Zombie Zoo Lyrics

Lyric discussion by mikehell 

Cover art for Zombie Zoo lyrics by Tom Petty

Yes, Zombie Zoo was a "Deathrock" club in Los Angeles in the 80's ("goth" used to be called "deathrock"). There was a restaraunt nextdoor to the club called Ships (it was kind-of like a Dennys). The patrons of the club used to hang-out there and eat. One night Tom Petty and Roy Orbison stopped in for a late night dinner after a recording session and met some of the club kids, and wrote a song about them.

Zombie Zoo had many locations. The location that Tom saw was at "the Facade" on LaBrea. Zombie Zoo was also at Osko's downstairs in "the Cave", a room that was made to look like a cave. It was also at a dance hall called "La Casa" in downtown. it's first location was on Washington in a rather bad part of town (this is the locaztion that had the stack of TV's the played random things on each screen).

Yes, we did book punkrock bands, as there weren't really enough "deathrock" bands around yet.

Tom petty is a bastard. He wrote the song about my club. I called his managment to request a couple of tix to his concert. I was told "Tom said no". What a @#*&$%@!

Song Meaning

Everything Mike Hell says is true because I was the DJ at the Zombie Zoo and he owned the club! Mike, how ya doing? My 16 year old found some old Zombie Zoo magazines a while ago and I starting thinking about you and how much fun I had D.J.ing and making the mag. We sure were creative kids. I don't know if this program will email you with my reply and my email address. If not, leave a message here and I will respond with my email. I do have a FB page.

Mikehell you almost got it right.. the funny part is that you doen't remember WHY Tom Petty said NO. LOL. and that makes me roll on the floor.

I was hanging out at the door with Sammy one night - and along comes none other than Tom Petty with the guitarist from cheap trick, Rick Neilson. They wanted to get in for free.

I told Sammy she should let them in it would be good for the club (they were celebrities, whether death rockers or not). She asked you.. but you refused.

LOL.

They were shocked - this little podunk...

@mikehell Why should he have given you free tix?