of the most talented Guitarist/Producers I’ve ever known. Our deepest love and sympathy to his family and friends from his other family here at Wicked Cool and the Underground Garage."[9]

Discography

Guadalcanal Diary albums
YearAlbumLabel
1983Watusi Rodeo EPDB Records
1985Walking in the Shadow of the Big ManElektra
1986JamboreeElektra
19872X4Elektra
1989Flip-flopElektra
1999At Your Birthday Party (live)self-released

Woggles albums
YearAlbumLabel
2007Rock and Roll BacklashWicked Cool
2008Tempo TantrumWicked Cool
2013The Big BeatWicked Cool
2014Souled OutWicked Cool
2017Tally Ho!Wicked Cool

References
  1. "Jeff Walls, Guitarist for Guadalcanal Diary, Hillbilly Frankenstein and The Woggles, Has Died". Paste Magazine.
  2. Ruggieri, Melissa. "Jeff Walls of Guadalcanal Diary has died". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  3. "Guadalcanal Diary | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  4. "The Woggles - Get Down With It". March 26, 2016 – via YouTube.
  5. "Coolest Conversations - Jeff Walls of The Woggles - Unedited". February 19, 2015 – via YouTube.
  6. May 30, Tony Paris Thursday; EDT, 2019 04:25 pm. "Jeff Walls, 1956-2019". Atlanta Creative Loafing.
  7. "Guadalcanal Diary's Jeff Walls dies after fighting rare pulmonary disease". Slicing Up Eyeballs. May 31, 201.
  8. Mills, Fred. "Guadalcanal Diary/Woggles' Jeff Walls 1956-2019 RIP: An Appreciation". Blurt Magazine.
  9. "Steven Van Zandt Twitter update". Twitter. May 30, 2019.
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